dengan
With with Dengan
Dengan is a versatile preposition meaning 'with'. It is used for people (accompaniment), tools (means), and describing actions (manner).
How It Works
Dengan serves four primary roles in Malay:
1. Accompaniment: To show who you are with.
Example: Saya makan dengan Ali. (I eat with Ali.)
2. Means/Instrument: To show what tool or method you are using.
Example: Saya menulis dengan pen. (I write with a pen.)
3. Manner: To describe how an action is performed. It is followed by an adjective.
Example: Dia berlari dengan pantas. (He runs quickly.)
4. Comparison: To show equality or similarity, often paired with sama.
Example: Baju saya sama dengan baju dia. (My shirt is the same as his shirt.)
Important Note: While dengan is used with sama, it is not used with the se- prefix. For example, you say secantik dia (as beautiful as her), not secantik dengan dia.
Formal Conjunction: In formal titles or specific lists, dengan can also function as 'and' to join two related entities (e.g., Bahasa dengan Masyarakat).
Key Rule: Dengan is a standalone word. Unlike prefixes like meN- or ber-, it is always written with a space before the next word.
Examples (5)
- Saya pergi ke kedai dengan ibu saya.
I go to the shop with my mother.
Word by Word: I go to shop with mother my.
Here, 'dengan' shows accompaniment (being with a person).
- Dia memotong kertas dengan gunting.
He/She cuts the paper with scissors.
Word by Word: He/She cut paper with scissors.
Here, 'dengan' indicates the instrument or tool used for the action.
- Sila dengar dengan teliti.
Please listen carefully.
Word by Word: Please listen with care/attention.
When followed by an adjective (teliti), 'dengan' creates an adverbial phrase of manner.
- Kami datang ke sini dengan bas.
We came here by bus.
Word by Word: We come to here with bus.
In Malay, 'dengan' is used for transportation methods where English might use 'by'.
- Warna ini sama dengan warna itu.
This color is the same as that color.
Word by Word: Color this same with color that.
In comparisons of equality, 'dengan' is used to mean 'as' or 'with'.
Common Mistakes
Using 'dengan' instead of 'oleh' for the agent in a passive sentence.
Buku itu dibaca dengan saya.Buku itu dibaca oleh saya.In passive sentences, 'oleh' marks the person doing the action (by), while 'dengan' marks the tool used (with).
Confusing 'dengan' (with) with 'dan' (and).
Saya makan nasi dengan ayam dan kawan saya.Saya makan nasi dan ayam dengan kawan saya.'Dan' joins two items (rice and chicken), while 'dengan' indicates who you are with (friend).
Using 'dengan menggunakan' (redundancy).
Dia memotong roti dengan menggunakan pisau.Dia memotong roti dengan pisau.In formal Malay, 'dengan' already implies the use of a tool. Adding 'menggunakan' (using) is considered redundant (lewah).
How It Connects
Learn This First
The use of 'dengan' to mark accompaniment or means is a foundational prepositional concept in Malay. Learners only need a basic understanding of Malay sentence structure to begin using it.
Related Patterns
- dengan + AdjectiveManner with Dengan
This is the specific application of 'dengan' to form adverbs of manner.
Level 3 - olehPassive Agent with Oleh
Learners often confuse 'dengan' (instrument) with 'oleh' (agent) in passive sentences.
Level 2 - sama ... denganEquality with Sama ... Dengan
Uses 'dengan' to express equality or similarity between two things.
Level 2 - danCoordination with Dan
Both are connectors, but 'dan' joins equal items while 'dengan' shows accompaniment.
Level 1 - tanpa + NounWithout with Tanpa
The opposite of 'dengan', meaning 'without'.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice dengan in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Malay lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
