Questions & Answers about Kafe itu bising malam ini.
In this sentence, does itu mean "that" or "the"? Why is it there?
Itu after a noun marks it as a specific, identifiable thing—often best translated as either that or simply the in English. So kafe itu = “that/the cafe (the one we have in mind).” Indonesian has no articles; itu often supplies definiteness.
Why is there no word for “is”? Should it be adalah?
Indonesian adjectives can be predicates on their own. Bising already means “is noisy.” Use adalah mainly to equate two nouns (X = Y), e.g., Dia adalah dokter. Don’t say Kafe itu adalah bising.
Could I say Kafe ini instead? What’s the difference between ini and itu?
Yes. Ini = “this” (near/very present to the speaker), itu = “that” (more distant or previously mentioned). Both make the noun definite; choose based on context.
Where can I put the time phrase malam ini?
Common, natural placements:
- Kafe itu bising malam ini. (neutral)
- Malam ini kafe itu bising. (emphasis on time) You may also hear Kafe itu malam ini bising, but start or end placement is more typical.