Learn Hardcore Malay: Abang saya mencuba seluar baru di kedai, kemudian dia pulang untuk menukar kasut sebelum mesyuarat. - My older brother tried on new pants at the store, then he returned home to change his shoes before the meeting.

Abang saya translates directly as my older brother. In Malay, abang is an informal term used to refer to an older brother, and saya means my, so together they denote a familial relationship.

What does the word mencuba mean and how is it formed?

Mencuba means to try on or simply to try. It is formed by adding the prefix men- to the root cuba. This prefix is a common way in Malay to create an active, transitive verb, indicating that the subject is actively performing the action on an object—in this case, trying on new trousers.

How do the phrases di kedai and sebelum mesyuarat function in the sentence?

Di kedai indicates the location of the action and translates as at the store. Sebelum mesyuarat specifies when an action takes place, meaning before the meeting. Both phrases serve to provide context: one tells us where the action of trying on the trousers occurs, and the other tells us when the shoe-changing takes place.

What role does kemudian play in the sentence?

Kemudian means then or afterwards. It acts as a connector between the two main parts of the sentence, indicating that after the first action (trying on new trousers), another action (returning home to change shoes) follows sequentially.

Why is untuk used before menukar kasut and what does that phrase mean?

Untuk translates as to or in order to and is used here to introduce the purpose of the second action. Menukar kasut means to change shoes. Thus, the phrase untuk menukar kasut explains that the subject went home in order to change his shoes before the meeting.

How do we know that dia in the sentence refers to Abang saya?

The sentence begins with Abang saya (my older brother), and later uses the pronoun dia. In Malay, similar to English, once a subject is established, a pronoun like dia is used to refer back to that subject to avoid repetition. Here, dia clearly refers to Abang saya, indicating that it is the same person performing the subsequent action.