Questions & Answers about Dokumen itu lengkap.
Why is there no verb like is or adalah before lengkap?
In Malay, the copula is often omitted in simple adjectival sentences. You simply place the adjective after the subject noun, so Dokumen itu lengkap means The document is complete without a separate linking verb.
What does itu mean and why is it placed after Dokumen?
itu is a demonstrative pronoun meaning “that” (or “the”). Malay demonstratives follow the noun they modify, unlike English. Thus Dokumen itu literally is document that, i.e. that document.
Could I say Dokumen ini lengkap instead?
Yes. ini means “this,” so Dokumen ini lengkap = This document is complete. Use ini for something near the speaker and itu for something more distant or previously mentioned.
Why isn’t Dokumen marked for plural?
Malay does not typically add a suffix to indicate plural. Number is conveyed by context, numerals, reduplication (e.g. dokumen-dokumen), or quantifiers. Here, Dokumen itu implies a single document.
How would I turn this into a question?
You can use the particle at the beginning:Or simply raise your intonation: