Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya buang surat khabar lama ke dalam tong hijau. - I throw the old newspaper into the green bin.

In everyday spoken Malay, the meN- verb prefix is often dropped after pronouns for simplicity. In more formal or written Malay you’d use membuang instead of buang.

What’s the difference between ke dalam and just dalam?

Ke dalam indicates movement into something (e.g. “into the bin”).
Dalam by itself describes a static location (“in/inside”).

Why is lama placed after surat khabar?

Malay adjectives normally follow the nouns they describe. So surat khabar lama is literally “newspaper old,” i.e. “old newspaper.”

Why is surat khabar written as two separate words?

Many Malay compound nouns stay as two words. Surat means “letter” and khabar means “news,” so surat khabar = “newspaper.” In some sources you might see it combined, but the two-word form is common.

What does tong mean, and why hijau?

Tong means “bin” or “container.”
Hijau means “green.”
Together tong hijau is “the green bin.”

Why isn’t there any article like “the” or “a” in the Malay sentence?

Malay doesn’t use articles (a, an, the). Context alone tells you whether you mean a general or a specific item.

Can you drop saya and just say Buang surat khabar lama ke dalam tong hijau?

Yes. In colloquial Malay you often omit pronouns when context is clear. Be aware, though, that Buang… can sound like an imperative (“Throw…!”) rather than a neutral statement.

Could you use masukkan instead of buang? What’s the difference?

Masukkan means “to put in” or “to insert”; it focuses on placing something inside.
Buang means “to throw away” or “to discard”; it implies you’re getting rid of it.