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Benefactive

The third meaning of the affixation process of suffix ‘-kan’ then prefix ‘me-‘ is benefactive; that is, it indicates that the action shown by the verb is done for the benefit of someone else (who is called the beneficiary).

It often occurs in a sentence with two objects. The first object, which directly follows the verb, is called the primary object, while the second is called the secondary object.

For example:

Rootbuat (to make, prepare)

  • You add the suffix -kan: buat+kan → The verb ‘buatkan!’ is used for imperatives which means “Make it!”
  • The word/verb ‘buatkan!’ becomes base word 1
  • In a sentence: Tolong buatkan saya kopi.
  • Meaning: Please make me coffee.

Rootbuat (to make, prepare)

  • You add the prefix me: me+buat → The verb ‘membuat’ (transitive verb)
  • The word/verb ‘membuat’ becomes base word 2
  • In a sentence: Saya membuat kopi.
  • Meaning: I make coffee.

Circumfix Process

  • From base word 1 – ‘buatkan!’ 
  • Add prefix ‘me-‘ →  me + m + buatkan → membuatkan
  • From base word 2 – ‘membuat
  • Add suffix ‘-kan-‘ →  membuat+kan → membuatkan

The above verbs now have the same meanings.

  • In a sentence: Ibu membuatkan saya kopi.
  • Meaning: My mother made me coffee.
  • saya: the primary object that directly follows the verb. It is also the beneficiary, the person who benefits from the action indicated by the verb.
  • kopi: the secondary object, something that is affected by the action (e.g. being given or transferred).
  • Without the suffix -kan, there will be no beneficiary.

Another example:

  • In a sentence: Saya membuatkan ibu kopi.
  • Meaning: I made my mother coffee.
  • Ibu: the primary object that directly follows the verb. It is also the beneficiary, the person who benefits from the action indicated by the verb.
  • kopi: the secondary object, something that is affected by the action (e.g. being given or transferred).
  • Without the suffix -kan, there will be no beneficiary.

You can use a preposition to create a different sentence structure:

  • In a sentence: Saya membuatkan kopi untuk ibu.
  • Meaning: I made coffee for my mother.
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