COMMON AFFIXES USED IN ROOT VERBS

  PASSIVE VOICE
AGENTIVE/ ACTIVE VOICE
MOOD ASPECT DIRECT INDIRECT INSTRUMENTAL
COMPLETED MI-, NI- GI- GI- ... -AN  GI-
TEMPORAL PLANNED MO- -ON -AN I-
COMMAND PAG-/Root Word -A/I- -I/I- I-
COMPLETED NAG-, GA- GI- GI- … -AN GI-
DURATIVE PLANNED MAG- -ON -AN I-
COMMAND PAG- -A/I- -I/I- I-
COMPLETED NAKA- NA- NA-  
APTATIVE
PLANNED MAKA- MA- MA-  
COMPLETED NA-   NA- … -AN  
STATIVE 
PLANNED MA-   MA- ... -AN  
COMPLETED NAKIG- / NAG- ... -IN- ... -AY      
RECIPROCA PLANNED MAKIG- / MAG- ... -IN- ... -AY      
L
COMMAND PAKIG- / PAG- ... -IN- ... -AY      
VERBS (or PUNGLIHOK)

The Binisaya language follows the Austronesian alignment where there is a special relationship between the
verbal affix, the root verb, and its noun subject and object. The noun can be the doer of the action, the recipient of the
action, the purpose for the action, or the means by which the action was made possible. Verbal affixes give the verbs
their inflection with respect to VOICE, MOOD, and ASPECT. In Binisaya, the voice contains one active type and three
passive types, which makes four voices in total.
VOICE
a.) Active (Agent-focused): The focus is on the doer of the action.
Example: Moluto si Maria og kalamay para kang Pedro.
Moluto ang babaye og kalamay para sa lalaki.
(The prefix mo- in “Moluto” prompts that the doer of the action is the focus of the sentence.)

b.) Direct Passive (Goal-focused): It pertains to the direct object or the goal of the action is the focus of the
sentence, not the doer of action.
Example: Lutoon ni Maria ang bugas sa lata.
Lutoon sa babaye ang bugas sa lata.
(The suffix on- in “lutoon” prompts that the focus of the sentence is on the doer’s goal of her
action, which is the cooking of the bugas.)

c.) Indirect Passive (Circumstantial-focused): It asserts that the action benefits its indirect object (or
emphasizes at some particular location).

i. Example: Lutoan ni Maria si Pedro og kalamay.

 (While Maria is the one doing the action, the suffix -an in “Lutoan” prompts that the one
benefited from Maria’s action and the action’s goal is the focus of the sentence. Another way to
read the sentence is “Lutoan ni Maria og kalamay si Pedro.”)

ii. Example: Adtoan ni Maria si Pedro sa pantalan.

(While Maria is the one doing the action, the suffix -an in “Adtoan” prompts that the emphasis of
Maria’s action and the action’s goal of meeting Pedro at the pantalan. Another way to read the
sentence is “Adtoan ni Maria sa pantalan si Pedro.”)

d.) Instrumental Passive (Instrument-focused): The sentence is focus at the thing or instrument through
which the action is performed.
Example: Ipalit ni Maria ang kwarta og bugas.
(The prefix i- in “Ipalit” prompts that the thing kwarta is used to buy [ipalit] the bugas. Another
way to read the sentence is “Ang kwarta ipalit ni Maria og bugas.”)
Ihatag ni Maria ang kalamay kang Pedro.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: While the variety of passive voices may be confusing, the key aspect of knowing
the verbal voices and its respective affix lies on the writer’s capability to distinguish active and passive utterance.
Additionally, actual speakers tend to appropriate the preposition “kay” to appropriate sentence structure of other
languages, particularly the to-be verbs of English and the ay in Tagalog. It should be noted that there is no linking
verb in Binisaya. Hence, there are utterances such as “Ako kay nagbuhat og libro” and “Ako kay si Antonio.”
Omitting “kay” still make sense and therefore it should be “Ako nagbuhat og libro” and “Ako si Antonio.” If the
sentence expresses a cause-and-effect utterance, then the “kay” preposition is used such as “Ako nagdula og
DotA kay lingaw man nga dula.”

ASPECT
While tense pertains to the time has of which the action has taken place, the Binisaya language much like the
Austronesian language of the Philippines is best understood as aspects of action. ASPECT is the nature of action of a
verb as to its beginning, duration, completion or repetition and without reference to its position in time. COMPLETED
pertains to an action that has been initiated. INCOMPLETE/ONGOING pertains to an action that has not been
initiated. COMMAND pertains to imperative articulation.

