Learn Hardcore Malay: Kami memilih penjual tempatan kerana promosi mereka jelas. - We choose local sellers because their promotions are clear.

Use kami for “we” that excludes the listener. Use kita when you mean “we” including the listener. This sentence uses kami because it doesn’t include the person being spoken to.

What tense is memilih? Does it mean “choose” or “chose”?

Malay verbs don’t inflect for tense. Memilih can be present, past, or future depending on context:

Past: Kami sudah/telah memilih… or Semalam kami memilih…
Ongoing: Kami sedang memilih…
Future: Kami akan memilih…

Why is it penjual tempatan and not “tempatan penjual”?

In Malay, adjectives usually follow the noun: noun + adjective. So penjual tempatan = “local seller(s).” Other examples: baju merah (red shirt), kereta baharu (new car).

Is penjual the right word for “seller,” or should I use peniaga, pembekal, or vendor?

penjual = seller/retailer (general, someone who sells)
peniaga = trader/businessperson (often small business/market context)
pembekal = supplier (B2B)
vendor = vendor (business/IT procurement contexts, English loanword) Choose based on context; here penjual is natural.

How do I show whether penjual tempatan is singular or plural?

Malay doesn’t require plural marking. Context (and mereka) suggests plural here. To be explicit:

Singular: seorang penjual tempatan
Definite singular: penjual tempatan itu
Plural: para penjual tempatan, penjual-penjual tempatan, or semua penjual tempatan

Who does mereka refer to here? Can it refer to just one seller?

Mereka is third-person plural (“they/their”), so it refers to the (plural) local sellers. For one seller, use dia (informal) or beliau (formal/respectful), e.g., promosinya or promosi dia/beliau.

Can mereka refer to a company?

Yes, when you mean “they” as the people behind the company. To avoid ambiguity, many prefer syarikat itu (that company): promosi syarikat itu.

Is kerana the same as sebab?

Both mean “because.” Kerana is a bit more formal/neutral; sebab is very common in speech. Sebab is also a noun meaning “reason” (e.g., sebab utama). For “due to,” you can use disebabkan (oleh).

Can I put the reason first, like “Because their promotions are clear, we chose…”?

Yes: Kerana promosi mereka jelas, kami memilih penjual tempatan. When the reason clause comes first, use a comma.

Do I need adalah in promosi mereka jelas?

No. With adjective predicates, Malay normally omits a copula: Promosi mereka jelas is correct. Use adalah mainly before a noun phrase: Promosi mereka adalah faktor utama. You can also say Adalah jelas bahawa… (“It is clear that…”).

What nuance does jelas have here?

Jelas means “clear/understandable/explicit/obvious.” It’s about clarity, not brightness (that’s terang). For “clearly” (adverb), use dengan jelas: Mereka menerangkan dengan jelas.

How do I say “clearer” or “clearest”?

Comparative: lebih jelas
Superlative: paling jelas or jelas sekali
Opposite idea: kurang jelas (less clear)

Is promosi singular or plural here?

It’s number-neutral. It can mean “promotion” or “promotions.” To force plural, use promosi-promosi, banyak promosi, or beberapa promosi. For a single, satu promosi or promosi itu.

Can I say kami pilih instead of kami memilih?

Yes, in casual speech/writing. Kami memilih is standard/neutral; kami pilih is common informally. Both are understood: Kami (me)milih penjual tempatan…

Should there be yang before jelas?

Not in the given clause. Promosi mereka jelas is a full clause with an adjective predicate. Use yang when you turn it into a modifier of a noun: promosi mereka yang jelas (“their clear promotions”).

How do I say “because of their clear promotions” instead of “because their promotions are clear”?

Options:

kerana promosi mereka yang jelas
disebabkan (oleh) promosi mereka yang jelas (more formal)
kerana kejelasan promosi mereka (using the abstract noun kejelasan “clarity”)

Is it ever spelled karena?

Kerana is the Malay (Malaysia/Brunei/Singapore) form. Karena is Indonesian. Use kerana in Malay.

Any quick pronunciation tips for tricky bits?

e in kerana, mereka, tempatan is often a schwa (ə): kə-RA-na, mə-RE-ka, təm-PA-tan.
j in jelas is like English “j” in “jam.”
Vowels are pure; stress is light and fairly even across syllables: pro-MO-si, pe-NJU-al.