Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya suka pemandangan alam di pulau kecil itu. - I like the natural scenery on that small island.

saya: more formal, polite, neutral; safe in almost all situations (talking to strangers, at work, in writing).
aku: more informal, intimate; used with friends, family, or in songs, poems, etc.

So:

Saya suka pemandangan alam di pulau kecil itu. – polite/neutral
Aku suka pemandangan alam di pulau kecil itu. – casual/intimate

Grammatically both are correct; the difference is level of formality and relationship with the listener.

Why is there no word for “the” in pemandangan alam di pulau kecil itu?

Indonesian does not have separate words for “the” or “a/an”. The noun pemandangan alam can mean:

the natural scenery
a natural view
natural scenery (in general)

The specific feeling here mainly comes from itu (that):

pulau kecil itu = that small island / the small island (that we’re talking about)

So itu works a bit like “that/the (mentioned one)”, giving specificity to the noun phrase it follows.

Why is it pulau kecil itu and not kecil pulau itu like in English “small island”?

In Indonesian, adjectives usually come after the noun:

pulau kecil = small island
pemandangan indah = beautiful view
rumah besar = big house

If you add a demonstrative like itu (that) or ini (this), it comes after the whole noun phrase:

pulau kecil itu = that small island
pemandangan indah ini = this beautiful view

So the typical order is:

noun + adjective(s) + ini/itu
pulau + kecil + itu → pulau kecil itu

What exactly does pemandangan alam mean? Why not just pemandangan?

pemandangan = view / scenery / sight
alam = nature / natural

When combined, pemandangan alam literally means “nature scenery” or “natural scenery” – i.e. scenery consisting of natural landscapes (mountains, sea, forests), as opposed to cityscapes or buildings.

You can say just pemandangan if the context is clear, but:

pemandangan alam emphasizes that it’s nature you like, not city views, buildings, etc.

Is pemandangan singular or plural here? Does it mean “view” or “views”?

Indonesian nouns usually do not change form for singular vs plural. pemandangan can be:

a view
the view
views
the views

The correct English translation depends on context. In this sentence, Saya suka pemandangan alam di pulau kecil itu, we would usually translate:

I like the natural scenery on that small island.
Or: I like the natural views on that small island.

If you really want to emphasize plurality in Indonesian, you can add words like banyak (many), berbagai (various), etc.:

Saya suka banyak pemandangan alam di pulau kecil itu.
= I like many natural views on that small island.

What does di mean here? Why is it translated as “on” and not “in” or “at”?

di is a general preposition that can mean in / at / on, depending on context. It just shows location, without specifying the exact nuance.

In di pulau kecil itu, we choose on in English because that’s the natural preposition with island:

in English: on an island
in Indonesian: di pulau

But di itself does not change; only the English preposition changes. More examples:

di rumah = at home / in the house
di meja = on the table
di Jakarta = in Jakarta

Why is it just suka and not something like “to be like” or “do like”? Where is the verb “to be” or “do”?

Indonesian does not have a separate verb “to be” like English am/is/are in this kind of structure, and it does not add a “do” for questions or emphasis.

Saya suka pemandangan alam…
= I like the natural scenery…

Here, suka itself is the verb “to like”. There is no need for extra helping verbs:

No am: (not Saya *am suka*)
No do: (not Saya *do suka*)

Basic pattern:

Subject + verb + object
Saya + suka + pemandangan alam…

Can I say Saya menyukai pemandangan alam di pulau kecil itu instead? What’s the difference between suka and menyukai?

Yes, Saya menyukai pemandangan alam di pulau kecil itu is grammatically correct.

suka = to like (very common, everyday word)
menyukai = also to like, but more formal, sounds a bit more bookish or careful speech

Differences:

Saya suka pemandangan alam… – simple, natural, what people say in normal conversation.
Saya menyukai pemandangan alam… – might appear in writing, formal speech, essays, or to sound a bit more “elevated”.

For daily spoken Indonesian, saya suka is more typical.

How do we show past or future (like “I liked” or “I will like”) in Indonesian, since suka doesn’t change?

Indonesian verbs usually don’t change form for tense. suka stays suka. To show time, you normally add time words:

Saya suka pemandangan alam…
= I like / I liked / I have liked (depending on context)

To make it clearly past:

Dulu saya suka pemandangan alam di pulau kecil itu.
= I used to like / I liked the natural scenery on that small island.

To make it clearly future:

Nanti saya akan suka tinggal di sana karena pemandangan alam di pulau kecil itu.
= Later I will like living there because of the natural scenery on that small island.

Common time markers:

tadi, kemarin, dulu = past
besok, nanti, akan = future

Why is it di pulau kecil itu and not pada pulau kecil itu? When do you use di vs pada?

In everyday Indonesian, di is the normal preposition for most locations:

di pulau kecil itu – on that small island
di rumah, di sekolah, di kantor, di Jakarta, etc.

pada is more formal and is often used:

with time expressions: pada hari Senin (on Monday), pada tahun 2020 (in 2020)
in formal writing (reports, legal texts, official letters)
before certain pronouns or abstract nouns in formal style

In this sentence, pada pulau kecil itu would sound unnecessary and overly formal/odd in normal speech. di pulau kecil itu is the natural choice.

Can I drop saya and just say Suka pemandangan alam di pulau kecil itu?

Yes, in informal spoken Indonesian, the subject pronoun (like saya, aku, dia) is sometimes dropped if it’s obvious from context.

(Saya) suka pemandangan alam di pulau kecil itu.
= (I) like the natural scenery on that small island.

However:

In writing, teaching materials, or when the subject might be ambiguous, it’s better to keep saya.
Dropping saya is more common in casual speech, especially when you’re answering a question:
- Kamu suka apa di sana? – What do you like there?
- (Saya) suka pemandangan alam di pulau kecil itu. – (I) like the natural scenery on that small island.