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Intermediate

Verb Focus: Introduction

The affix shows what is in focus

The verb's affix shows which noun is in focus

ang marks that focused noun.

📊 Focus & markers
Focus Verb example ang marks...
actor bumili the doer
object binili the thing acted on
locative binilhan the place / source
benefactive ibinili the beneficiary
💬 Examples
Bumili ang lalaki ng libro.
The man bought a book.
📝 Actor focus: ang = the buyer
Binili ng lalaki ang libro.
The man bought the book.
📝 Object focus: ang = the thing bought
Same event, different focus = different affix

The 'topic' shifts.

💬 Examples
Nagluto ako ng pagkain.
I cooked food. (actor focus)
📝 ako = the cook in focus
Niluto ko ang pagkain.
I cooked the food. (object focus)
📝 ang = the food (in focus)
Focus is not the same as passive

It's a system of choosing what's prominent.

💬 Examples
Kumain ang bata ng mansanas.
The child ate an apple.
📝 Actor in focus (indefinite object)
Kinain ng bata ang mansanas.
The child ate the apple.
📝 Object in focus (definite object)