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Posts published in “Grammar”

di- -kan versus di- -i

Most Indonesian language learners find the circumfix di- -kan and di- -i often confusing. There are no consistent patterns of usage that distinguish the two. However…

In Passive Sentence

In general it indicates passive form of an active passive me- verb. However we don’t use it for the sake of changing the active passive…

Intransitive Counterparts

In few cases the suffix -kan with verb bases and prefix me- verbs are used in the same way as ‘ber-‘ verbs; that is, intransitively.  Root: kata (word) Mengatakan can be…

To show the distance

With bases which indicate approximation or relative position the suffix -i verb means ‘become the distance indicated by the base from the object‘. Root: dekat (near, close…

To indicate repeated action

Suffix -i can be added to a number of simple transitive verbs to indicate that the action is performed more than once. In this case the suffix ‘-i’ is added…

To remove from object

In a few cases the verb (transitive) means that what is expressed by the base is removed from the object. Circumfix In this case the suffix…

intransitive verb to transitive

The suffix ‘-i- can change a intransitive verb – which in some verbs are created by adding the prefix ‘me-‘ to the root verb or noun –…

The optional suffix -kan

In some cases, the affixation process of suffix ‘-kan’ then prefix ‘me-‘ can mean the same as those without the suffix -kan. The suffix does not lend any additional meaning to these verbs,…

Benefactive

The third meaning of the affixation process of suffix ‘-kan’ then prefix ‘me-‘ is benefactive; that is, it indicates that the action shown by the verb is done for the benefit…

Noun base

The verbs with suffix -kan that are based on nouns mean ‘put or take the object in/to [that base word].  For example: Root: pasar – market If the…

Object to perform

All verbs with suffix -kan are transitive verbs. The basic function is to make the object as a patient or beneficiary. The suffix -kan can…

To apply the object

Many -i verbs have noun bases. It means ‘apply or give(base) to the object’. Root: tandatangan Add the prefix me-to the base word tandatangani → menandatangani (transitive) – to sign…

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