pa-

Have Someone Do

Level 3

The pa- prefix turns a simple action into a causative one. It is the standard way to say 'make,' 'have,' 'let,' or 'allow' someone to do something in Cebuano.

How It Works

The pa- causative is one of the most productive prefixes in the language. It rarely stands alone and must be combined with focus affixes to indicate the role of the participants and the aspect of the action.

1. Common Combinations:

  • Magpa- / Nagpa-: The primary causative form for 'make' or 'let'. Magpa- is for not-started actions, while nagpa- is for started/ongoing actions.
  • Mupa- / Nipa-: Used for immediate actions or directional movement (e.g., Mupa-Cebu ko - I will go to Cebu). Nipa- (or mipa-) is the started aspect counterpart.
  • Pa-...-on / Gipa-: Used when the person being made to do something (the causee) is the focus. Gipa- is the started aspect form.
  • Ipa- (started: gipa-): Used when the object being acted upon or sent is the focus.
  • Pagpa-: The gerund or command form. Used for commands (e.g., Pagpa-abot lang - Just wait/let it wait) or after verbs like hunong (stop).

2. Directional Use:
Beyond causation, pa- is frequently used to indicate direction toward a destination. For example, Pa-ingon ko sa merkado (I am heading to the market).

3. Nuance:
Unlike English, which uses different words for 'make' (force) and 'let' (permission), Cebuano uses pa- for both. The meaning is determined by the social context. For example, Palingkura siya could mean 'Make him sit' or 'Let him sit.'

4. Morphological Changes:
When adding suffixes like -on or -a, some roots undergo syncope (vowel dropping). For example, kaon (eat) + pa- + -a becomes pakan-a (feed him/her), not pakaona.

Examples (5)

  1. Nagpalaba ko sa akong sanina ni Maria.

    I had Maria wash my clothes.

    Word by Word: Was-causing-wash I [marker] my clothes [marker] Maria.

    Here, 'nagpa-' indicates the speaker caused Maria to do the laundry.

  2. Pakan-a ang bata.

    Feed the child.

    Word by Word: Cause-to-eat the child.

    This uses the imperative form 'pa-...-a'. Note the vowel drop in 'kaon' to 'kan'.

  3. Gipahilak niya ang iyang manghod.

    He/She made his/her younger sibling cry.

    Word by Word: Was-caused-to-cry by-him/her the his/her younger-sibling.

    The 'gipa-' prefix shows a completed causative action where the sibling is the focus.

  4. Pasudla sila sa balay.

    Let them enter the house.

    Word by Word: Cause-to-enter them [marker] house.

    In this context, 'pa-' functions as permission ('let').

  5. Magpaputol ko og buhok ugma.

    I will have my hair cut tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Will-cause-to-cut I [marker] hair tomorrow.

    A common way to express services you receive from others.

Common Mistakes

  • Using mokaon when you mean 'feed' (magpakaon).

    Different MeaningMokaon ko sa irô.
    Magpakaon ko sa irô.

    'Mokaon ko sa irô' is a good sentence, but it means 'I will eat the dog.' 'Magpakaon ko sa irô' means 'I will feed the dog' (cause the dog to eat).

  • Using 'pa-' as a standalone verb without focus markers.

    Pa siya kaon.
    Gipakaon siya.

    Cebuano verbs require focus and aspect affixes. 'Pa' alone is not a complete verb.

How It Connects

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pa-Level 3Have Someone Do

Learn This First

To understand the causative 'pa-', you first need a solid grasp of the Cebuano focus system and basic verb affixes like 'mag-' and '-on'. The 'pa-' prefix is inserted into these existing verb structures to change the meaning from 'doing an action' to 'causing someone else to do an action'.

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pa-