Language/Indonesian/Grammar/Questions-and-Answers

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Indonesian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Questions and Answers

Welcome to the "Indonesian Grammar → Questions and Answers" lesson! In this exciting chapter, we will explore the building blocks of communication in Indonesian: how to ask questions and how to respond to them. Understanding how to formulate questions is crucial, as it opens up avenues for conversation, allows you to gather information, and fosters connections with the people around you.

Indonesian, like many languages, has specific ways to ask questions, and today we will focus on some essential question words: apa (what), siapa (who), bagaimana (how), and di mana (where). By the end of this lesson, you will not only know how to ask these questions but also how to respond appropriately.

Let's dive into the lesson structure:

Importance of Questions in Communication

Asking questions is a fundamental part of human interaction. Questions help us learn, understand, and connect with others. In Indonesian culture, asking questions is a sign of interest and engagement in a conversation. Mastering the art of questioning will empower you to participate more actively in discussions and make your conversations richer.

Essential Question Words

In this section, we will learn the four main question words in Indonesian:

Apa (What)

Apa is used to ask about things, objects, or concepts. It is one of the most commonly used question words in Indonesian.

Siapa (Who)

Siapa is used to inquire about people. Whether you're asking for someone's name or identifying someone, this word is your go-to.

Bagaimana (How)

Bagaimana is used to ask about the manner or condition of something. It can be used to ask for descriptions, opinions, or explanations.

Di mana (Where)

Di mana is used to ask about locations or places. If you want to know where something is, this is the phrase you'll use.

Formulating Questions

Let's break down how to structure questions in Indonesian using these question words.

Structure

The basic structure for forming questions in Indonesian is straightforward. You typically place the question word at the beginning of the sentence.

General Structure:

• Question word + Subject + Verb + Object?

Here are some examples to illustrate this structure:

Indonesian	Pronunciation	English
Apa yang kamu lakukan?	/ˈapa jɑŋ ˈkamu lukuˈkan?/	What are you doing?
Siapa namamu?	/ˈsiapa ˈnamamu?/	What is your name?
Bagaimana kabarmu?	/bɒˈɡaimana kɒˈbɒrmu?/	How are you?
Di mana kamu tinggal?	/di ˈmɑna ˈkamu tiŋˈɡal?/	Where do you live?

Responding to Questions

Now that we know how to ask questions, let's learn how to respond to them.

Basic Responses

Responses can vary based on the question, but generally, they follow a simple structure. Here are some common responses:

• Apa: To respond, you can repeat the object or provide more detail.

• Siapa: State your name or the name of the person being asked about.

• Bagaimana: Share your feelings or opinions.

• Di mana: Indicate the location.

Here are examples of responses to each question word:

Indonesian	Pronunciation	English
Saya sedang belajar.	/ˈsaja ˈsɛdaŋ bəˈlajar/	I am studying.
Nama saya John.	/ˈnama ˈsaja ˈdʒon/	My name is John.
Saya baik-baik saja.	/ˈsaja ˈbaɪk ˈbaɪk ˈsaja/	I am fine.
Saya tinggal di Jakarta.	/ˈsaja ˈtiŋɡal di dʒaˈkarta/	I live in Jakarta.

Examples of Questions and Answers

Now, let’s compile a list of questions and answers using the four essential question words. This will provide you with a clearer understanding of how to engage in conversations.

