yang
Relative Clauses with Yang
The word yang is the bridge between a noun and its modifier. It is used to say 'the one that is...' or 'the person who...'. It is essential for adding detail to nouns and for specifying exactly which item you are talking about.
How It Works
The word yang is one of the most versatile tools in Indonesian grammar. Its primary roles include:
1. Linking Adjectives for Emphasis: While you can use simple noun + adjective order like buku besar (a big book), adding yang makes it specific: buku yang besar (the book that is big).
2. Optional with Superlatives: When a noun is modified by a superlative adjective (using paling or ter-), yang is often used for emphasis, though it is perfectly grammatical and common to omit it. For example: buku yang paling bagus or simply buku paling bagus (the best book).
3. Creating Relative Clauses: It acts like 'who', 'which', or 'that'. For example: orang yang makan (the person who is eating). Do not copy English preposition + which as di yang to introduce a location relative clause. For locations (meaning where), use tempat or di mana. While tempat is preferred in formal writing (e.g., desa tempat saya lahir), di mana is very common in modern Indonesian. This restriction is not about all preposition–yang sequences: nominalized phrases such as dengan yang lain (with the others) and kepada yang lebih tua (to older people) are standard.
4. The Subject-Only Constraint: Yang can only replace the subject of the relative clause. If the noun is the object, you must use object voice or di- passive. For example, 'the book that I read' is buku yang saya baca or buku yang dibaca oleh Ali. Do not use the active prefix here (e.g., buku yang saya membaca is incorrect).
5. Possessive Relative Clauses ('Whose'): To say 'whose', Indonesian uses the pattern yang [noun] + -nya. For example: orang yang mobilnya merah (the person whose car is red).
6. Nominalization and Choice: Yang can turn an adjective or demonstrative into a noun meaning 'the one'. Common examples include yang biru (the blue one), yang ini (this one), and yang itu (that one). It is also used in the question yang mana to ask 'which one'.
7. Ordinal Numbers: The prefix ke- creates ordinal numbers, and yang is used to link the ordinal to a noun (e.g., anak yang kedua / the second child) or nominalize it (e.g., yang kedua / the second one). For 'first', use yang pertama.
8. Clefting (Focus): It highlights a specific person or thing. Dia yang menang means 'He is the one who won'.
Examples (4)
- Saya mau apel yang merah.
I want the apple that is red.
Word by Word: I want apple that red.
Here, 'yang' is used with an adjective to specify a particular apple (the red one) rather than just any apple.
- Pria yang berdiri di sana adalah paman saya.
The man who is standing there is my uncle.
Word by Word: Man that stand at there is uncle my.
In this sentence, 'yang' introduces a relative clause where the man is the subject of the action 'standing'.
- Buku yang saya baca sangat menarik.
The book that I read is very interesting.
Word by Word: Book that I read very interesting.
Because 'book' is the object of 'read', we use the object voice (saya baca) instead of the active 'membaca' to satisfy the subject-only constraint.
- Mobil yang dibeli ayah berwarna biru.
The car that was bought by father is blue.
Word by Word: Car that passive-buy father colored blue.
This uses the 'di-' passive because the head noun (mobil) is the thing being acted upon.
Common Mistakes
Using 'yang' as a substitute for the verb 'is' (copula).
Dia yang guru.Dia adalah guru.'Yang' introduces a modifier, not a predicate identity. To say 'He is a teacher,' use adalah or simple juxtaposition.
Using 'yang' immediately after a preposition to mean 'where'.
Rumah di yang saya tinggal.Rumah tempat saya tinggal.Do not use di + yang as a word-for-word replacement for where in this relative clause. Use tempat; di mana also occurs, although formal editing often prefers tempat. Other constructions, such as dengan yang lain, allow a preposition followed by a nominalized yang phrase.
Using an active 'meN-' verb when the noun is the object.
Buku yang saya membaca.Buku yang saya baca.In relative clauses, if the noun being described is the object of the verb, you must use the object voice or di- passive form.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand relative clauses with 'yang', you first need to be comfortable with how Indonesian modifies nouns using adjectives and how basic sentences are structured. Since 'yang' often acts as a bridge to provide more specific information about a noun, understanding how context establishes definiteness is also helpful.
- Adjectives follow nouns
The 'yang' relative clause functions similarly to an adjective following a noun, so understanding basic noun-adjective modification is essential.
Level 1 - Context marks a known noun
Relative clauses are frequently used to specify or define a noun, building on the concept of marking a known or specific entity.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- yang + AdjectiveSelecting by a Property
This is the simplest application of 'yang', used to emphasize a specific quality of a noun.
Level 2 - Object voice inside yang clauses
Crucial for using 'yang' when the noun being described is the object of the action.
Level 4 - tempat yang ...Relative Clauses After Place Nouns
The relative marker used specifically for locations, replacing 'yang' in 'where' clauses.
Level 3 - yang manaAvoiding Calqued Yang Mana
While 'yang mana' is used as a question word for 'which one', it is often avoided as a relative connector in formal writing.
Level 5 - -nyaThird-person Suffix -nya
Used in the 'yang [noun]-nya' pattern to create relative clauses meaning 'whose'.
Level 1 - yang (pemfokus)Focus Clefts with Yang
A specific sentence structure using 'yang' to place focus on a particular subject.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice yang in Bubblegum
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