Breakdown of Selepas mencuci pinggan, saya menyusun cawan dan pinggan di atas rak.
saya
I
selepas
after
dan
and
cawan
the cup
mencuci
to wash
pinggan
the plate
di atas
on
rak
the rack
menyusun
to arrange
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Questions & Answers about Selepas mencuci pinggan, saya menyusun cawan dan pinggan di atas rak.
What does Selepas mean and how is it used in this sentence?
Selepas means “after.” It introduces a subordinate clause showing time, with the structure Selepas + verb + object, followed by the main clause.
Can I use lepas or setelah instead of Selepas? What’s the difference?
- Lepas is informal/casual.
- Setelah is more formal or literary.
All three mean “after,” but choose one based on register.
Why is the subject dropped in Selepas mencuci pinggan? Shouldn't it be Selepas saya mencuci pinggan?
In Malay, the pronoun can be omitted when it’s clear or repeats the subject of the main clause. Here, saya is understood, so it’s left out.
How do we form mencuci from cuci, and menyusun from susun? What’s happening with the meN- prefix?
The meN- prefix creates active transitive verbs. Due to assimilation:
- cuci → mencuci (c → menc-)
- susun → menyusun (s → meny-)
Root initials change or drop when combined with meN-.
Why aren’t cawan and pinggan pluralized like in English (e.g., “cups,” “plates”)?
Malay nouns do not change form for plural. Plurality is shown by context, numerals (dua cawan) or reduplication (cawan-cawan).
Why is there no article (“the,” “a”) before cawan or pinggan?
Malay does not have articles. Definiteness is implied by context or shown with demonstratives: cawan itu = “that cup.”
What is di atas rak doing here, and how is di different from the passive di-?
- In di atas rak, di is a preposition meaning “on,” written separately from atas.
- Passive di- is a prefix directly attached to verbs (e.g., dibaca).
Do we need a comma after Selepas mencuci pinggan? Is that punctuation rule strict?
When a dependent clause precedes the main clause, a comma improves clarity. It’s common but may be omitted in informal writing.
Must time phrases like Selepas mencuci pinggan always start the sentence?
No. They often come first with a comma for emphasis, but you can also place them later:
Saya menyusun cawan dan pinggan di atas rak selepas mencuci pinggan.