keputusan untuk + Verb

Decision Nominalization

Level 5

The pattern keputusan untuk + verb is the standard way to say 'the decision to [do something]' in Indonesian. It links the noun keputusan (decision) to a specific action using the connector untuk.

How It Works

This pattern is a form of nominalization common in formal Indonesian (Bahasa Baku).

1. Structure:
The head noun keputusan is followed by untuk and then a verb. Use the form appropriate to the verb. Standard transitive menjual retains its prefix, while pindah needs no meN- prefix:

  • Active: Keputusan untuk menjual... (The decision to sell...)
  • Bare intransitive: Keputusan untuk pindah... (The decision to move...)

2. Register:
This is highly frequent in news, law, and academic writing. In casual speech, Indonesians might replace untuk with buat or drop it entirely, while retaining untuk makes this taught construction explicit in formal writing.

3. Function:
Unlike bahwa, which introduces a full clause (Subject + Predicate), untuk focuses specifically on the action itself. It acts similarly to the English infinitive 'to' in this specific context.

Examples (4)

  1. Pemerintah mengambil keputusan untuk menunda kenaikan harga BBM.

    The government took the decision to postpone the fuel price hike.

    Word by Word: Government take decision for postpone rise price BBM.

    Here, 'untuk menunda' specifies exactly what the decision was about.

  2. Keputusan untuk pindah ke Jakarta tidaklah mudah.

    The decision to move to Jakarta was not easy.

    Word by Word: Decision for move to Jakarta not-indeed easy.

    The whole noun phrase Keputusan untuk pindah ke Jakarta is the subject. Untuk pindah ke Jakarta specifies the content of the decision.

  3. Mereka menghormati keputusan untuk tidak melanjutkan proyek itu.

    They respect the decision to not continue the project.

    Word by Word: They respect decision for not continue project that.

    Negation (tidak) is placed after 'untuk' and before the verb.

  4. Keputusan untuk menunda rapat diambil setelah diskusi panjang.

    The decision to postpone the meeting was made after a long discussion.

    Word by Word: Decision to postpone meeting was-taken after discussion long.

    Untuk menunda rapat names the action decided on. The main predicate diambil is passive: it says the decision was made without naming the decision-maker.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'yang' instead of 'untuk' to describe the action.

    Keputusan yang membantu mereka.
    Keputusan untuk membantu mereka.

    Keputusan yang membantu mereka is grammatical: it means a decision that helps them. Keputusan untuk membantu mereka specifies a decision to help them. Yang introduces a relative description; untuk introduces the intended action. Choose the phrase matching your meaning.

  • Using the root verb without a prefix in formal writing.

    Keputusan untuk beli mobil baru.
    Keputusan untuk membeli mobil baru.

    For the verb beli in formal prose, use membeli: keputusan untuk membeli mobil baru. This does not require a prefix on every verb after untuk; pindah, pergi, and makan can be bare standard verbs.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

keputusan untuk + VerbLevel 5Decision Nominalization

Learn This First

Recognize keputusan as a noun formed with ke-...-an, then use untuk followed by a verb phrase to specify the action decided on.

Words in This Pattern

keputusan