Indonesian Syntax
Indonesian Syntax
Indonesian Syntax
The basic word order of Indonesian is very similar to English, for example:
Saya perlu taksi. = I need (a) taxi.
Saya datang kemarin. = I arrived yesterday.
There is one basic difference with Indonesian sentence structure. In Indonesian, the most
important noun or subject is normally placed at the first of the sentence. If the subject of
the sentence is also the object of the verb, then it is placed first and the passive form verb
will often be used, ( a verb becomes passive when preceeded with "di-"). For example:
Buku itu ditaruh di sana. = Put the book over there.
(lit: book-that-put-at-there)
Bapak mau ke mana? = Where is father going?
(lit: father-want-to-where?)
Saya mau ayam goreng Kentucky. = I want Kentucky Fried Chicken.
(lit: I-want-chicken-fried-Kentucky)
(You will see Colonel Sanders in Indonesia. His restaurant name provides a memorable
grammar lesson.)
Additionally, the subject within a sentence is often implied and not verbally
communicated. For instance:
Mau pergi? = Do you want to go?
(lit: want-go)
Ada kamar? = Do you have any rooms?
(lit: have-room)
Boleh lihat? = May I see?
(lit: may-see?)
http://learningindonesian.blogspot.com/2005/05/indonesian-syntax-word-order.html
Introduction to Clauses
All clauses have a subject and a verb.
1. INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
This clause is a sentence and can act as a sentence.
Example: I wanted a new ball.
2. SUBORDINATE CLAUSES
A subordinate clause has a subordinator.
Examples: Fred knew that I wanted a new ball.
3. ADVERBIAL CLAUSES
Adverbial clauses modify the entire independent clause or another
subordinate clause to which they might be attached. Some adverbial
subordinators:" because, while, as, if, when, although, as if, after,
since, unless, before, until". Adverbial clauses signal common
adverbial meanings such as time of the event, place of the event,
manner of the event, cause of the event or condition for the event.
Examples:
I haven't been skating since we all went up to Banff last winter.
He stood there as if he was frozen to the very spot.
Fred jogs where there is no traffic because he likes it.
4. RELATIVE CLAUSES
Relative clauses modify nouns and sometimes indefinite pronouns.
Relative clauses occur with the relative pronouns "that, who, which,
whom, whose" Relative clauses may also begin with the following
relative adverbs "when, where, why".
Examples:
Fred knew that I wanted a new ball
I saw the player [that hit you].
I like the park [where I jog].
I would like to know the reason [why you didn't eat the vegtables].
5. NOMINAL CLAUSES
Nominal clauses function as nouns and are subordinated by one of the
following subordinating conjunctions 'how that what when where
whether which who why". Nominal clauses may be replaced with a
pronoun
Examples:
Sentence Constructions
COMPOUND SENTENCES
Compound sentences are constructed using two independant clauses.
Examples:
a. Fred hit the ball well, but he only walked to first base.
b. Computer technologies are more sophisticated and today's
technicians are better trained.
COMPLEX SENTENCES
Complex sentences are constructed using an independant sentence
and a dependant or subordinated clause.
Example: The motion, which the commons narrowly passed, was
defeated by the senate.
(Adjective clause introduced by relative pronoun)
COMPOUND - COMPLEX SENTENCES
Compound - Complex sentences are constucted using two independant
sentences or clauses and a dependant clause.
Example:When the jets fly by, the windows rattle noisily and the whole
house shakes.
http://www.eslincanada.com/englishlesson5.html
clause
Definition:
A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. A clause may be either a
sentence (independent clause) or a sentence-like construction included within another
sentence (dependent clause).
Etymology:
From the Latin, "the close of a sentence or formula"
Examples:
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you
could miss it."
(Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
(Note: "Life moves pretty fast" and "you could miss it" are independent clauses.
"If you don't stop and look around once in awhile" is an adverb clause.)
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
(George Orwell, Animal Farm)
(Note: Orwell's sentence contains two independent clauses joined by the
conjunction "and." This combination is called a compound sentence.)
