meN-...-kan (pemindahan)
Transfer with MeN-...-kan
The meN-...-kan pattern is used with verbs of giving, sending, or moving. It places the item being moved (the Theme) directly after the verb as the object, while the recipient or destination follows a preposition like kepada (to) or ke (to/towards).
How It Works
The meN-...-kan pattern for transfer verbs is a formal syntactic mechanism. It is often called an 'applicative' because it changes how the verb interacts with its objects.
1. Structure
The verb is formed by adding the meN- prefix and the -kan suffix to a root verb of motion or transfer (e.g., hantar 'send', beri 'give').
2. The 'Theme' Focus
When you use -kan, the direct object must be the item being moved. The recipient (the person getting the item) must be introduced by a preposition:
- Verb-kan + [Item] + kepada + [Recipient]
3. Morphophonemic Rules
The prefix meN- changes based on the first letter of the root. For example:
- hantar → menghantarkan (h remains)
- kirim → mengirimkan (k is dropped)
- bawa → membawakan (b remains)
4. Register
This form is highly formal. In casual speech, Malaysians often drop the affixes entirely or use the root word, but in writing and official contexts, meN-...-kan is the standard for these types of sentences.
Examples (4)
- Setiausaha itu menghantarkan dokumen tersebut kepada pengurus.
The secretary sent the document to the manager.
Word by Word: Secretary the [prefix]-send-[suffix] document that to manager.
Here, 'dokumen' is the direct object because of the -kan suffix. The manager is the recipient marked by 'kepada'.
- Dia memasukkan kunci ke dalam laci.
He put the key into the drawer.
Word by Word: He [prefix]-enter-[suffix] key to inside drawer.
The root 'masuk' (enter) becomes 'memasukkan' (to put in). The key is the object being moved.
- Kerajaan menyerahkan bantuan itu kepada mangsa banjir.
The government handed over the aid to the flood victims.
Word by Word: Government [prefix]-hand-[suffix] aid that to victim flood.
Using 'menyerahkan' focuses on the 'bantuan' (aid) as the primary object.
- Ibu memberikan hadiah kepada adik.
Mother gave a gift to my younger sibling.
Word by Word: Mother [prefix]-give-[suffix] gift to younger-sibling.
In formal Malay, 'memberikan' requires the gift (the item) to follow it immediately.
Common Mistakes
Placing the recipient immediately after the -kan verb.
Saya memberikan Ali buku.Saya memberikan buku kepada Ali.When using the -kan suffix, the direct object MUST be the thing being given, not the person receiving it.
Using a preposition before the direct object.
Dia menghantarkan kepada surat itu.Dia menghantarkan surat itu kepada saya.The direct object (surat itu) should follow the verb immediately without 'kepada'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand how meN-...-kan functions with transfer verbs, you first need a solid grasp of the active meN- prefix and the basic valency-changing properties of the -kan suffix. Familiarity with standard Malay SVO word order is also essential, as this pattern specifically dictates how the object (the thing being moved) is positioned relative to the verb.
Related Patterns
- meN-...-kan / meN-...-iValency Contrast in Derived Verbs
This explains the choice between focusing on the item (-kan) versus the recipient (-i).
Level 4 - -kan / -iChoosing -kan or -i
Provides a deeper look at how these suffixes change the perspective of the action.
Level 3 - meN-...-kanCausative MeN-...-kan
While transfer verbs use -kan for focus, other verbs use it to mean 'to cause to happen'.
Level 3 - keDirection with Ke
Used with transfer verbs to indicate the physical destination of the object.
Level 1 - untukFor with Untuk
Sometimes used instead of 'kepada' when the transfer is for someone's benefit.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice meN-...-kan (pemindahan) in Bubblegum
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