Breakdown of Mereka bersembunyi di belakang pintu.
mereka
they
pintu
the door
di belakang
behind
bersembunyi
to hide
Questions & Answers about Mereka bersembunyi di belakang pintu.
Why is mereka used here, and does it mean they or them?
Mereka means they here.
Malay pronouns do not change form the way English pronouns do. So unlike English, which has they / them / their, Malay often uses one basic form depending on function, with other words added if needed.
In this sentence, mereka is the subject, so it corresponds to they.
A few useful points:
- mereka = they / them in many contexts
- It usually refers to people, not things
- It does not show gender, so it can mean they for men, women, or a mixed group
Why is the verb bersembunyi instead of just sembunyi?
Bersembunyi is the normal verb form meaning to hide or to be hiding.
The root word is sembunyi, which is connected with the idea of hiding or being hidden. When you add the prefix ber-, it becomes an intransitive verb, meaning the subject performs the action without a direct object.
So:
- sembunyi = hide, hidden, concealment-related base form
- bersembunyi = to hide / to be hiding
In this sentence, the people are doing the action themselves, so bersembunyi is the natural choice.
What does the prefix ber- mean in bersembunyi?