-on / gi-
Not Started Versus Started Patient Focus
In Cebuano Patient Focus, verbs change based on whether the action has started or not. -on is for the 'Contemplated' aspect (will do/do it), while gi- is for the 'Begun' aspect (did/doing).
How It Works
This pattern is the most common way to express transitive actions in Cebuano. Unlike English, which separates 'I am eating' from 'I ate,' Cebuano groups them together under the Begun Aspect because in both cases, the act of eating has already commenced.
1. The 'Not Started' Aspect (-on):
Used for future actions, intentions, and commands.
- Paliton nako ang isda. (I will buy the fish.)
- Lutuon mo kini! (Cook this!)
2. The 'Started' Aspect (gi-):
Used for actions that are currently happening or were completed in the past. Context or time words like gahapon (yesterday) clarify the specific timing.
- Gipalit nako ang isda gahapon. (I bought the fish yesterday.)
- Giayo pa nila ang atop. (They are still repairing the roof.)
3. Morphological Changes:
When adding -on, the root word often changes:
- Vowel Shift: Roots ending in 'o' change to 'u' (e.g., luto becomes lutuon).
- Buffer Consonants: Roots ending in a vowel often add an 'h' (e.g., basa becomes basahon).
- Syncope: Some roots drop a vowel and add a hyphen for a glottal stop (e.g., kaon becomes kan-on). See syncope for more.
Examples (5)
- Basahon nako ang imong suwat ugma.
I will read your letter tomorrow.
Word by Word: Will-be-read by-me the your letter tomorrow.
The suffix -on is used here because the reading hasn't started yet (it happens tomorrow).
- Gibasa na niya ang libro.
He/She already read the book.
Word by Word: Was-read already by-him/her the book.
The prefix gi- indicates the action is finished or started.
- Lutuon nako ang manok para sa panihapon.
I will cook the chicken for dinner.
Word by Word: Will-be-cooked by-me the chicken for the dinner.
Note the vowel shift from 'luto' to 'lutuon' when the suffix is added.
- Giluto pa ni Mama ang pagkaon.
Mom is still cooking the food.
Word by Word: Is-being-cooked still by Mom the food.
Even though the cooking isn't finished, gi- is used because the action has already begun.
- Kan-on nimo ang saging.
Eat the banana.
Word by Word: Be-eaten by-you the banana.
The suffix -on is used for commands. 'Kaon' undergoes syncope to become 'kan-on'.
Common Mistakes
Using the Nominative pronoun (ako) instead of the Genitive (nako) for the actor.
Lutuon ako ang isda.Lutuon nako ang isda.In Patient Focus, the person doing the action must be in the Genitive case (nako, nimo, niya, etc.).
Using actor focus when the roof is the focus.
Different MeaningNag-ayo ko sa atop karon.Giayo nako ang atop karon.'Nag-ayo ko sa atop karon' is a good sentence about what you are doing. If you are focusing on a specific roof, use Patient Focus: 'Giayo nako ang atop karon.' Even when the action is happening 'now', gi- is used because it has started.
Related Patterns
- Aspect Rather Than Tense
This is the foundational concept that explains why Cebuano uses status rather than time to conjugate verbs.
Foundations - Genitive Actor In Non-Actor Focus
Explains why we use 'nako' instead of 'ako' when using -on and gi- verbs.
Level 2 - Vowel Loss Before A Suffix
Explains the spelling changes (like kaon to kan-on) that happen when adding the -on suffix.
Level 3 - U Inside And O At The End
Explains why the 'o' in 'luto' changes to 'u' in 'lutuon'.
Foundations - Focus And Participant Roles
The broader system that determines why we choose Patient Focus over Actor Focus.
Foundations - angFocused Phrase Marker
The marker used for the specific object being focused on by -on and gi- verbs.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice -on / gi- in Bubblegum
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