Breakdown of Kami membawa payung kalau-kalau hujan.
kami
we
payung
the umbrella
membawa
to bring
hujan
to rain
Questions & Answers about Kami membawa payung kalau-kalau hujan.
Why does the sentence use kami instead of kita?
Because kami means we, but it is exclusive: it does not include the person being spoken to.
- kami = we, but not you
- kita = we, including you
So if the speaker is talking to someone who is not part of the group carrying the umbrella, kami is correct.
Example:
- Kami membawa payung = We brought/are bringing an umbrella (not including you)
- Kita membawa payung = We are bringing an umbrella (you are included)
What does membawa mean, and why isn’t it just bawa?
Membawa is the active verb form of the root bawa, which means bring or carry.
- bawa = root / casual base form
- membawa = active verb form, often used in standard Indonesian
The prefix meN- turns many roots into active verbs. With bawa, it becomes membawa.
So:
- Kami membawa payung sounds standard and complete.
- Kami bawa payung is very common in casual speech, but less formal.
Why is there no word for before ?