meminta ... untuk ...

Requesting Someone to Act

Level 4

Meminta [person] untuk [action] asks someone to act. It works in formal and ordinary contexts; its politeness depends on the request and relationship, rather than the construction alone.

How It Works

The pattern meminta ... untuk ... is a versatile directive used across professional and neutral social settings.

1. Structure and Components
The sentence follows a specific order:

  • Subject: The person making the request.
  • Meminta: The active form of the root minta. The meN- prefix forms the active verb meminta. Minta also appears in requests; do not infer that every formal request must have the prefix.
  • Object: The person who is expected to act.
  • Untuk: A linker that marks the purpose or content of the request. While often translated as 'to' in English, it functions here as a bridge to the verb phrase.

2. Register and Nuance
In casual speech, the prefix me- and the word untuk are often dropped (e.g., Saya minta kamu datang). The full pattern is useful in business emails, news reports, and formal speech. Untuk can also be omitted in a clear request complement; it is not mandatory solely because the text is formal.

3. Passive Variation
This pattern is frequently used in the passive voice using the di- passive prefix. In this form, the person being asked becomes the subject: Anda diminta untuk menunggu (You are requested to wait). This is the standard way to issue public notices or polite instructions in official settings.

Examples (4)

  1. Guru meminta para siswa untuk mengumpulkan tugas tepat waktu.

    The teacher requested the students to submit their assignments on time.

    Word by Word: Teacher request [plural marker] student for collect task exact time.

    A formal example using the para plural marker and the full 'meminta... untuk' structure.

  2. Ibu meminta saya untuk membeli telur di pasar.

    Mother asked me to buy eggs at the market.

    Word by Word: Mother request me for buy egg at market.

    A neutral, everyday example. Even in a family setting, 'meminta' is used to show a polite request rather than a harsh command.

  3. Pengunjung diminta untuk tidak merokok di area ini.

    Visitors are requested to not smoke in this area.

    Word by Word: Visitor be-requested for not smoke at area this.

    This uses the passive form (diminta) which is very common for public signs and formal instructions.

  4. Perusahaan meminta karyawan untuk bekerja dari rumah.

    The company requested employees to work from home.

    Word by Word: Company request employee for work from home.

    A professional context where 'meminta' functions as a formal directive.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving the requested action unstated after untuk.

    Saya meminta dia untuk.
    Saya meminta dia untuk pergi.

    Complete the request with its action. In this model dia is the direct object. Meminta kepada someone is also attested for directing a request to them; it is not restricted to asking for a physical item.

  • Confusing 'meminta' with 'bertanya'.

    Saya meminta dia di mana kantornya.
    Saya bertanya kepadanya di mana kantornya.

    Use 'bertanya' for asking questions (seeking information) and 'meminta' for requests (seeking action or items).

How It Connects

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

meminta ... untuk ...Level 4Requesting Someone to Act

Learn This First

To understand 'meminta ... untuk ...', you need to be familiar with how active verbs are formed using the meN- prefix (specifically the 'mem-' allomorph for the root 'minta'). You also need to understand the basic SVO sentence structure and how the particle 'untuk' functions to introduce a purpose or a following action.

Words in This Pattern

meminta