Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Pelatih klub memberi contoh algoritma sederhana untuk mencari angka terbesar dalam daftar. - The club coach gives an example of a simple algorithm to find the largest number in a list.

In Indonesian, when you have two nouns together, the first noun is the main thing, and the second noun specifies it, similar to “X of Y” or “Y X” in English.

pelatih klub
- pelatih = coach
- klub = club
- Together: “club coach” / “the coach of the club”

If you said klub pelatih, it would sound like “coach club” (a club for coaches), which is a different meaning.

So:

pelatih klub sepak bola = the soccer club’s coach
klub pelatih sepak bola = a club/organization of soccer coaches

In English we say “the coach” or “a coach”, but here it’s just pelatih klub. Where is “the” or “a” in Indonesian?

Indonesian generally doesn’t use articles like “a/an/the”. The noun by itself can mean a, the, or (in general), depending on context.

pelatih klub can be:
- the club coach (if both speaker and listener know which one)
- a club coach (if it’s just any club coach)
- simply “club coach” as a general role

You know whether it means a or the from context, not from a word in the sentence.

If you really want to emphasize “this specific coach”, you might say:

pelatih klub itu = that club coach / the club coach
(itu can mark something specific/known)

What’s the difference between memberi contoh and memberikan contoh? Are both correct?

Both are grammatically correct and commonly used, but with slightly different feel:

memberi contoh
- memberi = to give
- Structure: memberi + [thing]
- Everyday, slightly shorter, very common.
- Pelatih klub memberi contoh… = The coach gives an example…
memberikan contoh
- memberikan = to give (something)
- Structure: memberikan + [thing]
- Often feels a bit more formal or “complete”, especially in writing or formal speech.
- Pelatih klub memberikan contoh… = The coach gives an example…

In this sentence, either:

Pelatih klub memberi contoh algoritma sederhana…
Pelatih klub memberikan contoh algoritma sederhana…

Both sound natural. In daily speech memberi is very normal and not wrong or “less correct”.

Why is it contoh algoritma sederhana and not something like contoh dari algoritma sederhana?

In Indonesian, a common way to say “an example of X” is simply:

contoh + [noun]

So:

contoh algoritma sederhana = an example of a simple algorithm
contoh kasus = an example case
contoh kalimat = example sentence

Using dari is not wrong in all situations, but:

contoh dari algoritma sederhana sounds heavier and a bit unnatural here.
dari is usually used when you really want to emphasize origin/source, like:
- hasil dari penelitian ini = the result from this research

For “example of something”, prefer the noun–noun pattern:
contoh algoritma, contoh soal, contoh teks, etc.

Why is sederhana placed after algoritma (algoritma sederhana) instead of before it?

In Indonesian, adjectives usually come after the noun they modify:

algoritma sederhana = simple algorithm
angka terbesar = the largest number
daftar panjang = a long list

Putting the adjective before the noun, like sederhana algoritma, is ungrammatical in standard Indonesian.

If you want to add emphasis or be more descriptive, sometimes you can insert yang:

algoritma yang sederhana = an algorithm that is simple
This sounds slightly more descriptive or contrastive, for example:
Kita akan memakai algoritma yang sederhana saja.
= We will just use an algorithm that is simple.

What’s the function of untuk in untuk mencari angka terbesar? Could we just say mencari angka terbesar?

untuk means “for” / “to (do something)” and introduces a purpose or function.

algoritma sederhana untuk mencari angka terbesar
= a simple algorithm for finding / to find the largest number

Grammatically:

untuk + [verb] = for/to + [verb] (purpose)

Can you omit untuk here?
Sometimes yes:

algoritma sederhana mencari angka terbesar

This is possible, but:

With untuk, the purpose is very clear and standard, especially in explanation or writing.
Without untuk, it can sound more compressed, a bit more technical or headline-like.

For learners, using untuk + verb for “in order to…” or “for doing…” is a very safe and natural pattern:

alat untuk mengukur suhu = a tool to measure temperature
cara untuk belajar lebih cepat = a way to study faster

What’s the difference between angka, nomor, and bilangan? Why is angka used here?

