Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya menganggap perbezaan pendapat itu biasa. - I consider that difference of opinion normal.

The base form is anggap (“to consider/regard”). Adding the prefix meN- gives menganggap, an active transitive verb often used in neutral-to-formal registers meaning “to consider/regard/assume (that…)” with an object.

Can I say Saya anggap … instead of Saya menganggap …?

Yes. Saya anggap … is common and a bit more direct/colloquial. Saya menganggap … feels slightly more formal or written. Both are correct.

Do I need sebagai after menganggap?

Use sebagai when what follows is a noun phrase:

With an adjective, no sebagai: Saya menganggap perbezaan pendapat itu biasa.
With a noun phrase, use sebagai: Saya menganggap perbezaan pendapat itu sebagai perkara biasa.
You can also say: … sebagai sesuatu yang biasa.

Why is there no Malay word for “to be” (like “is”) before biasa?

Malay doesn’t need a copula before adjectives. An adjective can serve as a predicate on its own. Don’t insert adalah/ialah before biasa here. Use adalah/ialah only when the complement is a noun phrase (e.g., … adalah perkara biasa).

What does itu do here? Can I omit it?

Itu marks the noun phrase as specific/that one (“that/the difference of opinion”). Without itu, it becomes more general:

Specific: perbezaan pendapat itu
General: perbezaan pendapat Both are correct; choose based on whether you mean a particular instance or the idea in general.

Why is itu placed after the noun? Can I put it before the noun?

In Malay, demonstratives typically follow the noun: buku itu, rumah ini, perbezaan pendapat itu. If you put it before (e.g., itu perbezaan pendapat), it reads more like “that is a difference of opinion,” which changes the structure and meaning.

Do I need yang anywhere, like perbezaan pendapat yang itu?

No. Yang is used to introduce a relative clause or to specify “that one” among options, e.g., yang itu = “that particular one.” Here, perbezaan pendapat itu is the normal, natural form. Perbezaan pendapat yang itu would mean “that particular difference of opinion (as opposed to others).”

Is it okay to front the object for emphasis?

Yes. You can say: Perbezaan pendapat itu saya anggap biasa. This fronts the object for topical emphasis but keeps the same meaning.

Could I write it as a “that”-clause, like English “I consider that …”?

Yes: Saya menganggap bahawa perbezaan pendapat itu biasa. This is acceptable and a bit more formal/explicit because bahawa introduces a clause. In everyday writing, many would simply keep the original structure.

How do I make this sound more general or impersonal?

Bagi saya, perbezaan pendapat (itu) biasa.
Perbezaan pendapat adalah perkara biasa. (noun complement, so adalah fits)
Secara umum, perbezaan pendapat itu biasa.

Does this sentence refer to one difference or many differences?

Malay doesn’t mark plural by default. Context decides:

With itu, it usually points to a specific instance.
Without itu, it can be generic. To emphasize plurality, you can say pelbagai perbezaan pendapat or banyak perbezaan pendapat. Reduplication (e.g., pendapat-pendapat) is possible but not needed here.

What are good synonyms or near-synonyms?

menganggap: anggap, (colloquial) rasa (“I feel/think”), kira (“I reckon”), berpendapat (“be of the opinion that”).
perbezaan pendapat: percanggahan pendapat, perselisihan pendapat (stronger: “disagreement/clash of opinions”).
biasa: normal, lazim, lumrah (more literary/formal).

Any difference between Malay and Indonesian versions?

Yes:

Malay: perbezaan; Indonesian: perbedaan.
Malay: bahawa; Indonesian: bahwa.
Indonesian might also use wajar for “normal/appropriate”: Saya menganggap perbedaan pendapat itu wajar. The sentence with biasa is also fine in Indonesian.

Pronunciation tips for tricky parts?

menganggap: /məŋ-ŋa-gap/; you’ll hear a clear “ngg” sound in the middle.
perbezaan: syllabify as per-be-za-an; the “za” is a voiced “z,” and the “a-a” spans two syllables.
biasa: bi-a-sa, often realized with a slight “y” glide: [bi-ya-sa].
itu: i-tu, both vowels clear.

Can I replace itu with ini?

Yes. Ini means “this,” so perbezaan pendapat ini = “this difference of opinion” (closer in space/time/discourse). Choose ini vs itu based on context.

How would I mark past or future time?

Malay uses time markers, not verb tense changes:

Past/already: sudah, telah, dah (informal). Example: Saya sudah menganggap … biasa sejak dulu.
Future: akan. Example: Saya akan menganggap … biasa.
Habitual: selalu, biasanya. Example: Saya biasanya menganggap … biasa.