pa-
Cause an Object to Become or Act
The pa- ... -in circumfix is used when you want to focus on the person or thing being caused to do something. It translates to 'make someone do,' 'let someone do,' or 'cause something to become' a certain state.
How It Works
The pa- ... -in pattern is a 'patient-focus' causative. This means the grammatical subject (marked by ang) is the object or person being caused to act or change state.
1. Formation Rules:
- Root: The prefix pa- is added to the front, and the suffix -in or -hin is added to the end.
- Suffix Choice: Use -hin for roots ending in an 'open' vowel (no glottal stop). Use -in for roots ending in a consonant or a vowel with a glottal stop (e.g., uwi becomes pauwiin).
- Adjective Roots: When used with adjective roots, it means 'to make [quality].' For example, the root laki (size) becomes palakihin (to enlarge/make big).
- Verb Roots: It typically applies to roots that take the -um- affix, such as kain (eat) becoming pakainin (to feed), or the ma- affix, such as tulog (sleep) becoming patulugin (to put to sleep).
2. Sentence Roles:
In this focus, the Causer (the one initiating the action) is marked by the ng case, while the Causee (the one being acted upon) is the ang subject. For example: Pinakain ng nanay ang bata (The mother fed the child).
3. Aspect Conjugation:
The reduplication for ongoing and contemplated aspects happens on the pa- prefix:
- Neutral (Command/Infinitive): Pakainin (Feed)
- Completed: Pinakain (Fed)
- Progressive: Pinapakain (Is feeding)
- Contemplated: Papakainin (Will feed)
4. Nuance:
This pattern can imply coercion ('make them do it') or permission ('let them do it') depending on context. For example, pauwiin could mean 'force someone to go home' or 'allow someone to go home.'
Examples (5)
- Pakainin mo ang aso bago tayo umalis.
Feed the dog before we leave.
Word by Word: Cause-to-eat you the dog before we leave.
Here, 'aso' (dog) is the focus (marked by 'ang'). The speaker is telling the listener to cause the dog to eat.
- Huwag mong papaiyakin ang kapatid mo.
Don't make your sibling cry.
Word by Word: Do-not by-you cause-to-cry the sibling of-you.
The contemplated form 'papaiyakin' is used with 'huwag' for a negative command. The focus is the sibling.
- Pinapalaki nila ang litrato para sa exhibit.
They are enlarging the photo for the exhibit.
Word by Word: Are-causing-to-become-big by-them the photo for the exhibit.
This shows the pattern used with an adjective (laki) to describe a change in state for an inanimate object (litrato).
- Pinaalis niya ako sa kuwarto.
He made me leave the room.
Word by Word: Caused-to-leave by-him I from-the room.
In the completed aspect, the 'in' suffix becomes the 'ina' prefix/infix. 'Ako' is the focus (the one who was made to leave).
- Papatuyuin ko ang mga damit sa labas.
I will dry the clothes outside.
Word by Word: Will-cause-to-become-dry by-me the (plural) clothes at outside.
The root 'tuyo' (dry) is an adjective. The speaker is the actor (ko), and the clothes (mga damit) are the focus.
Common Mistakes
Reduplicating the first syllable of the root instead of the 'pa-' prefix.
Pakakainin ko ang bata.Papakainin ko ang bata.In the causative 'pa-' forms, the 'pa' itself is reduplicated to show ongoing or contemplated aspect, not the root's first syllable.
Using 'ipa-' when the focus should be the person being made to act.
Ipakain mo ang bata.Pakainin mo ang bata.'Ipakain' focuses on the thing being fed (like the food), whereas 'pakainin' focuses on the person or animal being fed.
Using 'pa-...-in' for roots that usually take 'mag-' affixes.
Palinisin mo siya ng banyo.Papaglinisin mo siya ng banyo.Roots that take 'mag-' (like linis) usually require the 'papag-...-in' pattern for the causative object focus, though 'palinisin' is sometimes heard in casual speech.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the 'pa- causative object form' (e.g., 'painitin'), you must first be familiar with standard object-focus verbs using '-in'. You also need to understand the causative prefix 'pa-', which is typically introduced first in actor-focus 'magpa-' verbs, and how Filipino roots can take different affix combinations to change the focus and meaning of the sentence.
- -inPatient Focus with -In
The pa- causative object form is a specific type of object-focus verb that uses the -in suffix (or its variants) to indicate the patient of the caused action.
Level 2 - magpa-Have Someone Do Something
Understanding the general causative prefix 'pa-' and how it functions in actor-focus forms provides the conceptual foundation for causative constructions.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- ipagawaHave Something Made or Done
Another causative object focus, but used when focusing on the task or object being handled rather than the person doing it.
Level 3 - Repeating A Syllable
Used within this pattern to indicate ongoing or future (contemplated) actions.
Foundations - Choosing The Discourse Center
Understanding focus is essential to knowing why 'pa-...-in' selects the causee as the 'ang' phrase.
Level 2 - mapa-Cause to Become
A related causative form that often implies an involuntary or accidental cause for a change in state.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice pa- in Bubblegum
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