How to Form WH-Questions in Malay for English Speakers

Understanding WH-Questions in Malay

WH-questions are questions that begin with words like who, what, where, when, why, and how. In Malay, these question words are used to ask for specific information, similar to English, but their placement and usage can differ.

Common WH-Question Words in Malay

• Who - Siapa
• What - Apa
• Where - Di mana
• When - Bila
• Why - Mengapa or Kenapa
• How - Bagaimana

These question words are essential for forming WH-questions in Malay and are usually placed at the beginning of the question.

Forming WH-Questions: Basic Structure

In Malay, WH-questions typically follow this structure: WH-word + subject + verb + (object). Unlike English, Malay does not require auxiliary verbs like "do" or "does" in questions.

For example, the English question "What are you eating?" translates to "Apa yang kamu makan?" in Malay, where "Apa" is the WH-word, "kamu" is the subject, and "makan" is the verb.

Examples of WH-Questions in Malay

• Who is coming? - Siapa yang datang?
• What is this? - Apa ini?
• Where are you going? - Di mana kamu pergi?
• When will you arrive? - Bila kamu akan sampai?
• Why are you sad? - Mengapa kamu sedih?
• How do you cook this? - Bagaimana kamu memasak ini?

Using "Yang" in WH-Questions

The word yang is often used after the WH-word to link it to the verb or subject, especially when the question involves a verb phrase. It functions somewhat like "that" or "which" in English.

For example, "Siapa yang datang?" literally means "Who that comes?" but is understood as "Who is coming?" in English.

Tips for English Speakers Learning Malay WH-Questions

• Remember that Malay does not use auxiliary verbs in questions.
• Place the WH-word at the beginning of the question.
• Use yang after the WH-word when linking to verbs or subjects.
• Practice common question words to build familiarity.
• Listen to native speakers to understand natural question intonation.