Verbs & Focus/Trigger System

Focus system: four focus types overview

actor, object, locative, beneficiary/instrument focus

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Each focus type uses different affix; topic is the focused argument

Actor focus: -um- vs. mag- semantic distinction

subtle differences between AF verb classes

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-Um- often for natural/single acts; mag- for deliberate/repeated actions

Object focus: -in suffix class

patient is topic; agent marked by ng

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Binasa niya ang libro = He read the book (book is topic)

Locative focus: -an suffix class

location or beneficiary is topic

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Binilhan niya ako ng bulaklak = He bought me flowers (I am topic goal)

Instrument/beneficiary focus: i- prefix class

instrument or beneficiary is topic

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Ibinuhos niya ang tubig sa baso = He poured water into glass (water is topic)

Pag- and pagka- nominalizations

verb to noun via pag- prefix

pahg-

Pagluto = the act of cooking; pagkain = food/the act of eating

Causative: magpa- and ipa-

cause someone to do something

mahg-pah- / ee-pah-

Nagpaluto siya = He/she had someone cook; ipa- for causative object focus

Potential: maka- and ma-...-an

ability or accidental action

mah-kah-

Nakakain siya = He is able to eat; nalaglag = it accidentally fell

Sociative: makipaG-

interact with or join in action with someone

mah-kee-pahg-

Nakipaglaro siya sa mga bata = He played along with the children

Distributive: mang- class verbs

action done to multiple objects or repeatedly

mahng-

Namili siya sa palengke = She went shopping (distributive mang- verb)