Understanding Complex Sentence Structures and Subordination in Indonesian

What Are Complex Sentences in Indonesian?

Complex sentences in Indonesian are sentences that contain one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses. These structures allow speakers to express more detailed and nuanced ideas by connecting related thoughts within a single sentence.

Understanding Subordination in Indonesian

Subordination is the process of linking a dependent clause to a main clause, where the dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. In Indonesian, subordination is often marked by specific conjunctions or relative pronouns that introduce the subordinate clause.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions

Here are some frequently used subordinating conjunctions in Indonesian that introduce subordinate clauses:

• karena – because
• jika / kalau – if
• meskipun – although
• sebelum – before
• setelah – after
• supaya – so that
• walaupun – even though

Examples of Subordinate Clauses

Let's look at some examples of complex sentences with subordinate clauses in Indonesian:

• Saya pergi ke pasar karena saya ingin membeli buah. (I went to the market because I wanted to buy fruit.)
• Jika kamu datang lebih awal, kita bisa makan bersama. (If you come earlier, we can eat together.)
• Dia tetap bekerja meskipun sedang sakit. (He/she keeps working although he/she is sick.)

Forming Relative Clauses in Indonesian

Relative clauses provide additional information about a noun and are introduced by relative pronouns such as yang. These clauses function as subordinate clauses and are essential for creating complex sentences.

Example:

• Orang yang memakai baju merah adalah guru saya. (The person who is wearing a red shirt is my teacher.)
• Buku yang saya baca sangat menarik. (The book that I am reading is very interesting.)

Tips for Using Complex Sentences and Subordination in Indonesian

• Identify the main clause and the subordinate clause in your sentence.
• Use appropriate subordinating conjunctions to link clauses.
• Remember that subordinate clauses cannot stand alone as complete sentences.
• Practice by combining simple sentences into complex ones using conjunctions and relative pronouns.
• Listen to native speakers and read Indonesian texts to see examples of complex sentence structures in context.