Learn Hardcore Malay: Pinggan yang sudah bersih kemudian saya simpan di atas rak supaya lantai kekal kemas. - The plates that are already clean are then kept on the rack so that the floor remains tidy.

It translates to "the plate(s) that are already clean." Here, "pinggan" means "plate" or "dish," "yang" functions as the relative pronoun "that/which," "sudah" means "already," and "bersih" means "clean."

How is the relative clause "yang sudah bersih" used in this sentence?

The clause "yang sudah bersih" modifies "pinggan" by specifying which plates are being talked about—namely, those that are already clean. This structure is typical in Malay, where a relative clause follows the noun it describes.

What is the function of the adverb "kemudian" in this sentence?

"Kemudian" means "then" or "afterwards," indicating the sequence of events. It shows that the action of storing follows the earlier state (the plates being clean).

Why is the object "Pinggan yang sudah bersih" placed at the beginning of the sentence rather than after the subject?

In Malay, it’s common to topicalize the object by placing it at the front for emphasis or clarity. Although "saya" (meaning "I") is the subject performing the action, starting with "pinggan yang sudah bersih" sets the context and highlights what is being stored.

What does the phrase "di atas rak" indicate?

It means "on the shelf." The preposition "di atas" translates to "on top of" or simply "on," and "rak" means "shelf."

How is the purpose of the action expressed in "supaya lantai kekal kemas"?

The phrase "supaya lantai kekal kemas" conveys the purpose of the action. "Supaya" means "so that" or "in order that," "lantai" is "floor," "kekal" means "remains" (or "stays"), and "kemas" means "neat" or "tidy." It tells us that the plates are stored on the shelf to keep the floor neat.

How does Malay indicate the timing of actions in this sentence without traditional verb conjugation?

Malay verbs are not inflected for tense as in English. Instead, timing is conveyed through context and time markers. In this sentence, "sudah" suggests that the plates have already become clean, while "kemudian" indicates the next action in the sequence. This reliance on context and additional words replaces the need for verb conjugations in Malay.