Passive Sentence Structure
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the 'di-' prefix on verbs to shift focus from the doer to the object being acted upon.
- Add 'di-' to the base verb: 'makan' (eat) becomes 'dimakan' (is eaten).
- Use 'oleh' to introduce the agent: 'Dimakan oleh kucing' (Eaten by the cat).
- In casual speech, 'di-' is often used without 'oleh' for simple statements.
Meanings
The 'di-' passive is used to emphasize the receiver of an action rather than the actor. It is the standard way to form passive sentences in Indonesian.
Standard Passive
Focusing on the object of a transitive verb.
“Surat ini ditulis oleh ibu.”
“Mobil itu dicuci.”
Agentless Passive
When the actor is unknown or irrelevant.
“Pintu dikunci.”
“Lampu dimatikan.”
Formal/Academic
Used in reports or news to maintain objectivity.
“Keputusan diambil oleh komite.”
“Data dianalisis.”
Passive Verb Formation
| Active (me-) | Passive (di-) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Membaca | Dibaca | Read |
| Menulis | Ditulis | Write |
| Makan | Dimakan | Eat |
| Mencuci | Dicuci | Wash |
| Melihat | Dilihat | See |
| Membeli | Dibeli | Buy |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Object + di-Verb | Buku dibaca. |
| Negative | Object + tidak + di-Verb | Buku tidak dibaca. |
| Question | Apakah + Object + di-Verb? | Apakah buku dibaca? |
| Agentive | Object + di-Verb + oleh + Agent | Buku dibaca oleh Andi. |
| Modal | Object + harus + di-Verb | Buku harus dibaca. |
| Past/Future | Object + sudah/akan + di-Verb | Buku sudah dibaca. |
Formalitätsspektrum
Surat ini ditulis oleh saya. (Writing a letter)
Surat ini ditulis saya. (Writing a letter)
Surat ini saya tulis. (Writing a letter)
Suratnya gue tulis. (Writing a letter)
Passive Voice Concept
Focus
- Objek Object
Marker
- di- prefix
Agent
- oleh by
Examples by Level
Nasi dimakan.
The rice is eaten.
Buku dibaca.
The book is read.
Surat ditulis.
The letter is written.
Pintu dibuka.
The door is opened.
Kue ini dimakan oleh adik.
This cake is eaten by my younger sibling.
Mobil itu tidak dicuci hari ini.
That car is not washed today.
Apakah tugas ini dikerjakan?
Is this task being done?
Lampu dimatikan oleh ayah.
The light is turned off by father.
Keputusan itu diambil setelah diskusi panjang.
The decision was taken after a long discussion.
Data tersebut dianalisis oleh tim ahli.
The data was analyzed by an expert team.
Pesan itu dikirim melalui email.
The message was sent via email.
Banyak rumah dibangun di daerah ini.
Many houses are built in this area.
Proyek ini harus diselesaikan sebelum akhir bulan.
This project must be finished before the end of the month.
Aturan ini dibuat untuk menjaga keamanan.
This rule was made to maintain security.
Film itu disutradarai oleh orang Indonesia.
The film was directed by an Indonesian person.
Bahan-bahan dicampur sampai rata.
The ingredients are mixed until even.
Kebijakan tersebut diimplementasikan secara bertahap.
The policy is implemented gradually.
Penelitian ini didanai oleh lembaga internasional.
This research is funded by an international institution.
Peristiwa itu dicatat dalam sejarah nasional.
The event is recorded in national history.
Karya seni ini dipamerkan di galeri pusat.
This artwork is exhibited at the central gallery.
Narasi tersebut dikonstruksi untuk memengaruhi opini publik.
The narrative is constructed to influence public opinion.
Teori ini didekonstruksi oleh para kritikus sastra.
This theory is deconstructed by literary critics.
Dokumen ini disahkan oleh pihak berwenang.
This document is legalized by the authorities.
Fenomena ini diobservasi secara mendalam.
This phenomenon is observed in depth.
Easily Confused
Both are prefixes, but 'di-' is for deliberate actions, 'ter-' for accidental/states.
Me- is active, di- is passive.
Both are passive, but passive-person (ku-/kau-) is more personal.
