Breakdown of Kami berada di perpustakaan sekarang.
di
at
sekarang
now
kami
we
perpustakaan
the library
berada
to be located
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Questions & Answers about Kami berada di perpustakaan sekarang.
What does kami mean, and how is it different from kita?
kami = “we” (exclusive) — excludes the person you’re talking to.
kita = “we” (inclusive) — includes the listener(s).
Using kami here implies the listener is not part of the group at the library. If the listener is included, say kita.
Is berada necessary here?
No. You can simply say Kami di perpustakaan sekarang (very common).
Kami ada di perpustakaan sekarang also works.
berada sounds more formal or emphasizes “being located.”
When should I use ada, berada, or nothing?
- Everyday: use nothing with di → Kami di perpustakaan.
- To emphasize presence: Kami ada di perpustakaan.
- Formal/careful: Kami berada di perpustakaan.
Also, use bare ada for “there is/are”: Ada buku di meja (not berada).
Why not use adalah for “are”?
adalah links a subject to a noun phrase (e.g., Dia adalah guru). It is not used before locations, adjectives, or prepositional phrases. So not Kami adalah di perpustakaan, but Kami di perpustakaan or Kami berada di perpustakaan.
What does di mean—“in,” “at,” or “on”?
di covers static location and can translate as “in/at/on” depending on context:
- di perpustakaan = at/in the library.
- For “on (top of),” use di atas: di atas meja (on the table).
- di meja = at the table.
Do I need “the” in di perpustakaan?
Indonesian has no articles. di perpustakaan can mean “at the library” or “at a library,” depending on context. To specify, say di perpustakaan itu (that library) or di perpustakaannya (the specific/previously mentioned library).
Where can I put sekarang?
All are natural, with slight emphasis differences:
- Kami di perpustakaan sekarang.
- Sekarang kami di perpustakaan.
- Kami sekarang di perpustakaan.
Putting sekarang first emphasizes the time; putting it last is very common.
How do I say “right now / currently”?
- Neutral: sekarang.
- Ongoing state: add sedang → Kami sedang di perpustakaan.
- Colloquial: lagi → Kami lagi di perpustakaan.
- More formal: saat ini or kini.
How do I make it negative?
Use tidak:
- Kami tidak di perpustakaan (sekarang).
- Kami tidak ada di perpustakaan.
- Formal: Kami tidak berada di perpustakaan.
Use bukan only for contrast: Kami bukan di perpustakaan, tapi di kantin.
Is this sentence formal or casual?
With berada, it sounds formal/careful. In everyday speech you’d usually hear Kami di perpustakaan sekarang or Kami lagi di perpustakaan.
Pronunciation tips for perpustakaan and sekarang?
- perpustakaan: per-pus-ta-ka-an. Tap/trill the r; vowels are pure; light stress usually on the second-to-last syllable (ka).
- sekarang: se-ka-rang. First e is a schwa (uh); final ng is the velar nasal [ŋ] (as in “sing”).
Can I drop the subject kami?
Often, yes, if context makes it clear: Di perpustakaan sekarang. But it can be ambiguous, so keep kami when clarity matters.
Any spelling gotchas with di?
Yes. As a preposition, di is separate: di perpustakaan. As a passive verb prefix, di- attaches to the verb: ditulis, dibaca.
Is there a shorter word for perpustakaan?
Colloquially, people say perpus (short for perpustakaan): Kami di perpus sekarang. It’s informal.
How do I say “We are going to the library now”?
Use ke for movement:
- Kami (sedang) pergi ke perpustakaan sekarang.
- More concise: Kami ke perpustakaan sekarang.
Remember: di = at/in; ke = to; dari = from.
What does perpustakaan literally come from?
From pustaka (books/literature) with the circumfix per- … -an, which often forms place nouns. So perpustakaan = “place of books” → library.
How is tense expressed here?
Indonesian verbs don’t inflect for tense. Time is shown with adverbs like sekarang (now), tadi (earlier), nanti (later), or with aspect markers like sedang. Without sekarang, Kami di perpustakaan relies on context to mean “now” or a general/habitual state.