Malay has two different di. One is a prefix joined to a verb to make a passive. The other is a preposition that stands on its own before a place or a time. This lesson gives a test that tells them apart.
It opens the set on explaining a Malay-language correction.
How does the replacement test work?
Replace “di” with “ke” or “dari”. If the sentence still makes sense, “di” is a preposition and needs a space after it. If the replacement makes no sense, “di” belongs to a verb and is written joined.
Take di rumah. You can say ke rumah or dari rumah, so it is a preposition: di rumah.
Take ditulis. You cannot say ketulis, so it is a prefix on the verb tulis: ditulis.
Worked example: a four-error passage
The passage is original.
Cerpen itu di tulis oleh seorang pelajar dan di siarkan di majalah sekolah. Ia di baca oleh Aina dikelas.
| Original | Test | Correction | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| di tulis | “ketulis” makes no sense | ditulis | Prefix on the verb “tulis” (passive) |
| di siarkan | “kesiarkan” makes no sense | disiarkan | Prefix on the verb “siar” |
| di baca | “kebaca” makes no sense | dibaca | Prefix on the verb “baca” |
| dikelas | “ke kelas” makes sense | di kelas | Preposition before a place |
Notice what stayed. “Di majalah sekolah” was already written correctly as a preposition, so it is not touched. Correcting it to “dimajalah” would add a new error.
The mistake that costs marks
The slip is to decide by the look of the word, joining every “di” that is followed by a short word. A student who does this writes “dimeja” and “diluar”, both of which are wrong.
The fix is to run the test every time. It takes two seconds and works on words you have never seen.
Check yourself
Correct the errors in this sentence and give a reason for each.
Adik di ajar membaca dirumah oleh nenek.
Answer
“di ajar” becomes diajar, because “di” is the passive prefix on the verb “ajar”. The replacement test gives no sense.
“dirumah” becomes di rumah, because “di” is a preposition before a place and “ke rumah” makes sense.
The corrected sentence is Adik diajar membaca di rumah oleh nenek.
What to study next
Move on to choosing ialah or adalah from the sentence structure. Record each di error in the mistake log and paper-error review.
In online one-to-one Bahasa Melayu tuition, a teacher can ask for the reason behind each change.