Dia berjalan ceria.

he/she

Breakdown of Dia berjalan ceria.

• berjalan: to walk
• ceria: cheerful

Questions & Answers about Dia berjalan ceria.

What does dia mean in this sentence?

Dia is a pronoun that means either he or she in Malay. Unlike in English, Malay does not differentiate gender with its pronouns, so the context will help you determine who is being referred to.

What is the role of the prefix ber- in berjalan?

The prefix ber- is used to form verbs in Malay, indicating an action or state. In berjalan, it attaches to the root jalan (which means to walk) to create a verb meaning to walk. This prefix is common in Malay for forming intransitive verbs.

How does ceria function in this sentence?

Ceria functions as a predicate adjective that describes the manner in which the subject is walking—implying that the walking is done in a cheerful or happy way. In Malay, adjectives often follow the verb they modify, which is why ceria comes at the end of the sentence.

Is the sentence structure of Dia berjalan ceria typical in Malay?

Yes, the structure used here is common in Malay. The sentence follows a straightforward Subject + Verb + Complement pattern: dia (subject), berjalan (verb), and ceria (complement describing the action). This differs from English in that adjectives and adverbs in Malay often appear after the verb.

Why is there no explicit tense marker in the sentence?

Malay verbs do not conjugate to reflect tense. Instead, context or specific time-indicating words (like sedang for ongoing actions or sudah for completed actions) are used when necessary. In Dia berjalan ceria, the action is presented as a general or habitual occurrence without stating a specific time frame.

Can adjectives in Malay also function like adverbs, as seen with ceria?

Yes, adjectives in Malay can serve a dual role. In this sentence, ceria not only describes a quality (cheerfulness) but also tells you how the action is performed (happily). This means that in Malay, adjectives can sometimes act adverbially without any change in form.