Indonesian Verbs

If you are trying to communicate in Indonesian you will need to learn verbs and their proper use to be able to get your ideas and concepts across. Without verbs you will have a hard time getting yourself understood, and communicating with locals will be made that much more difficult. Like any language most sentences are made up of a combination of nouns and verbs, or action words. If you are having trouble learning Indonesian verbs try not to make yourself anxious. Instead learn a few of the rules that govern all Indonesian verbs and learn them the same way you would the Indonesian alphabet, by starting at the beginning.

Indonesian verbs do not change according to number or voice. In addition, there is no differentiation between the masculine and the feminine. However, if you think that this makes Indonesian verbs simple you are in for a surprise.

Instead, Indonesian verbs make use of prefixes and suffixes which can change a words meaning and how it is used correctly. Adding prefixes and suffixes to certain words can also change the spelling. There are two prefixes, ber- and me-, and many more suffixes. Independent verbs do not have a prefix or suffix and are known as simple root verbs. In addition, Indonesian verbs use present, past, and future tense.

Learning verbs is often difficult, because many times different verb characteristics can change the spelling and pronunciation of a verb. When you are learning how to speak Indonesian a lot of it comes down to simple memorization.

You can assist you memorization of Indonesian words such as verbs by using memorization techniques like flashcards and lists. Make your own flashcards using small note cards or card stock. Lists are also helpful if you write them out by hand rather than using a computer to compile them. Writing words out by hand is a memorization technique that is used by many people whenever they need to memorize large amounts of information.

If you haven’t subscribed to an Indonesian podcast you are missing a great opportunity to have immediate access to recordings, Indonesian dictionaries, and other language learning aids that will benefit you in your studies. Students who take advantage of using podcasts to help them learn a language learn faster than students who try to learn on their own. Even if you are taking a class a podcast can be a supplemental tool that will take your studies to a higher level.