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Tips for Malay Speakers

Bahasa Melayu

Many Malay speakers hear English every day. For exams, focus on standard English tenses, articles and plurals, and avoid features of informal Malaysian English.

Common Challenges

Verb Tenses

Malay uses time words like "sudah" and "akan". English changes the verb.

Example: "I saw him yesterday" not "I see him yesterday".

Articles

Malay has no articles.

Example: "I have a car" not "I have car".

Plurals

Malay repeats the noun (buku-buku). English adds -s.

Example: "Books" not "book-book".

He and She

"Dia" means both he and she.

Example: "My sister is a nurse. She works at night." not "He works at night".

"Already" for Present Perfect

Informal Malaysian English uses "already" for completed actions.

Example: "I have eaten" not "I already eat".

Informal Particles

Words like "lah" and "can or not?" are informal and not used in exams.

Example: "Is that possible?" not "Can or not?"

Grammar Focus Areas

Irregular Verbs

Learn irregular past forms: be-was-been, have-had-had, go-went-gone.

Third Person -s

Add -s after he, she and it: "He goes" not "He go".

Questions

Use do/does/did: "Did you finish?" not "You finish already?"

Passive Voice

English uses the passive less than Malay uses "di-" forms. Use the active when the doer is clear.

Prepositions

Learn which prepositions go with which words: "discuss the plan" (no "about"), "interested in".

The Verb "be"

Use "be" before adjectives: "The room is clean" not "The room clean".

Vocabulary Advice

  • Many English words are used in Malay. Check that the meaning and spelling are the same
  • Learn word families: happy, happiness, happily, unhappy
  • Learn phrasal verbs
  • Learn formal alternatives for informal words you use every day
  • Practice spelling, as Malay spelling is more regular than English
  • Read English news and note useful phrases

Exam Strategies

  • Check all verbs for correct tense
  • Include articles with singular countable nouns
  • Use standard English in writing and speaking. Avoid "lah", "already" for past, and "can or not"
  • In speaking, pronounce final consonants and -ed and -s endings
  • Use varied sentence structures
  • Show range of vocabulary in writing

Semangat! Your foundation in Malay will help you master English.

Our site is also available in Bahasa Melayu! Practice with exams and instructions in your native language.

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English Exam Tips for Malay Speakers

Many Malay speakers hear English every day. For exams, focus on standard English tenses, articles and plurals, and avoid features of informal Malaysian English.

Common Challenges for Malay Speakers

  • Verb Tenses: Malay uses time words like "sudah" and "akan". English changes the verb. Example: "I saw him yesterday" not "I see him yesterday".
  • Articles: Malay has no articles. Example: "I have a car" not "I have car".
  • Plurals: Malay repeats the noun (buku-buku). English adds -s. Example: "Books" not "book-book".
  • He and She: "Dia" means both he and she. Example: "My sister is a nurse. She works at night." not "He works at night".
  • "Already" for Present Perfect: Informal Malaysian English uses "already" for completed actions. Example: "I have eaten" not "I already eat".
  • Informal Particles: Words like "lah" and "can or not?" are informal and not used in exams. Example: "Is that possible?" not "Can or not?"

Grammar Tips for Malay Speakers

  • Irregular Verbs: Learn irregular past forms: be-was-been, have-had-had, go-went-gone.
  • Third Person -s: Add -s after he, she and it: "He goes" not "He go".
  • Questions: Use do/does/did: "Did you finish?" not "You finish already?"
  • Passive Voice: English uses the passive less than Malay uses "di-" forms. Use the active when the doer is clear.
  • Prepositions: Learn which prepositions go with which words: "discuss the plan" (no "about"), "interested in".
  • The Verb "be": Use "be" before adjectives: "The room is clean" not "The room clean".

Vocabulary Advice

  • Many English words are used in Malay. Check that the meaning and spelling are the same
  • Learn word families: happy, happiness, happily, unhappy
  • Learn phrasal verbs
  • Learn formal alternatives for informal words you use every day
  • Practice spelling, as Malay spelling is more regular than English
  • Read English news and note useful phrases

Exam Strategies

  • Check all verbs for correct tense
  • Include articles with singular countable nouns
  • Use standard English in writing and speaking. Avoid "lah", "already" for past, and "can or not"
  • In speaking, pronounce final consonants and -ed and -s endings
  • Use varied sentence structures
  • Show range of vocabulary in writing

Semangat! Your foundation in Malay will help you master English.