kas

Like or as

Level 2

Kaskenka means “like you”; kas + role noun can mean “as” in a role.

How It Works

Kas expresses ‘like’ or ‘similar to’. The checked lesson joins it to oblique pronouns: kaskaniak ‘like me’, kaskenka ‘like you’, and kaskenkuana ‘like him or her’. These are written forms, not pronunciation notation. Third-person singular kenkuana does not distinguish gender.

A likeness phrase can serve as a predicate before a named subject. Adding a linked noun or adjective specifies the shared characterization: Kaskaniak ni Teresa. ‘Teresa is like me’ versus Kaskaniak nga Ilokano ni Teresa. ‘Teresa is an Ilocano like me’. This expresses resemblance without measuring equal degrees of a property. The dictionary also records a likeness pattern with la.

A separate role construction places kas before a role noun and the main statement. The KWF manual illustrates a president speaking in the capacity of president. This supports ‘as’ in a role, independently of the joined personal-likeness forms.

Examples (4)

  1. Kaskenka nga Ilokano ni Pilar.

    Pilar is an Ilocano like you.

    The singular oblique counterpart is kenka; the linked noun specifies the shared characterization.

  2. Kaskenkuana a nalaing ni Ruben.

    Ruben is intelligent like him or her.

    The linked adjective specifies the likeness; kenkuana leaves the counterpart's gender unspecified.

  3. Kaskadakayo nga Ilokano ni Teresa.

    Teresa is an Ilocano like you all.

    Kadakayo supplies a plural addressee counterpart; nga links the vowel-initial shared description.

  4. Kas maestra, agadalak iti Ilokano.

    As a teacher, I study Ilocano.

    Kas introduces the speaker’s role; the following clause states the activity in that capacity.

How It Connects

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

kasLevel 2Like or as

Learn This First

Kas expresses likeness and can introduce the role in which someone acts.