Indonesian Question	Pronunciation	English Question	Indonesian Answer	Pronunciation	English Answer
Apa makanan favoritmu?	/ˈapa maˈkanan faˈvoritmu?/	What is your favorite food?	Makanan favorit saya nasi goreng.	/maˈkanan faˈvorit ˈsaja ˈnasi ɡoˈrɛŋ/	My favorite food is fried rice.
Siapa teman baikmu?	/ˈsiapa təˈman ˈbaɪkmu?/	Who is your best friend?	Teman baik saya Budi.	/təˈman ˈbaɪk ˈsaja ˈbudi/	My best friend is Budi.
Bagaimana cuaca hari ini?	/bɒˈɡaimana ˈtʃuːatʃa ˈhɑri ˈini?/	How is the weather today?	Cuaca hari ini cerah.	/ˈtʃuːatʃa ˈhɑri ˈini tʃəˈraɥ/	The weather today is sunny.
Di mana kamu bekerja?	/di ˈmɑna ˈkamu bəˈkerdʒa?/	Where do you work?	Saya bekerja di kantor.	/ˈsaja bəˈkerdʒa di ˈkantoʁ/	I work in an office.
Apa yang kamu suka?	/ˈapa jɑŋ ˈkamu ˈsuːka?/	What do you like?	Saya suka musik.	/ˈsaja ˈsuːka ˈmusɪk/	I like music.
Siapa yang menelepon?	/ˈsiapa jɑŋ məˈnɛlɛfon?/	Who is calling?	Yang menelepon adalah Ibu.	/jɑŋ məˈnɛlɛfon ˈadalah ˈibu/	The one calling is Mother.
Bagaimana perasaanmu?	/bɒˈɡaimana pəˈrasaanmu?/	How do you feel?	Saya merasa bahagia.	/ˈsaja məˈrasa baˈhɑɡiɐ/	I feel happy.
Di mana pasar terdekat?	/di ˈmɑna ˈpasar tərˈdɛkʌt?/	Where is the nearest market?	Pasar terdekat di sebelah kiri.	/ˈpasar tərˈdɛkʌt di səˈblɑh ˈkiri/	The nearest market is on the left.
Apa yang kamu lakukan akhir pekan?	/ˈapa jɑŋ ˈkamu lukuˈkan ˈakhir pəˈkɑn?/	What do you do on weekends?	Saya suka beristirahat.	/ˈsaja ˈsuːka bəˈristiˈrahat/	I like to rest.
Siapa yang datang ke pesta?	/ˈsiapa jɑŋ ˈdaːtʌŋ kə ˈpɛstə?/	Who is coming to the party?	Teman-temanku datang.	/təˈmantəˈmʊŋku ˈdaːtʌŋ/	My friends are coming.
Bagaimana cara menggunakan aplikasi ini?	/bɒˈɡaimana ˈtʃara mɛnɡuˈnakan apˈlikasɪ ˈini?/	How to use this application?	Ikuti petunjuk di layar.	/ɪˈkʊti pəˈtuŋdʒʊk di ˈlɑjɑr/	Follow the instructions on the screen.
Di mana kita bisa bertemu?	/di ˈmɑna ˈkita ˈbɪsa bərˈtɛmu?/	Where can we meet?	Kita bisa bertemu di kafe.	/ˈkita ˈbɪsa bərˈtɛmu di ˈkafe/	We can meet at the café.

Practice Exercises

To reinforce what you’ve learned, let's engage in some exercises. These will help you practice forming questions and responses in various contexts.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the questions using the appropriate question words (apa, siapa, bagaimana, di mana).

1. _______ kamu pergi?

2. _______ yang kamu lihat?

3. _______ kamu merasa hari ini?

4. _______ namanya?

5. _______ kita bertemu?

Answers:

1. Di mana

2. Apa

3. Bagaimana

4. Siapa

5. Di mana

Exercise 2: Match the Questions with the Answers

Match the questions on the left with the correct answers on the right.

| Questions | Answers |

|---|---|

| 1. Apa yang kamu makan? | a. Di rumah. |

| 2. Siapa temanmu? | b. Saya lapar. |

| 3. Bagaimana cuacanya? | c. Temanku adalah Rina. |

| 4. Di mana kamu tinggal? | d. Cuacanya cerah. |

Answers:

1 - b, 2 - c, 3 - d, 4 - a

Exercise 3: Create Your Own Questions

Write your own questions using each of the four question words. Then, practice asking them with a partner.

Example:

• Apa hobi kamu?

• Siapa yang kamu cintai?

• Bagaimana cara belajar bahasa Indonesia?

• Di mana kamu ingin pergi?

Exercise 4: Role Play

In pairs, take turns being the questioner and responder. Use the questions from the examples above and create a short dialogue.

Example:

• A: Apa makanan favoritmu?

• B: Makanan favorit saya adalah pizza.

Exercise 5: True/False Statements

Read the following statements and decide if they are true or false based on the question word used.

