Indonesian · BIPA 1 (A1) · Chapter 3
Nama saya BudiMy name is Budi
Your first sentence: SVO word order and the word "adalah" (X adalah Y), usually dropped in casual sentences and ALWAYS dropped before adjectives (Saya baik, not Saya adalah baik). Also: "saya" (formal) vs "aku" (casual). Mike — a learner like you — appears and makes mistakes for us to fix together.
Dialogue
i
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Nama saya...— My name is...
- BudiHalo! Nama saya Budi.Hi! My name is Budi.
- SariHalo Budi! Nama saya Sari.Hi Budi! My name is Sari.
- BudiSaya mahasiswa. Sari pelajar?I'm a university student. Sari, are you a student?
- SariYa! Saya pelajar dan teman.Yes! I'm a student and a friend.
Dialogue
i
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Mike salah sedikit— Mike Slips a Little
- BudiHalo! Nama saya Budi.Hi! My name is Budi.
- MikeHalo! Saya Mike. Saya mahasiswa.Hi! I'm Mike. I'm a university student.
- MikeSaya adalah baik!I "am" good! (wrong: adalah before an adjective)
- SariMike, "Saya baik"!Mike, "Saya baik"! (no adalah before an adjective — just "Saya baik")
- MikeOh! Saya baik. Terima kasih!Oh! I'm good. Thank you!
Vocabulary
i
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- saya
pronounI, me (formal)
- aku
pronounI, me (casual)
- nama
nounname
- adalah
verbis/am/are (links noun to noun)
- orang
nounperson
- teman
nounfriend
- pelajar
nounstudent (school)
- mahasiswa
noununiversity student
- apa
pronounwhat
- dan
conjunctionand
- ini
pronounthis
Grammar
i
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Word order and "adalah"
Explanation
Indonesian uses S–V–O order like English: Saya pelajar = I (am) a student. The word "adalah" links one NOUN to another noun (Dia adalah guru), but in casual sentences it is usually DROPPED: just "Saya pelajar", "Dia guru". One hard rule: NEVER use "adalah" before an ADJECTIVE. Say "Saya baik" (I am well) — never "Saya adalah baik". An adjective is its own predicate.
Examples
- Dia adalah guru. (formal)He is a teacher. (formal)
- Saya pelajar. ("adalah" dibuang)I am a student. ("adalah" dropped)
- Ini teman. (Ini + kata benda)This is a friend. (Ini + noun)
- Saya baik. (kata sifat — TANPA "adalah")I am well. (adjective — NO "adalah")
Grammar
i
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"saya" vs "aku", and "Nama saya..."
Explanation
Indonesian has two words for "I/me". "Saya" is polite and neutral — safe everywhere: class, work, new people. "Aku" is casual — for friends and family. When in doubt, use "saya". To give your name, use the pattern "Nama saya [X]" — literally "name my [X]". The thing owned comes FIRST, the owner after (nama → saya). This is the reverse of English ("my name"), and we will use it again.
Examples
- Nama saya Budi.My name is Budi.
- Aku Budi. (santai)I'm Budi. (casual)
- Saya mahasiswa. (formal)I'm a university student. (formal)
- Aku pelajar dan teman. (santai)I'm a student and a friend. (casual)
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