pagkatapos + na/-ng + Verb
After Doing
pagkatapos (+ linker) + verb (basic form) = "After doing [verb]"
How It Works
To use this pattern effectively, follow these structural rules:
- The Linker: Technically, pagkatapos ends in a consonant, so it uses the linker na. However, in modern Filipino, the linker is almost always dropped if the verb follows immediately (e.g., pagkatapos kumain).
- Inserting an Actor: If you want to specify who did the action, place a ng-form pronoun (like ko, mo, niya, nila) after pagkatapos. If the pronoun ends in a vowel, it is standard to attach the linker -ng to it (e.g., pagkatapos nilang matulog). For noun-phrase actors (like ng bata), it is more natural to place them after the verb (e.g., pagkatapos kumain ng bata).
- Verb Form: Always use the basic/neutral form of the verb. Do not use the completed aspect, as the word pagkatapos already indicates the action is done.
- Emphasis: You can use full reduplication (pagkatapos na pagkatapos) to mean "immediately after" or "the very moment after."
Examples (4)
- Pagkatapos kumain, uminom siya ng gamot.
After eating, he/she took medicine.
Word by Word: After to-eat, drank he/she [marker] medicine.
Here, the linker 'na' is omitted, which is common in natural speech when the verb follows 'pagkatapos' directly.
- Pagkatapos nilang mag-aral, nanood sila ng telebisyon.
After they studied, they watched television.
Word by Word: After they-linker to-study, watched they [marker] television.
The actor 'nila' is inserted. Since 'nila' ends in a vowel, the linker '-ng' is attached to it.
- Aalis tayo pagkatapos mong magbihis.
We will leave after you finish dressing up.
Word by Word: Will-leave we after you-linker to-dress-up.
The verb 'magbihis' is in the neutral form, even though the leaving happens after the dressing is finished.
- Pagkatapos na pagkatapos kong magluto, dumating ang mga bisita.
Immediately after I finished cooking, the guests arrived.
Word by Word: After linker after I-linker to-cook, arrived the [plural] guest.
Reduplicating 'pagkatapos' adds emphasis, indicating the second action happened right away.
Common Mistakes
Repeating the actor after 'pagkatapos niyang'.
Pagkatapos niyang kumain siya...Pagkatapos niyang kumain...'Niyang' already names the actor, so adding 'siya' says it twice. After 'pagkatapos', the verb also stays in its basic form ('kumain', 'mag-aral').
Using the 'ang-form' (nominative) pronoun for the actor.
Pagkatapos siya kumain...Pagkatapos niyang kumain...The actor in a 'pagkatapos' clause must be in the 'ng-form' (genitive case), such as 'niya', 'nila', or 'mo'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'pagkatapos + linker + verb', a learner must first know how to use the Filipino linker (na/-ng) to connect words. They also need to be familiar with the neutral or infinitive form of verbs, as this is the form used after 'pagkatapos' to describe the action. Familiarity with the 'bago' (before) pattern is helpful as it follows a nearly identical grammatical structure.
Related Patterns
- na / -ngThe Linker
The linker is essential for connecting the subordinator to the actor or the verb.
Foundations - Infinitive Or Command Form
This pattern requires the neutral (infinitive) form of the verb rather than a specific aspect.
Level 2 - ngNonfocused and Possessive Marker
The actor in this construction must be marked by 'ng' or use a 'ng-form' pronoun.
Level 1 - pag + VerbWhen / Upon Doing
Another way to express 'when' or 'upon doing,' but usually refers to future or hypothetical events.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice pagkatapos + na/-ng + Verb in Bubblegum
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