Language/Javanese/Grammar/Present-Tense

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Javanese → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Present Tense

In learning Javanese, understanding how to express actions happening in the present is essential. The present tense forms the backbone of daily communication, enabling you to describe what you do, what you see, and how you feel. Whether you’re ordering food, chatting with friends, or simply sharing your day, mastering the present tense will significantly enhance your fluency and confidence in the language.

In this lesson, we will explore the present tense in Javanese, covering the structure, conjugation, and usage of verbs. We will also provide numerous examples to illustrate how these verbs function in everyday conversation. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of the present tense, enabling you to describe actions happening now with ease and clarity.

Understanding the Present Tense

The present tense in Javanese is used to express actions that are currently happening or habitual actions. It is straightforward and does not involve complex conjugation patterns like in some other languages.

Present Tense Structure

In Javanese, a simple formula can be used for forming sentences in the present tense:

Subject + Verb + Object

• Subject: The doer of the action.

• Verb: The action being performed.

• Object: The receiver of the action.

For example:

• I eat rice.

• Subject: I (Aku)

• Verb: eat (mangan)

• Object: rice (beras)

The Javanese equivalent would be:

• Aku mangan beras.

Conjugating Javanese Verbs in the Present Tense

One of the beautiful aspects of Javanese is its simplicity in verb conjugation. Unlike English, where verbs change form depending on the subject, Javanese verbs remain mostly unchanged.

Here are some common verbs used in the present tense:

• Mangan (to eat)

• Ngombe (to drink)

• Sinau (to study)

• Nulis (to write)

To illustrate, let’s look at how these verbs operate in sentences:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English
Aku mangan beras.	/aku maŋan bəra̤s/	I eat rice.
Aku ngombe banyu.	/aku ŋombə bɑɲu/	I drink water.
Aku sinau basa Jawi.	/aku sinau bɑsɑ dʒawi/	I study Javanese.
Aku nulis surat.	/aku nulis surat/	I write a letter.

Common Present Tense Usage

Let's explore some practical examples to deepen your understanding.

Describing Daily Activities

You can use the present tense to describe what you do daily. Here are some examples:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English
Aku tangi esuk.	/aku taŋi ɛsuk/	I wake up in the morning.
Aku mlebu sekolah.	/aku mlɛbu skɔlah/	I enter the school.
Aku dolan karo kancaku.	/aku dolan kɑro kɑnʧɑku/	I hang out with my friend.
Aku dolanan bal-balan.	/aku dolanan bɑl-bɑlɑn/	I play soccer.

Expressing Preferences

You can express likes and dislikes using the present tense:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English
Aku seneng kopi.	/aku sənəŋ kɔpi/	I like coffee.
Aku ora seneng sayur.	/aku ɔra sənəŋ saʏur/	I don’t like vegetables.
Aku seneng maca buku.	/aku sənəŋ mɑtʃɑ buko/	I like reading books.
Aku ora seneng nonton televisi.	/aku ɔra sənəŋ nɔntɔn tɛlɛvisi/	I don’t like watching television.

Talking About Feelings

The present tense can also describe your current feelings:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English
Aku seneng.	/aku sənəŋ/	I am happy.
Aku kesel.	/aku kəsəl/	I am tired.
Aku wedi.	/aku wɛdi/	I am scared.
Aku ngantuk.	/aku ŋɑntuɡ/	I am sleepy.

Practice Exercises

Now it’s time to apply what you’ve learned! Here are some exercises to help solidify your understanding of the present tense.

1. Translate the following sentences into Javanese:

1. I eat fruit.

2. I drink tea.

3. I write a story.

4. I study history.

2. Fill in the blanks:

• Aku ____ (to eat) nasi.

• Aku ____ (to drink) susu.

• Aku ____ (to study) matematika.

• Aku ____ (to write) puisi.

3. Create sentences using the following verbs:

1. Mangan (to eat)

2. Nulis (to write)

3. Dolanan (to play)

4. Ngombe (to drink)

4. Identify the subject, verb, and object in the following sentences:

1. Aku nonton film.

2. Dheweke sinau ing perpustakaan.

5. Change the following sentences to express negation:

1. Aku mangan daging. (I eat meat)

2. Aku sinau basa Inggris. (I study English)

6. Construct a sentence describing your daily routine using the present tense.

7. Express your likes and dislikes in Javanese.

8. Describe your current feelings in Javanese.

9. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Aku ora seneng kopi.

2. Dheweke dolan ing taman.

10. Write a short paragraph about what you do every day using the present tense.

Answers and Explanations

1. Answers to Translation:

• Aku mangan woh-wohan.

• Aku ngombe teh.

• Aku nulis cerita.

• Aku sinau sejarah.

2. Fill in the blanks:

• Aku mangan nasi.

• Aku ngombe susu.

• Aku sinau matematika.

• Aku nulis puisi.

3. Sample Sentences:

• Aku mangan soto. (I eat soto.)

• Aku nulis surat kanggo ibuku. (I write a letter to my mother.)

• Aku dolanan bola basket. (I play basketball.)

• Aku ngombe jeruk. (I drink orange juice.)

4. Identifying Components:

• Aku nonton film.

• Subject: Aku

• Verb: nonton

• Object: film

• Dheweke sinau ing perpustakaan.

• Subject: Dheweke

• Verb: sinau

• Object: ing perpustakaan (in the library is a location, not an object)

5. Negation:

• Aku ora mangan daging. (I do not eat meat.)

• Aku ora sinau basa Inggris. (I do not study English.)

6. Daily Routine Example:

• Setiap esuk, aku tangi, aku ngombe kopi, aku maca koran, lan aku sinau. (Every morning, I wake up, I drink coffee, I read the newspaper, and I study.)

7. Likes and Dislikes Example:

• Aku seneng dolanan, nanging aku ora seneng nulis. (I like playing but I don’t like writing.)

8. Feelings Example:

• Aku seneng amarga dina iki cerah. (I am happy because today is sunny.)

9. Translation Answers:

• I don’t like coffee.

• He/She plays in the park.

10. Short Paragraph Example:

• Saben dina, aku tangi jam enem. Aku mangan sarapan lan ngombe teh. Banjur, aku sinau ing sekolah nganti sore. Sore, aku dolan karo kancaku. (Every day, I wake up at six. I eat breakfast and drink tea. Then, I study at school until the afternoon. In the evening, I hang out with my friends.)

With practice, you will become more comfortable using the present tense in Javanese. Remember, repetition is key, and the more you engage with the language, the more natural it will become.

Table of Contents - Javanese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Questions and Negations

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-10
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationship Terms

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Food and Drinks

• Common Foods
• Drinks and Beverages

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Adverbs of Manner

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Vocabulary

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Basic Prepositions
• Common Conjunctions

  ---

Javanese Customs and Etiquette

• Politeness Levels
• Social Etiquette

Sources

• Javanese Grammar | LEARN101.ORG
• Javanese language - Wikipedia

Other Lessons

• Pronouns
• Future Tense
• Nouns
• Possessive Pronouns
• Gender
• Descriptive Adjectives
• How to Use Be
• Plurals
• Give your Opinion
• Adverbs of Manner

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