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Questions & Answers about Buku itu menarik.
What does each word in Buku itu menarik mean?
- Buku means book.
- Itu is a demonstrative pronoun meaning that (or sometimes functioning like the to indicate a specific item).
- Menarik is an adjective meaning interesting.
Why does the adjective menarik come after the noun phrase Buku itu instead of before it like in English?
In Malay, adjectives typically follow the noun they modify. Thus, Buku itu menarik literally follows the pattern: noun (book) + demonstrative (that) + adjective (interesting). This differs from English, where adjectives usually appear before the noun.
What is the role of the demonstrative itu in the sentence?
Itu specifies which book is being talked about. It functions much like the definite article the or the demonstrative that in English, making the reference specific rather than general.
Why is there no linking verb (like “is”) in Buku itu menarik?
Malay grammar does not typically require a linking verb in descriptive sentences. The adjective menarik follows the noun phrase directly, and its position alone conveys the meaning “is interesting” without needing an extra word equivalent to “is.”
Does menarik act as an adjective or a verb in this sentence?
In this context, menarik functions as an adjective. Although many Malay words can operate as both verbs and adjectives, here it describes the quality of the book, meaning interesting.
Can the sentence structure be altered for emphasis while retaining the same meaning?
The basic structure of a Malay descriptive sentence is fixed as noun + demonstrative + adjective. While you can add additional modifiers or adverbs for emphasis (for example, Buku itu sangat menarik for “That book is very interesting”), rearranging the core elements (such as moving menarik before Buku itu) would not follow standard Malay grammar rules.