Using Pasif in Indonesian Object Focus Construction Vs

Using Pasif in Indonesian Object Focus Construction Vs Subject Focus Construction

�In Indonesian we need to distinguish between intransitive and transitive verbs – according to whether the verb requires only one or more than one noun to accompany it in order for the sentence to make sense. �Traditionally verbs are ‘doing’ words but some verbs actually describe a ‘state’ or ‘condition’ e. g. verb = to be = is, are; sick = sakit etc.

�Intransitive verbs need only one noun (or noun phrase) to accompany it in a sentence. This noun phrase is usually the SUBJECT �Duduk, berlari, tidur, makan, bangun are examples of intransitive verbs �Anto duduk. �Nenek berjalan. �Saya bangun pada jam 6 pagi. �Adik saya menangis.

Anto duduk di kursi �Anto sits on the chair Nenek berjalan ke pasar �Granny walks to the market Ani menangis keras �Ani cries loudly Tono tidur lelap �Tono sleeps soundly.

�Subject focus and Object focus = in sentence constructions our attention is focused on the subject or the object of the sentence. �Sometimes called Active or Passive �A SUBJECT = doer, actor or agent of action �An OBJECT = s. o. or s. t. that is affected by the action performed by subject

�Lets look at Pasif # 1

Subject-Focus �Subject comes before the verb & object �Subject is followed by me-verb transitive verb �May be an auxillary verb before main verb �Object follows the verb directly Nina Subject Nina membaca Verb reads buku ini Object a book

Nina membaca buku ini – Subject-Focus �To change a sentence from subject focus sentence (Aktif) to an object focus sentence (Pasif) we follow these rules. i) First identify the verb - membaca ii) Ask the question Who/what did the action (of verb) – �Quest: Who/what membaca (read) ? �Answer: Nina. �Nina is the subject

iii) Now we identify the object in the sentence by asking �Quest: . Nina read who or what ? �Answer: a book – the object of the sentence is ‘a book’ �Nina �Subject �Nina membaca verb read buku ini Object this book.

Change into Object-Focus or Pasif # 1 Follow these rules: i) Move Object to front of sentence ii) Add Di~ to verb (remove any prefixes e. g. me~ so only base word with suffixes is left) iii) Oleh is optional but it sounds better iv) Put Subject after di~ verb Buku ini dibaca oleh Nina �Object di- verb (optional) Subject This book was read by Nina.

Ayo ! Cobalah ini ! �Kami merayakan Hari Natal di rumahku. �Orangtua menyewa ‘jumping castle’ bagi pesta HUTku. �Mereka akan mengundang teman-teman ke pesta besok pagi.

�Tamu-tamu membawa hadiah HUT ke pesta. �Kaum Kristen merayakan Hari Paskah dengan empat hari liburan di Australia. �Ibuku memasak sarapan untuk keluargaku pagi ini.

�Doktor memeriksa pasien �Subject verb object �To make our sentences a little more interesting we can insert � Auxillary verbs (sudah, mau, harus etc) � Adverbs (pelan-pelan – slowly) � Prepostional phrases (di rumah – at home) Doktor yang muda harus memeriksa pasien yang sakit sekali di rumahnya pagi ini.

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