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CourseGrammarWords
  1. Home
  2. ›Grammar
  3. ›A1
  4. ›Time Expressions
KeteranganA1

Time Expressions

Time expressions: sudah/sedang/akan for tense, days, time of day, clock time. setengah trap!

Learning Goal

Can express past, present, and future using time markers and tell the time

Exam Skills:BerbicaraMendengarkanMerespons Kaidah

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Saya sudah makan pagi.

I have already eaten breakfast.

Dia sedang bekerja di kantor.

He/She is currently working at the office.

Kami akan pergi besok pagi.

We will go tomorrow morning.

Sekarang jam setengah delapan.

It's now 7:30 (half to eight).

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Indonesian expresses tense through time words, not verb changes: sudah (already/past), sedang (currently), akan (will/future), belum (not yet). Days: Senin-Minggu. Time of day: pagi (morning), siang (midday), sore (afternoon), malam (night). Clock: 'Jam berapa?' (What time?). WARNING: 'setengah delapan' = 7:30 (half TO 8), NOT 8:30!

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises
Learners try to conjugate verbs for tense instead of using time markers. The 'setengah' trap catches almost everyone! 🇬🇧 English: No verb tense changes! 'setengah delapan' = 7:30 (half TO 8), not 8:30.

Common Error Patterns

Trying to change verb form for different tenses

Indonesian verbs DON'T change for tense. Use: sudah (past), sedang (now), akan (future) BEFORE the verb.

Interpreting 'setengah delapan' as 8:30 instead of 7:30

'setengah' + number = half TO that number. 'setengah delapan' = 7:30 (half to 8). Like German 'halb acht'.

Saya sudah makan pagi.

I have already eaten breakfast.

'sudah' = already (marks completed action). 'makan pagi' = eat morning = breakfast. The verb 'makan' doesn't change!

Dia sedang bekerja di kantor.

He/She is currently working at the office.

'sedang' = currently/right now (progressive). Like English 'is -ing'. 'bekerja' = work (ber- + kerja).

Kami akan pergi besok pagi.

We will go tomorrow morning.

'akan' = will (future marker). 'besok' = tomorrow. 'besok pagi' = tomorrow morning. Simple!

Sekarang jam setengah delapan.

It's now 7:30 (half to eight).

WARNING: 'setengah delapan' = 7:30, NOT 8:30! It means 'half TO eight'. Same as German 'halb acht'. This catches almost every learner!

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course
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Put it into practice

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Frequently asked questions

When is Waktu & Keterangan Waktu used?
Bahasa Indonesia tidak mengubah kata kerja untuk menunjukkan waktu. Gunakan kata keterangan waktu !
How is Waktu & Keterangan Waktu formed?
⚠️ HATI-HATI! Setengah delapan = 7:30 , BUKAN 8:30! Sama seperti bahasa Jerman "halb acht" = 7:30.
What are common mistakes with Waktu & Keterangan Waktu?
Learners try to conjugate verbs for tense instead of using time markers. The 'setengah' trap catches almost everyone! 🇬🇧 English: No verb tense changes! Just add sudah/sedang/akan before the verb. 'setengah delapan' = 7:30 (half TO 8), not 8:30. 🇷🇺 Russian: No past/present/future verb forms! 'sudah' = уже (past), 'sedang' = сейчас (present), 'akan' = будет (future). 'Половина восьмого' in Russian = 7:30 — same logic as Indonesian! 🇨🇿 Czech: No verb tenses! 'sudah' = už, 'sedang' = právě, 'akan' = bude. 'Půl osmé' in Czech = 7:30 — same as Indonesian 'setengah delapan'! 🇺🇦 Ukrainian: 'sudah' = вже, 'sedang' = зараз, 'akan' = буде.

Related grammar topics

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