Bayi itu tidur dalam buaian dekat tingkap.

that

Breakdown of Bayi itu tidur dalam buaian dekat tingkap.

• tidur: to sleep
• dalam: in
• dekat: near

Questions & Answers about Bayi itu tidur dalam buaian dekat tingkap.

Why is itu after bayi instead of before it?

In Malay, demonstratives usually come after the noun, not before it.

So:

• bayi itu = that baby / the baby
• tingkap itu = that window / the window

This is normal Malay word order. English says that baby, but Malay says baby that.

Does bayi itu mean that baby or the baby?

It can mean either, depending on context.

In Malay, itu often does two jobs:

• it can be a true demonstrative: that baby
• it can also make the noun definite: the baby

So bayi itu tidur... could be understood as:

• That baby is sleeping...
• The baby is sleeping...

Malay does not always separate those two meanings as clearly as English does.

Why is tidur just tidur? Why doesn’t it change like sleep / sleeps / is sleeping / slept?