Breakdown of Kes itu mengenai kemalangan.
itu
that
kemalangan
the accident
mengenai
regarding; concerning
kes
the case; matter
Questions & Answers about Kes itu mengenai kemalangan.
Why does itu come after kes instead of before it?
In Malay, demonstratives like ini (this) and itu (that / the) usually come after the noun.
So:
- kes itu = that case / the case
- kemalangan itu = that accident / the accident
This is different from English, where this/that/the normally comes before the noun.
Does itu mean that or the here?
It can function as either, depending on context.
In Kes itu mengenai kemalangan, kes itu could be understood as:
- that case
- the case
Malay does not have a separate word exactly like English the, so itu is often used when the noun is definite or already known from context.
Is there a missing word for is in this sentence?
No. Malay often does not need a verb like is/are in the same way English does.
So:
- Kes itu mengenai kemalangan. = The case is about an accident.
The sentence is complete without adding is.
You may sometimes see adalah in formal writing, but it is not always necessary, and in many everyday sentences Malay simply leaves the copula out.