How to Use and Place Adjectives in Malay for English Speakers

Understanding Malay Adjectives

In Malay, adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns, similar to English. However, their placement and usage can differ from English, which is important for English speakers learning Malay to understand.

Basic Characteristics of Malay Adjectives

Malay adjectives usually come after the noun they describe, unlike English where adjectives typically come before the noun. For example, in English we say "red car," but in Malay, it is "kereta merah" (car red).

Placement of Adjectives in Malay Sentences

The general rule is that adjectives follow the noun they modify. This is consistent across most contexts in Malay.

1. Noun + Adjective: "rumah besar" (big house)
2. No article is used between noun and adjective.
3. Adjectives do not change form based on gender or number.

Examples of Adjective Placement

Here are some examples illustrating adjective placement in Malay:

• "buku baru" – new book
• "budak pandai" – clever child
• "makanan sedap" – delicious food

Usage of Adjectives in Malay

Malay adjectives can be used in various ways, including as predicates and in comparisons.

Adjectives as Predicates

When used as predicates, adjectives follow the verb "adalah" or the copula "itu" to link the subject and adjective.

Example: "Rumah itu besar." (That house is big.)

Forming Comparatives and Superlatives

Malay forms comparatives by using words like "lebih" (more) before the adjective, and superlatives by using "paling" (most).

• Comparative: "Dia lebih tinggi daripada saya." (He is taller than me.)
• Superlative: "Dia paling pintar dalam kelas." (He is the smartest in the class.)

Adjective Agreement and Modifiers

Unlike English, Malay adjectives do not change form to agree with the noun in gender or number. The adjective remains the same regardless of the noun it describes.

Modifiers such as "sangat" (very) can be used before adjectives to intensify their meaning.

Examples of Modifiers with Adjectives

• "sangat cantik" – very beautiful
• "amat besar" – extremely big
• "cukup baik" – quite good

Common Malay Adjectives for Beginners