How to Use Possessive Pronouns and Adjectives in Indonesian

Understanding Possessive Pronouns and Adjectives in Indonesian

In Indonesian, possessive pronouns and adjectives are used to indicate ownership or possession, similar to English. However, Indonesian forms them differently, often using suffixes attached to the noun or separate possessive pronouns.

Possessive Pronouns vs Possessive Adjectives

Possessive adjectives modify a noun to show ownership (e.g., "my book"), while possessive pronouns replace the noun entirely (e.g., "mine"). In Indonesian, the distinction is less rigid because possession is often shown by suffixes or possessive pronouns placed after the noun.

Forming Possession with Suffixes

One common way to express possession in Indonesian is by adding suffixes to the noun. These suffixes correspond to the possessor and are attached directly to the noun.

• -ku (my)
• -mu (your)
• -nya (his/her/its/their)

For example, the word buku means "book." To say "my book," you say bukuku. Similarly, "your book" is bukumu, and "his/her book" is bukunya.

Examples of Possessive Suffixes in Use

• Rumahku (my house)
• Mobilmu (your car)
• Bajunya (his/her shirt)

Using Separate Possessive Pronouns

Alternatively, Indonesian uses separate possessive pronouns placed after the noun to indicate possession. These pronouns are the same as the suffixes but used as separate words.

• Saya (I/me)
• Kamu (you)
• Dia (he/she)
• Kami (we, excluding listener)
• Kita (we, including listener)
• Mereka (they)

To express possession, the noun is followed by the possessive pronoun. For example, buku saya means "my book," literally "book I." This form is often used for emphasis or clarity.

Examples of Possessive Pronouns After Nouns

• Rumah saya (my house)
• Mobil kamu (your car)
• Baju dia (his/her shirt)

Key Differences and Usage Tips

Both suffixes and separate possessive pronouns are correct and commonly used in Indonesian. However, suffixes are more informal and often used in spoken language, while separate pronouns are more formal or used for emphasis.

Note that the suffix -nya can mean his, her, its, or their, so context is important to understand the possessor.

Summary of Possessive Forms in Indonesian

• Suffixes: -ku (my), -mu (your), -nya (his/her/its/their) attached to the noun
• Separate pronouns: noun + saya, kamu, dia, kami, kita, mereka
• Suffixes are informal; separate pronouns are formal or emphatic

Practice Examples

Try translating these phrases into Indonesian using both suffixes and separate possessive pronouns:

1. My friend
2. Your school
3. Their house
4. Our teacher (including listener)
5. His/her bag

Answers:

1. Teman saya / Temanku
2. Sekolah kamu / Sekolahmu
3. Rumah mereka / Rumahnya
4. Guru kita / Guruku
5. Tas dia / Tasnya