Conjugations 4: Command Form
Sentences with commands (i.e. "Go get the shovel.") use slightly different conjugations.
Actor/Action Focus — "mag-" ➔ Root word only. (no conjugation)Object Focus — "-on/hon" ➔ -a/ha; "i-" ➔ "i-" (stays the same)
Recipient Focus — "-an/han" ➔ "-i"
Examples:
"Go to the market." — "Kadto kamo sa mercado." (go = kadto, market = mercado)
"Read the book." — "Basaha ang libro." (read = basa, book = libro)
"Help me." — "Buligi ako." (help = bulig)
These conjugations make a clear, direct command to do something now. However, there are times when a command is more indirect.
Indirect Commands
Indirect commands could include giving instructions, or talking about something that will happen later. These just use regular conjugations, rather than command form.
"When he is speaking, listen to him." — "Kon nagahambal siya, magpamati ka sa iya." (if/when = kon, speak = hambal, listen = pamati)
"After I go home, get the book." — "Pagkatapos magpauli ko, kuhaon ang libro." (go home = pauli, get/take = kuhâ)
Negative Commands: "Don't..."
Negative commands work a little differently. Each starts with "indî," which functions as "don't" in these cases. Actor/Action focus uses the regular "mag" conjugation, and Object/Recipient both add the prefix "pag-" to the regular command form.
Actor/Action Focus: "Don't yell." — "Indî ka magsinggit." (yell/scream = singgit)
Object Focus: "Don't take the milk." — "Indî pagkuhaa ang gatas." (milk = gatas)
Object Focus: "Don't give the milk." — "Indî pagihatag ang gatas." (give = hatag)
Recipient Focus: "Don't give him the bread." — "Indî paghatagi siya sang tinapay." (bread = tinapay)
Pronouns
Including a pronoun in a command is optional.
"Grab the book." — "Kuhaa ang libro."
"Grab the book." — "Kuhaa mo ang libro."
Being Polite
You can make your commands more polite with "palihog," which is "please." (Sometimes it's shortened to "lihog.") A quicker, more casual way to say (or imply) "please" is to use the word "be."
"Please help me." — "Palihog buligi mo ako."
"Teach me (please)?" — "Tudloi ako, be?" (teach = tudlo)