Causative Nuances
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use suffixes like `-kan` and `-i` to turn simple actions into 'causing' someone or something to do or become something.
- Use `-kan` to make someone do an action: 'tidur' (sleep) becomes 'menidurkan' (to put to sleep).
- Use `-kan` to change an object's state: 'bersih' (clean) becomes 'membersihkan' (to clean something).
- Use `-i` for actions repeated or directed at a location: 'duduk' (sit) becomes 'menduduki' (to sit on).
Meanings
The causative in Indonesian is primarily achieved through the suffixes -kan and -i, which increase the verb's valency, allowing it to take an object that is being 'caused' to act or change state.
Causative (Making happen)
To cause an object to enter a state or perform an action.
“Dia membesarkan anaknya dengan baik.”
“Guru menjelaskan pelajaran itu.”
Benefactive (Doing for someone)
Performing an action for the benefit of someone else.
“Saya membukakan pintu untuknya.”
“Ibu memasakkan kami nasi goreng.”
Locative/Repetitive
Directing an action towards a location or repeating it.
“Mereka mendatangi kantor itu.”
“Dia memukuli pencuri itu.”
Causative Verb Formation (meN- + Root + -kan/-i)
| Root | Meaning | Suffix | Full Verb | Causative Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tidur | Sleep | -kan | Menidurkan | To put to sleep |
| Bersih | Clean | -kan | Membersihkan | To make clean |
| Jatuh | Fall | -kan | Menjatuhkan | To drop |
| Masuk | Enter | -i | Memasuki | To enter (a place) |
| Duduk | Sit | -i | Menduduki | To sit on |
| Panas | Hot | -kan | Memanaskan | To heat up |
| Tulis | Write | -kan | Menuliskan | To write for someone |
| Tulis | Write | -i | Menulisi | To write on something |
Colloquial/Short Forms
| Standard | Colloquial | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Membersihkan | Bersihin | Ayo bersihin kamar! |
| Membukakan | Bukain | Tolong bukain pintunya. |
| Mematikan | Matiin | Matiin TV-nya dong. |
| Membelikan | Beliin | Beliin aku es krim. |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | S + meN-Root-kan + O | Saya mematikan lampu. |
| Negative | S + tidak + meN-Root-kan + O | Dia tidak menjatuhkan hp. |
| Question | Apakah + S + meN-Root-kan + O? | Apakah kamu membukakan pintu? |
| Benefactive | S + meN-Root-kan + Beneficiary + O | Ibu memasakkan adik sup. |
| Locative | S + meN-Root-i + Location | Mereka mendatangi rumah itu. |
| Passive | O + di-Root-kan + (oleh) S | Lampu dimatikan oleh Budi. |
| Imperative | Root-kan + O! | Bersihkan kamarmu! |
| Short Answer | Sudah / Belum | Sudah (I have done it). |
Formalitätsspektrum
Mohon bukakan pintunya. (Requesting entry)
Tolong bukakan pintu. (Requesting entry)
Bukain pintunya dong. (Requesting entry)
Bukain napa! (Requesting entry)
The Power of -kan
Causative
- Mengecilkan To make smaller
Benefactive
- Membelikan To buy for someone
Transitive
- Menjalankan To run/operate
-kan vs -i
Which Suffix Should I Use?
Are you doing it for someone?
Is the object moving?
Common Root Transformations
Adjectives
- • Besar -> Membesarkan
- • Kecil -> Mengecilkan
- • Bersih -> Membersihkan
Verbs
- • Tidur -> Menidurkan
- • Duduk -> Mendudukkan
- • Jatuh -> Menjatuhkan
Examples by Level
Tolong bukakan pintu.
Please open the door.
Saya bersihkan meja.
I clean the table.
Berikan buku itu.
Give that book.
Matikan lampu.
Turn off the light.
Ibu memasakkan nasi.
Mother cooks rice (for us).
