Many Malay verbs come in pairs ending in -kan and -i, and choosing the wrong one changes the meaning. As a rule, -kan is used when the object moves or is handed over, and -i when the object is the place or target that stays put. “Ali memasukkan bola ke dalam bakul” (the ball moves), but “Pencuri itu memasuki rumah” (the house is the place).
What your child will learn
- Use -kan when the object moves
- Use -i when the object is a place or target
- Handle pairs such as menghadiahkan and menghadiahi
Ask what the object does
Menaikkan bendera (raise the flag — it goes up) versus menaiki bas (board the bus — it stays). Mendudukkan adik (seat the child) versus menduduki kerusi (occupy the chair).
With giving verbs, -kan takes the gift and -i takes the receiver: “menghadiahkan buku kepada pemenang” but “menghadiahi pemenang sebuah buku”. The same goes for melemparkan batu and melempari anjing.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Isi tempat kosong: “Pencuri itu ___ rumah Pak Abu melalui tingkap.”
🦹- kemasukan
- memasuki
- memasukkan
- masukan
Show answer
Answer: memasuki. Rumah ialah tempat, jadi “memasuki”.
2. Isi tempat kosong: “Nenek ___ air ke dalam gelas.”
- menuangi
- tuangan
- penuang
- menuangkan
Show answer
Answer: menuangkan. Air itu bergerak, jadi “menuangkan”.
3. Isi tempat kosong: “Tetamu itu ___ kerusi di barisan hadapan.”
🧑🤝🧑- mendudukkan
- didudukkan
- kedudukan
- menduduki
Show answer
Answer: menduduki. Kerusi ialah tempat, jadi “menduduki”.
Tips for grown-ups
- Act out a pair: menaikkan a flag, then menaiki a step.
- Take one base word — masuk, naik, duduk — and make both sentences.