oleh

Passive Agent with Oleh

Level 2

In Malay passive sentences (usually starting with di-), the word oleh means 'by'. It identifies who performed the action.

How It Works

The oleh passive agent pattern is a key feature of formal Malay. It is used to identify who performed the action in a passive sentence.

1. Third-Person Agents Only
In standard formal Malay (Tatabahasa Dewan), the di-... oleh construction is strictly reserved for third-person agents (e.g., dia, mereka, Ali, beliau).
Example: Surat itu ditulis oleh Ahmad. (The letter was written by Ahmad.)

2. Contrast with 1st and 2nd Person
You should not use oleh with saya, aku, kamu, or anda. Instead, use the first-person object voice or second-person object voice.
Correct: Buku itu saya baca. (NOT: Buku itu dibaca oleh saya.)

3. When 'oleh' is Mandatory
While oleh can sometimes be omitted if the agent immediately follows the verb (see passive agent without oleh), it is mandatory if any other word (like an adverb or time marker) separates the verb and the agent.
Example: Kerja itu disiapkan dengan cepat oleh mereka. (The work was finished quickly by them.)

4. Use with 'ter-' verbs
It is also used with the ter- prefix to indicate the person who accidentally performed an action.
Example: Kaca itu terlanggar oleh kucing. (The glass was accidentally hit by the cat.)

Examples (5)

  1. Bangunan itu dibina oleh pihak kerajaan.

    That building was built by the government.

    Word by Word: Building that was-built by side government.

    A standard formal passive sentence where 'oleh' introduces the government as the builder.

  2. Surat itu ditulis oleh Setiausaha Persatuan.

    The letter was written by the Association Secretary.

    Word by Word: Letter that was-written by Secretary Association.

    In formal contexts, 'oleh' is used to clearly identify the person responsible for the action.

  3. Buku itu dibaca dengan teliti oleh para pelajar.

    The book was read carefully by the students.

    Word by Word: Book that was-read with careful by [plural] student.

    Here, 'oleh' is mandatory because the phrase 'dengan teliti' (carefully) separates the verb from the agent.

  4. Makanan itu telah dimakan oleh mereka.

    The food has been eaten by them.

    Word by Word: Food that already was-eaten by them.

    When using a full third-person pronoun like 'mereka', 'oleh' is commonly used to introduce it.

  5. Gelas itu terpecah oleh kucing saya.

    The glass was accidentally broken by my cat.

    Word by Word: Glass that accidentally-broken by cat my.

    This shows 'oleh' used with the 'ter-' prefix to indicate an accidental agent.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'oleh' with first or second-person agents.

    Buku itu dibaca oleh saya.
    Buku itu saya baca.

    In formal Malay, the 'di-... oleh' structure is strictly for third-person agents. For 'I' or 'you', you must use the first-person object voice or second-person object voice where the pronoun sits directly before the verb stem.

  • Omitting 'oleh' when the agent is separated from the verb.

    Buku itu dibaca semalam Ali.
    Buku itu dibaca semalam oleh Ali.

    If a word like 'semalam' (yesterday) sits between the verb and the doer, you must use 'oleh' to link the agent back to the action.

  • Using 'oleh' in the object voice construction.

    Buku itu oleh dia baca.
    Buku itu dibaca oleh dia.

    You cannot place 'oleh' before the agent in an object voice construction. 'Oleh' is only used after a verb prefixed with di- or ter-.

How It Connects

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olehLevel 2Passive Agent with Oleh

Learn This First

To understand the 'oleh' passive agent, a learner must first be familiar with the basic passive construction in Malay using the 'di-' prefix. Since 'oleh' introduces the actor (agent) in a passive sentence, knowing how to form the passive verb and understanding the basic sentence structure it modifies is essential.

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Words in This Pattern

oleh