Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya makan nasi lalu minum air segar.

Lalu acts as a connector that indicates a sequence of actions. It can be understood as "then" or "afterwards", showing that after one action is completed, the next one follows.

Does the subject saya apply to both verbs in the sentence?

Yes, saya means "I" and serves as the subject for both actions in the sentence. In Malay, once a subject is introduced, it is commonly understood to continue for subsequent verbs unless stated otherwise.

What is the typical word order in a Malay sentence like this one?

Malay generally follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order. In the sentence "Saya makan nasi lalu minum air segar," saya is the subject, makan is the first verb with nasi as its object, and then the sentence continues with the second verb (minum) and its object (air segar).

Why isn’t a word equivalent to "and" used to join the two actions?

Instead of using a direct equivalent for "and," Malay often employs a sequential connector like lalu to emphasize that one action follows the other. This not only connects the clauses but also clearly indicates the order in which the actions occur.

How does the adjective segar function in the phrase air segar?

In Malay, adjectives typically follow the noun they modify. In air segar, air means "water" and segar means "fresh." Therefore, segar comes after air to describe its quality, forming the compound meaning "fresh water."

How is tense or timing indicated in this Malay sentence?

Malay does not use verb conjugation to mark tense. Instead, context and time-indicating words like lalu help the listener understand the sequence of events. In this sentence, the use of lalu communicates that the actions occur one after the other without explicitly marking past, present, or future tense.

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