Saya simpan buku penting di meja.

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Breakdown of Saya simpan buku penting di meja.

• meja: the table
• buku: the book
• penting: important
• di: on
• simpan: to keep

Questions & Answers about Saya simpan buku penting di meja.

What does simpan mean in this sentence?

In this context, simpan means "to keep" or "to store." It tells you that the subject is retaining or putting something away—in this case, an important book.

Why is the adjective penting placed after buku instead of before it?

In Malay, adjectives usually follow the noun they modify. So buku penting literally translates as "book important," which is rearranged in English to "important book." This noun–adjective order is typical in Malay.

How is the sentence structured in terms of word order?

The sentence follows a Subject–Verb–Object–Place order. Saya is the subject ("I"), simpan is the verb ("keep/store"), buku penting is the object ("important book"), and di meja indicates the location ("on the table").

What is the role of di in di meja?

The preposition di indicates location. It functions similarly to "in," "on," or "at" in English, so di meja translates to "on the table."

Why are there no articles like "a" or "the" in this sentence?

Malay does not use articles in the same way English does. Nouns in Malay appear without definite or indefinite articles, and the context usually provides enough information to understand the meaning.

How is tense expressed in this sentence when the verb simpan remains in a base form?

Malay verbs do not change form to indicate tense. Instead, the time of the action is understood from context or clarified with additional time markers. In this sentence, simpan remains unchanged, and the intended tense (often present or habitual) is inferred from the situation.