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

Indonesian Grammar - How to Use "Have"

Hi Indonesian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "have" in Indonesian. "Have" is a common verb in English, and it has different uses in Indonesian too. Let's dive in!

Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Plurals & Prepositions.

The Basic Usage of "Have"

In Bahasa Indonesia, the verb "have" can be translated into several meanings depending on the context. The most common one is to express possession, which is similar to the English language. For example,

Indonesian	Pronunciation	English
Saya punya rumah.	Sa-ya pu-nya ru-mah.	I have a house.

In this context, "punya" means "have" or "own". Let's see another example,

Indonesian	Pronunciation	English
Dia punya buku.	Di-a pu-nya bu-ku.	He/she has a book.

"Punya" can also mean "having" in Indonesian. For example,

Indonesian	Pronunciation	English
Saya sedang punya masalah.	Sa-ya se-dang pu-nya ma-sa-lah.	I am having a problem.

In this context, "sedang" means "in the process of" or "currently". So, "Saya sedang punya masalah" can be translated as "I am currently having a problem".

Aside from that, "have" can also be used to form perfect tenses in Indonesian. The perfect tenses (past participle) in Indonesian are formed by using the word "telah" (have/has) + verb root.

For example,

Indonesian	Pronunciation	English
Saya telah membaca buku itu.	Sa-ya te-lah mem-ba-ca bu-ku i-tu.	I have read that book.

Colloquial Way of Saying "Have"

In Indonesian, there is a colloquial way of saying "have", which is "ada". However, "ada" is used to express the existence or presence of something instead of possession. For example,

Indonesian	Pronunciation	English
Di sini ada kedai kopi.	Di si-ni a-da ke-dai ko-pi.	There is a coffee shop here.

In this context, "ada" means "there is/are" or "exist".

Useful Phrases with "Have"

• Saya punya hobi memasak. (I have a hobby of cooking.)
• Kamu sudah punya pacar? (Do you already have a girlfriend/boyfriend?)
• Dia suka punya kucing peliharaan. (He/she likes having a pet cat.)
• Apa ada saran? (Do you have any suggestions?)

Dialogue

Here's a dialogue to help you practice your understanding of the usage of "have" in Indonesian.

• Person 1: Apa kamu punya pekerjaan? (Do you have a job?)
• Person 2: Ya, saya punya pekerjaan di toko baju. (Yes, I have a job at a clothing store.)
• Person 1: Wow, kamu suka punya hobi lain selain pekerjaanmu? (Wow, do you like having other hobbies aside from your job?)
• Person 2: Iya, saya suka punya hobi memasak dan berkebun. (Yes, I like having hobbies of cooking and gardening.)

Summary

In Indonesian, we use "punya" to express possession, and "ada" to express existence. We also have the perfect tenses, which are formed by using "telah" + verb root. Use these phrases in your conversations and practice with native speakers on Polyglot Club! Don't forget to find native speakers and ask them any questions about the Indonesian Grammar. 😀

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