Breakdown of Kelab itu ada mesyuarat setiap petang.
itu
that
setiap
every
ada
to have
mesyuarat
the meeting
petang
the evening
kelab
the club
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Questions & Answers about Kelab itu ada mesyuarat setiap petang.
What does Kelab itu mean? Why is itu placed after Kelab?
Kelab means club. Malay doesn’t have a separate definite article like the, so adding the demonstrative itu after a noun makes it definite: that club or simply the club.
What does ada mean in this sentence? Is it “to have,” “there is,” or something else?
Here ada functions like both “to have” and “there is/are.” In colloquial Malay, saying Kelab itu ada mesyuarat means the club has or holds meetings. A more formal alternative is mengadakan mesyuarat (“to hold a meeting”).
Why is there no article before mesyuarat? Shouldn't it be “a meeting” or “the meeting”?
Malay nouns don’t take articles for definiteness or indefiniteness. mesyuarat can mean “a meeting,” “the meeting,” or “meetings,” depending on context. Here the context (every afternoon) tells you it’s repeated regularly.
Why isn’t mesyuarat pluralized (e.g., with an –s)?
Malay nouns are uninflected for number. Whether it’s one meeting or many, you still use mesyuarat. The frequency word setiap petang (“every afternoon”) makes it clear there are multiple occurrences.
What does setiap petang mean? Could I use tiap-tiap petang or pada setiap petang instead?
setiap petang means every afternoon. You can also say tiap-tiap petang (a bit more repetitive/emphatic) or add the preposition pada for formality: pada setiap petang. All three are acceptable.
Why is the time expression setiap petang placed at the end? Can it go at the beginning?
Malay is flexible with word order. Time expressions often appear at the end, but you could start with it: Setiap petang kelab itu ada mesyuarat. Or even insert pada: Kelab itu ada mesyuarat pada setiap petang.
Could I drop itu and say Kelab ada mesyuarat setiap petang?
Yes, if the context already identifies which club you mean. But without itu, it sounds less specific. Kelab itu clearly points to a particular club.
Is there any nuance between using ada versus mengadakan for “to hold” a meeting?
Yes. ada mesyuarat is more conversational and literally “has a meeting,” whereas mengadakan mesyuarat is formal and explicitly means “to hold/conduct a meeting.” Both convey the same basic idea.