Breakdown of Kalian bisa duduk di sini sementara saya membuat kopi.
saya
I
kopi
the coffee
di
at
membuat
to make
bisa
can
duduk
to sit
kalian
you all
sini
here
sementara
while
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Questions & Answers about Kalian bisa duduk di sini sementara saya membuat kopi.
What does kalian mean, and when do I use it instead of kamu or Anda?
kalian means you (plural). Use it for talking to a group, typically in neutral or informal contexts. For one person, use kamu (informal) or Anda (polite/formal). For polite plural, you can say Anda sekalian, or address people by titles like Bapak/Ibu sekalian.
Is Kalian bisa duduk di sini polite? Would Indonesians prefer Silakan duduk?
It’s acceptable, but it sounds like “you can (are able to) sit here.” To invite or give permission more naturally/politely, Indonesians often say:
- Silakan duduk di sini (most natural/polite invitation)
- Kalian boleh duduk di sini (you may sit here; permission)
- Dropping the pronoun also sounds softer: Silakan duduk di sini.
What’s the difference between bisa, boleh, dapat, and silakan here?
- bisa: can/be able to; also softens an instruction. Neutral, everyday.
- boleh: may/be allowed to; permission.
- dapat: can/be able to; more formal/written.
- silakan: please (go ahead); polite invitation/imperative. Often best for hosting.
Why use sementara and not sambil?
Use sementara when two actions happen at the same time but have different subjects:
- Kalian sit, saya make coffee → sementara fits.
Use sambil when one subject does two actions simultaneously:
- Saya duduk sambil minum kopi. (I sit while drinking coffee.)
Also note:
- sedangkan contrasts two situations (whereas), not simply “while.”
- ketika/saat/waktu mean “when” (time marker), not specifically “while.”
Can I start the sentence with the sementara clause?
Yes:
- Sementara saya membuat kopi, kalian bisa duduk di sini. This is natural and puts emphasis on the time frame first.
Do I need a comma before sementara?
When the main clause comes first (as in your sentence), formal style typically does not use a comma:
- Kalian bisa duduk di sini sementara saya membuat kopi. If the sementara clause comes first, add a comma after it:
- Sementara saya membuat kopi, kalian bisa duduk di sini. If sementara is used contrastively (like “whereas”), a comma is common:
- Ayah membaca koran, sementara Ibu memasak.
Does Indonesian mark the progressive like “I am making”? Should I add sedang or lagi?
Indonesian doesn’t require it. sementara already implies simultaneity. To emphasize ongoing action, you can add:
- Standard: sementara saya sedang membuat kopi
- Colloquial: sementara aku lagi bikin kopi
Is membuat kopi the most natural way to say “make coffee”?
It’s correct and neutral. Alternatives:
- bikin kopi (very common, colloquial)
- menyeduh kopi (to brew; precise)
- menyiapkan kopi (to prepare/serve) Avoid masak kopi in standard Indonesian.
What’s the difference between membuat and membuatkan?
membuat = make.
membuatkan = make something for someone (beneficiary):
- Saya membuatkan kalian kopi. (I’ll make coffee for you.) Passive with beneficiary: Kalian dibuatkan kopi.
Should it be di sini or ke sini?
Use di for location (at/in/on) and ke for movement (to). Sitting is a location, so:
- di sini = at/over here. If you want them to come here first: Kalian ke sini dulu, lalu duduk.
Is the spacing in di sini correct? I often see disini online.
Yes, it must be spaced: di sini. The preposition di is separate. The attached di- is the passive prefix on verbs (e.g., dilihat).
Is it okay to mix saya with kalian in one sentence?
It’s common in casual speech, but it mixes registers (saya is more formal, kalian is informal/neutral). For smoother style:
- Formal: Silakan duduk di sini, sementara saya menyiapkan kopi.
- Informal: Kalian duduk di sini aja, aku lagi bikin kopi.
How can I make the request softer or more natural?
Use polite markers/particles:
- Silakan duduk dulu di sini, ya.
- Duduklah di sini sebentar, sementara saya membuat kopi.
- Kalian duduk di sini aja dulu. Words like dulu (first/for now), sebentar (a moment), ya (okay?/please), -lah (softener), and aja (just) help.
If I’m talking to one person, how should I change it?
Use singular pronouns or titles:
- Informal: Kamu bisa duduk di sini sementara saya membuat kopi.
- Polite: Silakan duduk di sini, Pak/Bu, sementara saya menyiapkan kopi. You can also drop the pronoun: Silakan duduk di sini.
Can I say untuk sementara instead of sementara?
Different meaning. untuk sementara = for the time being/temporarily:
- Kalian bisa duduk di sini untuk sementara. (You can sit here for now.) It doesn’t express “while I make coffee.” For “while,” use sementara.
Do I need a measure word with kopi?
Not unless you specify quantity. Examples:
- secangkir kopi (a cup of coffee)
- segelas kopi (a glass of coffee) Otherwise, kopi alone is fine.
What’s the difference between sementara, sebentar, and dulu?
- sementara: while/at the same time; also “for a while/temporary” in some contexts.
- sebentar: a short time/a moment.
- dulu: first/for now (do this before something else). Example: Duduk dulu di sini sebentar, sementara saya membuat kopi.
Is Anda always capitalized?
Yes, in formal writing Anda is capitalized as a mark of respect. In casual texts you might see lowercase, but the recommended form is Anda.