Questions & Answers about Pasu itu dekat pintu.
Why is there no word for is in Pasu itu dekat pintu?
Malay often leaves out the verb to be when linking a subject to a description or location.
So:
- Pasu itu = that vase / the vase
- dekat pintu = near the door
Malay does not need a separate word for is here.
So Pasu itu dekat pintu naturally means The vase is near the door or That vase is near the door.
What does itu mean here?
Itu usually means that, but after a noun it can also make it feel more definite, similar to the in English, depending on context.
So pasu itu can mean:
- that vase
- the vase
This is very common in Malay: the demonstrative comes after the noun.
Examples:
- rumah itu = that house / the house
- kereta itu = that car / the car
Why is it pasu itu and not itu pasu?
In Malay, demonstratives like ini (this) and itu (that) normally come after the noun.
So:
- pasu itu = that vase
- pintu itu = that door
- buku ini = this book
This is the normal Malay word order.