Learn Hardcore Malay: Kereta api ini lebih cepat daripada bas di bandar. - This train is faster than the bus in the city.

kereta api is the Malay word for train. Literally, kereta means “car” or “vehicle” and api means “fire,” but together they form the standard term for a train.

Why is ini placed after kereta api instead of before, like “this train” in English?

In Malay, demonstratives (ini = this, itu = that) follow the noun they modify. So kereta api ini literally reads “train this,” equivalent to “this train.”

How do you form a comparative in Malay, and why is lebih cepat used here?

Malay uses lebih (“more”) before an adjective to form a comparative. cepat means “fast,” so lebih cepat = “more fast” = “faster.” For example: lebih besar (bigger), lebih mahal (more expensive).

What role does daripada play in this sentence? Why not just dari?

daripada is used for comparisons, equivalent to English “than.” dari on its own usually indicates origin (“from” a place or time). In a comparative sentence you need daripada.

Is bas singular or plural here? How do you indicate “buses” explicitly?

Malay nouns are unmarked for number, so bas can mean one bus or many buses. To specify plural you could say beberapa bas (several buses), dua bas (two buses), or reduplicate (bas-bas).

Why is di bandar placed at the end? Can its position change?

di bandar is a locative phrase (“in the city”) and Malay generally places adverbial or locative phrases after the main clause. You could move it for emphasis, but the default is at the end.

Does Malay have articles like “the” or “a”?

No. Malay has no definite or indefinite articles. Definiteness can be shown with demonstratives (ini, itu) or by context.

Can cepat function as an adverb, or is it only an adjective?

Malay words are quite flexible. cepat can describe a noun (adjective: kereta cepat = a fast car) or modify a verb (adverb: berlari cepat = run fast).

How would you say “slower” in Malay?

You can say lebih lambat (more slow = slower) or kurang laju (less fast = slower). Both are acceptable.

How do you form the superlative “the fastest” in Malay?

Use paling before the adjective: paling cepat (most fast = the fastest). You can also use the prefix ter-: tercepat.