Breakdown of Kami menginap delapan hari di pulau kecil itu.
itu
that
hari
the day
kami
we
kecil
small
di
on
menginap
to stay
pulau
the island
delapan
eight
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Questions & Answers about Kami menginap delapan hari di pulau kecil itu.
What does menginap mean in this sentence, and how is it formed?
menginap is a verb meaning “to stay overnight” or “to lodge.” It’s formed by adding the active prefix meN- to the root inap. Because inap begins with a vowel, the prefix surfaces as meng- + inap = menginap.
Why is kami used here instead of kita?
kami means “we” excluding the person spoken to, whereas kita means “we” including the listener. Since the speaker is talking about themselves and other people (but not the listener), they use kami.
What role does delapan hari play in the sentence?
delapan hari is a duration expression meaning “eight days.” It tells us how long the action lasted. In Indonesian, duration phrases often follow the verb without any extra preposition.
Could you add a word like “for” or “during” before delapan hari, as in English “for eight days”?
Yes. You can optionally insert selama before the duration:
• Kami menginap selama delapan hari di pulau kecil itu.
But in everyday speech, selama is often omitted.
What does the phrase di pulau kecil itu consist of, and what does it mean?
• di = preposition “at/on/in”
• pulau = “island”
• kecil = “small” (adjective)
• itu = “that” (demonstrative)
Together, di pulau kecil itu means “on that small island.”
Why do the adjective kecil and the demonstrative itu come after pulau?
Indonesian syntax places adjectives and demonstratives after the noun they modify. This contrasts with English, where adjectives and demonstratives come before the noun.
Can you omit kami in this sentence?
Yes. If the subject is clear from context, you can drop the pronoun altogether:
• Menginap delapan hari di pulau kecil itu.
Can the duration phrase delapan hari move to a different position in the sentence?
Absolutely. Indonesian allows flexible word order for emphasis. For example:
• Delapan hari kami menginap di pulau kecil itu.
• Kami di pulau kecil itu menginap delapan hari.
What’s the difference between menginap and tinggal?
- menginap emphasizes staying overnight or lodging temporarily (short visit).
- tinggal means “to live” or “to reside,” implying a longer-term or permanent stay.
Why is di used here instead of ke when talking about the island?
di marks the location where an action takes place (“at/on/in”), while ke marks movement toward a place (“to”). Since the sentence describes staying at the island rather than going to it, di is correct.