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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 adakah at the beginning:
Adakah dokumen itu lengkap?
Or simply raise your intonation: Dokumen itu lengkap?
How do I say “My document is complete”?
Place the possessive pronoun after the noun:
Dokumen saya lengkap.
Is lengkap only an adjective?
Yes, lengkap is primarily an adjective meaning “complete.” To express the verb “to complete,” Malay uses the derivational form lengkapkan, e.g. Sila lengkapkan borang ini (“Please complete this form”).
What’s the difference between itu and tersebut?
tersebut is a more formal demonstrative often translated as “aforementioned.”
- Dokumen itu lengkap is neutral: “That document is complete.”
- Dokumen tersebut lengkap sounds more formal or written: “The aforementioned document is complete.”