Saya suka kucing tersebut.

I like that cat.

Breakdown of Saya suka kucing tersebut.

• saya: I
• suka: to like
• kucing: the cat
• tersebut: that

Questions & Answers about Saya suka kucing tersebut.

What does suka mean in this sentence, and is it a verb?

suka is the verb meaning to like. In Malay, verbs don’t change form for person, number, or tense—suka remains the same whether the subject is I, you, he, or they.

Why isn’t there any tense marking on suka? How do I know when the action takes place?

Malay verbs, including suka, don’t inflect for tense. Time is understood from context or added time words.
• For present/general statements, simply use saya suka kucing tersebut.
• To specify past, add a word like semalam (yesterday) or sudah (already): Saya sudah suka kucing tersebut.
• For future, add nanti (later) or akan: Saya akan suka kucing tersebut.

What does tersebut mean, and why is it placed after kucing?

tersebut is a demonstrative meaning that or the aforementioned. In Malay, demonstratives follow the noun they modify, so kucing tersebut literally means that cat (the one just mentioned or indicated).

Can I replace tersebut with itu, and if so, what’s the difference?

Yes. itu also means that.
• Saya suka kucing itu is more colloquial and common in speech.
• Saya suka kucing tersebut sounds slightly more formal or written.

If I drop tersebut entirely and say Saya suka kucing, is the meaning different?

Yes. Saya suka kucing without a demonstrative means I like cats in general (a generic preference), not a specific cat.

What’s the difference between saya and aku, and could I say Aku suka kucing tersebut?

Both mean I:
• saya is neutral or formal and polite—safe in almost any context.
• aku is very informal or intimate, used among close friends or family.
You can say Aku suka kucing tersebut, but it feels casual and might be too familiar in a new or respectful setting.

How do I make this sentence negative to say I don’t like that cat?

Insert tidak before the verb:
Saya tidak suka kucing tersebut
This means I do not like that cat.

How would I ask someone Do you like that cat? in Malay?

Several options:
• Formal/question word order: Adakah kamu suka kucing tersebut?
• Everyday speech: Kamu suka kucing itu? or simply Suka kucing itu?
• Colloquial question particle: Kamu suka kucing itu, ke?