Suffixes -kan and -i
Verb suffixes -kan (benefactive/causative) and -i (locative/repetitive), often combined with meN- prefix
Can recognize and use basic -kan and -i verb suffixes to express benefactive actions and directed actions
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Ibu memasakkan nasi goreng untuk kami.
Mother cooked fried rice for us.
Dia memasuki ruangan dengan tenang.
She entered the room calmly.
Tolong bukakan pintu.
Please open the door (for me).
Anak-anak mengikuti pelajaran dengan baik.
The children follow the lesson well.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Akhiran -kan & -i — Suffixes -kan and -i
Akhiran -kan dan -i adalah dua akhiran kata kerja yang paling penting dalam bahasa Indonesia. Mereka mengubah makna kata kerja dasar secara signifikan.
Akhiran -kan (Benefaktif / Kausatif)
Akhiran -kan menunjukkan bahwa tindakan dilakukan untuk orang lain atau menyebabkan sesuatu terjadi:
| Dasar | + -kan | Arti |
|---|---|---|
| beri (give) | memberikan | give (to someone) |
| masak (cook) | memasakkan | cook for someone |
| buat (make) | membuatkan | make for someone |
| buka (open) | membukakan | open for someone |
| ambil (take) | mengambilkan | take/get for someone |
Akhiran -i (Lokatif / Repetitif)
Akhiran -i menunjukkan bahwa tindakan dilakukan terhadap tempat/target atau berulang kali:
| Dasar | + -i | Arti |
|---|---|---|
| masuk (enter) | memasuki | enter into (a place) |
| datang (come) | mendatangi | come to / visit (a place/person) |
| ikut (follow) | mengikuti | follow / participate in |
| hadap (face) | menghadapi | face / confront |
| tinggal (stay) | meninggali | inhabit / live in |
Perbedaan -kan vs -i
Beberapa kata kerja bisa menerima keduanya dengan makna berbeda:
| Bentuk | Arti |
|---|---|
| melempar batu | throw a stone |
| melempari (orang) | throw (things) at (someone) — target |
| melemparkan (batu) | throw (the stone) away/for someone — object |
Rumus umum:
- -kan: Fokus pada apa yang dilakukan (objek) atau untuk siapa (benefaktif)
- -i: Fokus pada di mana / kepada siapa (target/lokasi)
Catatan: Akhiran ini sering digabungkan dengan awalan meN-: meN-...-kan dan meN-...-i. Di tingkat A1, fokuslah pada mengenali pola-pola ini.
Common Error Patterns
Used -kan when -i was needed (or vice versa)
-kan = FOR someone (benefactive): 'bukakan pintu' (open door for me). -i = AT/TO a target (locative): 'memasuki ruangan' (enter the room). Ask: 'for whom?' → -kan. 'At/to what place/target?' → -i.
Used base verb when -kan or -i was needed for the intended meaning
'Masak' = cook (general). 'Memasakkan' = cook FOR someone. 'Masuk' = enter. 'Memasuki' = enter INTO (specific place). The suffix changes transitivity and focus.
Used 'untuk' (for) instead of -kan suffix, or 'ke' (to) instead of -i suffix
While 'memasak untuk kami' is understandable, 'memasakkan kami' is more natural. Similarly, 'masuk ke ruangan' works but 'memasuki ruangan' is more literary/formal.
Ibu memasakkan nasi goreng untuk kami.
Mother cooked fried rice for us.
'Memasakkan' = meN- + masak + -kan. The -kan suffix shows the action is done FOR someone (kami = us). Without -kan: 'memasak' = just 'cook'.
Dia memasuki ruangan dengan tenang.
She entered the room calmly.
'Memasuki' = meN- + masuk + -i. The -i suffix shows directed action toward a specific place (ruangan = room). 'Masuk' = enter (intransitive), 'memasuki' = enter INTO (transitive).
Tolong bukakan pintu.
Please open the door (for me).
'Bukakan' = buka + -kan. In informal speech, the meN- prefix is often dropped in commands. The -kan tells us: open the door FOR someone (the speaker).
Anak-anak mengikuti pelajaran dengan baik.
The children follow the lesson well.
'Mengikuti' = meN- + ikut + -i. The -i suffix makes 'ikut' (follow along/join) into 'mengikuti' (follow/participate in something specific — the lesson is the target).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises