Language/Malay-individual-language/Grammar/Questions-and-Interrogatives
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As a Malay language teacher with 20 years of experience, I am excited to help you learn about Malay interrogatives and how to form different types of questions in Malay. This lesson is part of the "Complete 0 to A1 Malay (individual language) Course" and is designed for beginners who want to learn how to use Malay question words and ask questions with ease.
Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Plurals & 0 to A1 Course.
Malay Question Words
Like in English, Malay interrogative words are used to ask questions. Here are some of the most common question words in Malay:
- Apa - What
- Siapa - Who
- Di mana - Where
- Bila - When
- Mengapa - Why
- Bagaimana - How
Let's take a closer look at these question words and how to use them.
Apa (What)
"Apa" is commonly used to ask about a thing, object or action. Here are some examples:
| Malay (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Apa itu? | /a.pa i.tu/ | What is that? |
| Apa yang kamu mahu? | /a.pa jaŋ ku.mu ma.hu/ | What do you want? |
Siapa (Who)
"Siapa" is used to ask about a person or people. Here are some examples:
| Malay (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Siapa itu? | /si.a.pa i.tu/ | Who is that? |
| Siapa nama kamu? | /si.a.pa na.ma ku.mu/ | What is your name? (literally "Who is your name?") |
Di mana (Where)
"Di mana" is used to ask about a place or location. Here are some examples:
| Malay (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Di mana tokey kedai itu? | /di ma.na tok.je ke.dai i.tu/ | Where is the shop owner? |
| Di mana kamu tinggal? | /di ma.na ku.mu tiŋ.gal/ | Where do you live? |
Bila (When)
"Bila" is used to ask about time or when something will occur. Here are some examples:
| Malay (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Bila kamu datang? | /bi.la ku.mu da.taŋ/ | When will you come? |
| Bila tarikh peperiksaan? | /bi.la ta.rikh pep.riksa.an/ | When is the examination date? |
Mengapa (Why)
"Mengapa" is used to ask about a reason or cause. Here are some examples:
| Malay (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mengapa kamu tidak datang? | /məŋ.a.pa ku.mu ti.dak da.taŋ/ | Why didn't you come? |
| Mengapa tokey kedai itu tak buka? | /məŋ.a.pa tok.je ke.dai i.tu tak bu.ka/ | Why isn't the shop owner opening? |
Bagaimana (How)
"Bagaimana" is used to ask about a method or manner. Here are some examples:
| Malay (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Bagaimana cara nak ke sana? | /ba.ga.i.ma.na ca.ra nak ke sa.na/ | How do I get there? |
| Bagaimana perasaan kamu? | /ba.ga.i.ma.na pə.ra.sa.an ku.mu/ | How do you feel? |
Types of Questions in Malay
In Malay, there are several ways to ask questions. Here are some of the most common types of questions:
- Yes/no questions - These questions can be answered with a "yes" or "no".
- Tag questions - These questions confirm or reaffirm a statement.
- Open questions - These questions require more than a one-word answer.
Let's take a closer look at these question types.
Yes/No Questions
Yes/no questions in Malay are formed by placing the verb at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the question word and subject. Here are some examples:
| Malay (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Adakah kamu lapar? | /a.da.kaʔ ku.mu la.par/ | Are you hungry? (literally "Is it that you are hungry?") |
| Suka tak kamu makan nasi? | /su.ka tak ku.mu ma.kan na.si/ | Do you like to eat rice? |
Note that "tak" and "tidak" are interchangeable and both mean "not".
Tag Questions
Tag questions in Malay are formed by repeating the verb and adding "kan" at the end of the sentence. Here are some examples:
| Malay (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Kamu lapar, kan? | /ku.mu la.par kan/ | You are hungry, right? |
| Dia pandai berenang, kan? | /di.a pan.dai be.re.naŋ kan/ | He/she can swim, can't he/she? |
Open Questions
Open questions in Malay are formed using question words, and require more than a one-word answer. Here are some examples:
| Malay (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Di mana kamu belajar bahasa Melayu? | /di ma.na ku.mu be.la.jar ba.ha.sa ma.la.yu/ | Where did you learn Malay? |
| Apa yang kamu fikirkan tentang kursus ini? | /a.pa jaŋ ku.mu fi.kir.kan te.naŋ koːrsus i.ni/ | What do you think about this course? |
It is worth noting that Malay questions often end with "kah". This word is used to indicate that the sentence is a question, and can be placed at the end of any sentence to turn it into a question.
Conclusion
In this lesson, you have learned about Malay interrogatives and how to form different types of questions in Malay. Remember to practice asking and answering questions to improve your proficiency in Malay. Keep in mind that learning a language takes time and effort, but with patience and consistency, you will make progress. Stay motivated and keep practicing!
Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: Alphabet and Pronunciation & Conditional Mood.
Other Lessons
- How to Use Be
- A1 Exam Overview
- Verbs and Tenses
- Causative Verbs
- Relative Clauses
- Give your Opinion
- Prepositions and Conjunctions
- Passive Voice
- Exam Strategies
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