1. “Siapa” is used to ask about locations. (False)

2. “Apa” is used to ask about objects. (True)

3. “Bagaimana” can inquire about a person's feelings. (True)

4. “Di mana” is used to ask about people's names. (False)

Exercise 6: Question Formation

Formulate a complete question using the information provided.

1. (what) your favorite drink?

2. (who) your best friend?

3. (how) you doing today?

4. (where) your house?

Answers:

1. Apa minuman favoritmu?

2. Siapa teman baikmu?

3. Bagaimana kabarmu hari ini?

4. Di mana rumahmu?

Exercise 7: Short Answer Practice

Provide a short answer to the following questions.

1. Siapa kamu?

2. Apa yang kamu lakukan?

3. Di mana kamu tinggal?

4. Bagaimana harimu?

Example Answers:

1. Saya John.

2. Saya belajar.

3. Saya tinggal di Jakarta.

4. Hari saya baik.

Exercise 8: Question and Answer Match

Match the questions with the correct answers.

Questions:

1. Siapa presiden Indonesia?

2. Apa ibu kota Indonesia?

3. Di mana Bali?

4. Bagaimana makanan di Indonesia?

Answers:

a. Bali terletak di sebelah timur Jawa.

b. Jakarta.

c. Joko Widodo.

d. Makanan di Indonesia sangat lezat.

Answers:

1 - c, 2 - b, 3 - a, 4 - d

Exercise 9: Group Discussion

In small groups, discuss the following topic using the question words:

• “Talk about your weekend plans.” Use all four question words to guide your discussion.

Exercise 10: Quiz Yourself

Create a mini-quiz for yourself or a partner using the four question words. Each question should require a thoughtful answer.

Example Questions:

• Apa yang kamu ingin capai tahun ini?

• Siapa yang paling berpengaruh dalam hidupmu?

• Bagaimana cara kamu belajar bahasa baru?

• Di mana tempat yang paling kamu sukai di kotamu?

Conclusion

As we wrap up this lesson, remember that asking questions is an art form that enhances your communication skills. With practice, you'll become more confident in using apa, siapa, bagaimana, and di mana. These tools will become invaluable as you continue your journey in learning Indonesian and interacting with native speakers.

Keep practicing, and don’t hesitate to use these questions in your daily conversations. The more you engage, the more fluent you'll become!

Table of Contents - Indonesian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Pronouns and Greetings

• Personal Pronouns
• Greetings and Introductions

  ---

Basic Grammar

• Word Order
• Indonesian Nouns
• Verbs in Indonesian

  ---

Daily Life

• Basic Phrases
• Numbers and Time
• Days, Months, and Seasons

  ---

Sentence Structure

• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Questions and Answers
• Negation and Affirmation

  ---

Indonesian Culture

• Indonesian Festivals
• Indonesian Food

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Transportation
• Directions

  ---

Verb Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Shopping and Bargaining

• Basic Shopping Phrases
• Bargaining Strategies

  ---

Indonesian Arts

• Indonesian Music
• Indonesian Dance

  ---

Modal Verbs

• Can and Must
• May and Should

  ---

Colors and Shapes

• Colors
• Shapes

  ---

Comparative and Superlative

• Comparative
• Superlative

  ---

Indonesian Traditions

• Indonesian Weddings
• Indonesian Batik

  ---

Emergencies

• Medical Emergencies
• Natural Disasters

  ---

Indirect and Direct Speech

• Direct Speech
• Indirect Speech

  ---

Jobs and Professions

• Job Titles
• Workplaces

  ---

Indonesian Holidays

• Indonesian Independence Day
• Idul Fitri

Sources

• Common Questions in Indonesian & How to Answer Them
• Free Indonesian Language Quiz - Test Your Language
• Indonesian Negation: Learn How to Form Negative Sentences

Other Lessons

• Comparative
• Future Tense
• Direct Speech
• Word Order
• Comaratives and Superlatives
• Indefinite Articles in Indonesian
• Give your Opinion
• 0 to A1 Course
• Weather in Indonesian

◀️ Adjectives and Adverbs — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Negation and Affirmation ▶️