ber-...-kan

Ber- Verbs with -kan

Level 3

The ber-...-kan pattern creates formal verbs that link a subject to a mandatory noun complement. It typically means 'based on', 'armed with', or 'using as'.

How It Works

The ber-...-kan circumfix is primarily found in formal, academic, and literary Malay. It functions as a relational bridge between the subject and a noun.

1. Key Meanings:

  • Basis/Foundation: Berdasarkan (Based on).
  • Instrument/Tool: Bersenjatakan (Armed with/Using as a weapon).
  • Content/Membership: Beranggotakan (Having as members).
  • Substitution/Usage: Beralaskan (Using as a base/mat), berbantukan (With the help of).

2. Grammatical Rules:

  • Mandatory Complement: You cannot say 'Keputusan itu berdasarkan' (The decision is based). You must specify what it is based on: 'Keputusan itu berdasarkan bukti' (The decision is based on evidence).
  • No Prepositions: The -kan suffix already acts as a linker. Do not add prepositions like pada or dengan after these verbs.
  • Intransitive: These verbs cannot be made passive. You cannot use di- with these forms.

3. Morphological Variations:
The prefix follows standard be- allomorph rules. If the root starts with 'r', the prefix becomes be- (e.g., berambutkan).

Examples (4)

  1. Keputusan ini dibuat berdasarkan bukti yang kukuh.

    This decision was made based on strong evidence.

    Word by Word: Decision this made based-on evidence that strong.

    'Berdasarkan' uses the root 'dasar' (base) to show the foundation of the decision.

  2. Perompak itu melarikan diri dengan bersenjatakan parang.

    The robber fled while armed with a machete.

    Word by Word: Robber that run-away self with armed-with machete.

    'Bersenjatakan' indicates the tool or weapon being used by the subject.

  3. Negara itu beranggotakan lima buah negeri.

    That country has five states as members.

    Word by Word: Country that membered-by five [classifier] state.

    'Beranggotakan' defines the membership or components of the subject.

  4. Dia tidur di lantai beralaskan tikar mengkuang.

    He slept on the floor using a screwpine mat as a base.

    Word by Word: He sleep at floor based-with mat screwpine.

    'Beralaskan' shows that the 'tikar' (mat) is being used as an 'alas' (base/underlay).

Common Mistakes

  • Adding a preposition after the verb.

    Berdasarkan pada laporan itu...
    Berdasarkan laporan itu...

    The '-kan' suffix already functions as the linker (like 'on' or 'with'). Adding 'pada' (on) is redundant and grammatically incorrect in formal Malay.

  • Omitting the mandatory complement.

    Cerita itu berdasarkan.
    Cerita itu berdasarkan kisah benar.

    Ber-...-kan verbs are incomplete without a following noun. You must state what the subject is based on, armed with, etc.

How It Connects

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

ber-...-kanLevel 3Ber- Verbs with -kan

Learn This First

The ber-...-kan pattern is a circumfix that combines the intransitive or stative properties of the ber- prefix with the transitive or directional properties of the -kan suffix. To understand it, learners must first be familiar with how ber- and -kan function independently.

Words in This Pattern

ber--kan