Breakdown of Guru meminta kita tulis jawapan pendek tetapi mendalam.
guru
the teacher
tulis
to write
tetapi
but
meminta
to ask
pendek
short
jawapan
the answer
kita
us
mendalam
profound
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Questions & Answers about Guru meminta kita tulis jawapan pendek tetapi mendalam.
What does meminta mean, and why is it used here?
Meminta is the active verb “to ask” or “to request.” In this sentence, Guru meminta kita… means “The teacher asks us….”
Why is the verb tulis used instead of menulis? Shouldn't Malay verbs have the meN- prefix?
In formal Malay you would usually say menulis (with the meN- prefix). In everyday speech or less formal writing, speakers often drop the prefix after verbs like meminta, so meminta kita tulis is a colloquial shortcut for meminta kita menulis.
Can we use untuk before tulis, as in “meminta kita untuk menulis”?
Yes. Adding untuk makes the structure more explicit—Guru meminta kita untuk menulis… is correct, especially in formal contexts. However, in everyday usage, untuk is often omitted after request-type verbs.
What’s the difference between kita and kami in Malay?
Kita is inclusive “we,” including both the speaker and the listener. Kami is exclusive “we,” meaning the speaker and others but not the listener. Here kita implies “us all (you and me).”
Why is there no word for “the” or “a” before jawapan?
Malay does not use definite or indefinite articles like “the” or “a.” Jawapan can mean “an answer,” “the answer,” or simply “answer(s)” depending on context.
Why do the adjectives pendek tetapi mendalam come after jawapan?
In Malay, adjectives typically follow the noun they describe. So you say jawapan pendek (“short answer”) and when you add a contrast you say pendek tetapi mendalam (“short but deep”) right after jawapan.
Could I use tapi instead of tetapi? What’s the nuance?
Yes. Tetapi is a more formal or written conjunction meaning “but.” Tapi is its colloquial equivalent, used frequently in spoken Malay.
What if I add yang, as in jawapan yang pendek tetapi mendalam?
Adding yang turns the phrase into a relative clause: “answers that are short but deep.” Native speakers often drop yang in clear, simple descriptions, but including yang is perfectly correct and a bit more formal.