These three are related but used differently:

angka
- Literal digits or numbers as data/values.
- Used in math, statistics, scores, etc.
- angka terbesar dalam daftar = the largest number in the list (as a value)
nomor
- Numbers used as labels, IDs, or order (like “number 3”, “room 201”).
- Examples:
  - nomor telepon = phone number
  - nomor kamar = room number
  - nomor urut = serial number
bilangan
- More technical / mathematical term for “number” in math contexts (counting numbers, real numbers, etc.).
- Used often in school math books:
  - bilangan bulat = integer
  - bilangan prima = prime number

In this sentence, we are talking about numeric values in a list, not labels or phone numbers, so angka is the natural choice:

…mencari angka terbesar dalam daftar.

How does terbesar work? Is it always the superlative like “biggest / largest”? Do we need paling as well?

ter- + adjective is a common way to form the superlative in Indonesian:

besar = big
terbesar = biggest / largest
tinggi = tall/high → tertinggi = tallest / highest
penting = important → terpenting = most important

So angka terbesar = the largest number.

You can also form superlatives with paling:

paling besar = biggest / most big

Both are correct, but there are some tendencies:

ter- forms often sound short, natural, and very common with some adjectives, like terbesar, tertinggi, terpenting.
paling + adjective is more regular and works with almost any adjective:
- paling lucu = funniest
- paling menarik = most interesting

You don’t use ter- and paling together:

❌ terpaling besar (incorrect)
✅ terbesar or paling besar

Why is it dalam daftar and not di daftar? What’s the difference between dalam and di?

Both dalam and di can relate to location, but they’re used a bit differently:

di
- General preposition for “at / in / on” (physical location).
- di rumah = at home
- di meja = on the table
- di sekolah = at school
dalam
- More like “inside / within”, often a more formal or abstract sense of “in”.
- dalam buku ini = in this book
- dalam hidup saya = in my life
- dalam daftar = in the list / within the list

In dalam daftar, we’re talking about something within a set / collection (the list). You might also hear di daftar in casual speech, and people will understand you, but:

dalam daftar sounds more natural and standard in a written or explanatory sentence like this.

Why is there no pronoun like dia or ia for “he/she”? Why not Dia adalah pelatih klub yang memberi…?

Indonesian often omits pronouns when the subject is already clear. You don’t need to say dia or ia if you’re directly naming the subject:

Pelatih klub memberi contoh…
= The club coach gives an example…

Adding dia would change the structure and sound odd here:

❌ Dia pelatih klub memberi contoh… (feels clumsy/wrong)
✅ Dia adalah pelatih klub yang memberi contoh…
= He/She is the club coach who gives an example…

That second sentence has a different structure and meaning (it’s saying who he/she is, then describing them).

For a simple statement about what the coach did, just naming the role is natural:

Pelatih klub menjelaskan… = The club coach explained…
Guru matematika memberi tugas… = The math teacher gave homework…

How do we know the tense of memberi here? Does it mean “gave”, “gives”, or “will give”?

Indonesian verbs do not change form for tense. memberi can mean gave / gives / is giving / will give, depending on context.

To specify time, you add time words or aspect markers:

Past:
- Pelatih klub tadi memberi contoh… = The coach earlier gave an example…
- Pelatih klub sudah memberi contoh… = The coach has already given an example…
Present:
- Pelatih klub sedang memberi contoh… = The coach is giving an example (right now).
- Setiap minggu pelatih klub memberi contoh algoritma baru.
  = Every week the coach gives an example of a new algorithm.
Future:
- Pelatih klub akan memberi contoh… = The coach will give an example…
- Nanti pelatih klub akan memberi contoh… = Later the coach will give an example…

In your sentence, without extra markers, it’s time-neutral. In English, we usually choose the most natural tense from context, like:

“The coach gave an example…”
or
“The coach gives an example…” depending on the situation.