Dia mematikan komputer.
He turned off the computer.
Jangan jatuhkan gelas itu!
Don't drop that glass!
Saya membukakan jendela.
I opened the window (for someone).
Guru menjelaskan materi sulit.
The teacher explained the difficult material.
Dia menduduki kursi saya.
He sat on my chair.
Kami membesarkan kucing ini.
We raised this cat.
Tolong pesankan kopi satu.
Please order one coffee (for me).
Pemerintah memberlakukan aturan baru.
The government enforced a new rule.
Dia memercayai berita itu.
He believed that news.
Perusahaan menugaskan saya ke Bali.
The company assigned me to Bali.
Air itu membasahi seluruh baju.
That water soaked the whole shirt.
Kita tidak boleh mengesampingkan fakta ini.
We must not set aside this fact.
Penulis itu mengakhiri ceritanya dengan sedih.
The writer ended his story sadly.
Dia memengaruhi keputusan rapat.
He influenced the meeting's decision.
Polisi menanyai saksi berkali-kali.
The police questioned the witness repeatedly.
Krisis itu mengisyaratkan perlunya reformasi.
The crisis signaled the need for reform.
Ia memperhambakan dirinya pada seni.
He enslaved himself to art.
Fenomena ini mendasari teori tersebut.
This phenomenon underlies that theory.
Mereka memperebutkan kekuasaan.
They fought over power.
Easily Confused
Learners often use -kan when they should use -i for locations, or vice versa.
Mixing up 'menjatuhkan' (drop) with 'terjatuh' (accidentally fall).
Putting the object before the person in a benefactive sentence.
Häufige Fehler
Saya buat bersih kamar.
Saya membersihkan kamar.
Tolong buka pintu.
Tolong bukakan pintu.
Dia jatuh buku.
Dia menjatuhkan buku.
Saya kasih dia buku.
Saya memberikan dia buku.
Saya memasuk buku ke tas.
Saya memasukkan buku ke tas.
Ibu masak saya nasi.
Ibu memasakkan saya nasi.
Dia mati lampu.
Dia mematikan lampu.
Saya tulis dia surat.
Saya menuliskan dia surat.
Saya memasuki buku ke tas.
Saya memasukkan buku ke tas.
Dia mendudukkan kursi itu.
Dia menduduki kursi itu.
Guru terang pelajaran.
Guru menerangkan pelajaran.
Saya kirim dia paket.
Saya mengirimkan dia paket.
Dia mengesamping fakta.
Dia mengesampingkan fakta.
Polisi tanya saksi.
Polisi menanyai saksi.
Air membasah baju.
Air membasahi baju.
Dia memengaruhi saya.
Dia memengaruhi saya.
Sentence Patterns
Tolong ___kan saya ___.
Dia sedang ___kan ___.
Kami harus ___i ___.
Hal itu ___kan ___.
Real World Usage
Bisa tolong ambilkan sambal?
Saya ingin mengembangkan kemampuan saya.
Beliin minum dong, haus nih.
Anda harus melewati jembatan itu.
Terima kasih sudah meramaikan acara ini!
Obat ini akan meredakan sakitnya.
The 'Move' Test
Nasalization Matters
Politeness with -kan
Adjective to Verb
Smart Tips
Always add -kan to the verb. It sounds much more like a polite request than a direct command.
Think about what is moving. If the object is moving, use -kan. If you are moving into a place, use -i.
Mentally replace it with -kan or -i to understand the formal meaning. It's just the casual version!
Don't use 'menjadi' (become) + adjective. Use meN- + adjective + -kan.
Aussprache
Suffix -kan
The 'k' in -kan is usually clearly enunciated, but in fast speech, it can sound slightly glottalized.
Suffix -i
The -i suffix creates a new syllable. If the root ends in a vowel, it might sound like a glide (e.g., menyukai -> menyu-ka-yi).