"A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction."
Virginia Woolf, "A Room of Her Own")
(Note: Woolf's sentence begins with an independent clause--"A woman must have
money and a room of her own"--and ends with an adverb clause. This
combination is called a complex sentence.)
"A man who won't die for something is not fit to live."
(Martin Luther King, Jr.)
(Note: In King's sentence, the independent clause--"A man is not fit to live"--is
interrupted by an adjective clause. This is another example of a complex
sentence.)
"I was more independent than any farmer in Concord, for I was not anchored to a
house or farm, but could follow the bent of my genius, which is a very crooked
one, every moment."
(Henry David Thoreau)
(Note: Thoreau's sentence contains two independent clauses joined by the
conjunction "for"; the second independent clause is interrupted by an adjective
clause--"which is a very crooked one." This combination is called a compoundcomplex sentence.)
http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/clauseterm.htm
Independent clause
A group of words made up of a subject and a predicate. An independent clause (unlike a
dependent clause) can stand alone as a sentence.
A clause is a group of words that [contains] a subject and a verb. There are two
major types: independent clauses and dependent clauses. An independent clause
can stand alone as a sentence, beginning with a capital letter and ending with
terminal punctuation such as a period. A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a
sentence; instead it must be attached to an independent clause."
(Gary Lutz and Diane Stevenson, The Writer's Digest Grammar Desk Reference,
Writer's Digest Books, 2005)
"When liberty is taken away by force, it can be restored by force. When it is
relinquished voluntarily by default, it can never be recovered."
(Dorothy Thompson)
"The average man does not want to be free. He simply wants to be safe.
(H.L. Mencken)
"When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.
(Ernest Hemingway)
"I was born when you kissed me. I died when you left me. I lived a few weeks
while you loved me."
(Humphrey Bogart to Gloria Grahame in the movie In a Lonely Place)
"Advertising is the rattling of a stick inside a swill bucket."
(George Orwell)
"Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.
(Jack Benny)
"Her hat is a creation that will never go out of style; it will just look ridiculous
year after year."
(Fred Allen)
"Comedy has to be based on truth. You take the truth and you put a little curlicue
at the end. (Sid Caesar)
"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door."
(Milton Berle)
"What's another word for 'thesaurus'?"
(Steven Wright)
"You have a responsibility to the public discourse, and you fail miserably."
(Jon Stewart to Tucker Carlson on CNN's Crossfire, October 2004)
"A schedule defends from chaos and whim."
(Annie Dillard)
http://grammar.about.com/od/il/g/independterm.htm
Dependent clause
Definition:
A group of words that begins with a relative pronoun or a subordinating conjunction. A
dependent clause has both a subject and a verb but (unlike an independent clause) cannot
stand alone as a sentence. Dependent clauses include adverb clauses and adjective
clauses.
Examples:
http://grammar.about.com/od/d/g/dependclterm.htm
Subordinate clause
Definition:
A group of words that has both a subject and a verb but (unlike an independent clause)
cannot stand alone as a sentence. Subordinate clauses include adverb clauses and
adjective clauses.
Examples:
"The man who is a pessimist before 48 knows too much; if he is an optimist after
it, he knows too little."
(Mark Twain)
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and
reflect."
(Mark Twain)
"When I'm good, I'm very, very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better."
(Mae West, I'm No Angel)
"Memory is deceptive because it is colored by today's events."
(Albert Einstein)
"If you can't leave in a taxi you can leave in a huff. If that's too soon, you can
leave in a minute and a huff.
(Groucho Marx, Duck Soup)
"The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an
hour, whatever he does, whoever he is."
(C. S. Lewis)
"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who
are rich."
(John F. Kennedy)
"Man, when you lose your laugh, you lose your footing."
(Ken Kesey)
"And whereas women had to fight to find their way into the workforce, men are
now fighting to reclaim their place in the family structure."
(Bob Geldof)
"Every book is a children's book if the kid can read."
(Mitch Hedberg)
http://grammar.about.com/od/rs/g/subclterm.htm