ber-...-kan

The ber-...-kan pattern transforms a noun or verb root into a verb that expresses how the subject relates to a specific object or concept. In the basic construction, -kan links the verb to a complement that may correspond to a prepositional phrase in a related expression (e.g., bersenjata dengan pedang becomes bersenjatakan pedang).

1. Key Meanings:

• Basis/Foundation: Used to show what something is built upon (e.g., berdasarkan - based on).
• Composition: Used to show what a group consists of (e.g., beranggotakan - having as members).
• Instrument: Used to show what someone is equipped with (e.g., bersenjatakan - armed with).
• Identity/Role: Used for family or social roles (e.g., beristrikan - having as a wife).
• Inscribed/Marked: Used for labels or writing (e.g., bertuliskan - having the writing...).

2. Morphological Rules:
It follows the standard be- allomorph rules. The prefix ber- becomes the allomorph be- if the root starts with 'r' (e.g., berambutkan) or in certain established words whose first syllable contains schwa plus r (e.g., becerminkan from cer-min). Forms with retained r also occur, such as bercerminkan; do not apply a blanket r-deletion rule to every word with that syllable shape.

3. Grammatical Restriction:
Verbs formed with ber-...-kan are intransitive state verbs that take a complement in the complete construction taught here. Because they do not take a true direct object, that complement is not converted into a passive subject by mechanically replacing ber- with di-. (Note: Words like didasarkan are the passive forms of active transitive verbs like mendasarkan, not berdasarkan).

4. Register and Usage:
While creating new words with this pattern is characteristic of formal Indonesian, established words like berdasarkan also occur in everyday conversation. For less common words, casual speakers often prefer using dengan (with) or ada (there is/have). For example, instead of beranggotakan lima orang, a casual speaker might say anggotanya ada lima orang.

Complete Statements and Style: Keputusan itu berdasarkan bukti supplies the basis explicitly. A missing complement may be recoverable in context, so distinguish an incomplete isolated lesson sentence from contextual ellipsis. Berayahkan seorang guru is grammatical though less conversational than Ayah saya seorang guru. Berdasarkan laporan itu is the concise formal model; expanded berdasarkan pada is encountered and should be considered in its register rather than treated as universally unintelligible.