Learning English and Bahasa Indonesia

Passive Voice in Bahasa Indonesia


Through this post, we will learn about how to form passive voice in bahasa Indonesia. The form is almost the same as in English. The explanation is very simple because it is just a simple thing to be learned. 

Passive Form - Bahasa Indonesia

Passive voice can be defined as sentence where the subject is placed after the predicate. In bahasa Indonesia, it is very easy to form passive voice. In forming passive, adds prefix 'di-' or 'ter-' before predicate, or adds prefix 'ter-' and suffix '-kan' on predicate.
PASSIVE VOICE IN BAHASA INDONESIA
O + P + S
O + S + P (without prefix/affix)
Prefix
Affix
di_______
Ter_______
Ter_______kan
Josh membaca buku
Josh reads book
Buku dibaca oleh Josh
Book is read by Josh
Legend :
O : Object
P : Predicate
S : Subject
___________________________________
Note:
Adds prefix/affix above on the predicate

In forming passive voice by using form 'O + S + P + K', we don't need to add prefix or affix on predicate. Here are some examples:
  • Jurnal saya tulis bersama Josh - This sentence has the same meaning with the following:
  1. I write journal together with Josh
  2. The journal is written by me together with Josh
  • Mobil tersebut saya beli tahun lalu - This sentence has the same meaning with the following:
  1. I bought that car last year
  2. That car was bought by me last year
Passive transitive and intransitive are also exist in bahasa Indonesia. The form is the same as explained above. In forming passive intransitive, just omit the subject of the sentence.

Below are examples of passive voice related to tenses in English. One thing that you have to know is tenses doesn't exist in bahasa Indonesia. It has been explained in article entitled "No Tenses in Bahasa Indonesia". Grammatically, it is possible to be provided but some are unusual in bahasa Indonesia.

PASSIVE INTRANSITIVE IN BAHASA INDONESIA

  • Mobil sedang terpakai - the car is being used
  • Seminar terlaksana dengan baik - seminar is carried well

PASSIVE IN SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

Buku dibaca oleh Josh - Book is read by Josh

PASSIVE IN PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Buku sedang dibaca oleh Josh - Book is being read by Josh

PASSIVE IN PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Buku telah dibaca oleh Josh - Book has been read by Josh

PASSIVE IN PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

It is unusual in bahasa Indonesia

PASSIVE IN SIMPLE PAST TENSE

Buku dibaca oleh Josh - Book was read by Josh

PASSIVE IN PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

Buku sedang dibaca oleh Josh - Book was being read by Josh

PASSIVE IN PAST PERFECT TENSE

Buku telah dibaca oleh Josh - Book had been read by Josh

PASSIVE IN PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

It is also unusual in bahasa Indonesia

PASSIVE IN SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

Buku akan dibaca oleh Josh - Book will be read by Josh

PASSIVE IN  FUTURE PROGRESSIVE/CONTINUOUS TENSE

It is unusual in bahasa Indonesia

PASSIVE IN FUTURE PERFECT  TENSE

It is unusual in bahasa Indonesia

PASSIVE IN FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

It is also unusual