Passive Prefix 'di-' — Malay Grammar

The prefix is the primary marker for the passive voice in the language. It attaches directly to the front of a verb root, replacing the active prefix (or , , etc.).

In a sentence using , the grammatical subject is the receiver of the action, not the doer. This structure is used to emphasize the object or the result of an event.

Forming the Passive

To create a passive verb, remove the active nasal prefix (like ) and replace it with . The root word remains unchanged.

(to buy) becomes (to be bought).
(to write) becomes (to be written).
(to take) becomes (to be taken).

Kereta itu dibeli semalam.
That car was bought yesterday.
Surat ini ditulis dalam Bahasa Inggeris.
This letter is written in English.

Identifying the Agent with 'Oleh'

The person or thing performing the action is called the "agent." In passive sentences, the agent is introduced by the word (by).

Buku itu dibaca oleh pelajar.
The book is read by the student.
Makanan ini dimasak oleh ibu saya.
This food was cooked by my mother.

If the agent immediately follows the verb, the word can sometimes be omitted, particularly in casual speech. However, keeping is standard in formal contexts or when there are other words separating the verb and the agent.

Bola itu ditendang Ali.
The ball was kicked by Ali.

Agentless Passive

One of the main functions of is to describe actions where the doer is unknown, irrelevant, or obvious. In these cases, you simply omit the phrase entirely. This is very common in news headlines or descriptions of processes.

Pintu dikunci pada waktu malam.
The door is locked at night.
Dompet saya dicuri.
My wallet was stolen.

Constraint: Third Person Agents

Grammatically, the passive is specifically designed for actions performed by a third person (he, she, they, names, or nouns).

While you might occasionally hear it used with first or second person pronouns (like "by me" or "by you"), standard grammar dictates that a different passive structure (without ) is preferred for those pronouns. Therefore, is most correctly used when the agent is "him," "her," "them," "Ali," "the government," etc.

Masalah itu diselesaikan oleh mereka.
The problem was solved by them.

Spelling Rule: Prefix vs. Preposition

It is crucial to distinguish between the passive prefix and the preposition (meaning "at" or "in").

Prefix (Passive): Written as one word connected to the verb. (e.g., - eaten).
Preposition (Location): Written as a separate word. (e.g., - at home).

Ikan itu dimakan di restoran.
That fish was eaten at the restaurant.

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