Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya buat tugasan penting di pejabat. - I do an important task at the office.

The word buat is a versatile verb in Malay that can mean both "do" and "make". In the context of this sentence—referring to completing an assignment—it is best translated as "do".

What does tugasan refer to in this sentence?

Tugasan means "assignment" or "task". It often refers to work or duties that need to be completed, whether in academic or workplace settings.

Why is penting placed after tugasan instead of before it, as we might expect in English?

In Malay, adjectives typically follow the noun they describe. So instead of saying "important assignment" as in English, the structure becomes "tugasan penting"—literally "assignment important"—which is the standard word order in Malay.

What does the prepositional phrase di pejabat mean?

The phrase di pejabat means "at the office". The preposition di is used to indicate location, much like "at" or sometimes "in" in English.

Does this sentence indicate a specific time frame or tense, such as past or present?

Malay verbs, including buat, do not change form to express tense. Instead, the time frame of an action is determined by context or additional time indicators. Therefore, Saya buat tugasan penting di pejabat can be understood as either happening now, having happened in the past, or even habitually, depending on the situation.

Is the use of buat in this sentence considered formal or informal?

The usage of buat here is relatively informal and commonly used in everyday conversation. While it is perfectly acceptable for general communication, more formal contexts might opt for alternative expressions or more formal verb forms.