Saya meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja.

I put the book on the right side of the table.

Breakdown of Saya meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja.

• sebuah: a
• buku: the book
• saya: I
• di: on
• meja: the table
• meletakkan: to put
• kanan: right
• sisi: the side

Questions & Answers about Saya meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja.

In the sentence Saya meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja, why do we use meletakkan instead of just letak?

In Indonesian, letak is a root (base) word, not a normal finite verb by itself in standard sentences.

To turn letak into a verb meaning to put / to place, you normally add the prefix me- and the suffix -kan, giving meletakkan.

• letak = position, location (noun-like base)
• meletakkan = to place / to put (verb)

So:

• Saya meletakkan buku... = I put / I place the book...

Saying Saya letak buku... is not standard; you should use meletakkan (or a more colloquial verb like menaruh / taruh).

What is the function of the prefix me- and the suffix -kan in meletakkan?

me- and -kan are verbal affixes that turn the base letak into an active transitive verb:

• me-: marks an active verb (subject is doing the action).
• -kan: often shows that the verb takes a direct object and/or that something is being caused to be in a certain state or place.

So:

• letak (base) → meletakkan = to put / to place something somewhere.

Structure in your sentence:

• Saya (subject)
• meletakkan (active transitive verb)
• buku (direct object: what is being placed)
• di sisi kanan meja (location: where it is placed)

Is there a difference between meletakkan and menaruh / taruh?

They are very close in meaning, but differ in style/register and nuance:

• meletakkan

  • More formal / neutral.
  • Common in writing, explanations, instructions.
  • Often sounds a bit more careful or deliberate: to place.

• menaruh / taruh

  • Everyday, colloquial speech.
  • menaruh is the formal active form; taruh is more casual.
  • Similar to to put / to put down.

You could say, for example:

• Saya menaruh buku di sisi kanan meja.
• Saya taruh buku di sisi kanan meja. (more casual)

Both would be understood as I put the book on the right side of the table.

Why is it di sisi kanan meja and not something like di sisi kanan dari meja to express of the table?

Indonesian often expresses “of X” (a genitive relationship) simply by putting two nouns next to each other:

• sisi kanan meja = literally right side table → the right side of the table.

So:

• sisi = side
• kanan = right
• meja = table

Together: sisi kanan meja = the right side of the table.

Using dari (from/of) is possible in some contexts (sisi kanan dari meja), but it sounds more wordy and is usually unnecessary here. The simple noun-noun sequence is the most natural.

What is the role of di in di sisi kanan meja?

In this sentence, di is a preposition meaning in / at / on (location):

• di = in / at / on (when talking about a place)
• sisi kanan meja = the right side of the table

So di sisi kanan meja = at the right side of the table / on the right side of the table.

Important:
This di (preposition) is different from di- as a prefix used for passive verbs (e.g. ditaruh, diletakkan). Here, it is not a prefix; it stands alone and is followed by a noun phrase.

Could I also say di kanan meja or di sebelah kanan meja instead of di sisi kanan meja? Do they mean the same thing?

They are very close in meaning, but with slightly different nuance:

• di sisi kanan meja

  • Literally: at the right side of the table.
  • Slightly more formal or descriptive.
  • Emphasises the side as a “side/edge”.

• di kanan meja

  • Literally: at the right (side) of the table.
  • Very common; simpler.
  • Often used for relative position (to the right of the table).

• di sebelah kanan meja

  • Literally: at the right side of the table / next to the right of the table.
  • Very common in speech.
  • sebelah often carries a nuance of next to / beside.

In most everyday contexts:

• Saya meletakkan buku di kanan meja.
• Saya meletakkan buku di sebelah kanan meja.

both are natural alternatives to di sisi kanan meja.

Should it be di atas meja instead of di sisi kanan meja if I mean the book is on the tabletop?

It depends on what you want to emphasise:

• di atas meja = on the table / on top of the table (on the surface)
• di sisi kanan meja = on/at the right side of the table (right-hand side area or edge)

If you simply mean the book is lying somewhere on the tabletop:

• Saya meletakkan buku di atas meja.

If you specifically mean on the right side/edge of the table (e.g. not the left side):

• Saya meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja.

Where is the tense marker? How do we know Saya meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja is past (I put), present (I am putting), or future (I will put)?

Indonesian verbs do not change form for tense. Meletakkan has the same form for past, present, and future. The exact time is shown by context or by adding time words.

Your sentence by itself could mean:

• I put the book on the right side of the table.
• I am putting the book on the right side of the table.
• I will put the book on the right side of the table.

To make the time clear, Indonesians usually add adverbs:

• Past:

  • Tadi saya meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja.
  • Kemarin saya meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja.

• Present (right now / habit):

  • Sekarang saya meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja.
  • Saya biasanya meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja.

• Future:

  • Nanti saya akan meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja.
  • Besok saya akan meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja.

Does Saya meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja mean the book or a book?

Indonesian does not normally use articles like a / an / the. The noun buku by itself can be a book or the book, depending on context.

Your sentence can be translated as either:

• I put a book on the right side of the table.
• I put the book on the right side of the table.

If you want to be more specific, you can add words:

• sebuah buku = a (single) book

  • Saya meletakkan sebuah buku di sisi kanan meja.

• buku itu = that book / the book (previously known)

  • Saya meletakkan buku itu di sisi kanan meja.

Can the word order be changed, for example: Saya meletakkan di sisi kanan meja buku?

No, that word order is not natural in Indonesian.

The typical order is:

1. Subject
2. Verb
3. Direct object
4. Place / time information

So:

• Saya (subject)
• meletakkan (verb)
• buku (object)
• di sisi kanan meja (location)

Putting buku after the location (… di sisi kanan meja buku) sounds wrong.

You can omit parts or move time expressions, but generally:

• Saya meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja. (natural)
• Buku saya letakkan di sisi kanan meja. (object fronted; still OK, a bit more formal/emphatic)

Can I leave out Saya and just say Meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja?

In normal, complete sentences you should keep the subject, so:

• Saya meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja.

Dropping Saya would sound incomplete as a standalone sentence, unless:

• It is a note, instruction, or heading where the subject is understood from context (e.g. a manual: Meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja = “Placing the book on the right side of the table”).

In ordinary spoken or written sentences about yourself, include Saya (or Aku in more casual situations).

What is the difference between Saya and Aku here? Could I say Aku meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja?

Yes, you can say:

• Aku meletakkan buku di sisi kanan meja.

The difference is mainly in formality and relationship:

• Saya

  • More formal / neutral.
  • Used in polite conversation, with strangers, in writing, with people you don’t know well, or in professional contexts.

• Aku

  • More informal / intimate.
  • Used with close friends, family, or people of similar age in casual settings.

So the sentence with Saya is neutral–polite; with Aku it feels more casual/intimate, but the meaning is the same.