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Questions & Answers about Pejabat ini agak tenang.
Why is the demonstrative ini placed after the noun pejabat instead of before it like in English?
In Malay, demonstrative adjectives such as ini (meaning "this") follow the noun they modify. So pejabat ini literally translates to "office this," which corresponds naturally to the English phrase "this office." This post-nominal placement is a standard feature of Malay syntax.
What is the role of the adverb agak in this sentence?
The word agak functions as an adverb modifying the adjective tenang. It conveys the idea of "somewhat" or "rather," softening the description to imply that while the office is quiet, it might not be completely so. This nuance is common in Malay to temper adjectives.
Why doesn't the sentence include a word equivalent to the English linking verb "is"?
Malay often omits the copula (the linking verb "is") in descriptive or equational sentences. In Pejabat ini agak tenang, the state of being quiet is understood directly from the structure and context, so there's no need to include a separate verb for "is."
How does adjective placement in this Malay sentence differ from standard English word order?
In English, adjectives typically appear before the noun—for example, "quiet office." In contrast, Malay commonly places adjectives after the noun or within the predicate. In this sentence, tenang (quiet) comes at the end and functions as the predicate adjective describing pejabat ini. This difference in placement is an important structural feature for learners to remember.
If I wanted to say "This office is very quiet," how would I modify the sentence?
To intensify the description, you can replace agak (somewhat/rather) with sangat (very). The revised sentence would be Pejabat ini sangat tenang, which translates directly to "This office is very quiet."