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Questions & Answers about Bos menerima cadangan saya.
What is the word order here? Who is subject, verb, and object?
Malay typically uses SVO (Subject–Verb–Object) order. In Bos menerima cadangan saya:
- Subject: Bos (the boss)
- Verb: menerima (accepts/accepted)
- Object: cadangan saya (my proposal)
Do I need words for “the” or “a”? How do I say “the boss” vs “a boss”?
Malay has no articles. Bos can mean either the boss or a boss from context. To be explicit:
- bos itu = that/the boss (specific)
- seorang bos = a boss (one boss; human classifier) Context usually makes definiteness clear without extra words.
How do I show past, present, or future time?
Verbs don’t change for tense. Add time markers or adverbs:
- Past: sudah/telah → Bos sudah/telah menerima...; or use adverbs like tadi, semalam.
- Present progressive: sedang → Bos sedang menerima... (less common with this verb).
- Future: akan → Bos akan menerima.... Without markers, menerima can be past or present.
Why is it menerima and not menterima or memerima?
The verb uses the meN- prefix (active transitive). With roots starting with t, the t drops and the prefix surfaces as men-:
- meN- + terima → menerima (the t disappears) Forms like menterima or memerima are incorrect. Tip: similar changes happen with other initials (p→mem-, k→meng-, s→meny-, with the initial letter dropping).
Can I say Bos terima cadangan saya?
Yes, in colloquial Malay you often drop the meN- prefix before a direct object. Bos terima cadangan saya is natural in speech. In formal writing, prefer Bos menerima cadangan saya.
How do I say “My proposal was accepted (by the boss)”?
Use the passive with di-:
- Cadangan saya diterima (oleh) bos. The agent with oleh is optional and often omitted: Cadangan saya diterima.
Why is the possessive pronoun after the noun? Can I say “saya cadangan”?
Possessive pronouns follow the noun in Malay. So cadangan saya = my proposal. saya cadangan is ungrammatical. Variants:
- Literary/poetic: cadanganku (using the enclitic -ku)
- Colloquial: saya punya cadangan (very casual)
When should I use saya vs aku, and kami vs kita?
- saya: neutral/formal “I/my” (default in work or polite contexts)
- aku: casual/intimate “I/my”
- kami: “we/our” excluding the listener
- kita: “we/our” including the listener Examples: cadangan kami (our proposal, not including you), cadangan kita (our proposal, including you).
Does cadangan mean a casual suggestion or a formal proposal?
cadangan can mean either, depending on context. For a formal document, you might see:
- kertas cadangan = proposal paper/document
- proposal (loanword, common in Malaysia) usul is also used for motions/proposals in formal meetings.
Does menerima mean “receive” or “accept”?
Both. Context decides:
- menerima hadiah/e-mel = receive a gift/email
- menerima tawaran/cadangan = accept an offer/proposal So menerima cadangan normally means “accept a suggestion/proposal”.
Is menerima kasih how to say “thank you”?
No. The set expression is terima kasih = thank you. menerima kasih would mean “to receive thanks,” which is not how you say thanks.
Is bos the best word here? What about majikan, ketua, pengurus?
- bos: common, slightly informal “boss”
- majikan: employer (the entity that hires you)
- ketua: head/chief (of a unit/committee)
- pengurus: manager Use the one that fits your situation. Bos is fine in everyday speech; formal writing may prefer pengurus/ketua.
Do I need a classifier to say “a/one proposal”?
Not necessarily. To emphasize “one,” say satu cadangan. Avoid sebuah cadangan—sebuah is mainly for concrete objects, while cadangan is abstract. Often you can omit any numeral and rely on context.
What’s the difference between cadangan saya and cadangan daripada saya?
- cadangan saya = my proposal (regular possessive)
- cadangan daripada saya = a proposal from me (emphasizes origin/contrast, e.g., not from someone else) Use daripada to highlight source when needed.
How do I pronounce the words?
- Bos: like “boss” with a short o.
- menerima: mə-nə-REE-ma (first two vowels are schwa-like).
- cadangan: cha-DAH-ngan (Malay c = “ch”; ng as in “sing”).
- saya: SA-ya (y as in “yes”).
Why is Bos capitalized? Should it be bos?
It’s capitalized here because it starts the sentence. As a common noun it’s normally lowercase (bos) unless at the beginning of a sentence or part of a title/name.
How do I negate the sentence?
Use tidak before the verb:
- Bos tidak menerima cadangan saya = The boss did not accept my proposal. A stronger lexical alternative is menolak (to reject):
- Bos menolak cadangan saya = The boss rejected my proposal.
Are there other natural ways to express the idea?
Yes, depending on nuance:
- Cadangan saya diterima. = My proposal was accepted. (passive, no agent)
- Bos meluluskan cadangan saya. = The boss approved my proposal. (approval)
- Bos bersetuju dengan cadangan saya. = The boss agrees with my proposal. (agreement rather than formal acceptance)