Language/Indonesian/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be

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Indonesian Grammar - How to Use "Be"

Hi Indonesian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use "be" in Indonesian. "Be" in Indonesian can be translated to "adalah" or "merupakan". It is important to understand how to use "be" because it is widely used in daily conversations. Let's get started!

Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Questions & Comparative.

"Be" in Indonesian[edit | edit source]

"Be" in Indonesian has two equivalent translations, "adalah" and "merupakan". "Adalah" is more commonly used in daily conversations, while "merupakan" is more formal.

The use of "adalah"[edit | edit source]

"Adalah" is used when we want to say that:

  • A thing or person has a certain characteristic
  • A thing or person belongs to a certain category
  • A thing or person defines what something else is

Here are some examples:

Indonesian Pronunciation English
Dia adalah guru. Di-a a-da-lah gu-ru She is a teacher.
Sekolah adalah tempat belajar. Se-ko-lah a-da-lah tem-pat bel-a-jar School is a place to learn.
Bahasa Indonesia adalah bahasa resmi Indonesia. Ba-ha-sa In-do-ne-sia a-da-lah ba-ha-sa res-mi In-do-ne-sia Indonesian language is the official language of Indonesia.
Pohon mangga adalah pohon buah. Po-hon mang-ga a-da-lah po-hon bu-ah Mango tree is a fruit tree.

The use of "merupakan"[edit | edit source]

"Merupakan" is used to express the same meaning as "adalah", but it is more formal. Here are some examples:

Indonesian Pronunciation English
Dia merupakan guru. Di-a mer-u-pa-kan gu-ru She is a teacher.
Sekolah merupakan tempat belajar. Se-ko-lah mer-u-pa-kan tem-pat bel-a-jar School is a place to learn.
Bahasa Indonesia merupakan bahasa resmi Indonesia. Ba-ha-sa In-do-ne-sia mer-u-pa-kan ba-ha-sa res-mi In-do-ne-sia Indonesian language is the official language of Indonesia.
Pohon mangga merupakan pohon buah. Po-hon mang-ga mer-u-pa-kan po-hon bu-ah Mango tree is a fruit tree.

Pronunciation Tips[edit | edit source]

When you use "adalah" or "merupakan", make sure the emphasis is on the last syllable. For example, "bahasa Indonesia" should be pronounced "ba-ha-sa In-do-ne-sia", with emphasis on the last syllable of "Indonesia".

Examples in Dialogue[edit | edit source]

Let's see some examples of how to use "be" in Indonesian dialogue:

- Budi: Kamu adalah mahasiswa, ya? (You are a student, right?) - Siti: Ya, aku adalah mahasiswa jurusan bahasa Inggris. (Yes, I am a student majoring in English language.)

- Diah: Apa pekerjaanmu sekarang? (What is your current job?) - Yusuf: Sekarang, aku merupakan staf marketing di perusahaan besar. (Now, I am a marketing staff in a big company.)

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

In conclusion, "be" in Indonesian can be translated to "adalah" or "merupakan". "Adalah" is more commonly used in daily conversations, while "merupakan" is more formal. To master this grammar, practice using "adalah" and "merupakan" in everyday conversations. To improve your Indonesian Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!


➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Great work on completing this lesson! Take a moment to investigate these connected pages: Pronouns & Why Learn Indonesian.


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