As discussed in Indonesian grammar resource, Bahasa Indonesia has four types of verb. Three of them are divided into two, and another one has three derivatives. What are they?
Verb Based on its Subject
Based on its subject, Bahasa Indonesia divides verb into active and passive.
Active Verb
When active verb fills the predicate of the sentence, the subject does the predicate. In Indonesian, the verb usually starts with (prefix) “me-” or “ber-”.
| Active Verb | Contoh | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Menyapu | Andi cleans his room | Andi membersihkan ruangan/kamarnya |
| Mengemudikan | Sarah mengemudikan mobil | Sarah drives a car |
| Memasak | Jane memasak nasi | Jane cooks rice |
| Berlari | Kuda itu berlari dengan sangat cepat | The horse runs very fast |
| Berdandan | Santi berdandan sebelum berangkat ke sekolah | Santi dresses up before leaving for school |
Passive Verb
When passive verb fills the predicate of the sentence, the subject is affected by the predicate. In Indonesian, the verb usually starts with (prefix) “di-” or “ter-”.
| Passive Verb | Contoh | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Terdampar | Kami terdampar di pulau terpencil | We are stranded in a small island |
| Terjatuh | Andi terjatuh dari sepedanya | Andi fell from his bicycle |
| Disirami | Bunga mawar disirami oleh Santi | The roses are watered by Santi |
| Dimakan | Pisang dimakan oleh Joni | The banana is eaten by Joni |
Verb Based on its Object
Based on its object, verb can be divided into intransitive verb and transitive verb.
Intransitive Verb
Intransitive verb is kind of verb which does not need object as sentence has been considered clear enough.
| Intransitive Verb | Contoh | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Makan | Kami makan udang di restoran | We eat shrimp at the restaurant |
| Minum | Saya tidak pernah meminum minuman bersoda | I never drink sparkling drinks |
Transitive Verb
Just like in English, transitive verb in Bahasa Indonesia should also be followed by object(s) so that the meaning becomes clear.
| Transitive Verb | Contoh | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Membuat | Kami membuat sebuah portal belajar daring | We make an online learning portal |
| Menyelesaikan | Saya sedang menyelesaikan tugas kuliahku | I am finishing my college assignment |
| Mengarahkan | Joni mengarahkan kami ke kelas | Joni leads us to classroom |
| Mengerjakan | Pisang dimakan oleh Joni | The banana is eaten by Joni |
| Memangkas | Mereka memangkas rumput liar di halaman belakang | They mow the lawn in the backyard |
Verb Based on its Form
Based on its form, verb in Bahasa Indonesia is divided into basic verb and derivative verb.
Basic Verb
Basic verb simply does not have affix, as the name suggests. Here are some examples in Bahasa Indonesia.
| Basic Verb | Contoh | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Makan | Kami makan udang di restoran | We eat shrimp at the restaurant |
| Minum | Saya tidak pernah meminum minuman bersoda | I never drink sparkling drinks |
Derivative Verb
Derivative verb refers to a kind of verb which has affix. This kind of verb is divided into 5 categories, they are:
Bebas Afiks Wajib (Mandatory affix free) refers to verb which should have affix or the meaning could change. In other words, to keep it in verb, affix should exist. Some examples of this are:
| Mandatory Affix Free | Contoh | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mendarat (v) - Darat (n) | Pesawat yang terbang pagi tadi telah berhasil mendarat | Plane flights this morning has successfully landed |
| Mengering (v) - Kering (n) | Daun-daun hijau telah mengering | The green leaves have dried up |
| Melebar (v) - Lebar (adj) | Diskusi pagi ini melebar kearah politk | This morning discussion widened towards politics |
Bebas Afix Manasuka is a basic verb that contains affix, but it still functions as a verb if the affix is not applied. Some examples are membaca (v) which is similar with baca (v), berlari (v) which is similar with lari (v), bekerja (v) which is similar with kerja (v).
Terikat Afiks Wajib (Mandatory affixes) is a verb that should have affix on it. Some examples of this are: berjuang (v) from root word juang, bertemu (v) from root word temu, bersua (v) from root word sua.
Reduplikasi (reduplication) refers to verb which is repeated. for example: swinging, swirling, jumping.
Majemuk (compound) refers to verb consisting two different words that when they are combined, they refer to a new meaning. for example: bertatap muka (v) which means meet face to face.
Other Classifications
Another form (unclassified) of verb is classified into three, they are:
Benefaktif (Benefactive)
Benefactive verb is a verb that denotes a job or action done for another person or other persons.
| Benefaktif | Contoh | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Menyebrangkan | Andi menyebrangkan seorang nenek ke seberang jalan | Andi crossed a grandmother across the street |
| Memandikan | Andi memandikan binatang piaraannya | Andi bathes his pet |
Reflektif (Reflective)
Reflective verb refers to a verb which denotes the action for the speaker himself/herself.
| Reflektif | Contoh | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Berdandan | Santi berdandan didepan cermin | Santi dressed in front of the mirror |
| Bersembunyi | Andi bersembunyi dibalik pintu | Andi hid behind the door |
Respirok (Reciprocal)
The reciprocal verb refers to a verb that indicates an action or activity carried out by two persons.
| Respirok | Contoh | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bersalaman | Setelah perdebatan kemarin, mereka berdua saling bersalaman | After yesterday's debate, the two of them shook hands each other |
| Bertatapan | Andi dan Rini saling bertatapan | Andi and Rini stare at each other |
