Questions & Answers about Jangan ambil dadah itu.
What does jangan do in this sentence?
Jangan is the usual Malay word for a negative command. It means don't when you are telling someone not to do something.
So:
- Jangan = don't
- ambil = take
- Jangan ambil = don't take
You use jangan with the base form of the verb:
- Jangan pergi. = Don't go.
- Jangan cakap. = Don't speak.
Why is it ambil and not something like mengambil?
After jangan, Malay normally uses the base verb, not the meN- form.
So:
- Jangan ambil dadah itu. = natural
- Jangan mengambil dadah itu. = possible in some formal contexts, but less common in everyday speech
For learners, a very useful rule is:
- negative command → jangan + base verb
That is why ambil is the normal choice here.
Does ambil really mean take here? Could it mean something else?