Breakdown of Saya semak pasport sebelum berlepas.
saya
I
sebelum
before
pasport
the passport
berlepas
to depart
semak
to check
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Malay grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Saya semak pasport sebelum berlepas.
What does the verb semak mean in English?
semak means to check, to inspect, or to verify. In this sentence it conveys “I check” (my passport).
Why isn't the full form menyemak used instead of semak?
The formal active verb is menyemak (with the meN- prefix). In everyday spoken Malay, speakers often drop the prefix for brevity, using the bare root semak. In formal writing or polite speech you would say Saya menyemak pasport….
What is the function of sebelum in this sentence?
sebelum is a conjunction meaning before. It introduces a subordinate clause that indicates one action (semak pasport) happens prior to another (berlepas).
What does berlepas mean, and how does the ber- prefix affect its meaning?
berlepas (with the ber- prefix) is an intransitive verb meaning to depart or to take off (most often used for planes). The root lepas by itself means “to release” or “to slip free,” so ber- turns it into “to depart.”
Why is there no the or my before pasport?
Malay does not use definite or indefinite articles like English. Nouns stand alone, and context implies definiteness. If you want to specify possession, you place the pronoun after the noun, e.g. pasport saya for my passport.
How do you show tense in Malay since verbs like semak don’t change form?
Malay verbs are not inflected for tense. Instead you can:
• Use time adverbs (e.g. semalam, esok).
• Add aspect markers like telah/sudah for completed actions.
• Use modal markers like akan for future actions.
Example:
- Saya sudah menyemak pasport sebelum berlepas. (I have checked my passport before departing.)
- Saya akan semak pasport sebelum berlepas. (I will check my passport before departing.)
Can you omit Saya at the beginning of the sentence?
Yes. Subject pronouns like saya (I) can be dropped if the subject is clear from context, especially in informal speech. Semak pasport sebelum berlepas still implies “I check my passport before departing.”