BrixBloks Grammar Apps

In simple sentences you can think: who + does what + to what. Example: Saya minum kopi. The subject (saya, awak/kamu, dia, kami, kita, mereka) normally comes first, then the verb, then the object or place. Word order can move a little for emphasis, but S–V–O is a safe pattern for beginners.

Memory tip: When you build a sentence, say the subject first, then the verb, then the rest: Saya + buat + sesuatu.

The same noun can mean singular or plural: buku can be "book" or "books". To be clear you add a number or a quantifier: satu buku (one book), dua buku (two books), banyak buku (many books), beberapa buku (a few books). Sometimes Malay uses reduplication like buku-buku to emphasise plurality, but it is not necessary in most beginner sentences.

Memory tip: Think: the noun stays the same. Add a number (dua, tiga) or words like banyak, sedikit, beberapa to show plural.

The noun rumah can mean "a house" or "the house". If you want to say "this" or "that", you add ini (this) or itu (that) after the noun: rumah ini (this house), kereta itu (that car). For beginners it is enough to use the plain noun and add ini/itu only when you really want to point to something.

Memory tip: Relax: you don’t need to choose between 'a' and 'the'. Use ini and itu when you want to show "this" or "that" clearly.

A simple pattern is noun + pronoun: buku saya (my book), kereta awak (your car), rumah dia (his/her house). You can also say saya punya buku (literally "my have book" → my book) in informal speech. To say "Ali’s house" you put the owner first: rumah Ali.

Memory tip: Learn these chunks early: buku saya, telefon saya, rumah saya; buku awak, kerja awak; rumah dia. Then add names: rumah Maria, kereta Amir.

For yes/no questions you can keep the normal word order and use a questioning tone: Awak tinggal di sini? In writing you can add the particle kah after the topic: Awak tinggal di sini kah? Wh-questions start with a question word: apa (what), siapa (who), di mana (where), bila (when), kenapa/mengapa (why), bagaimana (how), berapa (how much/many).

Memory tip: Template: [question word] + [subject] + [verb] + [rest]. For example: Di mana awak tinggal?, Bila dia datang?, Kenapa awak lambat?

Use tidak before verbs and adjectives: Saya tidak faham (I don’t understand), Dia tidak penat (He/She is not tired). Use bukan before nouns and pronouns: Itu bukan rumah saya (That is not my house), Dia bukan cikgu (He/She is not a teacher). For negative commands, use jangan: Jangan risau (Don’t worry), Jangan lupa (Don’t forget).

Memory tip: Quick rule: use tidak with verbs and adjectives (tidak tahu, tidak sibuk) and bukan with nouns/pronouns (bukan saya, bukan pelajar). Use jangan for "don’t".

To say "I am tired" you simply say Saya penat. To say "He is at home" you say Dia di rumah. No extra word like "am/is/are" is needed. A more formal linking word adalah can appear in careful writing or speeches: Dia adalah doktor, but beginners do not need it in everyday conversation.

Memory tip: If you catch yourself writing "am/is/are" in Malay, delete it. Just put the subject next to the description: Saya lapar, Dia gembira.

Use di for location: di rumah (at home), di pejabat (at the office), di atas meja (on the table). Use ke for movement toward: ke sekolah (to school), ke bandar (to town). Use dari for "from": dari Kuala Lumpur, dari rumah. Combine with words like atas (on), bawah (under), depan (in front), belakang (behind), sebelah (next to).

Memory tip: Memorise a few high-frequency chunks: di rumah, di pejabat, di sekolah, di atas meja, di bawah meja, di sebelah stesen.

Typical pattern is noun + adjective: rumah besar (big house), buku lama (old book), orang muda (young person), cuaca panas (hot weather). Adjectives do not change for gender or number: rumah besar can be "big house" or "big houses". In some fixed phrases the adjective may come first, but noun + adjective is a safe pattern.

Memory tip: Think "thing first, description second": buku menarik, restoran mahal, kelas susah. The adjective never changes its form.

To talk about completed actions, add sudah or the informal form dah before the verb: Saya sudah makan (I have eaten), Dia dah balik (He/She already went home). You can also use time words: semalam (yesterday), tadi (earlier), dulu (before), minggu lepas (last week). The verb form itself stays the same.

Memory tip: Recipe: keep the verb simple and add a past word: semalam, tadi, dulu, minggu lepas + maybe sudah/dah. No special past ending is needed.

To be very clear about the future, put akan before the verb: Saya akan pergi esok (I will go tomorrow), Mereka akan mula minggu depan. In everyday speech people often drop akan and just use a time word: Esok saya pergi kerja awal. The verb form itself again does not change.

Memory tip: Beginner recipe: [time word] + [subject] + akan + [verb]. For example: Esok saya akan belajar, Minggu depan mereka akan datang.

Use boleh + verb for ability or permission: Saya boleh bercakap Melayu (I can speak Malay), Awak boleh masuk (You may come in). Use mesti/harus/perlu + verb for obligation: Saya mesti kerja hari ini (I must work today). Use mahu or the informal nak + verb for desire: Saya mahu makan / Saya nak makan (I want to eat). The main verb stays in its simple form.

Memory tip: Practise three starters: Saya boleh…, Saya mesti…, Saya mahu/nak…. Then add useful verbs: pergi, balik, belajar, kerja, tidur.

For comparisons, put lebih before the adjective: Rumah ini lebih besar daripada rumah itu (This house is bigger than that house). For "less" you can use kurang: kurang mahal (less expensive). For superlatives use paling + adjective: paling besar (biggest), paling murah (cheapest).

Memory tip: Keep two patterns in mind: lebih … daripada … and paling …. For example: lebih murah daripada itu, paling penting, paling senang.

For direct commands, just use the verb: Duduk! (Sit!), Tunggu sekejap! (Wait a moment!), Baca ini! (Read this!). To be polite, add tolong (please): Tolong duduk, Tolong tutup pintu. For invitations you can use mari or the informal jom: Mari makan (Let’s eat), Jom pergi (Let’s go). For negative commands, use jangan + verb: Jangan bising (Don’t be noisy).

Memory tip: Learn a small set of everyday commands you really use: Tunggu sekejap, Tolong bantu saya, Jom makan, Jangan risau, Jangan lewat.