Transitive Verbs with '-kan'

01

Creating Causative Verbs

One of the most common uses of -kan is to turn intransitive verbs (verbs that do not take an object) or adjectives into transitive verbs. In this context, the suffix adds the meaning of "to cause to be" or "to make happen."

When attached to an adjective, it means "to make [adjective]."

• Bilik ini kotor.

  This room is dirty.

• Tolong bersihkan bilik ini.

  Please clean (make clean) this room.

When attached to an intransitive verb, it changes the meaning from doing the action to causing someone or something else to do the action.

• Anak itu sedang tidur.

  That child is sleeping.

• Ibu sedang menidurkan anak itu.

  Mother is putting the child to sleep.

• Pesawat itu mendarat.

  The plane landed.

• Juruterbang mendaratkan pesawat itu.

  The pilot landed the plane.

02

The Benefactive Function (Doing it for Someone)

The suffix -kan is frequently used to show that an action is done for the benefit of someone else. This is often called the "benefactive" voice.

When using this structure, the sentence order changes. The person receiving the benefit (the beneficiary) appears immediately after the verb, followed by the object being acted upon. This eliminates the need for the preposition untuk (for).

Structure: Verb + Beneficiary + Object

• Dia membeli makanan untuk saya.

  He bought food for me. (Standard)

• Dia membelikan saya makanan.

  He bought me food. (Benefactive with -kan)

• Tolong ambilkan saya segelas air.

  Please get me a glass of water.

• Ayah membacakan adik sebuah buku.

  Father reads the younger sibling a book.

03

Transfer of Possession

For certain verbs involving the movement of items, adding -kan changes the direction of the action. It often shifts the meaning from receiving to giving.

Common examples include:

• Pinjam (to borrow) becomes pinjamkan (to lend).
• Sewa (to rent/hire) becomes sewakan (to rent out/lease to someone).

• Saya mahu pinjam kereta awak.

  I want to borrow your car.

• Boleh awak pinjamkan saya kereta awak?

  Can you lend me your car?

04

Instrumental Usage

In specific contexts, -kan indicates that an object is being used as an instrument to perform an action. This emphasizes the object being manipulated.

• Dia menikam musuhnya.

  He stabbed his enemy. (Focus on the enemy)

• Dia menikamkan keris itu ke dada musuh.

  He stabbed the dagger into the enemy's chest. (Focus on the dagger being used)