Terdapat kucing comel di rumah.

There is a cute cat in the house.

Breakdown of Terdapat kucing comel di rumah.

• di: in
• kucing: the cat
• rumah: the house
• comel: cute
• terdapat: to exist

Questions & Answers about Terdapat kucing comel di rumah.

What does terdapat mean in this sentence, and why is it used?

Terdapat means “there is” or “there exists.” It introduces the existence of something—in this case, a cute cat. It functions as an existence marker, similar in meaning to ada, but it is often seen as more formal.

Why is the adjective comel placed after the noun kucing instead of before it?

In Malay, adjectives typically follow the nouns they modify. Thus, kucing comel literally translates to “cat cute,” which in English is reorganized as “cute cat.” This is a standard rule in Malay grammar.

Can terdapat be replaced with ada, and if so, what is the difference?

Yes, ada can also be used to express existence (meaning “there is” or “there are”). However, terdapat is generally considered a bit more formal, whereas ada is more commonly used in everyday, informal conversation.

What does the phrase di rumah mean, and what role does it play in the sentence?

Di rumah translates to “in the house” or “at home.” It is a locative phrase introduced by the preposition di, which denotes location, and it specifies where the cute cat is found.

How does the sentence structure in Malay differ from that in English?

While both languages indicate existence and location, Malay typically places adjectives after the noun, unlike English where adjectives generally come before. Additionally, Malay often uses an existence marker like terdapat at the beginning of such sentences, emphasizing the presence of something in a given context.

Is the word order in a sentence like this flexible in Malay, or is it fixed?

Generally, Malay follows a standard word order, especially in formal contexts. For existence statements, starting with terdapat is common to clearly introduce what exists. Although there can be some flexibility, altering this order might change the emphasis or clarity of the sentence.