Pastikan kadbod itu kering.

Yes. Pastikan is an imperative form, so the sentence is giving an instruction or command.

It comes from pasti (certain / sure) plus the suffix -kan, which often turns something into a verb meaning to make something be that way or to ensure. So pastikan means make sure or ensure.

In this sentence, the subject you is understood rather than stated, just like in English commands:

• Make sure the cardboard is dry.
• Pastikan kadbod itu kering.

Malay usually does not need a verb like is / am / are when linking a noun to an adjective.

So:

• kadbod itu kering = the cardboard is dry

There is no need to insert a word equivalent to is here. This is very normal in Malay.

Compare:

• Rumah itu besar = The house is big
• Air ini sejuk = This water is cold
• Kadbod itu kering = That/The cardboard is dry

Itu usually means that, but in many contexts it can also function like the, especially when referring to something specific that both speaker and listener know about.

So kadbod itu can be understood as:

• that cardboard
• the cardboard

Its exact natural translation depends on context.

Malay often uses itu after the noun:

• rumah itu = that house / the house
• buku itu = that book / the book
• kadbod itu = that cardboard / the cardboard

In Malay, demonstratives such as ini (this) and itu (that) normally come after the noun, not before it.

So Malay says:

• kadbod itu = literally cardboard that
• buku ini = literally book this

This is just the normal Malay word order.

Examples:

• kereta itu = that car
• meja ini = this table
• orang itu = that person

Kering is an adjective meaning dry.

In this sentence it describes the condition of the cardboard:

• kadbod itu kering = the cardboard is dry

Malay adjectives do not change form for singular/plural or for masculine/feminine, so kering stays the same in all cases.

Examples:

• baju kering = dry clothes / the clothes are dry
• lantai kering = the floor is dry
• roti kering = dry bread

Yes, you can. Pastikan kadbod kering is grammatical and natural.

The difference is mainly one of specificity:

• Pastikan kadbod itu kering = make sure that / the specific cardboard is dry
• Pastikan kadbod kering = make sure cardboard is dry / make sure the cardboard is dry, depending on context

In real speech, Malay often relies heavily on context, so both versions may be possible.

Yes. Kadbod is the standard Malay word for cardboard. It is a loanword adapted to Malay spelling.

English speakers often notice that it looks similar to cardboard, but the spelling has been adjusted to fit Malay sound and spelling patterns.

This kind of borrowing is common in Malay.

A simple learner-friendly pronunciation is:

pahs-TEE-kahn KAHD-bod EE-too KER-ring

A few notes:

• Pastikan: stress is often heard around -ti-
• kadbod: the d and b are both pronounced; do not say English cardboard
• itu: roughly ee-too
• kering: the e in the first syllable is often a neutral vowel, somewhat like the e in taken for many speakers

Malay pronunciation is generally more phonetic than English spelling, so once you know the spelling, pronunciation is usually fairly predictable.

In Malay, adjectives typically come after the noun they describe.

So:

• kadbod kering = dry cardboard
• rumah besar = big house
• air sejuk = cold water

In your sentence, kadbod itu kering can also be understood as a full clause:

• the cardboard is dry

So the order is completely normal in Malay.

Yes. Both are good translations.

Pastikan can often be translated as:

• make sure
• ensure
• sometimes check that, depending on context

The best English choice depends on tone:

• Make sure the cardboard is dry sounds natural and everyday
• Ensure that the cardboard is dry sounds a bit more formal or technical

It is generally neutral and widely usable.

Pastikan is common in:

• instructions
• workplace language
• manuals
• everyday spoken commands

It is not extremely casual, but it is not overly formal either. It sounds appropriate in many situations where someone is telling another person to be certain about a condition.

For example:

• Pastikan pintu itu tertutup. = Make sure the door is closed.
• Pastikan tangan anda bersih. = Make sure your hands are clean.

Yes, depending on the exact meaning.

For example:

• Pastikan kadbod itu kering = Make sure the cardboard is dry
• Periksa sama ada kadbod itu kering = Check whether the cardboard is dry
• Biarkan kadbod itu kering = Let the cardboard dry / leave the cardboard to dry
• Keringkan kadbod itu = Dry the cardboard

These are different meanings, so pastikan is specifically about ensuring the condition, not necessarily directly causing it yourself.