Comparative study of compound words in English and Indonesian Fransiska Napitupulu

2.1.1 
Suffixes 
a. 
Suffixes –an 
 
-an : About one in every 34 words in Indonesian publications will have this very 
common suffix which creates nouns.
Examples:
makanan{makan+an} = food 
bantuan {bantu+an} = assistance 
bilangan{bilang+an} = a number or sum 
b. Suffixes –i  
Adding the "-i" suffix to a verb results in a verb which may indicate 
repetitiveness, the giving of something or causing something to be. It may also simply 
show where the action is directed or to whom the action is directed. The suffix "-i" is 
used mainly in writing and formal speech.
Examples:
ampuni {ampun+i} = to give forgiveness 
ulangi {ulang+i} = to repeat 
temani {teman+i} = to befriend 
c. 
Suffixes –kan 
 
Adding the "-kan" suffix to a verb results in a verb indicating causation; making 
or causing something to happen.Its main function is to carry or transfer the action of the 
verb to some other part of the sentence.
Examples:
campurkan {campur+kan} = to mix or combine 
matikan {mati+kan} = to deaden; to extinguish 

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belikan {beli+kan} = to buy or purchase something 
The suffixes -kan and -i both change predicates from intransitive to transitive. 
For foreigners, the suffixes -kan & -i often cause great difficulty because there seem to be 
no consistent patterns of usage which distinguish the two. 
d. Suffixes -kah 
Adding this suffix indicates that the expression is a question. The suffix -kah is 
added to the word in the sentence that is the main focus of the question.
Examples:
siapakah {siapa+kah} = who? 
bolehkah {boleh+kah} = may I?