Selepas itu, saya mengelap lantai dengan kain tebal.
After that, I wipe the floor with a thick cloth.
Questions & Answers about Selepas itu, saya mengelap lantai dengan kain tebal.
What does “Selepas itu” mean exactly, and is it different from “kemudian” or “lepas tu”?
“Selepas itu” literally means “after that”. It’s a neutral, fairly standard way to show sequence in a narrative.
- Selepas itu – after that (more formal/standard, good for writing, polite speech)
- Kemudian – then / afterwards (also common and standard; often used like “then” in a story)
- Lepas tu – after that / then but colloquial, informal speech (especially in Malaysia)
You can usually swap “selepas itu” with “kemudian” without changing the meaning much, but “lepas tu” sounds more casual and would not usually be used in formal writing.
Why is it “saya mengelap” and not just “saya lap”?
The verb “mengelap” is formed from the root lap (to wipe) plus the prefix meN- → mengelap.
- lap – root form; often used in casual speech:
- Saya lap lantai. (I wipe the floor.) – sounds informal/colloquial.
- mengelap – the standard meN- verb form (more complete, more neutral/polished):
- Saya mengelap lantai. (I am wiping / I wiped the floor.)
Both are understandable. “mengelap” is more typical in standard Malay, especially in writing or more formal contexts.
Does “mengelap” mean “am wiping”, “wipe” or “wiped”? Where is the tense?