Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya dukung rencana itu.

So the structure is I support plan that, which corresponds to English I support that plan. The word order in Indonesian is different mainly in where itu (that) goes.

Why does the sentence use dukung and not mendukung?

The base verb is dukung; mendukung is the same verb with the meN- prefix.
In everyday Indonesian, especially in speech, the meN- prefix is often dropped after a subject like saya, so both:

Saya dukung rencana itu.
Saya mendukung rencana itu.

are grammatically correct. Mendukung sounds a bit more complete/standard; dukung feels a bit more direct and conversational, and is also common in headlines and slogans.

Are Saya dukung rencana itu and Saya mendukung rencana itu exactly the same?

They express the same basic meaning: I support that plan.

Nuance:

Saya mendukung rencana itu.
– neutral, a bit more formal/standard; safe for writing, presentations, news, etc.
Saya dukung rencana itu.
– still correct; slightly more colloquial or emphatic in tone, common in conversation and informal writing.

In most situations, you can use either one without misunderstanding.

Can I leave out Saya and just say Dukung rencana itu?

If you say Dukung rencana itu, it usually sounds like a command: Support that plan! (telling someone else to do it).

To keep the meaning I support that plan, you generally need the subject (like Saya, Aku, Kami, etc.) or clear context that makes I obvious. Without Saya, listeners will normally interpret it as an imperative.

What is the difference between Saya and Aku here?

Both mean I, but they differ in formality and social distance:

Saya dukung rencana itu.
– polite, neutral, and safe in almost any context (work, school, talking to strangers, writing).
Aku dukung rencana itu.
– informal/intimate; used with close friends, family, or in casual speech, and often in songs/fiction.

Grammatically they work the same; the choice is about tone and relationship with the listener.

Why is it rencana itu and not itu rencana, when English says that plan?

In Indonesian, demonstratives like ini (this) and itu (that) normally come after the noun:

rencana itu = that plan
rencana ini = this plan

Itu rencana is also possible, but it means that is a plan / that (thing) is a plan, not that plan.

So for that plan as a noun phrase, the natural order is rencana itu.

How would I say this plan instead of that plan?

Just change itu to ini:

Saya dukung rencana ini. = I support this plan.

Pattern:

[noun] + ini = this [noun]
[noun] + itu = that [noun]

Does itu here mean “that” or “the”? Does Indonesian have a/the like English?

In rencana itu, itu mainly means that, pointing to a specific plan already known in the context.

Indonesian does not have articles like a/an or the. A bare noun like rencana can mean a plan, the plan, or just plan(s) depending on context. You add words like ini, itu, sebuah, beberapa, etc., when you need to be more specific.

How do I make Saya dukung rencana itu negative?

Use tidak before the verb:

Saya tidak dukung rencana itu.
Saya tidak mendukung rencana itu.

Both mean I do not support that plan.
Again, mendukung sounds more standard; dukung is more conversational/direct.

How do I say I supported / will support that plan? There’s no tense marking in the sentence.

Indonesian does not change the verb for tense. You add time words instead:

Saya dukung / mendukung rencana itu tadi.
= I supported that plan just now.
Saya dukung / mendukung rencana itu kemarin.
= I supported that plan yesterday.
Saya akan dukung / akan mendukung rencana itu.
= I will support that plan.
Besok saya dukung / mendukung rencana itu.
= Tomorrow I will support that plan.

The verb form dukung / mendukung stays the same; time is shown by words like tadi, kemarin, besok, akan, etc.

Can I say Rencana itu saya dukung instead? Does it change the meaning?

Yes, Rencana itu saya dukung is also correct.

Meaning:

It still means I support that plan, but the focus shifts slightly:
- Saya dukung rencana itu. → neutral order, slight emphasis on I support.
- Rencana itu saya dukung. → puts that plan in front, as if you’re contrasting it with other plans: That plan is the one I support.

This kind of fronting is common in Indonesian to highlight the topic.

What’s the difference between dukung and setuju? Both can be translated as “support/agree,” right?

They’re related but not identical:

dukung / mendukung = to support, back, endorse (often more active support).
- Saya dukung rencana itu. = I support that plan.
setuju = to agree (often about opinion, not necessarily active support).
- Saya setuju dengan rencana itu. = I agree with that plan.

If you mean you’re actively backing the plan (voting for it, pushing it forward), dukung is better. If you just mean your opinion matches the plan, setuju is fine.

Is Saya dukung rencana itu formal, informal, or neutral?

It’s mostly neutral, leaning slightly informal because of the bare dukung:

In a formal report, speech, or official writing, Saya mendukung rencana itu is safer.
In conversation, meetings, or casual writing (messages, social media), Saya dukung rencana itu sounds natural and acceptable.

So you can use it in many contexts, but for very formal situations, prefer mendukung.