Imperative -kan
Bersihkan! ↘️
A sharp drop in pitch at the end indicates a command.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
KAN is for 'Kause' (Cause) and 'Kindness' (Benefactive). I is for 'In/On' (Location).
Visual Association
Imagine a hand pushing a box into a room (-kan). Now imagine a person walking into that same room (-i). The box moves, the room stays still.
Rhyme
With -kan you make it so, with -i you're on the go.
Story
Budi wants to help his mom. He 'membersihkan' (cleans) the floor. He 'membukakan' (opens for her) the window. He 'memasukkan' (puts in) the groceries. He is the master of -kan!
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look around your room. Find 3 things you can 'make' happen (e.g., turn off light, open window, move chair) and say the Indonesian -kan verb for each.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Using the benefactive -kan (doing for someone) is a key part of Indonesian politeness (gotong royong culture). It emphasizes the helpful nature of the action.
In Jakarta, the suffix -in almost entirely replaces -kan and -i in daily conversation. It's a hallmark of 'Gaul' (cool) speech.
Some speakers might use -ake (Javanese) instead of -kan in very informal settings in Central/East Java.
The suffixes -kan and -i trace back to Proto-Austronesian applicative markers *-akan and *-i.
Conversation Starters
Bisa tolong ambilkan saya air?
Apa yang biasanya kamu bersihkan di akhir pekan?
Siapa yang membesarkan kamu waktu kecil?
Pernahkah kamu mendatangi konser musik besar?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Saya ___ buku ke dalam tas.
Tolong ambil___ saya segelas air.
Find and fix the mistake:
Dia mendudukkan kursi saya.
Ibu (bersih) rumah setiap pagi.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
The suffix -i is often used for actions directed at a location.
A: 'Aduh, tas ini berat sekali.' B: 'Sini, biar aku ___kan.'
A. Melewati, B. Menjatuhkan, C. Mendatangi, D. Membesarkan
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesSaya ___ buku ke dalam tas.
Tolong ambil___ saya segelas air.
Find and fix the mistake:
Dia mendudukkan kursi saya.
Ibu (bersih) rumah setiap pagi.
1. Panas, 2. Tidur, 3. Jalan
The suffix -i is often used for actions directed at a location.
A: 'Aduh, tas ini berat sekali.' B: 'Sini, biar aku ___kan.'
A. Melewati, B. Menjatuhkan, C. Mendatangi, D. Membesarkan
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
Yes! For example, `memasukkan` means to put something in, while `memasuki` means to enter a place yourself.
Usually, yes. If you want to say something happened accidentally, you would use the `ter-` prefix instead.
The suffix `-in` is a colloquial version used in Jakarta and informal speech that replaces both `-kan` and `-i`.
No. Simple actions like `makan` (eat) or `minum` (drink) don't need them unless you are doing it for someone else (`memasakkan`).
It's when you add `-kan` to show you are performing an action for someone else's benefit, like `membukakan pintu` (opening the door for someone).
It depends on the first letter of the root. For example, 'p' becomes 'm', 't' becomes 'n'. This is a standard Indonesian prefix rule.
Yes, this is very common. `Besar` (big) becomes `membesarkan` (to make big/enlarge).
They are similar, but `-kan` is more natural and common for specific state changes. `Membuat` is more general.
In Other Languages
hacer + infinitivo
Indonesian uses morphology (suffixes); Spanish uses syntax (auxiliary verbs).
faire + infinitif
French 'faire' is a separate word; Indonesian '-kan' is a suffix.
lassen
Indonesian suffixes are more specific to the root verb's meaning.
saseru (causative form)
Japanese causative often implies 'letting' or 'forcing', while Indonesian is more about the result.
Form II (Wazzan Fa''ala)
Arabic uses internal vowel/consonant shifts; Indonesian uses external suffixes.
使 (shǐ) / 让 (ràng)
Chinese uses word order and helper verbs; Indonesian uses complex conjugation.
