Alat itu penting untuk latihan kebugaran.

That tool is important for fitness training.

Breakdown of Alat itu penting untuk latihan kebugaran.

• adalah: to be
• itu: that
• penting: important
• untuk: for
• latihan kebugaran: the fitness training
• alat: the tool

Questions & Answers about Alat itu penting untuk latihan kebugaran.

What does alat itu literally mean? Is it that tool, the tool, or something else?

Literally, alat itu is that tool.

But in real usage, itu often works a bit like “the” in English, referring to a specific thing already known in the context. So depending on context, alat itu can be translated as:

• that tool (pointing/contrasting)
• the tool (the one we already know about)

Indonesian doesn’t have a true article like “the”, so itu often fills that role when you want to make something specific.

Why is there no word for “is” in Alat itu penting?

Indonesian normally drops the verb “to be” (am/is/are) before adjectives and nouns in simple present-tense sentences.

So:

• Alat itu penting.
  = literally “That tool important.”
  = “That tool is important.”

This is completely normal and correct in Indonesian. You do use adalah in some sentences, but usually for linking to a noun phrase, not an adjective.

• Alat itu adalah alat latihan kebugaran.
  = “That tool is a fitness-training tool.”

Can itu be moved? Can I say itu alat penting untuk latihan kebugaran?

No, itu can’t be moved there without changing the structure.

• Alat itu penting … is correct
• Itu alat penting … is also correct, but means “That (is) an important tool …”

Position changes the structure:

• Alat itu penting

  • alat = noun “tool”
  • itu = “that / the” (demonstrative that follows the noun)
  • penting = adjective “important”

• Itu alat penting

  • itu = “that” (subject, like “that one”)
  • alat penting = “important tool” (description / complement)

Both are grammatical, but they’re different sentences. The one you’re learning is Alat itu penting …, with itu after the noun.

What exactly does penting mean? Is it only “important”?

Penting basically means important, essential, or significant.

Common uses:

• Ini sangat penting. – This is very important.
• Hal itu tidak begitu penting. – That matter is not so important.
• Latihan itu penting untuk kesehatan. – That training is important for health.

In this sentence:

• Alat itu penting untuk latihan kebugaran.
  = “That tool is important for fitness training.”
  (implies it’s needed or plays a key role)

What does untuk do in this sentence? Could I use buat instead?

Untuk means “for” or “in order to”.

In penting untuk latihan kebugaran it marks the purpose or use:

• important for fitness training

You can say buat in everyday, informal speech:

• Alat itu penting buat latihan kebugaran.

Differences:

• untuk – neutral to formal; fine in writing, presentations, etc.
• buat – informal, conversational, more casual.

For learners, untuk is the safer, more general choice.

What kind of phrase is latihan kebugaran? Is kebugaran an adjective or a noun?

Latihan kebugaran is a noun phrase:

• latihan = training, practice, exercise (noun)
• kebugaran = fitness (noun, from the root bugar “fit, in good shape”)

So literally it’s “fitness training” or “training (for) fitness.”

Kebugaran is a noun, not an adjective. The word pattern ke-…-an often makes abstract nouns in Indonesian:

• sehat (healthy) → kesehatan (health)
• bugar (fit) → kebugaran (fitness)

What’s the difference between latihan kebugaran, olahraga, and berolahraga?

They’re related but not identical:

• olahraga – noun: sports / exercise in general

  • Saya suka olahraga. – I like sports / exercising.

• berolahraga – verb: to exercise / to do sports

  • Saya berolahraga setiap pagi. – I exercise every morning.

• latihan kebugaran – noun phrase: specifically fitness training, workout

  • Often implies structured exercise (gym workouts, fitness programs, etc.).

So:

• Alat itu penting untuk olahraga.
  = The tool is important for sports/exercise. (broader)

• Alat itu penting untuk latihan kebugaran.
  = The tool is important for fitness training. (more specific to fitness workouts)

Could I say untuk berlatih kebugaran instead of untuk latihan kebugaran?

Yes, you can, and it’s grammatical:

• Alat itu penting untuk berlatih kebugaran.

Here:

• berlatih = “to train / to practice” (verb)
• berlatih kebugaran = “to train for fitness / to do fitness training”

Nuance:

• untuk latihan kebugaran
  
  • focuses on the activity as a thing (the training sessions/workouts).
• untuk berlatih kebugaran
  
  • focuses on the action (the act of training).

Both would usually be translated the same way in English:
“That tool is important for fitness training.”

How would I make it plural, like Those tools are important for fitness training?

Indonesian doesn’t always mark plural explicitly, but you have options:

1. Rely on context (most common in real speech)

   • Alat itu penting untuk latihan kebugaran.
     From context, alat can mean tool/tools.

2. Use reduplication to show plural more clearly:

   • Alat-alat itu penting untuk latihan kebugaran.
     = Those tools / the tools are important for fitness training.

3. Or add a number or quantifier:

   • Beberapa alat itu penting untuk latihan kebugaran.
     = Those several tools are important…
   • Tiga alat itu penting untuk latihan kebugaran.
     = Those three tools are important…

All are correct; Indonesia usually doesn’t insist on marking plural unless there’s a reason.

Is latihan kebugaran a fixed phrase, like “fitness training”, or just any “training” + “fitness”?

It behaves much like “fitness training” in English:

• It’s not an idiom, but it’s a natural and common combination.
• People will immediately understand it as workouts / exercises aimed at improving physical fitness.

You can also hear variations like:

• latihan kebugaran fisik – physical fitness training (more explicit)
• program latihan kebugaran – fitness training program

But latihan kebugaran on its own is already clear and natural.

Is this sentence formal, informal, or neutral?

Alat itu penting untuk latihan kebugaran. is neutral.

• Vocabulary is standard, not slang.
• Structure is simple and clear.
• untuk is fine in both spoken and written language.

You can comfortably use this sentence:

• in everyday conversation
• in written explanations (e.g., gym brochures, instructional texts)
• in semi-formal contexts (presentations, class, etc.)

For more formal writing, you might see something like:

• Alat tersebut penting untuk latihan kebugaran.
  (tersebut is a more formal alternative to itu.)

How would I say “That tool was important for fitness training” or “will be important”?

You keep the same structure and add time words or modal words. Indonesian doesn’t change the verb/adjective form for tense.

• That tool was important for fitness training.

  • Dulu, alat itu penting untuk latihan kebugaran.
  • Pada masa itu, alat itu penting untuk latihan kebugaran.

• That tool will be important for fitness training.

  • Nanti alat itu akan penting untuk latihan kebugaran.
  • Di masa depan, alat itu akan penting untuk latihan kebugaran.

Key idea: penting stays the same; dulu / akan / nanti / di masa depan carry the time meaning.

How is kebugaran pronounced, and where is the stress?

kebugaran is pronounced roughly: kuh-BOO-gah-rahn

Syllables: ke-bu-ga-ran

• ke – like “ke” in ketchup (short, unstressed “ke”)
• bu – like “boo”
• ga – “gah”
• ran – “rahn” (with a tapped/flapped r, like Spanish r in pero)

Stress is usually on -ga- or slightly towards -ran, but Indonesian stress is relatively light compared to English. The main thing is to pronounce every vowel clearly: ke-bu-ga-ran.