You can describe your book (`buku saya`) and say that it's new (`buku baru saya`). Now, let's learn how to say *where* it is. Prepositions of place are the small words that connect objects to their locations, like "on," "in," and "under."
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
These three prepositions are fundamental and often confused by beginners. The key is to think about "location" vs. "motion".
| Preposition | English | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| di (dee) | at, in, on | Static location (no movement) | Saya di rumah. (I am at home.) |
| ke (kuh) | to | Movement towards a destination | Saya pergi ke rumah. (I go to home.) |
| dari (dah-ree) | from | Origin or starting point | Saya datang dari rumah. (I come from home.) |
These words help you be more specific about an object's position.
| Malay | Phonetic Guide | English |
|---|---|---|
| atas | (ah-tahs) | on, on top of, above |
| bawah | (bah-wah) | under, below |
| dalam | (dah-lahm) | in, inside |
| luar | (loo-ar) | out, outside |
| depan | (duh-pahn) | in front of |
| belakang | (buh-lah-kahng) | behind, at the back |
| sebelah | (suh-buh-lah) | beside, next to |
This is the most important concept of this chapter. If you are describing where something **is**, use `di`. If you are describing movement **towards** a place, use `ke`.
Think of it this way: `di` answers the question "Where is it?", while `ke` answers the question "Where is it going?".
Master these essential prepositions with our flashcard deck.
Import Chapter 15 Flashcards(Requires login to import/study)
Fill in the blanks with `di`, `ke`, or `dari`.
Translate the following phrases.
A mother asks her child, Lisa, where she put her things.
Ibu: Lisa, di mana kunci ibu? (lee-sah, dee mah-nah koon-chee ee-boo?)
Lisa: Kunci ibu ada di atas meja, di sebelah televisyen. (koon-chee ee-boo ah-dah dee ah-tahs may-jah, dee suh-buh-lah teh-lay-vee-syen.)
Ibu: Oh, terima kasih. Dan buku ibu? (oh, tuh-ree-mah kah-seh. dahn boo-koo ee-boo?)
Lisa: Saya letak buku di dalam laci. (sah-yah luh-tahk boo-koo dee dah-lahm lah-chee.)
Ibu: Bagus, anak yang baik! (bah-goos, ah-nahk yahng bah-eek!)
Mother: Lisa, where are my keys?
Lisa: Your keys are on the table, next to the television.
Mother: Oh, thank you. And my book?
Lisa: I put the book inside the drawer.
Mother: Good, what a good child!
Cemerlang! You can now describe where things are with great precision. You know how to talk about one book (`buku`). But what if there are many books? In the next chapter, we will cover Membentuk Kata Majmuk (Forming Plurals) and learn the simple ways Malay indicates more than one of something.