Breakdown of Saya basuh baju jarang dipakai kerana fabriknya mudah rosak.
saya
I
kerana
because
mudah
easy
basuh
to wash
baju
the clothes
jarang
rarely
dipakai
to be worn
fabrik
the fabric
nya
its/their
rosak
damaged
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Questions & Answers about Saya basuh baju jarang dipakai kerana fabriknya mudah rosak.
In the phrase jarang dipakai, what part of speech is jarang, and how does it modify dipakai?
Jarang is an adverb meaning “rarely” or “seldom.” It modifies the passive verb dipakai (“is worn”), indicating frequency: “rarely worn.”
Why is dipakai in the passive form, and is the doer of the action specified?
Dipakai is the passive form of pakai (“to wear/use”). The sentence focuses on the clothes rather than who wears them. The agent isn’t mentioned because Malay often omits the doer when it’s general or obvious from context.
Could I include the relative pronoun yang, as in baju yang jarang dipakai? Does it change the meaning?
Yes. Baju yang jarang dipakai is perfectly correct and explicitly links the noun to the descriptor. Omitting yang (to say baju jarang dipakai) is common in informal speech and still means the same thing.
What’s the difference between kerana and sebab, and when should I use each?
Both mean “because.”
- Kerana is more formal or written.
- Sebab is more colloquial and common in everyday speech.
In fabriknya, what does the suffix -nya indicate?
The suffix -nya is a third-person possessive or definite article. In fabriknya it means “its fabric” or “the fabric of it.”
Could I say fabrik dia instead of fabriknya? What’s the difference?
Yes, fabrik dia (“fabric of him/her/it”) is widely understood in informal contexts. Fabriknya is more standard and formal—common in writing or polite speech.
Why is mudah placed before rosak, and what is their grammatical relationship?
Mudah means “easy” or “easily.” When placed before a verb or adjective, it turns into “easily [verb/adjective].” So mudah rosak means “easily damaged.” The pattern is always mudah + verb/adjective in Malay.
Could I reorder the sentence to Kerana fabriknya mudah rosak, saya basuh baju jarang dipakai? Is that acceptable?
Yes. Malay permits fronting the subordinate clause. Starting with Kerana fabriknya mudah rosak is grammatically correct and shifts emphasis onto the reason.
What’s the difference between basuh and cuci? Can I use them interchangeably here?
Both mean “to wash.”
- Basuh is very common in spoken Malay, often used for laundry, dishes, hands, etc.
- Cuci is slightly more general or formal.
In this sentence, Saya basuh baju… sounds natural; Saya cuci baju… would also be perfectly acceptable.