Breakdown of Saya simpan dokumen terkini di dalam laci.
saya
I
di
in
dalam
inside
dokumen
the document
simpan
to keep
laci
the drawer
terkini
latest
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Questions & Answers about Saya simpan dokumen terkini di dalam laci.
Why is the verb simpan used without the me- prefix (i.e. why not menyimpan) in Saya simpan dokumen terkini di dalam laci?
Malay verbs in informal or neutral contexts often appear in their root form. The prefix me- (forming menyimpan) is not required to indicate a simple action. Both simpan and menyimpan mean “to store/save,” but speakers frequently drop the prefix when the meaning and actor are clear from context.
How can I explicitly say “I have saved the document” to show the action is completed?
You can add aspect/time markers before the verb. For example:
- Saya sudah simpan dokumen terkini di dalam laci
- Saya telah menyimpan dokumen terkini di dalam laci
Here sudah or telah signals that the action is finished.
What does di dalam mean, and can I just say dalam laci?
di dalam is a locative preposition meaning “in/inside.” It’s made of di (at/in) + dalam (inside). You can also drop di and say dalam laci, which is perfectly natural in casual speech. Both mean “in the drawer.”
What is the difference between di dalam and ke dalam?
- di dalam indicates a static location (“inside”).
- ke dalam expresses movement or direction (“into” something).
So Saya simpan dokumen di dalam laci = “I store the document inside the drawer.”
Saya masukkan dokumen ke dalam laci = “I put the document into the drawer.”
Why is terkini placed after dokumen, and what does terkini mean?
In Malay, adjectives typically follow the nouns they modify. terkini means “latest” or “most recent.” Therefore dokumen terkini translates as “the latest document.”
What is the function of the ter- prefix in terkini?
The prefix ter- is a derivational affix that can form adjectives expressing superlative or an attained state. On kini (“current”), terkini becomes “most current” or “latest.”
Do I need to use yang between dokumen and terkini (as in dokumen yang terkini)?
No. yang is used to introduce relative clauses, but with simple noun–adjective pairs it’s optional. dokumen terkini is concise and correct; dokumen yang terkini is also grammatical but more formal or emphatic.
Why is there no word for “the” before dokumen terkini?
Malay does not have articles like “the” or “a/an.” Definiteness and indefiniteness are understood from context without extra words.
How do I know if dokumen is singular or plural?
Malay nouns are not inflected for number. Plurality is inferred from context or specified with numerals (e.g. dua dokumen) or optional reduplication (e.g. dokumen-dokumen for “documents”).