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Tolong taruh kunci cadangan itu di dalam kotak kecil.

Tolong taruh kunci cadangan itu di dalam kotak kecil.
Please put that spare key in the small box.

Breakdown of Tolong taruh kunci cadangan itu di dalam kotak kecil.

itu
that
kecil
small
tolong
please
cadangan
spare
taruh
to put
di dalam
inside
kotak
box
kunci
key
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Questions & Answers about Tolong taruh kunci cadangan itu di dalam kotak kecil.

What part of speech is tolong here, and how polite is it?

In this sentence, tolong functions like a polite request marker: please. It softens the command (taruh …) into a request.

  • Tolong + verb is common and polite in everyday Indonesian.
  • It’s not extremely formal (like mohon), but it’s respectful and natural.
Why is it taruh and not menaruh?

Taruh is the base form and is very common in imperatives (commands/requests). Indonesian often uses the base verb for instructions:

  • Tolong taruh … = Please put …
  • Tolong menaruh … is grammatically possible but sounds more “written” or less natural in casual speech.
Is there an implied subject like you in this sentence?

Yes. Indonesian imperatives often omit the subject. The subject is understood from context:

  • (You) Tolong taruh …
    You could add it for clarity or emphasis:
  • Tolong kamu taruh … (more emphatic; can sound slightly pushy depending on tone)
  • Tolong taruh ya … (often sounds friendlier)
What does kunci cadangan mean grammatically—why is the word order like that?

Kunci cadangan is a noun + modifier structure:

  • kunci = key
  • cadangan = spare / backup
    So it literally reads as key spare → spare key. In Indonesian, modifiers commonly come after the noun.
What is itu doing after kunci cadangan?

Itu is a demonstrative meaning that/the depending on context. Placed after the noun phrase, it points to a specific item:

  • kunci cadangan itu = that spare key / the spare key (we’re talking about)
    Indonesian demonstratives usually come at the end of the noun phrase (unlike English).
Why does it say di dalam—isn’t di already “in/at”?

Di is a location preposition meaning in/at/on, but it’s broad. Dalam adds the meaning inside.

  • di kotak = in/at the box (could be interpreted loosely)
  • di dalam kotak = inside the box (clear “inside” meaning)
    So di dalam is often used for clarity.
Why is di written separately here? How is that different from ditaruh?

Great spelling/grammar point:

  • di (separate) = preposition for location: di dalam kotak = inside the box
  • di- (attached) = passive verb prefix: ditaruh = be put/placed

So:

  • Tolong taruh … di dalam kotak (active request + location)
  • Tolong ditaruh di dalam kotak (passive-style request; common on signs/instructions)
Why is the adjective after the noun in kotak kecil?

Indonesian typically places adjectives after the noun:

  • kotak kecil = small box
    Not kecil kotak (that would be unnatural in standard Indonesian).
Could I replace taruh with letakkan? Is there a difference?

Yes, both mean put/place, but the feel differs:

  • taruh = very common, everyday, neutral
  • letakkan = slightly more formal/precise, often used in instructions
    Both work:
  • Tolong taruh kunci cadangan itu di dalam kotak kecil.
  • Tolong letakkan kunci cadangan itu di dalam kotak kecil.
Is the sentence order flexible? For example, can the location go earlier?

Yes, Indonesian word order can be somewhat flexible, especially with location phrases, as long as it stays clear. These are all natural:

  • Tolong taruh kunci cadangan itu di dalam kotak kecil. (most neutral)
  • Tolong taruh di dalam kotak kecil kunci cadangan itu. (possible, a bit marked)
  • Di dalam kotak kecil, tolong taruh kunci cadangan itu. (more emphasis on location; sounds like giving directions)

The original version is the most straightforward and common.