Transitive Verbs

Transitive Verbs
• A transitive verb requires more than one noun or noun phrase for it to occur in a sentence.
One of the nouns or noun phrases serves as the subject (as in intransitive verbs), while the
other noun or noun phrase serves as the object. Because the subject is typically the
instigator of an action, we also refer to it as the actor. The object, on the other hand, is the
person or thing that is affected by that action. We also refer to it as the patient.

SUBJECT (ACTOR) TRANSITIVE VERB OBJECT (PATIENT)

Kakak membaca surat

Older sibling reads the letter

Ibu membawa keranjang

Mother carries the basket

Pak Harun membuka pintu

Mr Harun opens the door

 Transitive Verbs with the
MeN- prefix
BASE WORD TRANSITIVE VERB ENGLISH MEANING
ajak mengajak To invite someone to do something
ajar mengajar To teach
angkat mengangkat To lift
antar mengantar To take someone/thing somewhere
atur mengatur To arrange, organise
baca membaca To read
bahas membahas To discuss
bakar membakar To burn
bantah membantah To deny
bawa membawa To carry
bayar membayar To pay
bela membela To defend
beri memberi To give
beritahu memberitahu To inform
buka membuka To open
cari mencari To search, look for
 Transitive Verbs with the
MeN- prefix
BASE WORD TRANSITIVE VERB ENGLISH MEANING
cuci mencuci To wash
culik menculik To kidnap
curi mencuri To steal
daki mendaki To climb (a mountain)
dapat mendapat To get, obtain, gain
dukung mendukung To support
gali menggali To dig
ganggu mengganggu To disturb
ganti mengganti To replace
hias menghias To decorate
intip mengintip To peep
isi mengisi To fill
jaga menjaga To take care
jahit menjahit To sew
jawab menjawab To reply
jemput menjemput To pick someone up
 Transitive Verbs with the
MeN- prefix
BASE WORD TRANSITIVE VERB ENGLISH MEANING
jual menjual To sell
lihat melihat To see, look
masak memasak To cook
mulai memulai To begin
pakai memakai To wear, use
panggil memanggil To call, summon
panjat memanjat To climb (a tree)
pasang memasang To set up, install
periksa memeriksa To check, inspect
pesan memesan To order
pilih memilih To choose
pinang meminang To propose (marriage)
pinta meminta To ask for something, request
rusak merusak To damage intentionally
salin menyalin To copy
sapu menyapu To sweep the floor, yard
 Transitive Verbs with the
MeN- prefix
BASE WORD TRANSITIVE VERB ENGLISH MEANING
sewa menyewa To rent
simpan menyimpan To store, keep
siram menyiram To water, spray
tangkap menangkap To catch
tarik menarik To pull
tawar menawar To bargain
telpon menelpon To telephone
tonton menonton To watch
tunggu menunggu To wait
tunjuk menunjuk To point, choose
tutup menutup To close
ulang mengulang To repeat
undang mengundang To invite (e.g. to a party)
urus mengurus To organise
 Note
• Many of the transitive verbs listed in the table on the previous
slides can also function as intransitive verbs when they are used
without an object. Memberi (to give) is a good example.

• Intransitive: Dia suka memberi.

» He/She likes giving.
• Transitive: Dia suka memberi uang.
» He/She likes giving out money.
 Latihan 1
Write a caption in Indonesian for each picture.