Saya pulangkan buku kepada guru.

I return the book to the teacher.

Breakdown of Saya pulangkan buku kepada guru.

• saya: I
• guru: the teacher
• buku: the book
• kepada: to
• pulangkan: to return

Questions & Answers about Saya pulangkan buku kepada guru.

What is the function of kepada in this sentence?

Kepada acts as a preposition that introduces the indirect object. In this case, kepada guru means “to the teacher,” clearly indicating who is receiving the book. This usage helps specify the relationship between the verb and the recipient.

Why is the verb pulangkan used instead of just pulang, and what role does the suffix -kan play?

The base word pulang generally means “to return” or “to go home.” When the suffix -kan is added to form pulangkan, it turns the verb into a transitive form that emphasizes returning something (an object) to someone. This affixation is a common pattern in Malay to indicate that the action directly affects an object.

How does the word order in Saya pulangkan buku kepada guru compare to typical English sentence structure?

The sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, similar to English. Saya is the subject, pulangkan is the action verb, buku is the direct object, and kepada guru is a prepositional phrase providing additional information about the recipient. This similarities in order can make it easier for English speakers to grasp Malay sentence construction.

What does saya mean, and why is it important that it is explicitly stated in the sentence?

Saya means “I” and functions as the subject of the sentence. While in casual Malay conversation the subject pronoun might sometimes be omitted when context makes it clear, explicitly including saya is important for clarity—especially for language learners—by clearly indicating who is performing the action.

Is it acceptable to omit or rearrange the prepositional phrase kepada guru in this sentence?

No, omitting kepada guru would leave the sentence incomplete because it specifies the recipient of the returned book. Rearranging it could also lead to confusion about the intended meaning. Maintaining the proper order—subject, verb, object, then prepositional phrase—ensures the sentence retains its clear meaning.