untuk + Verb
Purpose Infinitive with Untuk
The pattern untuk + verb is the primary way to say 'to' or 'in order to' when explaining why someone is doing something.
How It Works
The untuk + verb pattern is essential for expressing intent. While English uses 'to' for many functions, Indonesian uses untuk primarily for purpose and recipients. For a physical destination, the basic model uses ke.
1. Formal vs. Informal Usage
In formal Indonesian, transitive verbs following untuk should keep their meN- prefix (e.g., untuk membeli). In casual conversation, speakers often drop the prefix or replace untuk with buat (e.g., buat beli).
2. Subject Consistency
This pattern is typically used when the subject of both parts of the sentence is the same. For example: Saya datang untuk belajar (I come to study). To make a different actor explicit, a clear model uses agar or supaya.
3. Formal Alternatives
In technical or highly formal contexts, you may see guna used for purpose. For expressing 'for the sake of', demi is used instead.
4. Distinction from 'For'
Use untuk for purpose or recipients (e.g., hadiah untuk Ibu). Use selama to state elapsed duration; untuk can instead mark a period allocated or intended. Use karena when 'for' means 'because'.
Examples (4)
- Saya belajar bahasa Indonesia untuk bekerja di Jakarta.
I am learning Indonesian to work in Jakarta.
Word by Word: I study Language Indonesia for work at Jakarta.
Here, 'untuk bekerja' explains the goal of the study.
- Dia pergi ke pasar untuk membeli buah-buahan.
She went to the market to buy fruits.
Word by Word: She go to market for buy fruits.
In this formal sentence, the verb 'membeli' retains its prefix after 'untuk'.
- Kami berolahraga setiap hari untuk menjaga kesehatan.
We exercise every day to maintain our health.
Word by Word: We exercise every day for maintain health.
The purpose of exercising is to maintain health.
- Untuk memenangkan lomba, kamu harus berlatih keras.
In order to win the competition, you must practice hard.
Word by Word: For win competition, you must practice hard.
The purpose clause is placed at the beginning for emphasis.
Common Mistakes
Joining the duration preposition to the number.
Saya tinggal di sini selamadua tahun.Saya tinggal di sini selama dua tahun.Selama and dua are separate words. Selama directly measures a stay’s duration; untuk dua tahun can refer to an intended or allotted two-year period. Do not treat every time expression with untuk as impossible.
Joining untuk to the following verb.
Saya ingin untukmakan.Saya ingin makan.Untuk must be separate when present. The concise basic model is ingin makan; ingin untuk makan also occurs and is not categorically impossible. Untuk is not a compulsory counterpart of every English infinitival to.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'untuk' followed by a verb, you first need to know the basic meaning of 'untuk' as 'for'. You also need to be comfortable with basic Indonesian sentence structure and how verbs are formed, as the purpose clause typically follows a main verb phrase.
- untukFor with Untuk
The basic use of 'untuk' as a preposition for purpose or recipient provides the semantic foundation for its use with verbs.
Level 1 - meN-Active Transitive Verbs with MeN-
Purpose clauses often involve active transitive verbs, so familiarity with the standard verb forms used in these constructions is essential.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- agar / supayaPurpose with Agar or Supaya
Agar and supaya introduce purpose clauses and can explicitly name an actor. They also allow the same actor as the main clause.
Level 2 - selamaFor or During with Selama
Used for 'for' in the context of time duration, which is a common point of confusion with 'untuk'.
Level 3 - ingin + VerbNeutral-formal Desire with Ingin
Ingin commonly takes the following action directly. Untuk can occur in fuller constructions, but is not required merely to translate English to.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice untuk + Verb in Bubblegum
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