ang pag- + Verb + ay + Predicate

Nominalization is the process of turning a verb into a noun. When used as a subject, these forms focus on the nature of the action rather than who is doing it or when it happens.

1. Formation Rules
The form of the nominalization depends on the original verb class:

• -um- verbs: Use pag- + root (e.g., basa → pagbasa).
• mag- verbs: Use pag- + CV reduplication + root. Example: aral (study) → pag-aaral (studying). Note: For verb roots that allow both -um- and mag- affixes (like basa), the mag- nominalization (pagbabasa) emphasizes an ongoing or habitual activity compared to the simple pagbasa. However, for roots where mag- is the only valid actor-focus affix (like aral), the reduplicated form (pag-aaral) is simply the standard, neutral nominalization.
• ma- verbs: For verbs of state, feeling, or involuntary action, use pagka- + root (e.g., matakot → pagkatakot, matuto → pagkatuto). Note: Do not confuse this with the temporal use of pagka- + root, which means 'after doing an action' (e.g., pagkakain = 'after eating'). For intentional actions, use pag- + root (e.g., matulog → pagtulog). A few irregular ones use pa- + CV reduplication (e.g., makinig → pakikinig, maligo → paliligo).
• mang- verbs: Replace the initial m- of the mang- verb with p-, and reduplicate the syllable that begins with the nasal. For example: mamili (from bili, with nasal assimilation) → p-a-mi-mili (pamimili); mangisda → p-a-ngi-ngisda (pangingisda).
• maki- / makipag- verbs: Use pakiki- + root (e.g., makisama → pakikisama) and pakikipag- + root (e.g., makipag-usap → pakikipag-usap).
• Object-focus verbs (-in, i-, -an): To nominalize an object-focus verb, you must first revert it to its actor-focus counterpart, then apply the corresponding rule above. For example: basahin (to read) → bumasa → pagbasa; lutuin (to cook) → magluto → pagluluto.

2. The "M-to-P Shift" Shortcut
A great trick for learners: for almost all mag-, mang-, maki-, and makipag- verbs (and the irregular ma- verbs that use pa-), you can find the gerund by taking the contemplated aspect (future form) of the verb and changing the initial 'm' to 'p'. For example: mag-aaral → pag-aaral, manonood → panonood, makikisama → pakikisama.

3. The Hyphen Rule
A hyphen is mandatory when the pag- prefix is attached to a root starting with a vowel (e.g., pag-alis, pag-ibig, pag-aaral).

4. Handling Actors and Objects
Even as a noun, the action can have a doer (actor) and a receiver (object). Both are marked with the genitive ng case. The standard word order is Nominalized Verb + Actor + Object to avoid confusion:
Ang pagbasa ng bata (actor) ng libro (object)... (The child's reading of the book...)
You can also use possessive pronouns for the actor: Ang aking pag-aaral... (My studying...)

5. Sentence Structure
These nouns usually function as the ang phrase. In formal registers, they often appear before the ay marker:
Ang pag-aaral ay mahalaga. (Studying is important.)
Additionally, nominalized subjects are heavily used as the topic of pseudo-verbs expressing desire, need, or prohibition (e.g., Gusto ko ng pag-aaral / Bawal ang paninigarilyo).