Originally posted by: Rick392366 https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/29750475
The verb "ada" can have different meanings and functions: presence, location, possession, intensifier.
Below is the KBBI definition with example sentences:
https://kbbi.web.id/ada
ada v
1 hadir; telah sedia: ia -- di sana;
2 mempunyai: ia tidak -- uang;
3 benar; sungguh (untuk menguatkan sebutan): ia -- menerima surat itu;
Examples KBBI :
"ia ada di sana" = he/she is there (presence / location).
"ia tidak ada uang" = he/she doesn't have money (possession).
"ia ada menerima surat itu" = he/she did receive that letter" (intensifier).
1 hadir; telah sedia: ia -- di sana;
In the first definition "ada" has the meaning of "to be present" or "to be there" (location).
In such a situation, where "di" is used as a location indicator, "ada" is optional and can also be replaced by "berada".
The word order is as follows : [noun phrase] + "ada" + [location] :
"Tini berada di kantor."
"Tini ada di kantor."
"Tini di kantor."
(Tini is at the office).
It can also have the meaning of "there is" or "there are" (presence).
The word order is as follows : "ada" + [noun phrase] + [location]:
"Ada kucing di dapur." (There is a cat in the kitchen).
"Ada orang di halaman." (There is someone in the garden).
"Ada makanan di kulkas." (There is food in the fridge).
Another way, a more formal way, to express "presence" is by using the verb "terdapat":
"Terdapat makanan di kulkas." (There is food in the fridge.).
"Tidak terdapat durian di sini." (There are no durians here.)
"Tidak terdapat kanguru di Indonesia." (There are no kangaroos in Indonesia.)
In the sentences above "terdapat" can be replaced by "ada".
It has the meaning of "to be present", "to be available".
2 mempunyai: ia tidak -- uang;
In the second definition "ada" has the meaning of "to have" (possession).
It's a synonym of "punya","mempunyai","memiliki".
It's used in colloquial style, it's used in some sentences this Duolingo course.
3 benar; sungguh (untuk menguatkan sebutan): ia -- menerima surat itu;
In the third definition "ada" functions as an intensifier.
"Ia ada menerima surat itu." (He/She did receive that letter.) (intensifier). As far as I can see, these sentence structures don't occur in this course. "ada" isn't used very often as an intensifier in a sentence like this. You can use other words as an intensifier, something like this:
"Ia menerima surat itu."
"Ia ada menerima surat itu."
"Ia sungguh menerima surat itu."
"Ia benar-benar menerima surat itu."