Mastering prepositions is an essential part of learning any language, and Indonesian is no exception. Among the various types of prepositions, prepositions of time hold a special significance as they help us describe when events occur. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of using Indonesian prepositions of time correctly. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to use these prepositions to express time accurately in Indonesian.
The Basics of Indonesian Prepositions of Time
Indonesian prepositions of time are used to indicate when an action happens. Much like in English, these prepositions can denote specific points in time, durations, sequences, and frequencies. Here are some commonly used Indonesian prepositions of time:
– **Pada** – at, on, in
– **Di** – at, in
– **Sejak** – since
– **Sampai** – until
– **Dari** – from
– **Selama** – during, for
– **Dalam** – in (a duration)
– **Sesudah** – after
– **Sebelum** – before
Let’s break down each of these prepositions to understand their correct usage.
1. Pada
The preposition **pada** is widely used in Indonesian to indicate specific points in time, including days, dates, and times of the day. Here are some examples:
– **Pada hari Senin** (On Monday)
– **Pada tanggal 5 Mei** (On May 5th)
– **Pada pukul 10 malam** (At 10 PM)
**Pada** can be thought of as similar to “on” and “at” in English. It is commonly used when referring to specific events or appointments:
– **Kami bertemu pada hari Jumat.** (We met on Friday.)
– **Rapat dimulai pada pukul 9 pagi.** (The meeting starts at 9 AM.)
2. Di
While **di** is primarily a preposition of place, it can also be used to indicate time, particularly when referring to parts of the day or general time frames. For instance:
– **Di pagi hari** (In the morning)
– **Di malam hari** (At night)
It is less specific than **pada** and often used in more general contexts:
– **Saya belajar di malam hari.** (I study at night.)
– **Dia bekerja di pagi hari.** (He works in the morning.)
3. Sejak
The preposition **sejak** translates to “since” in English and is used to indicate the starting point of an action or event that continues up to the present or another specified time:
– **Sejak tahun 2010** (Since 2010)
– **Sejak pagi tadi** (Since this morning)
Examples of **sejak** in sentences:
– **Dia sudah tinggal di sini sejak tahun lalu.** (She has been living here since last year.)
– **Saya belum makan sejak pagi tadi.** (I haven’t eaten since this morning.)
4. Sampai
**Sampai** means “until” and is used to indicate the ending point of an action or event:
– **Sampai besok** (Until tomorrow)
– **Sampai jam 5** (Until 5 o’clock)
Examples of **sampai** in sentences:
– **Saya bekerja sampai jam 6 sore.** (I work until 6 PM.)
– **Dia akan tinggal di sini sampai minggu depan.** (He will stay here until next week.)
5. Dari
The preposition **dari** translates to “from” and is used to specify the starting point of an action or event:
– **Dari pagi hingga malam** (From morning until night)
– **Dari tanggal 1 sampai tanggal 10** (From the 1st to the 10th)
Examples of **dari** in sentences:
– **Saya belajar dari jam 8 pagi.** (I study from 8 AM.)
– **Dia bekerja dari rumah.** (He works from home.)
6. Selama
**Selama** means “during” or “for” and is used to indicate the duration of an action or event:
– **Selama dua jam** (For two hours)
– **Selama musim panas** (During the summer)
Examples of **selama** in sentences:
– **Saya tinggal di sana selama tiga tahun.** (I lived there for three years.)
– **Kami berlibur selama seminggu.** (We are on vacation for a week.)
7. Dalam
The preposition **dalam** can mean “in” when referring to a duration or period of time:
– **Dalam waktu satu jam** (In one hour)
– **Dalam seminggu** (In a week)
Examples of **dalam** in sentences:
– **Pekerjaan itu harus selesai dalam waktu dua hari.** (The work must be finished in two days.)
– **Dia akan kembali dalam sebulan.** (He will be back in a month.)
8. Sesudah
**Sesudah** translates to “after” in English and is used to indicate an event that occurs following another event:
– **Sesudah makan malam** (After dinner)
– **Sesudah sekolah** (After school)
Examples of **sesudah** in sentences:
– **Kami akan pergi ke bioskop sesudah makan malam.** (We will go to the cinema after dinner.)
– **Dia tidur sesudah bekerja.** (He sleeps after working.)
9. Sebelum
The preposition **sebelum** means “before” and is used to indicate an event that occurs prior to another event:
– **Sebelum tidur** (Before sleeping)
– **Sebelum berangkat** (Before leaving)
Examples of **sebelum** in sentences:
– **Saya selalu membaca buku sebelum tidur.** (I always read a book before sleeping.)
– **Dia mandi sebelum pergi ke kantor.** (He takes a shower before going to the office.)
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
When learning to use Indonesian prepositions of time, it’s easy to make mistakes due to the differences between Indonesian and English prepositions. Here are some common pitfalls and tips on how to avoid them:
1. Overusing “di” Instead of “pada”
English speakers often overuse **di** because it can translate to “at” or “in.” However, when referring to specific times, dates, or days, **pada** is the correct choice:
– Incorrect: **Di hari Senin** (at Monday)
– Correct: **Pada hari Senin** (on Monday)
2. Confusing “sejak” and “dari”
Both **sejak** and **dari** can indicate the starting point of an action, but **sejak** is used for ongoing actions up to the present:
– Incorrect: **Saya tinggal di sini dari tahun 2010.** (I have lived here from 2010.)
– Correct: **Saya tinggal di sini sejak tahun 2010.** (I have lived here since 2010.)
3. Misusing “selama” and “dalam”
**Selama** is used for expressing a duration, while **dalam** is used when referring to a period within which something happens:
– Incorrect: **Saya akan selesai selama satu jam.** (I will finish for one hour.)
– Correct: **Saya akan selesai dalam satu jam.** (I will finish in one hour.)
4. Using “sesudah” Instead of “sebelum”
It’s essential to distinguish between events that happen before and after another event. Mixing up **sesudah** and **sebelum** can lead to confusion:
– Incorrect: **Saya makan sesudah tidur.** (I eat after sleeping.)
– Correct: **Saya makan sebelum tidur.** (I eat before sleeping.)
Practice Exercises
To solidify your understanding, let’s practice using Indonesian prepositions of time with some exercises. Translate the following sentences into Indonesian:
1. I will arrive at 8 PM.
2. He has been here since yesterday.
3. We will stay until next month.
4. She studied for three hours.
5. They met after work.
6. The meeting is on Tuesday.
7. She left before noon.
8. He will finish in two weeks.
9. I work from 9 to 5.
10. He sleeps during the afternoon.
Answers:
1. Saya akan tiba pada pukul 8 malam.
2. Dia sudah di sini sejak kemarin.
3. Kami akan tinggal sampai bulan depan.
4. Dia belajar selama tiga jam.
5. Mereka bertemu sesudah kerja.
6. Rapatnya pada hari Selasa.
7. Dia pergi sebelum siang.
8. Dia akan selesai dalam dua minggu.
9. Saya bekerja dari jam 9 sampai jam 5.
10. Dia tidur selama sore.
By practicing these exercises and paying attention to the nuances of each preposition, you’ll become more adept at using Indonesian prepositions of time correctly.
Conclusion
Mastering Indonesian prepositions of time is a crucial step in achieving fluency. Understanding when to use **pada**, **di**, **sejak**, **sampai**, **dari**, **selama**, **dalam**, **sesudah**, and **sebelum** will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively. By practicing and applying these prepositions in your daily conversations and writing, you’ll gain confidence and accuracy in expressing time-related concepts in Indonesian. Keep practicing, and you’ll see improvement in no time!
