Questions & Answers about Kami menunggu sembilan menit di peron.
Does this mean we waited, we are waiting, or we will wait?
Indonesian doesn’t mark tense on the verb. Kami menunggu sembilan menit di peron can mean past, present, or future depending on context.
- Past: Kami tadi menunggu sembilan menit di peron.
- Ongoing (we have been waiting for nine minutes): Kami sudah menunggu sembilan menit di peron.
- Future: Kami akan menunggu sembilan menit di peron.
What’s the difference between kami and kita?
- Kami = we, excluding the listener.
- Kita = we, including the listener. If you want “you and I,” use kita: Kita menunggu sembilan menit di peron.
Do I need selama before the duration?
It’s optional. Both are correct:
- Without: Kami menunggu sembilan menit di peron.
- With: Kami menunggu selama sembilan menit di peron. Selama explicitly marks a duration (“for”), and is common in careful speech/writing. Avoid untuk for durations here.
Can I change the word order of time and place?
Yes, Indonesian is flexible; you change emphasis, not meaning:
- Kami menunggu di peron selama sembilan menit.
- Kami menunggu selama sembilan menit di peron.
- Selama sembilan menit, kami menunggu di peron. Keep selama right before the duration phrase.