inaasahang
Expected to
Inaasahang means 'expected to' or 'it is expected that.' It is widely used in news reporting and announcements, but it also carries the core meaning of 'to rely on' or 'to count on' someone or something.
How It Works
Inaasahang functions as a transitive verb meaning 'is expected' or 'is relied upon', and depending on the context, it can also translate to 'is hoped for'. It is a combination of inaasahan and the linker na.
1. Morphological Structure:
It is derived from the root asa (hope/expect/rely). When the suffix -han is added, the stress shifts one syllable to the right. The stress remains on the penultimate syllable in the incompletive form, showing the pronunciation as (i-na-a-sá-han / i-na-a-sá-hang). It uses the locative -an suffix but functions syntactically as a goal-focus verb. It is in the incompletive aspect, formed by adding the prefix in- and reduplicating the first syllable of the root a- (in- + a- + asa + -han = inaasahan), plus the linker. When attaching the linker to a word ending in 'n' like inaasahan, the suffix -g is attached to the existing 'n' to form the digraph 'ng' (inaasahan + -g = inaasahang). Adding this linker has a dual function: when preceding a noun, it acts as an attributive modifier; when preceding a clause, the -ng acts as a complementizer (equivalent to 'that'), introducing the clause rather than modifying it.
2. Usage Patterns:
Because it functions as a goal-focus verb, the entity doing the expecting must be marked by the non-focus marker ng or ni/nina (e.g., Inaasahan ng gobyerno na...). Crucially, when an actor is introduced as an enclitic pronoun (like ko, mo, niya), it must sit immediately after the verb due to the enclitic second position rule, breaking up the word inaasahang (e.g., Inaasahan + ko + -ng = Inaasahan kong). The intact word inaasahang is primarily used in two specific scenarios: 1) as an adjective directly preceding a noun (e.g., inaasahang resulta), and 2) when the actor is omitted to form an impersonal passive (e.g., Inaasahang darating siya). It is commonly used with verbs in the contemplated aspect for future projections, but can also be used with the completed aspect to express expectations about past events. It also means 'to rely on'. Note that inaasahang tao means 'the expected person' or 'the person currently being relied upon', whereas a generally 'reliable person' would be maaasahang tao.
3. Negative Form:
The highly frequent negative form hindi inaasahang means 'unexpected' or 'unexpectedly', often used for sudden events or surprises.
Examples (6)
- Inaasahang papasok ang bagyo sa bansa mamayang gabi.
The typhoon is expected to enter the country tonight.
Word by Word: Expected to will-enter the typhoon in-the country later night.
A classic example of 'journalese' used in weather reporting with the contemplated aspect.
- Inaasahang naganap na ang pag-uusap ng dalawang panig.
The talk between the two sides is expected to have already taken place.
Word by Word: Expected to happened already the talking of two side.
This uses the completed aspect to show an expectation about a past event that is likely but not yet confirmed.
- Inaasahang resulta ang nakuha niya sa pagsusulit.
The result he got on the exam was the expected one.
Word by Word: Expected result the obtained he in-the exam.
Here, 'inaasahang' acts as a direct modifier for the noun 'resulta'.
- Inaasahang maglalabas ng pahayag ang pangulo bukas.
The president is expected to release a statement tomorrow.
Word by Word: Expected to will-release of statement the president tomorrow.
Commonly used in political reporting to describe scheduled events.
- Siya ang inaasahang mag-aalaga sa mga bata.
He is the one relied upon to take care of the children.
Word by Word: He the expected to will-take-care to-the plural child.
This demonstrates the core meaning of 'to rely on' or 'to count on' someone for a task.
- Isang hindi inaasahang bisita ang dumating.
An unexpected guest arrived.
Word by Word: One not expected guest the arrived.
The negative form 'hindi inaasahang' is highly frequent and translates to 'unexpected' or 'unexpectedly'.
Common Mistakes
Using the contemplated aspect for past expectations.
Inaasahang darating na siya kahapon.Inaasahang dumating na siya kahapon.When expressing an expectation about a past event, use the completed aspect (dumating) rather than the contemplated aspect (darating).
Omitting the linker -ng or the word 'na'.
Inaasahan tataas ang presyo.Inaasahang tataas ang presyo.The linker -ng (or 'na') is grammatically required to connect 'inaasahan' to the following clause or noun. 'Inaasahang' is a contraction of 'inaasahan na'.
Confusing 'inaasahang' with 'umaasang'.
Umaasang uulan mamaya ayon sa PAGASA.Inaasahang uulan mamaya ayon sa PAGASA.'Umaasa' implies a personal, emotional hope. 'Inaasahan' is used for objective, data-driven expectations or reliance.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'inaasahang', a learner must be familiar with object-focus verb conjugation in the progressive aspect. Additionally, they need to understand how the linker '-ng' functions to connect a reporting verb to the action or state that is being expected.
- -in- + Reduplicated RootProgressive Object-Focus Form
The word 'inaasahan' is the progressive aspect of an object-focus verb, which is necessary to understand the root and conjugation of this modifier.
Level 2 - sinabi na/-ngSaid That
This pattern introduces the concept of using a reported speech verb followed by a linker to introduce a subordinate clause, which is the same structural logic used in 'inaasahang'.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- na / -ngThe Linker
The linker -ng is what allows 'inaasahan' to modify the following verb or noun; 'inaasahang' is a contraction of 'inaasahan na'.
Foundations - Action Not Yet Begun
When projecting future events, verbs following 'inaasahang' typically use the contemplated aspect.
Level 2 - -an/-hanNeutral Location-Focus Form
The root 'asa' uses the -han suffix variant because it ends in a vowel.
Level 2 - Register Choice
'Inaasahang' is a hallmark of formal register, whereas casual speech uses different markers for uncertainty.
Level 5 - umano'yAllegedly with Linker
Like 'inaasahang', 'umano'y' is a formal reporting particle used to attribute information to other sources.
Level 6 - mukhangIt Looks Like
A less formal way to express that something 'looks like' or is 'expected' to happen based on appearance.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice inaasahang in Bubblegum
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