VERBS

Indonesian verbs are not conjugated according to pronoun, tense and number. The verb remains the same in all cases. So, for example, dia pergi can mean 'she/he goes', 'she/he will go', 'she/he was going', 'she/he went', and 'she/he has gone'.

Root Verbs, Prefixes, and Suffixes
Indonesian verbs may be more complex than English verbs, however, in that the meaning of the word may have as much to do with the applied affixation -- the prefix and/or suffix such as ber__ or me__ attached to the rootword.

A number of Indonesian verbs are classified as independent verbs, or simple root verbs. Independent verbs can be used in sentences as they are, without any affixation. Most verbs, however, consist of a root word with a prefix and in many cases a suffix. There are two verbal prefixes, generally known as the ber- prefix and the me- prefix. Common verbal suffixes include -kan and -i.

For example:
jalan - road; way
berjalan (ber+jalan) - to walk
menjalankan (me+n+jalan+kan) - to run something (e.g. a business)

Note that the addition of the prefix often involves a change of spelling depending on the intial letter of the root verb, for example, the addition of n, m, ng, or another consonant. This is particularly important when looking up words in the dictionary as verbs are usually listed under their root form, rather than their prefix form.

Most independent verbs and ber- verbs are intransitive (i.e. they don't take an object). Many me- verbs are transitive (i.e. they take an object), however there are some that are intransitive, and some that may be both transitive and intransitive.

INDEPENDENT VERBS
The most commonly used independent verbs are listed. These verbs can be used with no affixation; most are intransitive. Prepositions which are usually used with the verbs are included.

ada		to have; to own; there is/are
buka		to open
datang (ke)		to come (to)
duduk (di)		to sit (on)
ikut (dengan)		to join (in, with)
keluar (dari)		to go out (of, from)
makan		to eat
mandi		to take a shower
marah (pada)		to be angry (with, at)
masuk (ke)		to enter (into)
minum		to drink
mulai		to begin
naik		to ride; to go up
pergi		to go
pulang		to go home
sampai		to reach
selesai		to be finished
suka		to like
tahu		to know
terbang		to fly
tiba		to arrive
tidur		to sleep
tinggal		to stay; to live (residence)
turun		to go down
tutup		to close

The word adalah may sometimes be used to join two nouns in the sense of X is Y, but this is usually optional. Adalah cannot be used to join a noun with an adjective, however.

EXAMPLES:
Saya orang Amerika.
(lit. I-person-America)
I am an American.

Saya adalah orang Amerika.

Hotel itu bagus.
(lit. hotel-that-good)
That hotel is good.

WRONG:
Hotel itu adalah bagus.

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PRONUNCIATION
GRAMMAR
VERBS
NUMBERS
DATE & TIME

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NEED TENSE?
When it is important to specify reference to the past, present, or future, certain words can be placed before the verb:

sudah
already

belum
not yet

sedang
in the process of

masih
still

akan
will

WHERE'S THE 'ME-?
In conversation, the me- prefix is often omitted.

saya mau membeli ini
lit. I-want-buy-this
I want to buy this

is often heard as

saya mau beli ini

MORE VERBS TO KNOW
Worth noting are other important verbs that are not classified as independent verbs but can be understood on their own (no affixation).

ambil
to take; to get

bawa
to carry

beli
to buy

bisa
to be able to; can

boleh
to be premitted; may

cari
to look for; to seek

dapat
to get; to reach; to attain

dengar
to hear

harus
to be necessary; must

jadi
to become; to happen

kasih
to give

lihat
to see

mau
to want

pakai
to use; to wear

perlu
to need

punya
to have; to own

sewa
to rent

taruh
to put; to place

terima
to receive