pa-

Causing an Event

Level 3

Agpa- selects the causer; ipa- can select the affected item of an underlying transitive action.

How It Works

The causative element pa- combines with voice morphology. Agpa- selects the causer; nagpa- marks completed causation. With a transitive base, ipa- can select the affected item. When the causee is not selected, a personal name can receive oblique marking: ken ni Rosa. A selected causee instead receives central marking. Context distinguishes requesting, permitting and compelling.

Compare agpaluto, arranging cooking with the causer selected, and ipaluto, having a particular item cooked with that item selected. Actor-oriented forms use subject pronouns; other voices use genitive actor pronouns for the causer. These identify person and number without grammatical gender. Short pronouns attach in modern spelling.

Other causative voices can select the causee, beneficiary or instrument. In simple causatives, causative pag- replaces pa- specifically when the underlying verb uses ag- and the causative verbalizing affix is -en, with or without potential ma-.

Examples (3)

  1. Agpaluto ni Elena iti karne ken ni Rosa.

    Elena will have Rosa cook meat.

    Elena is the selected causer; Rosa is the oblique causee.

  2. Ipalutomi ti ikan ken ni Tomas.

    We, excluding you, will have Tomas cook the fish.

    The fish is selected; attached -mi identifies the causers.

  3. Nagpataray ni Ana iti aso idi kalman.

    Ana made a dog run yesterday.

    Nagpa- marks completed causation; the dog performs the running.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

pa-Level 3Causing an Event

Learn This First

Pa- adds a causer who arranges, causes or permits an action.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.