Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya bangun awal pagi untuk menulis nota tentang pengalaman semalam. - I wake up early in the morning to write notes about yesterday’s experience.

Untuk is used to indicate purpose. It links the action “bangun” (waking up) with the reason behind it “menulis nota” (to write notes), much like the English phrase “in order to.”

How can I tell that the actions are in the past even though Malay verbs do not conjugate for tense?

Malay does not change the form of verbs based on tense. Instead, time markers are used. In this sentence, semalam means “yesterday,” which tells you that the actions occurred in the past.

What does the phrase awal pagi mean, and how is it constructed?

Awal pagi literally translates to “early morning.” Awal means “early” and pagi means “morning.” Together, they specify that the action took place early in the morning.

Why are the verbs bangun and menulis presented in their base forms?

In Malay, verbs remain in their base (uninflected) form regardless of the tense. The meaning of when the action occurs is provided by context and time markers (like semalam), not by altering the verb forms.

Why is the word nota used for “notes,” and is there another word that can be used in its place?

Nota is a common term in Malay (borrowed from English) that means “notes.” Alternatively, you might also encounter catatan, which also means “notes” or “record,” though nota is frequently used in more academic or formal contexts.

What role does tentang play in the sentence?

Tentang functions as a preposition meaning “about.” It connects nota to pengalaman semalam to indicate that the notes are concerning the experiences that took place yesterday.