Kata penegas add emphasis. Three are particles joined to the end of a word: -kah makes a question (Siapakah?), -lah stresses or softens (Dialah, Duduklah) and -tah is an old form for questions that need no answer. Others are separate words: pun, juga, sahaja, hanya, lagi and memang.
What your child will learn
- Add -kah to question words and -lah for emphasis or a gentle command
- Use pun, juga, hanya, sahaja and memang
- Spell pun correctly, joined or apart
One pun, two spellings
As an emphasis word meaning “also” or “even”, pun stands alone: saya pun, apa pun, sekali pun (even once).
It is joined only in a fixed set of conjunctions, including walaupun, meskipun, biarpun, ataupun, bagaimanapun, lagipun, sungguhpun, kalaupun, mahupun, adapun and andaipun. Also avoid “hanya… sahaja” — one of them is enough.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Isi tempat kosong: “Abang pergi, adik ___ pergi.”
👦- nian
- tah
- kah
- pun
Show answer
Answer: pun. “Pun” bermaksud juga.
2. Partikel “-lah” digunakan untuk…
- bertanya
- membandingkan
- menafikan
- menegaskan atau melembutkan perintah
Show answer
Answer: menegaskan atau melembutkan perintah. Contohnya: Dialah, Masuklah.
3. Partikel yang manakah melengkapkan ayat? “Dia___ ketua kelas kami.”
🏫- -kan
- -lah
- -tah
- -kah
Show answer
Answer: -lah. Partikel -lah menegaskan subjek.
Tips for grown-ups
- Turn orders into gentle requests with -lah: “Makanlah.” “Masuklah.”
- Learn the joined pun words as a chant.