Culture in Malaysia They Won't Tell You Officially

It is very easy to spot the characteristics of culture in Malaysia on the road. In this tatabahasa lesson, I shall use "yang" to distinguish the action that makes a motorist unmistakably, Malaysian.

Bahasa Malaysia	English
Pemandu itu dari Malaysia	That driver is from Malaysia.
Pemandu yang makan jalan itu dari Malaysia.	That driver who jumps into your lane abruptly is from Malaysia.

The structure of the simple sentence above is "Frasa Nama + Frasa Sendi" or a noun phrase (Pemandu itu )with a preposition phrase ( dari Malaysia).

Bahasa Malaysia	English
Pemandu tidak menggunakan isyarat.	The driver doesn't use signals.
Pemandu yang berlesen Malaysia tidak menggunakan isyarat.	The driver with a Malaysian licence doesn't use signals.

The structure of the simple sentence above is "Frasa Nama + Frasa Kerja" or a noun phrase (Pemandu)with a verb phrase (tidak menggunakan isyarat).

Bahasa Malaysia	English
Pemandu itu tampan	That driver is handsome.
Pemandu yang asyik memandu berapatan di belakang itu tampan.	That driver who insists on tailing you at close range is handsome.

The structure of the simple sentence above is "Frasa Nama + Frasa Adjective" or a noun phrase (Pemandu itu) with an adjective phrase (tampan).

Bahasa Malaysia	English
Pemandu itu bapa saya.	That driver is my honourable father.
Pemandu yang enggan memberi laluan itu bapa saya.	That driver who refuses to allow you to get into his lane is my honourable father.

The structure of the simple sentence above is "Frasa Nama + Frasa Nama" or a noun phrase (Pemandu itu) with a noun phrase (bapa saya).

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Your turn to insert "yang" for emphasis at the right places:

Bahasa Malaysia	English
Pemandu itu memperlahankan kereta di depan lampu isyarat berwarna hijau.	The driver slows down in front of green traffic light.
Mat Rempit berdiri di atas tempat duduk menunggang motosikal Harley.	The Malaysian roadhog who rides a Harley is standing on the seat.

Answers:

Pemandu itu memperlahankan kereta di depan lampu isyarat yang berwarna hijau.

Mat Rempit yang berdiri di atas tempat duduk menunggang motosikal Harley.

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