-i

Basic -i Target Marking

Level 2

The suffix -i is used to direct an action toward a specific location, recipient, or surface. It often implies the object stays still while the action is applied to it.

How It Works

The suffix -i is a productive affix in standard Indonesian used to form transitive verbs. It is most commonly paired with the meN- prefix in active sentences.

Key Functions:

  • Locative/Directional: The object is the place where the action happens or the destination. It often converts an intransitive verb + preposition into a transitive verb. For example, menduduki kursi (to sit on the chair) replaces duduk di kursi.
  • Applying Nouns: It is highly productive with noun roots to mean applying that noun to an object. For example, mengairi sawah (to irrigate the rice field) from air (water), or menggarami sup (salting the soup) from garam (salt).
  • Removing or Applying a Cover: With some noun roots, context determines whether -i removes or applies the named material. Menguliti can mean removing skin from an animal, but menguliti buku means putting a cover on a book. Likewise, menyisiki means removing scales from a fish.
  • Applying a State: While -kan is the primary causative suffix for adjectives, -i can be used with adjectives to retain a locative or directional nuance, applying the state onto a target. For example, menyakiti (to inflict pain on someone) from sakit (sick/painful).
  • Iterative: The action is performed multiple times or to multiple things. For example, memukuli (to beat repeatedly) vs. memukul (to hit; number of hits unspecified).

Direct Objects and Other Complements
In the transitive model, do not insert di, ke, or kepada between the -i verb and its direct object: mendatangi rumahnya. Prepositional adjuncts remain possible, and passive forms can take an oleh phrase; the suffix does not ban every preposition after every -i form.

Contrast with -kan:
When choosing between -kan or -i, remember that -i makes the destination or recipient the direct object, while -kan makes the moved item (theme) the direct object. Furthermore, -kan frequently acts as a benefactive (doing an action for someone, e.g., membelikan). Compare: Saya mengirimi Budi surat (I sent Budi a letter — Object = Budi/Recipient) vs. Saya mengirimkan surat kepada Budi (I sent a letter to Budi — Object = surat/Theme).

Passive Voice:
The -i suffix remains attached when the verb is made passive with the di- passive or pronoun passives. For example, Kursi itu diduduki oleh Budi (The chair was sat on by Budi).

Morphology:
The suffix attaches directly to the root, and the usual meN- assimilation rules still apply: initial K, P, T, and S may drop, as in kulit → menguliti and pukul → memukuli. For roots that already end in the letter i (such as beri), they do not take an additional -i suffix in spelling or pronunciation. In formal Indonesian, this suffix is essential, but in colloquial speech, Jakarta-influenced forms often use -in in place of -i or -kan, and the meN- prefix is usually dropped (e.g., dudukin instead of menduduki).

Examples (5)

  1. Ibu menggarami sup itu.

    Mother salted the soup.

    Word by Word: Mother [active]-salt-[locative] soup that

    The soup is the 'location' where the salt is being applied, so the -i suffix is used.

  2. Dia menulisi buku itu.

    He wrote on (the pages of) that book.

    Word by Word: He [active]-write-[surface] book that

    Using -i implies he is writing on the surface of the book (scribbling on pages), rather than writing the book's content.

  3. Polisi mendatangi rumahnya.

    The police came to his house.

    Word by Word: Police [active]-come-[locative] house-his

    The house is the destination/location the police are approaching.

  4. Adik memukuli beduk itu.

    Little brother beat the drum repeatedly.

    Word by Word: Little brother [active]-hit-[iterative] drum that

    Here, -i indicates the action of hitting is repeated many times (iterative).

  5. Saya menyukai film ini.

    I like this movie.

    Word by Word: I [active]-like-[transitive] film this

    Some verbs like 'suka' (to like) require -i to become transitive and take a direct object in formal Indonesian.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -kan when the object is the destination.

    Saya menggaramkan sup.
    Saya menggarami sup.

    Menggarami sup is the established verb for salting soup: sup is the surface or contents receiving salt. Learn this word and the intended sense; do not infer that every -kan verb must take a physically moved object.

  • Confusing -i with -kan for movement.

    Dia melempari batu. (Maksud: batu yang dilempar.)
    Dia melemparkan batu.

    'Melemparkan' means to throw the object (the stone). 'Melempari' means to pelt a target with stones. If the stone is what is moving, use -kan.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-iLevel 2Basic -i Target Marking

Learn This First

To understand the -i suffix, you must first be familiar with the basic Indonesian verb system, specifically the active (meN-) and passive (di-) prefixes, as the suffix attaches to these forms to change the verb's relationship with its object (often indicating a location, repeated action, or a specific recipient).

Words in This Pattern

-i