Kami makan malam bersama di ruang tamu.

We have dinner together in the living room.

Breakdown of Kami makan malam bersama di ruang tamu.

• di: in
• kami: we
• bersama: together
• ruang tamu: the living room
• makan malam: to have dinner

Questions & Answers about Kami makan malam bersama di ruang tamu.

What’s the difference between kami and kita?

• kami = we (listener not included)
• kita = we (listener included) Choose kami if you’re talking to someone who wasn’t part of the group; choose kita if they were.

How do I show past, present, or future? The verb doesn’t change.

Indonesian doesn’t conjugate for tense. Use time/aspect words:

• Past: Kami sudah makan malam... / Tadi kami makan malam...
• Progressive: Kami sedang makan malam...
• Future: Kami akan makan malam... / add a time word like nanti.

Is makan malam a verb or a noun?

Both.

• Verb phrase: Kami makan malam... (to have dinner)
• Noun: Makan malam kami enak. (our dinner)

Can I omit the subject kami?

Yes, if context is clear or in notes/headlines: Makan malam bersama di ruang tamu. For a “let’s” suggestion, use mari/ayo kita: Ayo kita makan malam bersama di ruang tamu.

What’s the difference between bersama, bersama-sama, dengan, and bareng?

• bersama = together/with (neutral): makan malam bersama
• bersama-sama = together (emphatic)
• dengan = with (preposition, usually needs an object): dengan teman
• bareng = together (informal): makan malam bareng

Where can bersama go in the sentence?

Common:

• After the verb: Kami makan malam bersama di ruang tamu.
• Before who you’re with: Kami makan malam di ruang tamu bersama keluarga. Ending with bare bersama is possible but sounds better if you attach a noun: bersama mereka.

Why is it di ruang tamu and not ke or dari?

• di = at/in (location): di ruang tamu
• ke = to (movement): ke ruang tamu
• dari = from (origin): dari ruang tamu

Is ruang tamu the same as a living room? What about ruang keluarga or ruang makan?

• ruang tamu = guest/living room
• ruang keluarga = family room
• ruang makan = dining room All are normal places to eat, depending on the house and context.

How do I say “together with Mom/Dad/the neighbors”?

Use bersama or dengan + noun/pronoun:

• Kami makan malam bersama Ibu/Ayah/tetangga di ruang tamu.
• Kami makan malam dengan mereka di ruang tamu.

How do I say “Let’s have dinner together in the living room”?

• Mari kita makan malam bersama di ruang tamu.
• Ayo kita makan malam bersama di ruang tamu.

Are there articles like “a/the” in ruang tamu?

No. Indonesian has no articles. ruang tamu can mean “the living room” or “a living room,” based on context.

Can I use memakan instead of makan here?

Generally no. memakan is more formal/literal “to consume” (e.g., memakan waktu). For meals, use makan: makan malam.

How do I say “the two/three of us had dinner together”?

Use ber- numbers:

• Kami makan malam berdua di ruang tamu.
• Kami makan malam bertiga di ruang tamu.

Can I front the place for emphasis?

Yes:

• Di ruang tamu, kami makan malam bersama. The comma is optional in informal writing.

How do I negate the sentence?

Use tidak before the verb phrase:

• Kami tidak makan malam bersama di ruang tamu. For past negation, add a time word if needed: Kemarin kami tidak makan malam...