lalu

Sequence with Lalu

Level 1

Use lalu to connect two actions that happen one after the other. It is the most common way to say 'and then' within a single sentence.

How It Works

In Malay, lalu is a versatile word with four primary uses to become confident with.

1. Immediate Sequence ('And then')
As a coordinating conjunction, lalu links two actions that happen one after another. If the subject is the same for both actions, it is usually omitted after lalu.
Example: Dia bangun lalu pergi. (He stood up and then left.)

2. Time Expressions ('Last' or 'Past')
When following a time noun, lalu indicates the previous period. Unlike sudah (which is an aspect marker placed before a verb), lalu acts as an adjective/adverb placed after a noun.
Example: tahun lalu (last year) or minggu lalu (last week).

3. Movement ('To pass by')
It can act as a verb meaning to pass through or by a place.
Example: Saya lalu di depan kedai itu. (I passed by the front of that shop.)

4. Appetite or 'Stomach for'
A very common idiomatic use of lalu refers to having the appetite or the heart to do something, most frequently seen in the negative tidak lalu or tak lalu.
Example: Saya tak lalu makan. (I don't have the appetite to eat / I can't face food.)

Examples (4)

  1. Dia bangun, lalu membuka tingkap.

    He stood up, and then opened the window.

    Word by Word: He stand up, then open window.

    This shows a simple sequence of two actions performed by the same person.

  2. Saya melawat Melaka pada tahun lalu.

    I visited Malacca last year.

    Word by Word: I visit Malacca on year past.

    In time expressions, 'lalu' follows the noun to mean 'last' or 'past'.

  3. Bas itu selalu lalu di depan rumah saya.

    That bus always passes by the front of my house.

    Word by Word: Bus that always pass at front house my.

    Here 'lalu' functions as a verb meaning to pass through or by a location.

  4. Saya tidak lalu makan kerana demam.

    I don't have the appetite to eat because of a fever.

    Word by Word: I not have-appetite eat because fever.

    In this common idiomatic use, 'lalu' means having the stomach or appetite for something, usually used with negation.

Common Mistakes

  • Thinking 'Lalu' cannot start a sentence.

    Different MeaningDia makan. Lalu dia pergi.
    Dia makan, lalu pergi. / Dia makan. Kemudian, dia pergi.

    'Dia makan. Lalu dia pergi.' is acceptable, especially in stories. 'Lalu' more often joins two actions in one sentence, and in everyday writing 'Kemudian' or 'Selepas itu' is a common way to start a new sentence.

  • Using 'lalu' for logical consequences instead of time.

    Jika kamu lapar, lalu makanlah.
    Jika kamu lapar, maka makanlah.

    'Lalu' is strictly for time sequences (first A, then B). For logical results (If A, then B), use 'maka' or 'jadi'.

How It Connects

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laluLevel 1Sequence with Lalu

Learn This First

To use 'lalu' effectively, a learner needs to be comfortable with basic sentence structure and the concept of coordinating clauses, as 'lalu' acts as a bridge between two sequential events.

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