Saya belajar matematik di perpustakaan.

I study mathematics in the library.

Breakdown of Saya belajar matematik di perpustakaan.

• saya: I
• di: at
• belajar: to study
• perpustakaan: the library
• matematik: the mathematics

Questions & Answers about Saya belajar matematik di perpustakaan.

Where is the word “am” in this sentence? Why isn’t there something like “am” or “is”?

Malay verbs do not use separate auxiliary verbs like “am / is / are” the way English does.

• Saya belajar matematik di perpustakaan.
  Literally: I study mathematics at library.

The verb belajar already covers “study / am studying / studied”, depending on context. Malay usually shows time using:

• Time words: semalam (yesterday), tadi (earlier), esok (tomorrow), etc.
• Aspect words: sedang (in the middle of doing), sudah / telah (already), akan (will).

For example:

• Saya sedang belajar matematik di perpustakaan.
  = I am currently studying mathematics at the library (right now).

So there is no separate word for “am” in the original sentence; it is simply not needed in Malay grammar.

How do I know if this means “I study math” (habitually) or “I am studying math” (right now)?

By itself, the sentence is neutral:

• Saya belajar matematik di perpustakaan.
  Can be understood as:
  • I study mathematics at the library. (habit)
  • I am studying mathematics at the library. (right now)

The exact meaning depends on context, or you can add words to make it clear:

• Habitual:

  • Setiap hari, saya belajar matematik di perpustakaan.
    = Every day, I study mathematics at the library.

• Right now / currently:

  • Sekarang, saya sedang belajar matematik di perpustakaan.
    = Right now, I am studying mathematics at the library.

The aspect marker sedang is especially useful to show an action happening at this moment.

Why is there no word for “the” or “a” before matematik and perpustakaan?

Malay generally has no articles equivalent to “a / an / the.”

• Matematik can mean math or the math
• Perpustakaan can mean a library or the library

The specificity is understood from context. If you want to be more explicit, you add other words:

• Sebuah perpustakaan = a library (one library)
• Perpustakaan itu = that / the library (specific)
• Matematik itu susah. = That math (this particular math topic) is difficult.

But in everyday speech, just perpustakaan is enough, and listeners understand from context whether you mean “a” or “the.”

Can I leave out saya and just say “Belajar matematik di perpustakaan”?

Yes, you can drop saya if the subject is clear from context.

• Belajar matematik di perpustakaan.
  = (I / you / we / he / she) study math at the library.

Malay often omits pronouns when it’s obvious who is being talked about. However:

• For beginners and in formal writing/speech, it’s safer to keep saya so the sentence is clear.
• In casual spoken Malay, dropping the subject is very common if it’s already understood.

So both are grammatically fine, but Saya belajar matematik di perpustakaan is clearer for learners.

What is the difference between saya and aku? Could I say “Aku belajar matematik di perpustakaan”?

Both saya and aku mean “I / me”, but they differ in formality and context:

• Saya

  • Polite, neutral, standard.
  • Used in formal situations, with strangers, with people older than you, in writing, etc.

• Aku

  • Informal, intimate.
  • Used with close friends, siblings, sometimes in songs, poetry, and very casual speech.

So:

• Saya belajar matematik di perpustakaan.
  = Polite, standard.

• Aku belajar matematik di perpustakaan.
  = Casual, sounds like talking to a friend.

Both are grammatically correct; just choose based on who you’re talking to.

Can the word order change? Can I put the place at the beginning, like in “At the library, I study math”?

Yes, Malay allows you to move the location phrase di perpustakaan to the front for emphasis or style:

• Saya belajar matematik di perpustakaan.
  = neutral word order (Subject–Verb–Object–Place)

• Di perpustakaan, saya belajar matematik.
  = “At the library, I study mathematics.” (focus on the place)

Both are correct. The most typical order is:

Subject – Verb – Object – Place
Saya (subject) belajar (verb) matematik (object) di perpustakaan (place)

What exactly does di mean? Is it always “at”?

Di is a preposition used for location. Depending on context, it can translate as:

• at (most common in this sentence)
• in
• sometimes on

Examples:

• Saya belajar di perpustakaan.
  = I study at the library.

• Dia tinggal di Kuala Lumpur.
  = He/She lives in Kuala Lumpur.

• Buku itu di atas meja.
  = That book is on the table.
  (literally: at on table, where di combines with atas)

Important: di (preposition) is different from the prefix di- used in passive verbs, though they look the same when written. In this sentence, di is the preposition “at.”

How do I say “to the library” instead of “at the library”?

Use ke for “to” (direction), and di for “at / in” (location):

• Saya pergi ke perpustakaan.
  = I go to the library.

• Saya belajar di perpustakaan.
  = I study at the library.

So:

• ke perpustakaan = to the library (movement, direction)
• di perpustakaan = at/in the library (location, no movement implied)

Does matematik need to be capitalized, like a school subject in English?

In Malay, common school subjects are usually written with a lowercase initial letter unless they include a proper name:

• matematik = mathematics
• sains = science
• bahasa Melayu = the Malay language (capital M because Melayu is an ethnicity/language name)
• bahasa Inggeris = the English language (capital I)

So in your sentence, matematik should normally be written with a lowercase m:

• Saya belajar matematik di perpustakaan.

How do I make perpustakaan plural, like “libraries”?

Malay usually does not mark plural with an ending like -s. You keep the noun the same, and use context or extra words:

• perpustakaan = library / libraries (depending on context)

To be explicit:

• banyak perpustakaan = many libraries
• beberapa perpustakaan = several libraries
• perpustakaan-perpustakaan = libraries (reduplication, more formal/emphatic)

Example:

• Saya belajar di banyak perpustakaan.
  = I study in many libraries.

In your original sentence, perpustakaan is naturally interpreted as singular (“the library”) from context.

Is belajar only “to study,” or can it also mean “to learn”?

Belajar can mean both “to study” and “to learn,” depending on context:

• Saya belajar matematik.
  = I study mathematics / I am learning mathematics.

• Dia belajar bahasa Jepun.
  = He/She studies Japanese / is learning Japanese.

If you want to emphasize the idea of learning from somebody, you can use belajar daripada:

• Saya belajar banyak daripada cikgu saya.
  = I learned a lot from my teacher.

But in most school-related contexts, belajar alone is fine for both “study” and “learn.”

Is perpustakaan only “library,” or can it mean something like “bookstore”?

Perpustakaan specifically means library (a place where you borrow/read books, usually not for sale).

• perpustakaan = library
• kedai buku = bookstore / bookshop
  (literally: book shop)

So your sentence clearly means:

• Saya belajar matematik di perpustakaan.
  = I study mathematics at the library, not at a bookstore.