Past context, already and not yet

Distinguish time references from completion and ongoing action.

Past without a past ending

kemarin = yesterday; minggu lalu = last week; sekarang = now. Kemarin saya bekerja means I worked yesterday. Bekerja is unchanged: the time phrase supplies the past setting.

Aspect and state

sudah = already; belum = not yet; sedang = currently in the process of. Saya sudah makan = I have eaten/already ate; Saya belum makan = I have not eaten yet; Saya sedang makan = I am eating. These words do not conjugate the verb.

Do not equate sudah with past tense

Sudah describes an action/state as already achieved relative to the relevant time, not simply a past date. A past sentence need not contain sudah. Belum is the neutral not-yet counterpart in these exercises.

Kemarin mereka belajar di rumah.