You've mastered simple sentences and basic conjunctions. Now it's time to create more fluid and descriptive statements by joining clauses together to form `ayat majmuk` (compound sentences). The key to this is the word `yang`.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
`Yang` is one of the most useful words in Malay. It functions like "that," "which," or "who" in English to link a noun to a description or an action that defines it. It allows you to combine two sentences where one describes a noun in the other.
Example 1:
Example 2:
| Conjunction | English | Function & Example |
|---|---|---|
| supaya / agar (soo-pah-yah / ah-gar) | so that / in order to | Shows purpose. Dia belajar bersungguh-sungguh supaya lulus peperiksaan. (He studies hard so that he will pass the exam.) |
| walaupun / meskipun (wah-lau-poon / mes-kee-poon) | although / even though | Shows contrast or concession. Walaupun hari hujan, dia tetap pergi bekerja. (Even though it was raining, he still went to work.) |
| ketika / apabila (kuh-tee-kah / ah-pah-bee-lah) | when / at the time that | Links an action to a specific time. Saya terkejut apabila mendengar berita itu. (I was shocked when I heard that news.) |
You'll often see `yang` placed before an adjective to link it to a noun, especially in formal writing. While it's sometimes optional in casual speech, using it is always grammatically correct.
It's also required when you put the adjective before the noun for poetic or emphatic effect, e.g., `yang tebal buku itu` (how thick that book is!). But for now, just remember that "Noun + `yang` + Adjective" is a very common and correct pattern.
Master these advanced connectors and sentence structures.
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Identify the main conjunction or relative pronoun in each sentence.
Combine the two simple sentences into one compound sentence using `yang`.
A story about choosing a gift.
Saya mahu membeli hadiah untuk ibu saya. Saya pergi ke kedai yang menjual barang kemas. (...kuh-dai yahng mun-joo-ahl bah-rahng kuh-mahs.)
Saya nampak seutas rantai yang sangat cantik. Walaupun harganya mahal sedikit, saya tetap membelinya. (...suh-oo-tahs rahn-tai yahng sah-ngaht chahn-teek...)
Saya membelinya supaya ibu saya gembira pada hari jadinya. (sah-yah mum-buh-lee-nyah soo-pah-yah ee-boo sah-yah guhm-bee-rah pah-dah hah-ree jah-dee-nyah.)
I want to buy a gift for my mother. I went to a shop that sells jewelry.
I saw a necklace that was very beautiful. Even though its price was a little expensive, I still bought it.
I bought it so that my mother would be happy on her birthday.
Hebat! You are now equipped to build long, descriptive, and logical sentences. Now that you know *what* to say and *how* to structure it, the next step is to learn how to adapt your language for different social situations. In Chapter 38, we'll explore Tahap Formaliti (Formality & Register), focusing on the crucial difference between words like `awak` and `anda`.