MOODS
It pertains to the inflection form of a verb. Moods are classified in the following terms: TEMPORAL,
DURATIVE, APTATIVE, STATIVE, and RECIPROCAL. Some verbs are also appended with special affixes that
denote PLURAL forms of the abovementioned moods. However, this “special” attribute is not absolute and does not
apply to all root verbs.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: The rules and principles of verbal affixations are not entirely absolute. Some root words
and their affixations can either be arbitrary to the context or fixed to the verb’s common usage. For example, the
root word ligo entails a physical act of taking a bath is often affixed with the stative prefix na- instead of ni-/mi-
hence, naligo ko.
 TEMPORAL MOOD
THIS MOOD PERTAINS TO AN ACTION THAT IS IMMEDIATELY COMPLETED OR CERTAIN TO BE COMPLETED.
ACTIVE VOICE (Agent/Doer of Action Focused)
ASPECT AFFIXES personal noun subject general noun subject pronoun subject (and object)
INCOMPLET Mo + Verb Mokaon si Karl og inun-onan. Mokaon ang bata og inun-onan. Mokaon ko og inun-onan.
E
COMPLETE Mi/Ni + Mikaon si Karl og inun-onan. Mikaon ang bata og inun-onan. Mikaon ko og inun-onan.
Verb Nikaon si Karl og inun-onan. Nikaon ang bata og inun-onan. Nikaon ko og inun-onan.
COMMAND Pag + Verb Pagkaon og inun-onan.
Verb Only Kaon og inun-onan.
DIRECT PASSIVE VOICE (Goal-Focused)
ASPECT AFFIXES personal noun subject general noun subject pronoun subject (and object)
INCOMPLET Verb + on Kaonon ni Karl ang inun-onan. Kaonon sa bata ang inun-onan. Kaonon nako ang inun-onan.
E
COMPLETE Gi + Verb Gikaon ni Karl ang inun-onan. Gikaon sa bata ang inun-onan. Gikaon nako ang inun-onan.
COMMAND Verb + a Kan-a ang inun-onan.
I + Verb Ikaon ang inun-onan.
INDIRECT PASSIVE VOICE (Circumstantial-Focused)
ASPECT AFFIXES personal noun subject general noun subject pronoun subject (and object)
INCOMPLET Verb + an Lutoan ni Adan si Eba og inun-onan. Lutoan sa bata ang bisita og inun- Lutoan nako siya og inun-onan.
E onan.
COMPLETE Gi + Verb + Gilutoan ni Adan si Eba og inun-onan. Gilutoan sa bata ang bisita og Gilutoan nako siya og inun-onan.
an inun-onan.
COMMAND Verb + i Luto-i og inun-onan si Eba.
I + Verb Iluto og inun-onan si Eba.
INSTRUMENTAL PASSIVE VOICE (Instrumental-Focused)
ASPECT AFFIXES personal noun subject general noun subject pronoun subject (and object)
INCOMPLET I + Verb Ibutang sa lalaki ang inun-onan sa Ibutang ni Adan ang inun-onan sa Ibutang nako ang inun-onan sa
E lamisa. lamisa. lamisa.

Itunol sa lalaki ang pagkaon ngadto Itunol ni Adan ang pagkaon ngadto Itunol ni Adan ang pagkaon
sa higala. kang Eba. ngadto kang Eba.
COMPLETE Gi + Verb Gibutang sa lalaki ang inun-onan sa Gibutang ni Adan ang inun-onan sa Gibutang nako ang inun-onan sa
plato. plato. plato.

Gitunol sa lalaki ang pagkaon Gitunol ni Adan ang pagkaon ngadto Gitunol ni Adan ang pagkaon
ngadto sa higala. kang Eba. ngadto kang Eba.
COMMAND I + Verb Ibutang ang inun-onan sa plato.
Itunol ang inun-onan kang Eba.
 DURATIVE MOOD
IT PERTAINS TO AN ACTION THAT TAKES PLACE OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
ACTIVE VOICE (Agent/Doer of Action Focused)
ASPECT AFFIXES personal noun subject general noun subject pronoun subject (and object)
INCOMPLET Mag + Verb Magbasa ang lalaki og balak. Magbasa si Carlos og balak. Magbasa siya og balak.
E
COMPLETE Nag + Verb Nagbasa ang lalaki og balak. Nagbasa si Carlos og balak. Nagbasa siya og balak.
Ga + Verb Gabasa ang lalaki og balak. Gabasa si Carlos og balak. Gabasa ko og balak.
COMMAND Pag + Verb Pagbasa og libro.
DIRECT PASSIVE VOICE (Goal-Focused)
ASPECT AFFIXES personal noun subject general noun subject pronoun subject (and object)
INCOMPLET Verb + on Basahon sa lalaki ang balak. Basahon ni Carlos ang balak. Basahon niya ang balak.
E
COMPLETE Gi + Verb Gibasa sa lalaki ang balak. Gibasa ni Carlos ang balak. Gibasa nako ang balak.
COMMAND Verb + a Basaha ang libro.
INDIRECT PASSIVE VOICE (Circumstantial-Focused)
ASPECT AFFIXES personal noun subject general noun subject pronoun subject (and object)
INCOMPLET Verb + an Basahan sa lalaki ang babaye Basahan ni Adan si Nina og balak. Basahan niya siya og balak.
E og balak.
COMPLETE Gi + Verb + Gibasahan sa lalaki ang Gibasahan ni Adan si Nina og Gibasahan nako siya og balak.
an babaye og balak. balak.
COMMAND Verb + i Basahi si Nina og balak.
I + Verb Ibasa si Nina og balak.
INSTRUMENTAL PASSIVE VOICE (Instrumental Focused)
ASPECT AFFIXES personal noun subject general noun subject pronoun subject (and object)
INCOMPLET I + Verb Ibaligya sa lalaki ang balay Ibaligya ni Carlos ang balay ugma. Ibaligya niya ang balay ugma.
E ugma.
COMPLETE Gi + Verb Gibaligya sa lalaki ang balay Gibaligya sa Carlos ang balay Gibaligya nako ang balay gahapon.
gahapon. gahapon.
COMMAND I + Verb Ibasa ang sugilanon sa libro.
 APTATIVE MOOD
IT PERTAINS TO AN ACTION EXPRESSES THE ABILITY OF THE SUBJECT TO PERFORM THE ACTION, THE POSSIBILITY OF THE ACTION OCCURRING, OR THE
UNINTENTIONAL NATURE OF THE ACTION. FOR SOME VERBS THIS MOOD DOES NOT EXPRESS ABILITY, POSSIBILITY, OR UNINTENDED ACTION. BUT
RATHER, IT EXPRESSES THE FACT THAT THE ACTION IS COMPLETED EITHER IN THE PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE.

