Makanan di kantin istimewa.

to be

Breakdown of Makanan di kantin istimewa.

• di: at
• makanan: the food
• kantin: the canteen

Questions & Answers about Makanan di kantin istimewa.

What is the root of makanan, and how does the suffix -an change its meaning?

The verb makan means “to eat.” Adding the nominalizer -an turns it into makanan, meaning “food” (literally “something to eat”).

Why is there no verb equivalent to “is” in Makanan di kantin istimewa?

Malay often omits the copula adalah or ialah in simple nominal sentences. The meaning “is” is implied: Makanan di kantin istimewa = “The food at the canteen is special.”

What does di mean here, and why is it written separately from kantin?

Here di is a preposition meaning “at” or “in.” In Malay, prepositions are separate words, so you write di kantin, not dikantin.

Why is istimewa placed at the end of the sentence instead of before makanan?

Malay adjectives follow the noun or noun phrase they describe. So it’s makanan … istimewa (“food … special”), not “special food” as in English.

Which element does istimewa modify—makanan or kantin?