Vocabulary
paki
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verb prefix that adds the nuance please
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naman
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enclitic particle that adds the nuance please
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nga
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enclitic particle that adds the nuance please
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pakilutó
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please cook
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pakibasa
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please read
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pakihiram
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please borrow
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pakilinis
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please clean
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pakisipilyo
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please brush (your teeth)
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pakidala
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please bring
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pakihugas
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please wash
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pakikain
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please eat
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Grammar
You’ve already learned that in imperative sentences using nga or naman will make the command more polite, or add the nuance of the English “please” to it. In this lesson we will use the prefix paki to do the same thing.
paki
Paki is normally added to the verb stem in imperative sentences.
Ex: Pakiluto (mo/ninyo) ang adobo.
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= Please cook adobo.
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Note that paki sentences are OF, and the actor is optional. There is no “let’s” sentences with these, so you would never use natin, but we are going to omit the actor from now on anyway because it’s more common.
We can make it even more polite by adding either naman or nga.
Ex: Pakiluto naman ang adobo.
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= Please cook adobo.
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Ex: Pakiluto nga ang adobo.
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= Please cook adobo.
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We can also add the politeness enclitic po.
Ex: Pakiluto naman po ang adobo.
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= Please cook adobo ma’am.
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Ex: Pakiluto nga po ang adobo.
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= Please cook adobo ma’am.
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formation <paki + verb stem, (actor pronoun, naman, nga, po), object>
these are OF imperative phrases, omit the actor, and the object takes ang-form
Softening noun phrases with nga
When there’s no verb you can use this type of sentence:
Ex: Tubig nga po!
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= Water please!
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This is handy for ordering things in a restaurant, market, etc.
Formation <noun clause, nga, (po)>
Sample Sentences
Q1
Please read the book.
Pakibasa ang libro.
Q2
Please borrow the car. (naman, po)
Pakihiram naman po ang kotse.
Q3
Adobo please. (nga, po)
Adobo nga po.
Q4
Clean the room please. (nga)
Pakilinis nga ang kuwarto.
Q5
Please brush your teeth.
Pakisipilyo ang ngipin mo.
Q6
Two mangoes please. (nga, po)
Dalawang mangga nga po.
Q7
Please bring Joe a cake from the fridge.
Pakidala ang cake kay Joe sa rep.
Q8
Please wash your glass. (naman)
Pakihugas naman ang baso mo.
Q9
Please (y’all) eat pizza!
Pakikain ninyo ang pizza!
Q10
One chicken please. (nga, po)
Isang manok nga po.