Formal Registers & Advanced Grammar

Pakiusap vs. Maaari bang

please informal vs. may I could you formal

pah-kee-oo-sahp / mah-ah-ah-ree bahng

Maaari bang is more formal request form

Pasensya na.

Sorry / Please bear with me.

pah-sen-syah nah

Casual apology; Paumanhin is more formal

Paumanhin po.

I beg your pardon. (formal)

pah-oo-mahn-hin poh

Used with po for respectful apology to elders

Ipinagluto niya ako ng adobo.

He/She cooked adobo for me.

ee-pee-nahg-loo-toh nee-yah ah-koh

Ipinag- beneficiary focus completed aspect construction

Naiintindihan mo ba?

Do you understand?

nah-ee-in-tin-dee-han moh bah

Naka- plus intindi plus -han: perception/comprehension verb

Oo, naiintindihan ko.

Yes, I understand.

oh-oh, nah-ee-in-tin-dee-han koh

Response confirming comprehension

Tara na! / Halika!

Let's go! / Come here!

tah-rah nah / hah-lee-kah

Common informal social expressions of movement

Sige na.

OK / Go ahead then.

see-geh nah

Sige is ubiquitous agreement/encouragement particle

I- beneficiary/instrument focus verbs

marks instrument or beneficiary as topic

ee-

Ibinuhos niya ang tubig = He poured the water (water is topic)

Focus system summary

actor, object, locative, beneficiary/instrument focus

varies

Each focus affix promotes a different argument role to topic position