Häufige Fehler
Saya dimakan nasi
Nasi dimakan saya
Di-makan nasi
Nasi dimakan
Dia di-pergi
Dia pergi
Nasi makan
Nasi dimakan
Dimakan oleh saya
Dimakan saya
Nasi dimakan oleh kucing itu
Nasi dimakan kucing itu
Nasi dimakan-nya
Nasi dimakannya
Pintu dibuka oleh angin
Pintu terbuka oleh angin
Saya didengar dia
Saya didengar oleh dia
Buku itu dibaca oleh saya kemarin
Buku itu saya baca kemarin
Keputusan itu di-ambil
Keputusan itu diambil
Dia dimarahi oleh saya
Dia saya marahi
Data itu di-analisis
Data itu dianalisis
Hal ini dimengerti oleh semua
Hal ini dimengerti semua
Sentence Patterns
___ dimakan oleh ___.
Apakah ___ sudah ___?
___ harus ___ tepat waktu.
___ ini ___ oleh para ahli.
Real World Usage
Keputusan diambil hari ini.
Pesan sudah dibaca.
Bahan dicampur rata.
Proyek diselesaikan dengan baik.
Foto diambil di Bali.
Tiket sudah dipesan.
Focus on the Object
No Hyphens
Use 'Oleh' Sparingly
Passive for Politeness
Smart Tips
Use the 'passive-person' construction (e.g., 'buku kubaca') instead of 'di-'.
If you can ask 'what?' after the verb, it is transitive and can be passive.
Use the passive voice to maintain an objective, impersonal tone.
Use the agentless passive to focus on the action, not the person.
Aussprache
Di- prefix
The 'di-' is pronounced like 'dee' in 'deep'.
Statement
Buku dibaca ↘
Falling intonation for a statement.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'di-' as 'done'. If the action is 'done' to something, use 'di-'.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant 'DI' stamp being pressed onto an object. The object is now the focus of the sentence.
Rhyme
When the object is the star, add 'di-' to go far.
Story
Budi has a cake. He eats the cake. The cake is now the focus. 'Kue dimakan Budi'. The cake is happy because it is the subject.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look at 3 objects in your room and write a passive sentence for each (e.g., 'Buku dibaca', 'Lampu dimatikan').
Kulturelle Hinweise
The passive is used to show politeness by avoiding direct confrontation or focusing on the object rather than the person.
Javanese speakers often prefer the passive to maintain social harmony.
The passive is the standard for official communication to remain neutral.
The 'di-' prefix originated as a preposition meaning 'at' or 'in'. Over time, it evolved into a marker for the patient in a passive construction.
Conversation Starters
Apa yang dimakan tadi?
Apakah buku ini sudah dibaca?
Bagaimana keputusan itu diambil?
Apakah proyek ini akan diselesaikan tepat waktu?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Buku itu ___ (baca) oleh Andi.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Pintu di-buka oleh dia.
Andi menulis surat.
Passive can be used with intransitive verbs.
A: Apakah tugas sudah dikerjakan? B: Ya, ___.
dimakan / Nasi / oleh / kucing
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesBuku itu ___ (baca) oleh Andi.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Pintu di-buka oleh dia.
Andi menulis surat.
Passive can be used with intransitive verbs.
A: Apakah tugas sudah dikerjakan? B: Ya, ___.
dimakan / Nasi / oleh / kucing
Membeli -> ?
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, only with transitive verbs (verbs that take an object).
No, it is optional and often omitted in casual speech.
Because 'di-' is a prefix, not a separate word.
Add 'tidak' before the passive verb.
It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but the 'passive-person' construction is more common in casual speech.
'Di-' is for deliberate actions, 'ter-' for accidental or states.
Yes, just add 'apakah' or use rising intonation.
It helps keep the focus on the topic of conversation.
In Other Languages
ser + participio
Indonesian uses a prefix; Spanish uses an auxiliary verb.
être + participe passé
Indonesian uses a prefix; French uses an auxiliary verb.
werden + Partizip II
Indonesian uses a prefix; German uses an auxiliary verb.
passive suffix -reru
Indonesian uses a prefix; Japanese uses a suffix.
internal vowel change
Indonesian uses a prefix; Arabic uses internal vowel modification.
bei (被) construction
Indonesian uses a prefix; Chinese uses a separate particle.
