Learn Hardcore Malay: Peminat sepatutnya berdiri di barisan pertama, tetapi mereka duduk kerana lampu masih malap. - Fans were supposed to stand in the first row, but they sat because the lights were still dim.

patut is the root word also meaning should, but it’s more informal or colloquial.
perlu means need to/must, indicating a stronger necessity than sepatutnya.

Why is sepatutnya placed before the verb berdiri rather than after it?

In Malay, adverbs (including modal adverbs like sepatutnya) typically precede the verb they modify. Putting sepatutnya before berdiri clearly marks that the action “standing” is what was expected.

What does masih mean, and why is it placed before malap?

masih means still, indicating that the condition is ongoing. Adverbs such as masih that modify adjectives normally come before the adjective, hence masih malap = “still dim.”

What do berdiri and duduk mean, and how are they used in Malay sentences?

berdiri means to stand (intransitive verb formed with the prefix ber-
- root diri).
duduk means to sit (a simple intransitive verb).
Both are placed directly after the subject to describe actions or states, e.g. Mereka berdiri (“They stand”), Mereka duduk (“They sit”).

What does barisan pertama mean, and how do you form ordinal expressions like “first row” in Malay?

barisan means row and pertama means first. In Malay, ordinal words (pertama, kedua, ketiga…) follow the noun: barisan pertama = “first row.” You can optionally include yang (e.g. barisan yang pertama), but it’s often dropped in everyday use.

What does malap mean in this context? Are there other ways to say “dim” in Malay?

malap means dim (low brightness). Other synonyms include redup, temaram, or remang-remang, but malap is the standard term for describing a light that isn’t bright.

Why is kerana used here instead of sebab, and what’s the difference between them?

Both kerana and sebab mean because.

kerana is slightly more formal and common in writing.
sebab is the everyday spoken form.
You could say sebab lampu masih malap in casual conversation.

Why is tetapi used rather than tapi, and are they interchangeable?

Both tetapi and tapi mean but.

tetapi is more formal and typical in written Malay.
tapi is the colloquial, spoken version.
They are interchangeable in meaning, though register differs.

There’s no word for “the” or “a” before lampu or barisan. Why doesn’t Malay use articles like English does?

Malay has no definite or indefinite articles. Nouns stand on their own, and context (or words like itu/ini) tells you if something is specific. For example, lampu malap could mean “the dim light” or “a dim light” depending on context.

How could this sentence be spoken more casually in everyday Malay?

You might say:
“Peminat patut berdiri di barisan depan, tapi mereka duduk sebab lampu masih malap.”
Or even more colloquial:
“Peminat patut berdiri depan sekali, tapi dorang duduk sebab lampu masih malap.”
Here patut replaces sepatutnya, tapi replaces tetapi, and dorang is slang for mereka.