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Questions & Answers about Sepertinya kereta terlambat.
What does the word sepertinya mean here?
It functions like “it seems/looks like/apparently.” Literally it’s seperti (like/as) + the clitic -nya, which together form a set phrase meaning “it seems.” There’s no explicit “it” pronoun in Indonesian; sepertinya itself carries that impersonal sense.
Can I drop the -nya and just say seperti kereta terlambat?
No. Seperti on its own means “like/as,” used for comparisons (e.g., seperti kucing = “like a cat”). To mean “it seems,” you need sepertinya (or a synonym like kelihatannya/tampaknya/kayaknya). Seperti kereta terlambat is ungrammatical in this meaning.
What exactly is the -nya doing in sepertinya? Is it referring to something?
Here -nya is a fossilized clitic that turns seperti into an adverbial “apparently/it seems.” It doesn’t point to a specific noun in the sentence. Think of sepertinya as a single lexical item.
Why is there no “is” in kereta terlambat?
Indonesian doesn’t use a copula before adjectives. Adjectives can directly predicate a subject: kereta terlambat = “the train [is] late.” The copula adalah is used mainly between nouns, not before adjectives.
Is terlambat an adjective or a verb?
It’s best seen as a stative adjective meaning “late,” though in English we often translate it with “is late.” It can be modified like an adjective: sangat terlambat (very late), sudah terlambat (already late).
What’s the difference between terlambat, lambat, and telat?
- terlambat: “late” (missed/behind schedule). Neutral/standard.
- lambat: “slow” (speed), not about schedule. Kereta lambat = the train is slow.
- telat: colloquial for “late,” common in speech: kereta telat.
Can I move sepertinya to the middle: Kereta sepertinya terlambat?
Yes. Sepertinya kereta terlambat and Kereta sepertinya terlambat are both natural. Initial position puts the “seems” framing first (softer, more tentative). Mid position keeps the subject first. Meaning is the same; it’s about flow/emphasis.
How do I show tense/aspect (was/will be late)?
Use time words/particles:
- Past: Tadi kereta terlambat (earlier the train was late), Kereta sudah terlambat (the train is already late).
- Future: Kereta akan terlambat (the train will be late), Sepertinya kereta bakal terlambat (colloquial future).
- Ongoing: Masih terlambat (still late), context-dependent.
Does kereta mean “the train” or “a train”?
Indonesian has no articles. Kereta can be “a/the train” depending on context. To make it clearly definite, use kereta itu (that train) or keretanya (the train, the specific one). Indefinite can be left bare or use sebuah/satu kereta when you must stress “one train.”
What’s the difference between kereta and kereta api?
Both mean “train.” Kereta is very common in Indonesian today; kereta api is a bit more formal/explicit (“fire/steam vehicle,” historically). In everyday speech, kereta is enough. In signage or formal writing, you’ll see kereta api and the abbreviation KA.
Are there other ways to say “it seems” here?
Yes, with nuance:
- Kelihatannya kereta terlambat (it looks like; often visual evidence).
- Tampaknya kereta terlambat (it appears; slightly formal).
- Kayaknya kereta telat (seems like; casual/colloquial).
- Rasanya kereta terlambat (feels like; based on one’s sense). For probability rather than appearance: Mungkin kereta terlambat (maybe the train is late).
How do I negate it? “It seems the train isn’t late.”
Put the negator on the predicate:
- Sepertinya kereta tidak terlambat. Colloquial: Kayaknya kereta nggak telat. Avoid negating the “seems” itself. If you want “It doesn’t seem so,” you can say Sepertinya tidak (It seems not) and then clarify.
Can I say “Is the train late?” in a few ways?
Yes:
- Neutral/formal: Apakah kereta terlambat?
- Informal: Kereta terlambat?
- Tag style: Kereta terlambat, ya?
- Very casual: Kereta telat, ya?
Should there be a comma after Sepertinya?
Optional. Sepertinya, kereta terlambat is fine in writing for a slight pause, but it’s often written without a comma: Sepertinya kereta terlambat. Speech naturally includes a brief pause.
How do I pronounce sepertinya and terlambat?
- sepertinya: suh-per-TEE-nyah. The ny is a single sound like Spanish ñ. The first and last “e” are schwa-like.
- terlambat: tər-lam-bat. Lightly rolled/tapped r; final t pronounced clearly.
- kereta: kə-RE-ta (schwa on the first “e,” stress on “RE”).
What’s the difference between “is late” and “arrived late”?
- “Is late” (running behind schedule): Kereta terlambat.
- “Arrived late”: Kereta datang terlambat or Kereta terlambat datang. Both are natural; the first is more common in speech.
Can I use keretanya here, as in Sepertinya keretanya terlambat?
Yes. Keretanya makes it clearly definite/specific—“that train we’re talking about.” Without -nya, kereta can be generic or understood from context.
Do I ever need bahwa after sepertinya?
No. You wouldn’t say sepertinya bahwa…. If you want an explicit “that”-clause, use verbs of thinking/saying: Saya pikir bahwa kereta terlambat (I think that the train is late). With sepertinya/kelihatannya/tampaknya, just follow them directly with the clause.