Understanding Active and Passive Voice in Indonesian for English Speakers

What is Active and Passive Voice in Indonesian?

In Indonesian, like in English, sentences can be expressed in active or passive voice. The active voice emphasizes the subject performing the action, while the passive voice emphasizes the action being done to the subject. Understanding how to form and use these voices is essential for effective communication in Indonesian.

Forming the Active Voice in Indonesian

The active voice in Indonesian is straightforward. The subject performs the action directly, usually following the pattern: Subject + Verb + Object. For example:

Notice that the verb is in its base form or sometimes with prefixes that indicate the action, and the subject comes first.

Forming the Passive Voice in Indonesian

The passive voice in Indonesian is formed by using specific prefixes on the verb, mainly di- or ter-. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject in the passive sentence. The general pattern is: Subject + di-verb + (oleh + agent). For example:

Sometimes, the agent (the doer of the action) is omitted if it is unknown or unimportant.

Common Prefixes Used in Passive Voice

Here are the main prefixes used to form passive verbs in Indonesian:

• di-: used for actions done intentionally or regularly
• ter-: used for accidental or involuntary actions

For example, diambil means "taken" (intentionally), while terambil means "accidentally taken".

Examples Comparing Active and Passive Voice

Let's look at some examples to see the difference clearly:

1. Active: Dia menulis surat. (He writes a letter.)
2. Passive: Surat ditulis oleh dia. (The letter is written by him.)
3. Active: Mereka membersihkan rumah. (They clean the house.)
4. Passive: Rumah dibersihkan oleh mereka. (The house is cleaned by them.)

Tips for English Speakers Learning Indonesian Voice

Indonesian passive voice is often used more frequently than in English, especially in formal or written contexts. Here are some tips:

• Remember to use the di- prefix to form passive verbs.
• The agent (doer) can be omitted if not necessary.
• Practice by converting active sentences to passive and vice versa.
• Listen to native speakers to get a feel for when passive voice is used.

Summary

Mastering active and passive voice in Indonesian helps you express ideas clearly and understand native speakers better. Remember the key patterns: active voice uses the base verb, and passive voice uses the di- or ter- prefixes. Practice regularly to become confident in using both voices.