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Verbs & Focus/Trigger System

Actor focus (-um-/-mag-), object focus (-in), basic aspect system
kumain
to eat / ate (actor focus)
koo-mah-in
-um- infix marks actor focus; kumain = ate
uminom
to drink (actor focus)
oo-mee-nom
-um- inserted after first consonant of root inom
magluto
to cook (mag- actor focus)
mahg-loo-toh
Mag- prefix for actor-focused actions
bumili
to buy (actor focus)
boo-mee-lee
Root: bili; -um- inserted makes bumili
pumunta
to go (actor focus)
poo-moon-tah
Root: punta; -um- inserted makes pumunta
Kumain ako ng kanin.
I ate rice.
koo-mah-in ah-koh nahng kah-nin
Actor focus: ako is the topic actor; kanin is non-topic object
Uminom siya ng tubig.
He/She drank water.
oo-mee-nom see-yah nahng too-big
Siya is topic; tubig is non-topic with ng
Maglalaro kami.
We will play.
mahg-lah-lah-roh kah-mee
Mag- plus reduplication of first syllable = contemplated aspect
Nagluluto si Nanay.
Mother is cooking.
nahg-loo-loo-toh see nah-nigh
Nag- plus reduplication = incomplete (ongoing) aspect
Bumibili siya ng tinapay.
He/She is buying bread.
boo-mee-bee-lee see-yah
Incomplete aspect of bumili = ongoing buying action