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Guru Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid.

Guru Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid.
That English teacher is friendly to the pupils.
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Questions & Answers about Guru Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid.

Why is there no word for “is” in the Malay sentence?

Malay usually does not use a verb like “is/are/am” between the subject and an adjective or noun.

  • Guru Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid.
    Literally: English teacher that friendly to student(s).

The link “is” is simply understood. So:

  • Dia tinggi. = He/She is tall.
  • Guru itu baik. = That teacher is kind.

You only use something like adalah in more formal or specific structures (often before a noun phrase, not an adjective):

  • Punca masalah ini adalah kekurangan dana.
    The cause of this problem is lack of funds.
Does Guru Inggeris itu mean “the English teacher” or “that English teacher”?

It can mean either, depending on context.

  • Guru Inggeris itu literally: that English teacher
    • guru = teacher
    • Inggeris = English
    • itu = that

In natural Malay, itu often works like a definite marker (similar to “the”):

  • Guru Inggeris itu ramah.
    = That English teacher is friendly.
    = The English teacher is friendly. (when both speaker and listener know which one)

If you drop itu:

  • Guru Inggeris ramah kepada murid.
    Much more like: An/any English teacher is friendly to (the) students — more general or indefinite.
In Guru Inggeris itu, is the teacher English (nationality) or teaching the English language?

By default, most Malaysians would understand Guru Inggeris as “English-language teacher”, unless context clearly says otherwise.

To be more precise:

  • guru bahasa Inggeris = teacher of the English language (very clear)
  • guru Inggeris = usually also English teacher (English subject), but could be interpreted as English (British) teacher
  • guru orang Inggeris = teacher who is (a) British/English person

So if you want to avoid ambiguity in textbooks or exams:

  • Prefer guru bahasa Inggeris itu for that English (language) teacher.
  • Use guru orang Inggeris itu for that English (British) teacher (by nationality).
Why is the adjective Inggeris placed after guru, unlike in English?

In Malay, almost all adjectives and modifiers come after the noun:

  • guru baik = good teacher
  • budak nakal = naughty kid
  • buku baru = new book
  • guru Inggeris = English teacher / teacher of English

So:

  • guru Inggeris (noun + describing word)
  • never Inggeris guru

The same order applies to itu:

  • guru itu = that teacher
  • guru Inggeris itu = that English teacher
What is the difference between ramah and baik? Could I say Guru Inggeris itu baik kepada murid?

You can say Guru Inggeris itu baik kepada murid, but there’s a nuance difference:

  • ramah = friendly, warm, easy to talk to, talks nicely with people
    • Focuses on social behavior and approachability.
  • baik = good, kind, nice, well-behaved
    • Very broad and general: kind-hearted, morally good, helpful, etc.

So:

  • Guru Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid.
    Emphasises that the teacher interacts warmly and is approachable.

  • Guru Inggeris itu baik kepada murid.
    Emphasises that the teacher treats the students well or kindly (could be strict but fair and kind).

Both are correct; ramah just points more specifically to friendliness.

Why is it ramah kepada murid, and not ramah dengan murid or something else?

Both ramah kepada murid and ramah dengan murid are used, but they have slightly different feels.

  • kepada = to / towards (more formal, directional)
  • dengan = with (more general, often more colloquial here)

Typical patterns:

  • ramah kepada murid

    • Common in more formal or written style.
    • Sounds like “friendly towards the students”.

  • ramah dengan murid

    • Very natural in everyday speech.
    • Sounds more like “friendly with the students”.

Both are acceptable. In textbooks or exams, ramah kepada murid is very standard.

Does murid mean “student” or “pupil”? Does it refer to a particular age group?

murid generally means pupil / student, but usually:

  • More commonly used for school-level students (primary and secondary).
  • For university/college, you will more often see pelajar or mahasiswa.

Rough guide:

  • murid = school pupil/student
  • pelajar = student (general term: school, college, courses)
  • mahasiswa = university/college student (formal)

In everyday speech, though, people might still refer to pelajar sekolah or murid universiti casually, and everyone will understand.

Is murid singular or plural in this sentence? How do you say “students” clearly?

By itself, murid is number-neutral: it can mean “student” or “students”, depending on context.

To make it clearly plural, you have a few options:

  • murid-murid

    • Basic plurality: students.
    • Guru Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid-murid.

  • para murid

    • Slightly more formal; often used in speeches or writing.
    • Guru Inggeris itu ramah kepada para murid.

  • Add a number or quantifier:

    • banyak murid = many students
    • semua murid = all students

In your original sentence, most readers would understand murid as “the students” in general.

How do you make this sentence past or future, like “was friendly” or “will be friendly”?

Malay generally does not change the form of ramah for tense. You show time using time words:

  • Past:

    • Dulu, guru Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid.
      In the past, that English teacher was friendly to the students.
    • Semalam guru Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid.
      Yesterday that English teacher was friendly to the students.

  • Future:

    • Esok guru Inggeris itu akan ramah kepada murid.
      Tomorrow that English teacher will be friendly to the students.
    • Mulai minggu depan, guru Inggeris itu akan ramah kepada murid.
      Starting next week, that English teacher will be friendly to the students.

akan is a common word to mark future, but often it’s omitted if the time word is clear:

  • Esok guru Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid. (still understood as future)
Can I drop itu and just say Guru Inggeris ramah kepada murid?

Yes, you can, but the meaning shifts slightly.

  • Guru Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid.

    • Refers to a specific teacher that both speakers know.
    • That English teacher is friendly to the students.

  • Guru Inggeris ramah kepada murid.

    • Sounds more general, like you’re making a statement about English teachers as a group, or about some English teacher not previously specified.
    • English teachers are friendly to students. or An English teacher is friendly to students.

So itu helps specify which teacher.

Could I say Guru bahasa Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid instead? Is it more natural?

Yes, and many teachers and textbooks prefer that form because it’s clearer:

  • Guru bahasa Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid.
    • Very clearly: That English-language teacher is friendly to the students.

Comparing:

  • guru Inggeris
    • Usually understood as English teacher (subject), but could be taken as “English (British) teacher” from context.
  • guru bahasa Inggeris
    • Unambiguously teacher of the English language.

So Guru bahasa Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid is a very good, clear, textbook-style sentence.

How would I say “You are friendly to the students” to the teacher directly in Malay?

The most natural way, especially in Malaysia, often avoids “you” and uses a title instead:

  • To the teacher:
    • Cikgu ramah dengan murid.
      You (teacher) are friendly with the students.

Notes:

  • Cikgu is the common way to address teachers (like Sir/Miss/Teacher).
  • ramah dengan murid sounds very natural in casual speech.
  • If you really want to use awak (you), you could say:
    • Awak ramah dengan murid-murid.
      But using cikgu is more respectful when talking to a teacher.
Is Guru Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid formal or informal? In what context would it be used?

The sentence is neutral and fits both spoken and written Malay.

  • It sounds fine in:
    • A school report:
      • Guru Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid dan mudah didekati.
    • Everyday conversation:
      • Saya suka dia. Guru Inggeris itu ramah kepada murid.

For very casual speech, you might hear:

  • Cikgu English tu ramah dengan budak-budak.
    (mix of Malay + English, and tu instead of itu, budak-budak = kids/students)

But your original sentence is standard, correct Malay and suitable in most situations.