Learn Hardcore Malay: Bos membolehkan saya bekerja di rumah.

membolehkan is the causative verb formed from the root boleh (“can/able”). The prefix mem- and suffix -kan turn boleh into “to allow” or “to enable.” So bos membolehkan means “the boss allows/enables.”

How does membolehkan differ from just using boleh?

boleh is a modal verb meaning “can/may,” as in Saya boleh (I can). membolehkan is an active verb meaning “to enable/allow someone,” so it takes an agent (bos) and a patient (saya).

Why is bekerja used instead of kerja?

kerja by itself is generally a noun (“work”). Adding the prefix ber- turns it into the intransitive verb bekerja (“to work”).

Why do we say di rumah instead of writing dirumah as one word?

In Malay, prepositions like di (“at/in”) are separate words and must be followed by a space before the noun: di rumah (“at home/at the house”).

What is the word order in Bos membolehkan saya bekerja di rumah?

The order is Subject–Verb–Object–(Adverbial Phrase). Here:
Subject = Bos
Verb = membolehkan
Object = saya
Adverbial of place = bekerja di rumah

Why is Bos capitalized here? Are Malay common nouns capitalized?

Malay does not normally capitalize common nouns. bos is a borrowed English noun, and it’s capitalized here only because it begins the sentence. In mid-sentence it would be bos.

Can I replace saya with another pronoun like aku or kamu?

Yes. saya is the polite first-person pronoun “I.” You can use aku for informal “I,” or change the object pronoun for “you” (bos membolehkan kamu bekerja di rumah).

Could I also say Bos membenarkan saya bekerja di rumah?

Yes. membenarkan (from benar “right/true”) also means “to allow/permit.” It’s often interchangeable with membolehkan in this context.

Is there a difference between di rumah and dari rumah when talking about working?

Yes. di rumah means “at home” (location of work). dari rumah means “from home” (emphasizing origin, e.g. remote work). Both are common, but membolehkan saya bekerja dari rumah stresses “allowing me to work remotely.”