ACTIVE VOICE (Agent/Doer of Action Focused)

ASPECT AFFIXES personal noun subject general noun subject pronoun subject (and object)
INCOMPLET Maka + Makabuhat si Mario og Makabuhat ang estudyante og asaynment. Makabuhat ko og asaynment.
E Verb asaynment.
COMPLETE Naka + Nakabuhat si Mario og Nakabuhat ang estudyante og asaynment. Nakabuhat ko og asaynment.
Verb asaynment.
PASSIVE VOICE
ASPECT AFFIXES personal noun subject general noun subject pronoun subject (and object)
INCOMPLET Ma + Verb Mabuhat ni Mario ang Mabuhat sa estudyante ang asaynment. Mabuhat nako (ko) ang iyang
E asaynment. asaynment.
COMPLETE Na + Verb Nabuhat ni Mario ang Nabuhat sa estudyante ang asaynment. Nabuhat nako (ko) ang akong
asaynment. asaynment.

STATIVE MOOD
IT PERTAINS TO AN ACTION EXPRESSES THE STATE OF BEING, CONDITION, OR EMOTION OF THE SUBJECT. A SENTENCE CONTAINING A VERB IN THE
STATIVE MOOD DOES NOT POSSESS A DIRECT OBJECT (UNLESS THE SECONDARY PREFIX HI- IS PREPENDED TO THE VERB ROOT).

ACTIVE VOICE (Agent/Doer of Action Focused)

ASPECT AFFIXES personal noun subject general noun subject pronoun subject (and object)
INCOMPLET Ma + Verb Mahadlok si Koko kang Kaka. Mahadlok ang lalaki sa babaye. Mahadlok ko kaniya.
E
COMPLETE Na + Verb Nahadlok si Koko kang Kaka. Nahadlok ang lalaki sa babaye. Nahadlok ko kaniya.
PASSIVE VOICE
ASPECT AFFIXES personal noun subject general noun subject pronoun subject (and object)
INCOMPLET Ma + Verb Makuratan si Koko sa hitsura Makuratan ang lalaki sa hitsura sa Makuratan ko sa hitsura ni Kaka.
E ni Kaka. babaye.
COMPLETE Na + Verb Nakuratan si Koko sa hitsura ni Nakuratan ang lalaki sa hitsura ni babaye. Nakuratan ko sa hitsura ni Kaka.
Kaka.
 RECIPROCAL MOOD
THIS MOOD OR FORM PERTAINS TO A COLLECTIVE OR MUTUAL ACTION OF MORE THAN ONE AGENT.
ACTIVE VOICE
ASPECT AFFIXES
INCOMPLETE Makig + Verb Makigkita si Juan kang Julio. Magsinumbagay ang duha ka tawo.
Mag-… -in- … -ay
COMPLETE Nakig + Verb Nakigkita si Juan kang Julio. Nagsinumbagay ang duha ka tawo.
Nag-… -in- … -ay
COMMAND Pakig + Verb Pakigkita ko kanimo.

… -in- …-ay Sinumbagay mo diha./ Pagsinumbagay mo diha.

Pag- … -in- …-ay

VERBAL AFFIXES DENOTING PLURALITY: MING-/NING-, MANGA-, NANGA-

WHILE THE SUFFIXES DENOTE PLURALITY OF ACTION, THEY DO NOT APPLY TO MOST ROOT VERBS.
ACTIVE VOICE
ASPECT SINGULAR PLURAL EXAMPLES
AFFIXES AFFIXES
INCOMPLET Mo-, Ma- Mang- Manguha sila og kalamay.
E Mangligo mi sa dagat.
COMPLETE Ni, Mi, Nag Ning-/Min Ningabot ang mga bisita sa eskuylahan.
Na g-