Hantaran itu cantik.

that

Breakdown of Hantaran itu cantik.

• cantik: beautiful
• hantaran: the pass in football

Questions & Answers about Hantaran itu cantik.

Why is there no word for is in Hantaran itu cantik?

In Malay, you often do not need a verb like is when linking a subject to an adjective.

So:

• Hantaran itu cantik = That hantaran is beautiful / The hantaran is beautiful

This is called a zero copula structure. English needs is, but Malay usually does not in simple sentences like this.

Compare:

• Rumah itu besar = That house is big
• Dia marah = He/She is angry

So the sentence is completely normal without is.

Why does itu come after hantaran, not before it?

In Malay, demonstratives like ini (this) and itu (that) usually come after the noun.

So Malay says:

• hantaran itu = that hantaran
• rumah itu = that house
• buku ini = this book

This is different from English, where this/that comes before the noun.

So the order is:

• noun + itu
• noun + ini

not usually:

• itu hantaran for the ordinary meaning that hantaran