What Does ‘Pernah’ Mean?
‘Pernah’ is a Malay word that roughly translates to ‘ever’ or ‘have ever’ in English. It is used to indicate that someone has had a particular experience at least once in the past. Unlike English, Malay does not use auxiliary verbs like ‘have’ in present perfect constructions. Instead, ‘pernah’ fills this role to communicate past experiences.
How to Use ‘Pernah’ in Malay Sentences
The typical structure for using ‘pernah’ is:
Subject + pernah + verb + (object/time marker)
Here are some common examples:
- Saya pernah pergi ke Jepun. – I have ever been to Japan. (I have been to Japan.)
- Dia pernah makan durian. – He/she has ever eaten durian. (He/she has eaten durian.)
- Kami pernah melihat harimau. – We have ever seen a tiger. (We have seen a tiger.)
Adding More Details to Your Sentences
You can make your sentences more specific by adding time markers or additional information:
- Saya pernah belajar di luar negara semasa kecil. – I have ever studied abroad when I was young.
- Adik saya pernah jatuh dari basikal tahun lepas. – My younger sibling has ever fallen from a bicycle last year.
Negative Form: How to Say You Have Never Done Something
To express that you have never done something, use ‘tidak pernah’ before the verb:
- Saya tidak pernah makan sushi. – I have never eaten sushi.
- Mereka tidak pernah pergi ke Kuala Lumpur. – They have never been to Kuala Lumpur.
This construction is especially useful when discussing things you want to try or asking others about their experiences.
Asking Questions with ‘Pernah’
‘Pernah’ is also commonly used in questions to ask about someone’s experiences:
- Adakah kamu pernah melawat Indonesia? – Have you ever visited Indonesia?
- Pernahkah awak cuba makanan ini? – Have you ever tried this food?
Notice that in questions, ‘pernah’ is sometimes combined with the particle ‘-kah’ to form ‘pernahkah’, which makes the question more formal or polite. In informal speech, just using ‘pernah’ is sufficient.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t use ‘sudah’ and ‘pernah’ together for the same verb. For example, ‘Saya sudah pernah pergi ke sana’ is redundant. Use either ‘sudah’ (already) or ‘pernah’ (have ever), but not both.
- Remember that ‘pernah’ refers to at least one experience, not habitual actions. For regular habits, use ‘selalu’ (always) or ‘biasanya’ (usually).
Practice Makes Perfect
To master ‘pernah’, try making a list of things you have done and things you have never done in Malay. Practice asking friends or language partners about their experiences using ‘pernah’. Engaging with language learning tools like Talkpal AI can also help reinforce these structures through interactive exercises and real-life scenarios.
Conclusion
Using ‘pernah’ correctly lets you share your life experiences and ask others about theirs, deepening your connections in Malay-speaking communities. The more you practice, the more naturally it will come to you in conversation. For more tips and guidance on learning Malay and other languages, be sure to check out the resources and lessons on the Talkpal AI language learning blog. Happy learning!
