A good explanation of a correction has three parts: what was wrong, which rule covers it and why the rule applies to this sentence. This lesson practises that frame on a passive-voice error.
It is part of language editing. For more on writing reasons for Malay corrections, see explaining a Malay-language correction.
What makes an explanation strong?
A strong explanation is specific to the sentence in front of you. It names the grammar term, states the rule in a few words and points to the exact word that triggers it.
A weak explanation could be pasted under any sentence. “It sounds better” and “it is the correct form” both fit that description.
Worked example: a passive sentence with “saya”
The sentence is original.
Buku itu telah dibaca oleh saya minggu lepas.
Step 1: the error. The passive uses the prefix “di-” with “oleh saya”. When the doer is “saya”, “kami” or “kita”, the passive takes a different form.
Step 2: the rule. In a passive sentence with a first-person doer, the pronoun comes directly before the bare verb, and “di-” and “oleh” are dropped.
Step 3: fit to the sentence. The doer here is “saya”, so the verb “baca” follows it without a prefix.
The correction is: Buku itu telah saya baca minggu lepas.
The written explanation reads: “The passive with a first-person doer needs the pronoun before the bare verb, so ‘dibaca oleh saya’ becomes ‘saya baca’.”
The mistake that costs marks
The weak version says: “I changed ‘dibaca oleh saya’ because it sounds better.” A marker cannot credit that, because any change could be defended the same way.
The contrast is easy to see in a table.
| Weak reason | Rule-based reason |
|---|---|
| It sounds better | The doer is “saya”, so the pronoun goes before the bare verb |
| It is the correct form | “Di-” with “oleh” is used for third-person doers |
| The original was wrong | The original mixes a third-person pattern with a first-person doer |
Check yourself
Correct this sentence and write a one-sentence explanation.
Surat itu telah ditulis oleh kami semalam.
Answer
The corrected sentence is Surat itu telah kami tulis semalam.
A full explanation: “The doer is ‘kami’, a first-person pronoun, so the passive needs the pronoun before the bare verb ‘tulis’ and not ‘ditulis oleh kami’.”
What to study next
Next, learn to separate errors from style in separating language errors from acceptable stylistic choices. Track which rules you forget in the mistake log and paper-error review.
In online one-to-one Bahasa Melayu tuition, a teacher can ask for the rule behind each reason you write.