Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kami putar balik sebelum masuk terowongan karena bahan bakar hampir habis. - We made a U-turn before entering the tunnel because the fuel was almost empty.

kami = we (excluding the listener).
kita = we (including the listener).
If you’re talking to passengers (your listeners), you’d naturally use kita: Kita putar balik... If telling someone who wasn’t there, kami is correct.

Is "putar balik" a complete verb on its own, or do I need a prefix like "ber-" or "me-"?

putar balik is a very common set phrase meaning “make a U-turn/turn back,” and it works without a prefix in everyday Indonesian: Kami putar balik.
Alternatives:
- berbalik arah (turn/change direction) — somewhat more formal.
- memutar balik (kendaraan/mobil) (turn a vehicle around) — transitive; typically used with an object.
Avoid memutarbalikkan here; it often means “to twist/misrepresent (facts).”

Why is there no "ke" before "terowongan"? Should it be "masuk ke terowongan"?

Both are fine:
- masuk terowongan (no preposition).
- masuk ke terowongan (with ke, “into”).
A more formal single-verb option: memasuki terowongan.

Can I omit the subject after "sebelum"? Why isn’t it "sebelum kami masuk..."?

Indonesian often drops a repeated subject in a subordinate clause when it’s the same as the main clause.
All of these are correct:
- Kami putar balik sebelum masuk terowongan.
- Kami putar balik sebelum kami masuk ke terowongan. (more explicit)
- Kami putar balik sebelum memasuki terowongan.

Do I need a comma before "karena"?

With main clause first, the comma is often omitted in informal style: Kami putar balik ... karena ...
If you put the reason first, use a comma after it: Karena bahan bakar hampir habis, kami putar balik...

Can I put the reason first for emphasis?

Yes: Karena bahan bakar hampir habis, kami putar balik sebelum masuk terowongan. This highlights the cause.

What’s the difference between "hampir habis" and "hampir kehabisan"?

bahan bakar hampir habis = the fuel is almost finished (focus on the fuel).
kami hampir kehabisan bahan bakar = we almost ran out of fuel (focus on our near-shortage).
Both are natural; choose based on what you want to emphasize.

Should I say "bahan bakar" or be more specific like "bensin" or "solar"?

Is "terowongan" singular or plural? How do I say “the tunnel” or “a tunnel”?

Indonesian has no articles; terowongan can mean “a tunnel” or “the tunnel.”
To be explicit:
- sebuah terowongan = a/one tunnel.
- terowongan itu = that/the tunnel (context-specific).
- Plural: terowongan-terowongan or beberapa terowongan.

Could I use "kembali" instead of "balik" here?

Not for a U-turn. putar balik is the idiomatic road phrase.
kembali means “return/back,” but putar kembali often means “play/turn again” (e.g., media), not “U-turn.” Prefer putar balik or (ber)balik arah for vehicles.

Is "memasuki terowongan" interchangeable with "masuk terowongan"?

Meaning: yes.
Style: memasuki terowongan is slightly more formal; masuk (ke) terowongan is neutral and very common in speech.

How do we know this is past if Indonesian has no tense?

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense; context does.
Add time words if needed:
- Past: tadi, barusan, kemarin (e.g., Kami tadi putar balik...).
- Future: nanti, akan.

Do I need to specify whose fuel it is?

Usually it’s understood from context.
Add possession for clarity: bahan bakar mobil kami hampir habis or bensin kami hampir habis.

Where should "hampir" go? Can it come after "habis"?

hampir comes before what it modifies. Say hampir habis, not habis hampir.
Other patterns: hampir selesai, hampir jatuh, hampir semua orang.