apakah (soalan tak langsung)

Whether in Embedded Clauses

Level 4

In formal Malay, apakah is used to embed a question within a sentence. It usually means 'what' (referring to a thing or concept), but in literary styles, it can also mean 'whether'.

How It Works

Using apakah in embedded clauses is a feature of formal and literary Malay. It functions as a bridge between a main verb of thinking or asking and the content of the question.

Key Usage Rules:

  • Meaning 'What': This is the most common use in Malaysia. It is typically followed by yang when it acts as the subject or object of the embedded clause (e.g., Saya tidak tahu apakah yang dia mahu - I don't know what he wants).
  • Direct Modification: Unlike the rule above, yang is omitted when apakah directly modifies a noun (acting as an interrogative determiner) or is used in a definition (e.g., Dia bertanya apakah punca masalah itu - He asked what the cause of the problem was; Jelaskan apakah itu demokrasi - Explain what democracy is).
  • Meaning 'Whether': In literary or Indonesian-influenced Malay, apakah can introduce a yes/no indirect question. However, in standard Malaysian Malay, adakah or sama ada is preferred for this purpose.
  • Register: It is highly formal. In daily conversation, speakers usually drop the -kah suffix and just use apa or use kalau for 'if/whether'.

Comparison with 'Sama Ada':
Sama ada is the standard, versatile way to say 'whether' in Malaysia for both single possibilities and 'A or B' choices. Apakah is more restricted to formal 'what' questions or specific literary 'whether' contexts.

Examples (3)

  1. Saksi itu tidak pasti apakah yang dilihatnya pada malam itu.

    The witness is not sure what (it was that) they saw that night.

    Word by Word: Witness that not sure what that seen-by-them on night that.

    In this standard formal construction, 'apakah yang' introduces an indirect question about the object of the verb.

  2. Pihak pengurusan sedang meneliti apakah punca sebenar masalah ini.

    The management is examining what the true cause of this problem is.

    Word by Word: Side management progressive examine what cause true problem this.

    Here, 'apakah' introduces an indirect question identifying a noun phrase (the cause).

  3. Beliau bertanya apakah rancangan itu akan diteruskan.

    He asked whether the plan would be continued.

    Word by Word: He ask whether plan that will be-continued.

    In literary or formal contexts, 'apakah' can function like 'whether' for yes/no questions, though 'adakah' is more common in Malaysia.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'apakah' for a yes/no indirect question in standard Malaysian Malay.

    Saya tidak tahu apakah dia sudah makan.
    Saya tidak tahu adakah dia sudah makan.

    In standard Malaysian Malay, 'adakah' is the preferred marker for indirect yes/no questions ('whether'). 'Apakah' is primarily used for 'what' (inquiring about things/concepts).

  • Omitting 'yang' when 'apakah' acts as the subject or object in a formal indirect question.

    Dia bertanya apakah berlaku.
    Dia bertanya apakah yang berlaku.

    In formal writing, when 'apakah' (what) introduces a clause, it is usually followed by the relative pronoun yang to be grammatically complete.

How It Connects

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

apakah (soalan tak langsung)Level 4Whether in Embedded Clauses

Learn This First

To use 'apakah' in indirect questions, learners must first be familiar with its role in direct formal questions. Additionally, since these clauses function as objects of verbs, understanding active transitive verb morphology (meN-) and the general structure of embedded content clauses is necessary.

Words in This Pattern

apakah