paka-

Treat as

Level 5

The prefix paka- is used to describe how someone regards or treats an object. Unlike the simple causative pa- (which makes something happen), paka- focuses on a subjective judgment or social treatment.

How It Works

The prefix paka- is a derivational tool used to transform nouns or adjectives into verbs that express mental estimation or social treatment.

1. Subjective Judgment and Treatment:
It is typically added to nouns or adjectives to indicate 'treating as' or 'considering as' that root. For example, using the root anak (child), gipakaanak means 'treated like a child.' When used with ingon (like/same), it forms pakaingon, meaning 'to mistakenly assume' or 'to think that.'

2. Contrast with Deliberate Action:
It is important to distinguish this from the actor-focus form magpaka-. While gipaka- (patient focus) indicates how someone is treated by others, nagpaka- indicates someone 'pretending to be' or 'acting as' something themselves.

3. Time-Related Roots:
A secondary function of paka- involves time-related roots to indicate staying or remaining until a certain time, such as pakagabii (to stay until night) or pakaudto (to stay until noon).

4. Morphological Notes:

In the started aspect, it uses gipaka-.
In the not started aspect, it usually takes the suffix -on (e.g., pakaingnon).
Note that some lexicalized forms use the -an suffix instead, most notably pakabana (to take interest/care), which becomes pakaban-an in the not started aspect.

Examples (4)

Gipakaingon nako nga wala ka dinhi.
I thought (assumed) that you weren't here.
Word by Word: Was-treated-as-like by-me that none you here.
Here, 'pakaingon' uses the root 'ingon' (like/so) to express a mistaken assumption or a subjective thought.
Gipakasama niya ang iyang katabang sa iyang kaugalingong anak.
She treated her helper like her own child.
Word by Word: Was-treated-as-same by-her the her helper to-the her own child.
Using 'paka-' with 'sama' (same) indicates a social treatment of equality.
Ayaw intawon ko ninyog pakaulawan.
Please do not shame (humiliate) me.
Word by Word: Do-not please me by-you-plural treat-as-shameful.
The root 'ulaw' (shame) becomes 'pakaulaw,' meaning to treat someone in a way that causes shame or to humiliate them.
Pakadak-on lang niya ang gamay nga problema.
He will just treat the small problem as a big one.
Word by Word: Will-be-treated-as-big just by-him the small ligature problem.
This shows the future/unstarted form 'paka-...-on'. Note the vowel drop (syncope) in 'dako' becoming 'dak-on'.

Common Mistakes

Using 'pa-' instead of 'paka-' for mental judgments.
Gipasama nako sila.
Gipakasama nako sila.
'Gipasama' implies you physically made them the same. 'Gipakasama' means you regarded or treated them as the same (equals).
Using 'gipaka-' when you mean he pretended.
Different MeaningGipakadato siya.
Nagpakadato siya.
'Gipakadato siya' is a good sentence: someone treated him as rich. If you mean that he pretended to be rich, use the actor-focus 'nagpakadato': 'Nagpakadato siya'.

How It Connects

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

paka-Level 5Treat as

Learn This First

The 'paka-' pattern is a specialized verbal prefix used to express regarding, treating, or considering someone or something as a certain quality or entity. It functions within the patient-focus system, so a solid grasp of how 'gi-' (started aspect) and patient-focus roles work is essential. It is also conceptually related to the 'magpaka-' prefix, which denotes deliberate action or pretending.

Words in This Pattern