Breakdown of Bas bergerak perlahan di atas jambatan.
bas
the bus
perlahan
slowly
di atas
on
bergerak
to move
jambatan
the bridge
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Questions & Answers about Bas bergerak perlahan di atas jambatan.
What part of speech is bergerak, and what does it mean?
Bergerak is a verb meaning to move or to go. In this sentence it tells us what the bus is doing.
Why is there no word for the before bus?
Malay does not use articles like the or a. Nouns stand alone, and whether they’re definite or indefinite is inferred from context. If you need to specify “that bus,” you can add itu: Bas itu bergerak…
Why is di atas two words instead of one?
Di is a preposition marking location (like “at/on”), and atas is a noun meaning “top.” Together, di atas means on or above. You always write them separately when indicating position.
What’s the difference between perlahan and perlahan-perlahan?
Perlahan is a simple adverb meaning slowly. Perlahan-perlahan is a reduplicated form that often stresses the gradual or repeated nature of the action: slowly, bit by bit. In most contexts perlahan suffices for “slowly.”
Could I say Bas itu bergerak perlahan-perlahan di atas jambatan instead?
Yes. Adding itu makes it that bus, and using perlahan-perlahan emphasizes the slowness even more. It becomes: “That bus is moving very slowly on the bridge.”
How can I show the action is happening right now (progressive aspect)?
Insert sedang before the verb to form a progressive aspect:
Bas sedang bergerak perlahan di atas jambatan.
This translates to “The bus is moving slowly on the bridge.”
Why isn’t jambatan marked for plural? How do I say “bridges”?
Malay nouns do not change for singular or plural. Jambatan can mean one bridge or multiple bridges, depending on context. If you need to stress “multiple bridges,” you can say beberapa jambatan (several bridges) or rarely use reduplication jambatan-jambatan.
Can I omit di and just say atas jambatan?
Sometimes in headlines or very casual speech people drop di, but the standard way to say “on the bridge” is di atas jambatan. Omitting di can sound clipped or informal.
Is the word order flexible? Could I say Bas perlahan bergerak di atas jambatan?
Malay typically follows Subject-Verb-Adverb-Object, so Bas bergerak perlahan di atas jambatan is most natural. Placing perlahan before bergerak is understandable but less common; it shifts emphasis to the slowness rather than the action.