Conjugations 2: Future / Object & Recipient Focus

Focus	Regular	Ability / Accidental
Actor / Action	Future: Mag__ (Ma) Present: Naga__ (Ga) Past: Nag__	Future: Maka__ (Ka) Present: Naka__ (Ka) Past: Naka__ (Ka)
Object	Future: i__, __on/hon Present: Gina__ Past Gin__	Future: Ma__ Present: Na__ Past: Na__
Recipient	Future: __an/han Present: Gina__an/han Past: Gin___an/han	Future: Ma__an/han Present: Na__an/han Past: Na__an/han

Different Conjugations for Different Verbs

When you're using future tense, not all verbs are conjugated the same way. For Object Focus, you can either place an "i" at the beginning of the verb, or "on/hon" at the end of the verb. The conjugation depends on which verb you're using. You'll notice the same thing with Recipient Focus.

There are technically some general rules about what verbs use each conjugation. However, throughout time languages change. And when they do, they tend to move away from the rules. At this point there are so many exceptions to these conjugation rules that it's almost not worth mentioning them at all. However, rules can at least give you a starting point.

Some Basic (but often broken) Rules

Quick Review: Transitive Verbs require an object, and Di-transitive Verbs can have an object and recipient. (You can see examples in the Object vs. Recipient lesson.)

Future, Object Focus

_on - Transitive Verbs use "on" for future object focus. Example: "I will eat the grape." — "Kaonon ko ang ubas." (eat = kaon, grape = ubas)

_hon - Transitive Verbs that end with a vowel use "hon" for future object focus. Example: "I will read the book." — "Basahon ko ang libro." (read = basa, book = libro)

i_ - Di-transitive Verbs use "i" for future object focus. Example: "I will give the grape." — "Ihatag ko ang ubas." (give = hatag)

Future, Recipient Focus

_an - Di-transitive Verbs use "an" for future recipient focus. Example: "I will give him the grape." — "Hatagan ko siya sang ubas."

_han - Di-transitive Verbs that end with a vowel use "han" for future recipient focus. Example: "I will read to him." — "Basahan ko siya." (read = basa)

With Recipient Focus, this principle also applies to past and present tense. Some verbs are conjugated with "an" at the end, and some will use "han" instead.

Just Memorize Them

While those guidelines apply to many verbs, there are still plenty of exceptions. It doesn't help that some verbs that can be used as either Transitive or Di-transitive. Realistically, the best way to handle this is to memorize each verb. This is easiest for verbs you use regularly. Here are some common examples to get you started:

eat = kaon — kaonon (object)
do = himo — himoon (object)
look = tan-aw — tan-awon (object)
cook = luto — lutoon (object)
wash = hugas — hugasan (object)
listen = pamati — pamatian (object)
take = kuha — kuhaon (object), kuhaan (recipient→ where it was taken from)
read = basa — basahon (object), basahan (recipient→ who you read to)
give = hatag — ihatag (object), hatagan (recipient→ who you give to)
teach = tudlo — itudlo (object), tudloan (recipient→ who you teach)
write = sulat — isulat (object), sulatan (recipient→ who you write to)
throw = haboy — ihaboy (object), haboyan (recipient→ where you threw something)

This short list already has exceptions, emphasizing why it's best to just memorize the verbs you'll use regularly.

Alterations

Some words have shortened endings. For example "buy" is "bakal." This could correctly be conjugated as "bakalon," but it is usually shortened to "baklon." (The last vowel is often removed.) Here are some other examples:

bring = dala; dalhon
call = tawag; tawgon
cover = takop; takpan
cut off = utod; utdon
answer = sabat; sabton
learn = tuon; tun-an (because there was a glottal stop between U and O, that is replaced with a hyphen between the word and its conjugation)
drink = inom; imnon (at some point in history this apparently changed from "inmon" to "imnon")
pay = bayad; bayran (words that end with D will often switch to R when letters are added to the end)
hatag = give; hatagan or taagan (presumably because it's easier to say)

Using these shortenings can help you sound more experienced with the language.

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