How to Use Relative Clauses in Indonesian for English Speakers

Understanding Relative Clauses in Indonesian

Relative clauses are used to provide additional information about a noun without starting a new sentence. In English, they often begin with words like "who," "which," or "that." Indonesian also uses relative clauses, but the structure is simpler and does not require relative pronouns.

No Relative Pronouns Needed in Indonesian

Unlike English, Indonesian does not use relative pronouns such as "who," "which," or "that." Instead, the relative clause directly follows the noun it describes. This makes Indonesian relative clauses more straightforward.

For example, in English: The book that I read was interesting. In Indonesian, this would be: Buku yang saya baca itu menarik. Here, yang functions as a relative pronoun, but it is often optional depending on the sentence.

Using <span class="ipa">yang</span> as a Relative Pronoun

The word yang is commonly used to introduce relative clauses in Indonesian. It can be translated as "that," "which," or "who" in English. It connects the noun to the clause that describes it.

Example: Orang yang berbicara adalah guru saya. (The person who is speaking is my teacher.)

Omitting <span class="ipa">yang</span> in Informal Speech

In casual or informal Indonesian, yang is sometimes omitted, especially in spoken language, but including it is more formal and clearer.

Position of the Relative Clause

In Indonesian, the relative clause always comes immediately after the noun it modifies, similar to English.

Example: Rumah yang besar itu milik saya. (The big house is mine.)

Relative Clauses with Possessive and Descriptive Phrases

Relative clauses can include verbs, adjectives, or possessive phrases to describe the noun.

Example with verb: Mobil yang saya beli baru. (The car that I bought is new.)

Example with adjective: Buku yang menarik itu ada di meja. (The interesting book is on the table.)

Example with possessive: Teman yang rumahnya besar itu kaya. (The friend whose house is big is rich.)

Summary of Key Points

- Indonesian relative clauses follow the noun directly.
- The word yang is commonly used to introduce relative clauses.
- Yang can sometimes be omitted in informal speech.
- Relative clauses can describe actions, qualities, or possession related to the noun.