ka-...-an

Established ka-…-an nouns have different meanings. The dictionary explicitly relates katulagan, “agreement” or “contract,” to tulag. Under ama, “father,” it gives kaamaan, relatives on the father’s side. The first names an abstract relation; the second names a kin group.

The affix entries also describe nouns for places where the objects named by a base are plentiful, and temporal nouns identifying the actual time of a period or event. These descriptions support distinct classes, not unrestricted formation from every noun.

These words take noun marking and possessors. Compare ti katulagan, “the agreement,” with katulagan ni Elena, “Elena’s agreement.” The affixes themselves do not mark person or gender. A group meaning also does not require mechanically pluralizing the word. Distinguish these nouns from kadakkelan, “biggest”: the same outer affixes form a separate superlative construction.