Word of the Day: How to use 'Sedang'

 Sedang can be used in the following ways:

(Aspect Auxiliary) Verb: in the middle of {ongoing action/event}

Sedang can precede the primary verb to express that the verb is currently taking place. Remember that in Malay, there are no tenses. So, currently here is relative to the context of time. Sedang is mainly used when the speaker wishes to emphasise the verb is ongoing and is incomplete in that frame of time. Sedang can also precede dalam which is followed by an event. More colloquial options are tengah [middle] and duk (comes from duduk [to sit], and more commonly spelled as dok)

Examples:

1. Saya sedang menyiapkan kerja rumah.   

 I'm completing my homework.

 2. Dia dok makan dari tadi.  

 He has been eating since just now. 

 3. Kami (tengah) dalam perjalanan.

 We are on our way.

 4. Adakah mesyuarat sedang berjalan?

 Is the meeting ongoing?

 

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