Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya suka pejabat yang tenang untuk bekerja. - I like an office that is calm for working.

It translates to "I like a quiet office to work". Breaking it down: "Saya" means "I", "suka" means "like", "pejabat" means "office", "yang tenang" means "that is quiet", and "untuk bekerja" means "for working" or "to work".

Why is the word yang used before tenang in this sentence?

The word "yang" acts as a relative pronoun that links the noun "pejabat" (office) with its descriptive clause "tenang" (quiet). This construction is similar to using "that is" or "which is" in English, as in "an office that is quiet."

What is the function of the phrase "untuk bekerja"?

The phrase "untuk bekerja" serves as a purpose clause. "Untuk" means "for" or "to", and "bekerja" means "work". Combined, they specify that the quiet office is liked "for working"—highlighting the intended use of the office.

Does this sentence follow a similar word order to English?

Yes, it does. The basic structure follows a subject-verb-object order: "Saya" (subject) comes first, "suka" (verb) follows, and "pejabat" (object) comes next. Additional information, such as the relative clause "yang tenang" and the purpose phrase "untuk bekerja", is appended to modify and clarify the object, much like in an English sentence.

Can the adjective tenang be used without yang in Malay?

While adjectives in some languages can directly follow a noun, in Malay it’s common to use "yang" to clearly link the adjective to its noun. In "pejabat yang tenang", including "yang" emphasizes that it is "the office that is quiet." Omitting it might still be understood in casual contexts, but using "yang" makes the descriptive relationship explicit and grammatically standard.