Breakdown of Selepas juruteknik itu pergi, saya semak semula perisian dan sambungan internet supaya semuanya berfungsi dengan baik.
Questions & Answers about Selepas juruteknik itu pergi, saya semak semula perisian dan sambungan internet supaya semuanya berfungsi dengan baik.
Why does itu come after juruteknik instead of before it?
In Malay, demonstratives such as ini (this) and itu (that/the) normally come after the noun.
- juruteknik itu = that technician / the technician
- rumah ini = this house
So the order is the opposite of English:
- English: that technician
- Malay: juruteknik itu
In many contexts, itu can also make the noun feel definite, so juruteknik itu may be understood as the technician as well as that technician.
Why is there no word showing the past tense, like went or checked?
Malay usually does not change the verb form for tense the way English does. The verb stays the same, and time is often understood from context or from time words.
In this sentence:
- Selepas juruteknik itu pergi = After the technician left/went
- saya semak semula = I checked again / I rechecked
The idea of past time comes from the context, especially selepas (after), not from changing the verb itself.
Compare:
- saya semak = I check / I checked / I will check
- Time is understood from context or extra words like:
- semalam = yesterday
- tadi = earlier
- akan = will
- sudah / telah = already / completed
What exactly does selepas mean here, and can I also use lepas?
Selepas means after. In this sentence, it introduces the earlier event:
- Selepas juruteknik itu pergi = After the technician left
Yes, lepas is also very common in everyday Malay and can often mean the same thing:
- Lepas juruteknik itu pergi, ...
However:
- selepas often sounds a bit more neutral or formal
- lepas is very common in conversation
So both are natural, but selepas is a good standard written choice.
What is the difference between pergi meaning go and the translation left in this sentence?
The basic meaning of pergi is go. But in context, English often translates it as leave or left.
- juruteknik itu pergi literally: the technician went
- Natural English here: the technician left
This is because when someone goes away from a place, English often says they leave. So the Malay verb stays simple, while English chooses the most natural wording for the situation.
Why does Malay use semak semula? Doesn’t semula already mean again?
Yes, semula means again/anew, so semak semula means check again, recheck, or review once more.
- semak = check, review, inspect
- semula = again, anew
Putting them together is very natural in Malay. It is not considered redundant in the way some English learners might expect. It is just the normal way to express rechecking something.
You may also see similar patterns:
- baca semula = read again
- tulis semula = rewrite
- fikir semula = rethink
Is semak the best word for check? Could I use periksa instead?
Both can mean check, but they are used a bit differently.
- semak often means check/review/verify, especially information, documents, settings, systems, or details
- periksa often means inspect/examine/check, and can sound more like a formal inspection, medical examination, or careful examination
In this sentence:
- saya semak semula perisian dan sambungan internet sounds very natural for checking software and an internet connection
You could hear periksa in some contexts, but semak fits well when talking about troubleshooting or verifying that technical things are set up correctly.
Why is there no possessive word before perisian and sambungan internet? How do we know whose software or connection it is?
Malay often leaves out possessive words when they are not important or are obvious from context.
So:
- saya semak semula perisian dan sambungan internet
does not explicitly say my software, the software, the internet connection, etc.
It simply means:
- I rechecked the software and internet connection
Malay frequently does this when the exact ownership is not the main point. If you really wanted to specify it, you could say things like:
- perisian itu = that/the software
- sambungan internet rumah saya = my home internet connection
But in the original sentence, the more general wording is very natural.
What does supaya do in the sentence?
Supaya means so that or in order that. It introduces the purpose or intended result of the action.
So:
- saya semak semula perisian dan sambungan internet supaya semuanya berfungsi dengan baik
means:
- I rechecked the software and internet connection so that everything would work properly
It links:
- the action: rechecking
- the purpose/result: everything functioning well
A close synonym is agar, which can often be used in the same way.
What does semuanya mean, and how is it formed?
Semuanya means everything, all of it, or all of them, depending on context.
It comes from:
- semua = all, everything
- -nya = a suffix that can make it more definite or refer to the whole set
So semuanya often feels like:
- everything
- the whole lot
- all of it
In this sentence, semuanya refers to the things being checked, especially the software and internet connection, and possibly the system as a whole.
Compare:
- semua = all / all things
- semuanya = everything / all of it
Both are possible in some contexts, but semuanya sounds very natural here.
What does berfungsi mean, and why does it have ber-?
Berfungsi means to function, to work, or to operate.
The base word is:
- fungsi = function
With the prefix ber-, it becomes a verb:
- berfungsi = function / be functioning / work
This is a very common pattern in Malay, where a prefix helps turn a word into a verb or gives it a verbal meaning.
In this sentence:
- supaya semuanya berfungsi dengan baik = so that everything works/functions properly
A very natural English translation is often just works properly.
Why does Malay say dengan baik for well/properly?
Dengan baik literally means with good(ness), but in normal English it is translated as well, properly, or in good condition/order, depending on context.
- dengan = with
- baik = good, well
So:
- berfungsi dengan baik = function well / work properly
This kind of expression is very common in Malay. English often uses a single adverb, while Malay may use a phrase.
Some similar examples:
- bercakap dengan baik = speak well / speak politely
- buat dengan baik = do well / do properly
Why is the sentence order After X, I did Y so that Z? Is that a common Malay structure?
Yes, this is a very common and natural Malay structure.
The sentence breaks down like this:
Selepas juruteknik itu pergi,
= After the technician left,saya semak semula perisian dan sambungan internet
= I rechecked the software and internet connectionsupaya semuanya berfungsi dengan baik.
= so that everything worked properly / would work properly
Malay often places the time clause first, just like English can:
- After the technician left, I rechecked...
It is also possible in Malay to rearrange parts of a sentence in some contexts, but this version is very standard and clear.
Could supaya semuanya berfungsi dengan baik also mean to make sure everything was working properly?
Yes. That is a very natural English interpretation.
Literally, it is:
- so that everything functions well
But in natural English, depending on context, you could translate it as:
- so that everything would work properly
- to make sure everything was working properly
- to ensure everything functioned properly
This is a good example of how Malay may use a straightforward structure, while English offers several idiomatic ways to express the same idea.
Is the comma after pergi necessary?
The comma is helpful and standard here because the sentence begins with a subordinate time clause:
- Selepas juruteknik itu pergi, ...
It separates the opening clause from the main clause, just like in English:
- After the technician left, I rechecked...
In very informal writing, people may sometimes omit commas, but in careful writing the comma is a good choice here.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning MalayMaster Malay — from Selepas juruteknik itu pergi, saya semak semula perisian dan sambungan internet supaya semuanya berfungsi dengan baik to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions