Dia sedang membaca buku sejarah sebelum tidur malam ini.

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Questions & Answers about Dia sedang membaca buku sejarah sebelum tidur malam ini.

Why is sedang used in this sentence?
Sedang is typically used to highlight that an action is happening right now or is in progress. In this case, it shows that "membaca" (reading) is taking place at this moment.
Why does "sebelum tidur" not include any pronoun?
In Malay, it’s common to omit words that are understood from context. By saying "sebelum tidur," the idea of "before he/she sleeps" is already understood because "Dia" has been mentioned earlier, so there’s no need to repeat a pronoun.
Why does "malam ini" come at the end of the sentence?
Expressions of time often appear at the end of Malay sentences. "Malam ini" clarifies when the action (sleeping) will happen, and placing it at the end is a common and natural word order in Malay.
What’s the difference between "Dia sedang membaca" and "Dia membaca"?
"Dia sedang membaca" puts emphasis on the action happening right now. "Dia membaca" can describe a general action or habit, without strongly emphasizing that it’s happening at this specific moment.
Does "buku sejarah" mean "history book" or "book about history"?
It generally translates to "history book," but you could also interpret it as "a book about history." In Malay, placing nouns together like "buku sejarah" usually means the second noun (sejarah) describes the first (buku).

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