The term "ucapan selamat ulang tahun" functions as a noun phrase in Indonesian grammar. This linguistic construction is centered around a head noun which is then specified or modified by the words that follow it. The core of the phrase is the noun `ucapan`, which translates to "greeting," "expression," or "utterance."
A detailed analysis of its components reveals a clear grammatical structure. The head noun `ucapan` is derived from the root verb `ucap` (to say/utter). It is modified by the adjectival phrase `selamat ulang tahun` (happy birthday). This modifier itself is a compound structure where `selamat` (congratulations, safe, well wishes) qualifies the compound noun `ulang tahun` (birthday), which is formed from `ulang` (repeat) and `tahun` (year). The entire construction follows a standard Indonesian syntactic pattern (Noun + Modifier), where the phrase specifies the exact type of greeting being discussed.
Recognizing this term as a noun phrase is essential for its correct application in sentence construction. It allows the entire phrase to function as a single grammatical unit that can act as the subject (e.g., "[The phrase] is a common tradition"), the direct object (e.g., "He wrote [the phrase] in the card"), or the object of a preposition (e.g., "The article focuses on [the phrase]"). This classification ensures grammatical accuracy and clarity when using the term as the main point or keyword of a text.
