Basic Verbs
Basic verbs: no conjugation! makan, minum, pergi, datang, tidur, beli, jual, ada
Can use basic Indonesian verbs in simple sentences without conjugation
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Saya makan nasi goreng.
I eat fried rice.
Dia minum teh setiap pagi.
He/She drinks tea every morning.
Mereka pergi ke pasar.
They go to the market.
Ada air di dalam kulkas.
There is water in the fridge.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Indonesian verbs never change form — no conjugation for person, number, or tense! 'makan' (eat) is 'makan' for I/you/he/she/we/they, past/present/future. Tense is shown by time words: 'kemarin' (yesterday), 'sekarang' (now), 'besok' (tomorrow). Key verbs: makan (eat), minum (drink), pergi (go), datang (come), tidur (sleep), beli (buy), jual (sell). 'ada' = there is/exists.
Common Error Patterns
Trying to change verb form for different subjects or tenses
Indonesian verbs NEVER change form. 'Saya makan', 'Dia makan', 'Mereka makan' — always 'makan'.
Expecting verb form to convey tense without time words
Add time words for tense: 'kemarin' (yesterday), 'sekarang' (now), 'besok' (tomorrow).
Saya makan nasi goreng.
I eat fried rice.
'makan' = eat. No conjugation needed. 'nasi goreng' = fried rice (Indonesia's national dish!).
Dia minum teh setiap pagi.
He/She drinks tea every morning.
'Dia minum' — same verb form as 'Saya minum'. No '-s' ending! 'setiap pagi' = every morning.
Mereka pergi ke pasar.
They go to the market.
'pergi' = go. 'ke' = to (direction). 'pasar' = market (bazaar). No 'they go/he goes' distinction.
Ada air di dalam kulkas.
There is water in the fridge.
'ada' = there is / exists. 'di dalam' = inside. 'kulkas' = refrigerator (from Dutch 'koelkast').
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises