Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Beberapa murid membaca di perpustakaan, sedangkan yang lain menulis di ruang kelas. - Some students read in the library, while others write in the classroom.

sedangkan highlights a contrast between two simultaneous situations with different subjects (whereas). dan simply adds information and loses that contrast. sementara also means while and can work here, but it feels more neutral and less contrastive. Use sementara itu at the start of a new sentence to mean meanwhile; sedangkan itu is not idiomatic.

Is the comma before sedangkan required?

Yes, it’s standard to put a comma before conjunctions that link two independent clauses, such as sedangkan, tetapi, and melainkan. It helps readability and is recommended in formal writing.

Why isn’t there a plural ending on murid?

Indonesian doesn’t mark plural on nouns. Plurality is shown by context or words like beberapa (some). beberapa murid already means some students; avoid beberapa murid-murid, which is considered redundant.

Can I use para here?

Para marks a plural group of people, often definite: para murid = the students (as a group). Don’t combine it with beberapa. For some students, keep beberapa murid.

Does membaca need an object?

No. membaca can be intransitive, so membaca di perpustakaan is fine. You can add an object if you want to specify: membaca buku, membaca koran, etc.

Do I need sedang to say are reading/are writing?

Not required. Indonesian verbs don’t change for tense/aspect. Add sedang or lagi before the verb only if you want to emphasize the ongoing nature: sedang membaca, sedang menulis.

What’s the difference between di as a preposition and the passive prefix di-?

As a preposition meaning at/in/on, di is written separately: di perpustakaan, di ruang kelas. As a passive prefix, di- attaches to the verb with no space: ditulis, dibaca. Don’t mix the spacing.

Why is it yang lain and not just lain?

lain is an adjective (other/different). yang turns it into a noun phrase (the other/others): yang lain. You could also say murid lain (other students) when keeping the noun.

Is there a difference between yang lain and yang lainnya?

Both can mean the others. yang lainnya often feels more definite, like the rest of a known set. Example: Sebagian membaca, sedangkan yang lainnya menulis = Some read, while the rest write.

Could I use sisanya instead of yang lain?

Yes. sisanya means the rest/remainder and implies you’re talking about the remainder of the same group: …, sedangkan sisanya menulis di ruang kelas.

Can yang lain be singular?

Yes. Number is determined by context. If you want to make singular explicit, say yang satunya, seorang murid lain, or murid yang lain (the other student).

Why doesn’t the second clause repeat murid?

Indonesian often omits repeated nouns when they’re clear from context. yang lain here stands for “the other students.” If you want to be explicit, sedangkan murid yang lain menulis… is also fine.

Why ruang kelas instead of just kelas?

ruang kelas specifically means classroom (literally class room). kelas can mean class (session/level) or the room depending on context; in everyday speech di kelas is very common and usually understood as in the classroom. Write it as two words: ruang kelas (no hyphen).

Should it be di perpustakaan or ke perpustakaan?

Use di for location (at/in). ke indicates movement toward (to): pergi ke perpustakaan = go to the library. Since the action happens at the location, di perpustakaan is correct.

Is the word order flexible? Could I front the place?

Yes. You can say Di perpustakaan, beberapa murid membaca, sedangkan yang lain menulis di ruang kelas to emphasize location. Indonesian allows fronting for focus, as long as relationships stay clear.

Can I start a new sentence with Sedangkan?

You can in writing to contrast with the previous sentence: Sedangkan yang lain menulis di ruang kelas. Still, it’s most natural as a conjunction within a single sentence.

What’s the difference between murid, siswa, and mahasiswa?

murid and siswa both mean school student; siswa is common in school/official contexts, murid is very common in everyday speech. mahasiswa refers specifically to university students.

Any quick pronunciation tips for perpustakaan and sedangkan?

Break perpustakaan into per-pus-ta-ka-an (five syllables). sedangkan is se-dang-kan; the ng is like the sound in English sing. Stress is relatively even; don’t over-stress any single syllable.