Taman itu indah.

to be

Breakdown of Taman itu indah.

• itu: that
• taman: the park
• indah: beautiful

Questions & Answers about Taman itu indah.

Why is there no verb like is in Taman itu indah?

Malay often forms equational sentences without an explicit linking verb. In this sentence, the noun phrase taman itu and the adjective indah are juxtaposed to indicate that “the park/garden is beautiful” without needing a verb such as is.

What is the function of itu in the sentence?

Itu is a demonstrative pronoun used to specify the noun. It indicates that the speaker is referring to a particular park or garden. Although it literally translates to that, it often conveys the definiteness found in the English article the when attached to a noun.

Why does the adjective indah come after taman itu instead of before it, as in English?

In Malay, adjectives typically follow the noun they modify rather than preceding it. So, indah comes after taman itu, meaning the structure is “garden/park that is beautiful,” which is the standard word order in Malay.

Can taman be translated as both garden and park?

Yes, taman can mean garden in contexts referring to a cultivated or ornamental space, and it may also be understood as park when referring to a public recreational area. The exact translation depends on the context in which it is used.

Does Malay have articles similar to the English a or the?

Malay does not have articles like a or the. Instead, demonstratives such as itu are used to indicate definiteness. In taman itu indah, itu serves to specify which garden or park is being talked about, much like the in English.