Questions & Answers about Dia membaca terus di perpustakaan.
What does the word terus mean here?
In this position, terus is an adverb meaning continuously/keep on. So membaca terus ≈ “to keep reading/read continuously.” It is not the connector meaning “then” here.
Can I place terus somewhere else in the sentence?
Yes. Common options (all acceptable, with subtle emphasis differences):
- Dia terus membaca di perpustakaan. (Very common; emphasizes the ongoing nature before the action.)
- Dia membaca terus di perpustakaan. (Also common; reads as “read continuously.”)
- Di perpustakaan, dia terus membaca. (Fronts the location for emphasis.)
Be careful with: Dia membaca di perpustakaan, terus… — with a pause/comma, terus can mean “then,” starting a new clause (“He read at the library, then …”).
Is sedang needed to say “is reading” (present progressive)?
No. Indonesian doesn’t require tense marking. Dia membaca can be present, past, or future, depending on context. If you want to highlight that it’s happening right now, you can use sedang:
- Dia sedang membaca di perpustakaan. (He/She is reading at the library right now.) Combining with terus is possible but often redundant: Dia terus membaca already implies ongoingness. If you do combine, prefer something like Dia sedang membaca terus, which sounds more natural than Dia sedang terus membaca.