Learn Hardcore Malay: Kereta saya rosak, jadi saya naik bas ke pejabat. - My car is broken, so I take the bus to the office.

In Malay, possessors follow the noun they modify. So kereta saya literally translates as “car my,” which means “my car” in English. This order differs from English, where the possessive comes before the noun.

What does jadi mean in this sentence, and how is it used?

Jadi means “so” or “therefore.” It is used as a conjunction to connect the cause in the first clause (kereta saya rosak – “my car is broken”) with the result in the second clause (saya naik bas ke pejabat – “I take the bus to the office”).

Why is there a comma before jadi in the sentence?

The comma is used to separate two independent clauses. It sets off the statement of a condition (kereta saya rosak) from its consequence (saya naik bas ke pejabat), making the sentence clearer.

How is the verb naik functioning in this sentence?

Naik means “to ride,” “to board,” or “to take” in the context of using transportation. In this sentence, it indicates the action of taking the bus. Additionally, note that Malay verbs do not change form for different tenses.

Is it necessary to include the pronoun saya twice in the sentence?

While Malay often omits subject pronouns when the context is clear, including saya in both clauses here clarifies that the speaker is both the owner of the car and the one taking the bus. This repetition helps avoid ambiguity.

What does bas refer to, and is it a native Malay word?

Bas is the Malay term for “bus.” It is a borrowed word from English and is used in the same context to refer to public transportation.