meminta ... untuk ...

Requesting Someone to Act

Level 4

Use meminta [person] untuk [action] to politely ask someone to do something. While common in modern Malay, it is often seen as a direct translation of the English 'ask someone to...'

How It Works

This pattern is a staple of modern Malaysian Malay, especially in professional and media contexts.

1. Structure:
The sentence follows a specific order: [Subject] + meminta + [Object/Person] + untuk + [Verb Phrase].

2. The 'Baku' (Standard) Alternative:
Strict grammarians often label the use of untuk in this position as a 'calque' (a word-for-word translation) from English. In highly formal or 'Baku' Malay, the untuk bridge is optional and often omitted entirely (e.g., meminta Salman duduk). Alternatively, writers may use supaya or agar instead of untuk.

3. Requesting Objects vs. Actions:
The verb meminta can be followed directly by a noun when you are requesting a physical object (e.g., meminta bantuan - requesting help). The untuk bridge is used when you are requesting that someone perform an action, though it remains optional in standard grammar.

4. Passive Construction:
In professional settings, the passive form diminta is very common for polite, impersonal requests: Anda diminta untuk bertenang (You are requested to stay calm).

5. Register Differences:

  • Formal: Meminta... untuk... or Meminta... supaya...
  • Very Formal/Official: Memohon... supaya... (Using untuk with memohon is often discouraged in official correspondence).
  • Colloquial: The prefix is often dropped: Minta dia untuk...

6. Vocabulary Note:
Do not confuse meminta with the reduplicated form meminta-minta, which specifically means 'to beg' (often for money or food).

7. Morphological Note:
The verb meminta uses the meN- prefix with 'p' replacement, where the root pinta loses its initial 'p' to become meminta.

Examples (4)

  1. Cikgu meminta Salman untuk memperbaiki karangannya.

    The teacher requested Salman to improve his essay.

    Word by Word: Teacher request Salman for improve essay-his.

    A standard formal sentence where the teacher (subject) asks Salman (object) to perform an action.

  2. Pihak polis meminta orang ramai untuk menyalurkan maklumat.

    The police requested the public to provide information.

    Word by Word: Side police request people many for channel information.

    Commonly seen in news reports; 'orang ramai' is the object being requested.

  3. Saya memohon maaf dan meminta anda untuk bersabar sebentar.

    I apologize and request you to be patient for a moment.

    Word by Word: I request forgiveness and request you for be-patient a-moment.

    Uses 'meminta' alongside 'memohon' (a more formal request for a noun/state) to show high politeness.

  4. Minta dia untuk tunggu di luar.

    Ask him to wait outside.

    Word by Word: Request him for wait at outside.

    A semi-formal/colloquial version where the 'me-' prefix is dropped, common in spoken Malay.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'untuk' as a bridge to a noun object.

    Saya meminta untuk bantuan.
    Saya meminta bantuan.

    When requesting a thing (a noun), 'meminta' takes the object directly. 'Untuk' is only used when bridging to an action (a verb). However, 'untuk' can still be used later in the sentence to show purpose, such as 'meminta bantuan untuk mangsa' (requesting help for the victims).

  • Omitting the person being asked (the object).

    Saya meminta untuk pergi.
    Saya meminta izin untuk pergi.

    In Malay, 'meminta' usually requires an object. If you are the one performing the action, you should 'request permission' (meminta izin) rather than just 'requesting to go'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

meminta ... untuk ...Level 4Requesting Someone to Act

Learn This First

To understand 'meminta ... untuk ...', learners need to be familiar with the active 'meN-' prefix (specifically the 'mem-' allomorph) applied to the root 'minta' (to ask/request). Additionally, they must understand how 'untuk' functions to link a purpose or a specific action to the object of the request.

Words in This Pattern

memintameminta