← Prepositions

Tricky cases

Kasus rumit

in the car / on the bus, in bed / on the bed, at home / in the house.

in the car / on the bus, in bed / on the bed, at home / in the house.

See it

Tekan Play, atau ketuk untuk mencoba sendiri.

in the car ✓ kecil, duduk → in the car
on the bus ✓ besar, bisa berdiri → on the bus
on the plane ✓ on the plane
on a motorbike ✓ menaiki → on a motorbike

in the car, but on the bus.

Small, sit-down vehicle → in. Big, walk-on / straddle → on. Kendaraan kecil, duduk → in. Besar / dinaiki → on.

Rules Aturan

  • in
    Small, enclosed vehicles → in Kendaraan kecil tertutup → in
    in the car, in a taxi in the car, in a taxi
  • on
    Large vehicles & ones you straddle → on Kendaraan besar / dinaiki → on
    on the bus, on the plane, on a motorbike on the bus, on the plane, on a motorbike
  • at
    at home, in the house, in bed, on the bed at home, in the house, in bed, on the bed
    She's at home, resting in bed. Dia di rumah, istirahat di tempat tidur.
  • on
    on TV / the phone / the internet / the wall on TV / the phone / the internet / the wall
    It's on TV. I saw it on the internet. Ada di TV. Saya lihat di internet.

One Indonesian word, several English ones Satu kata ID, beberapa preposisi

  • 🇮🇩 di (kendaraan)

    • in in the car
    • on on the bus

    'di mobil' → in the car, tapi 'di bus' → on the bus. Ukuran kendaraan menentukan.

Common mistakes Kesalahan umum

  • ✗ I'm on the car.
    ✓ I'm in the car.

    Mobil kecil → in the car.

  • ✗ in the bus
    ✓ on the bus

    Bus besar → on the bus.

  • ✗ She is in home.
    ✓ She is at home.

    'home' → at home.

  • ✗ A picture in the wall.
    ✓ A picture on the wall.

    Dinding = permukaan → on.

  • ✗ I saw it in TV.
    ✓ I saw it on TV.

    Layar → on TV.

Fixed phrases to memorise Frasa untuk dihafal

  • in the car
  • on the bus
  • at home
  • in bed
  • on the phone
  • on the wall

Quick check Cek cepat

  1. We were ___ the bus for two hours.

    Kami ___ bus selama dua jam.

  2. She's tired. She's ___ bed.

    Dia capek. Dia ___ tempat tidur.

  3. There's a good film ___ TV tonight.

    Ada film bagus ___ TV malam ini.

Practise → 13 exercises