nag-

Nag- Started Actor Focus

Level 2

Use nag- to describe actions that have already begun. In Cebuano, this covers both 'I am doing' (present progressive) and 'I did' (past), provided the action has some duration or process.

How It Works

In Cebuano, verbs do not change based on tense (past/present/future) like in English. Instead, they change based on aspect (whether the action has started or not).

1. The Started Aspect
The prefix nag- tells the listener that the action has begun. It is mostly used for ongoing or durative actions (actions that take time). This contrasts with mi- or ni-, which are mostly used for completed, one-time, or punctual actions. Depending on the context or time words like karon (now) or gahapon (yesterday), it can translate as:

  • Present Progressive: Nagluto ko (I am cooking).
  • Past Progressive: Nagluto ko (I was cooking).
  • Simple Past (Durative): Nagluto ko (I cooked/was cooking).

2. Habitual and Weather Actions
Nag- is also used for actions that started in the past and continue as a habit or state, such as Nag-eskwela ko sa USC (I study/am studying at USC). It is also the standard prefix for ongoing weather phenomena, such as Nag-ulan (It is raining).

3. Negation with Wala
A critical rule is that all started actions must be negated using wala (not/none) rather than dili. In formal or standard Cebuano, the prefix shifts to its dependent form mag- after the negator. For example: Wala ko magluto (I was not cooking). While you may hear Wala ko nagluto in casual conversation, using mag- is the standard way to become proficient in the language.

4. Actor Focus
This prefix is used when the performer of the action is the focused topic of the sentence. If you are talking about what a person is doing, nag- is your primary tool.

5. Spelling Rules

  • If the verb root starts with a consonant, attach it directly: luto → nagluto.
  • If the verb root starts with a vowel, use a hyphen to represent the glottal stop: inom → nag-inom.

6. Register Variants
In casual conversation, you will often hear nag- shortened to ga- (e.g., Gakaon ko instead of Nagkaon ko). In very formal texts, you may see naga-, which is the archaic full form.

Examples (4)

  1. Nagtrabaho ko sa mall karon.

    I am working at the mall now.

    Word by Word: Working I at-the mall now.

    Here, 'nag-' indicates a present ongoing action because of the word 'karon' (now).

  2. Nagluto si Nanay og lami nga tinola gahapon.

    Mom cooked delicious tinola yesterday.

    Word by Word: Cooked [focus marker] Mom [object marker] delicious [ligature] tinola yesterday.

    Even though the action is finished (yesterday), 'nag-' is used because cooking is a process with duration.

  3. Nag-ulan pag-abot nako.

    It was raining when I arrived.

    Word by Word: Raining when-arrival of-me.

    Note the hyphen in 'nag-ulan' because 'ulan' starts with a vowel. It describes a background action in progress.

  4. Nagbasa siya og libro sa kwarto.

    He/She is reading a book in the room.

    Word by Word: Reading he/she [object marker] book in-the room.

    The actor 'siya' is the focus. The book is indefinite, so it uses the 'og' marker.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'dili' to negate a 'nag-' action.

    Dili ko nagluto gahapon.
    Wala ko magluto gahapon.

    Actions that have already started must be negated using wala. In standard grammar, the prefix also shifts to its dependent form mag- after 'wala'.

  • Using 'nag-' for future actions.

    Nagkaon ko unya.
    Magkaon ko unya.

    If the action hasn't started yet (like unya / later), you must use the 'not started' prefix mag- instead of 'nag-'.

  • Omitting the hyphen before vowel-initial roots.

    Nagusab siya.
    Nag-usab siya.

    Standard orthography requires a hyphen when 'nag-' precedes a vowel to indicate the glottal stop.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

nag-Level 2Nag- Started Actor Focus

Learn This First

To understand 'nag-', you first need to be familiar with its unstarted counterpart 'mag-'. You also need to understand the Cebuano aspect system, which distinguishes between started and not-started actions rather than using tense, and how the focus system marks the actor as the subject of the sentence.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

nag-