Breakdown of Dia suka membuat lawak ketika kami belajar supaya kelas lebih ceria.
suka
to like
dia
he/she
kelas
the class
supaya
so that
membuat
to make
lebih
more
ketika
when
belajar
to study
kami
we
ceria
cheerful
lawak
the joke
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Questions & Answers about Dia suka membuat lawak ketika kami belajar supaya kelas lebih ceria.
In the phrase membuat lawak, why is the prefix mem- used, and is there a more colloquial alternative?
The prefix mem- is part of the Malay verbal system (meN-), turning the root buat into a transitive verb (membuat). Membuat lawak literally means making jokes. In casual speech, you can drop the prefix and say buat lawak, or use bergurau (to joke) instead.
What part of speech is ketika, and can it be replaced with other words?
Ketika is a conjunction meaning when. It introduces a time clause. You can replace it with apabila, bila (informal), or waktu when followed by a noun.
What is the function of supaya, and how is it different from untuk?
Supaya is a subordinating conjunction meaning so that or in order that, introducing a purpose clause with a full verb (e.g., supaya kelas lebih ceria). Untuk also expresses purpose but is followed directly by a verb or noun phrase without forming a separate clause (e.g., untuk membuat kelas ceria).
How do we form the comparative lebih ceria, and why does lebih come before the adjective?
In Malay, comparatives are formed by placing lebih (“more”) before an adjective. So lebih ceria means more cheerful.
Why is the adjective ceria placed after kelas, and why can’t we say ceria kelas?
Malay generally follows a noun–adjective order: the noun comes first (kelas) and the adjective (ceria) follows. Saying ceria kelas would sound unnatural because it reverses that order.
Could we replace suka with gemar or menyukai, and what nuances would change?
Yes. Gemar is a synonym and slightly more formal, so Dia gemar membuat lawak works. Menyukai (meN- + suka) is transitive and requires an object (Dia menyukai lawak), emphasizing the liking itself rather than the action of joking.
Is dia gender-specific in Malay?
No. Dia is a neutral third-person pronoun that can mean he, she, or they (singular). Context clarifies the gender.
Can we move ketika kami belajar to the beginning of the sentence?
Yes. Malay allows flexibility in time-phrase placement. For example: Ketika kami belajar, dia suka membuat lawak supaya kelas lebih ceria.
Can supaya be replaced with agar, and is there a difference in formality?
Yes. Agar is a synonym of supaya meaning so that. Agar is slightly more formal or literary, while supaya is common in both spoken and written Malay.