In Passive Sentence - Bahasakita.com

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 me- verb to the passive di- verb. Prefix di- in Indonesian sentences are used to focus on the object we want to discuss.

With Suffix -kan

The use of suffix -kan to the passive based word is to create transitive passive verbs.

Root: ajar (teach – verb)

You add the suffix -kan: buat+kan → The verb ‘ajarkan’ is used for imperatives which means “Teach it!”
The word/verb ‘ajarkan!’ becomes the base word 1
In a sentence: Tolong ajarkan saya bahasa Indonesia.
Meaning: Please teach me Indonesian language.

You add the prefix di: di + ajar → The verb ‘diajar’ (transitive verb)
The word/verb ‘diajar’ becomes the base word 2
In a sentence: Saya diajar oleh Pak Budi.
Meaning: I was taught by Pak Budi.

Circumfix Process

From base word 1 – ‘ajarkan!’
Add prefix ‘di-‘ → di + ajarkan → diajarkan (passive form )
From base word 2 – ‘diajar‘
Add suffix ‘-kan-‘ → diajar+kan → diajarkan (passive form )

Example 1

In a sentence: Di Indonesia, bahasa Inggris diajarkan di kelas 3.
Meaning: In Indonesia, English was taught in year 3.

Example 2

In a sentence: Setiap anak diajarkan untuk memahami sejarah Indonesia.
Meaning: Each child is taught to understand Indonesian history.

Another examples are:

Root: besar (big – adjective)

You add the suffix -kan: besar+kan → The word ‘besarkan’ – means to enlarge – is usually used as a title of an article or news. This word become the base word.
You can’t add the suffix -i: besar + i → there is no such verb as ‘besari’.
In a sentence: 5 Cara Besarkan Payudara Secara Alami
Meaning: 5 Ways to Enlarge Breasts Naturally

You can’t add the prefix di- to the root word ‘besar’ as there is no such word as ‘dibesar’.
You then add the prefix di- to the base word ‘besarkan’: di + besarkan → ‘dibesarkan’ – means raised – (passive form)
In a sentence: Saya dibesarkan oleh nenek saya.
Meaning: I was raised by my grandmother.

With Suffix -i

The use of suffix -i to the passive based word is to create a passive imperative sentence.

Root: bumbu (spice – noun)

You add the suffix -i: bumbu+i → The verb ‘bumbui’ is used for imperatives which means “season it!”
The word/verb ‘bumbui!’ becomes the base word
In a sentence: Bumbui ayam ini dengan garam.
Meaning: Season this chicken with salt.
You can’t add the prefix di: di + bumbu → there is no such verb as ‘dibumbu’.
Add prefix ‘di-‘ to the base word ‘bumbui’→ di + bumbui → dibumbui (seasoned)
In a sentence: Ayam ini hanya dibumbui garam dan merica.
Meaning: This chicken is only spiced up by salt and pepper.
You can’t add the suffix -kan to the root word ‘bumbu’ → there is no such verb as ‘bumbukan’.

Note:

Most Indonesian language learners find the confix di- -kan and di- -i often confusing. There are no consistent patterns of usage that distinguish the two. You just have to remember it.

Another examples are:

Root: hantu (ghost – noun)

You add the suffix -i: bumbu+i → The verb ‘hantui’ is used for imperatives which means “Teach it!”
The word/verb ‘hantui’ becomes the base word
In a sentence: Jangan hantui aku dengan pesan-pesanmu.
Meaning: Don’t haunt me with your messages.
You can’t add the prefix di- to the root word: di + hantu → there is no such verb as ‘dihantu’.
You can add prefix ‘di-‘ to the base word ‘hantui’→ di + hantui → dihantui (haunted)
In a sentence: Dia masih dihantui oleh perceraian orang tuanya.
Meaning: She’s still traumatised by her parents divorce.
You can’t add the suffix -kan to the root word ‘hantu’ → there is no such verb as ‘hantukan’.

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 they can produce different meanings. You just have to remember it.