BUTUANON GRAMMAR SYLLABUSLesson Five (Part I)

Sentences that contain a verb as the main element of the comment are
VERBAL SENTENCES. The Verb - its combination, its changes, its formation
is the most important element in Visayan Verbal Sentences, including
Butuanon.
A Butuanon Verb usually contains a root or a base and one or more affixes.
The root provides the meaning of the verb whereas the affix shows the
relation of the topic to the verb and also the character of action.
Butuanon verbs inflect for ASPECT rather than TENSE as in English. An
ASPECT indicates whether the action has not yet started or still
contemplated (Action Not Begun), has started or has been completed
(Action Begun), a request or command (Imperative).
In this lesson the ACTION NOT BEGUN ASPECT is introduced.
Verbs are also classified by the affixes they take. The AFFIXES indicate
which COMPLEMENT of the verb is in FOCUS. The complement maybe the
ACTOR, the OBJECT, the LOCATION, the INSTRUMENT, the PERSON
AFFECTED, and the BENEFICIARY of the action.
FOCUS refers to the role of function of the topic in the sentence. It shows
the relationship between the TOPIC and the VERB AFFIXES indicating what
COMPLEMENT is brought to the attention of the listener. For example, in the
sentence Pedro will buy a book for Juan, either of the three: PEDRO BOOK
JUAN can be put into focus by making it the topic.
The Verb Affixes then will signal or indicate the function of the topic. Thus, if
we make as topic:

BOYET MOBILI hong libro SI BOYET para kang Jefbert. (Boyet

wil lbuy a book for Jefbert.), the verb affix MO- indicates that the topic SI
BOYET is the originator, actor, or doer of the action.

BOOK PAGABIL-ON /(GABIL-ON)/ (BIL-ON) ni Boyet ANG

LIBRO para kang Jefbert.(Boyet will buy the book for Jefbert.), the verb
affix PAGA- ON (can be contracted to GA-ON or ON) indicates that the
topic ANG LIBRO is the objective or recipient of the action.
JEFBERT PAGABIL-AN /(GABIL-AN) /(BIL-AN) ni Boyet SI JEFBERT hong
libro. (Boyet will buy a book for Jefbert.), the verb affix PAGAAN (can be
contracted to GA-AN or AN) indicates that the topic SI JEFBERT is the
beneficiary of the action, the person for whom the action is done
The change of topic from BOYET to BOOK to JEFBERT is accompanied by
a change of the verb affix from MO to ON to AN. Thus, you can see the
important relationship between the topic and the verb affix.
Change the topic and you change the verb affix.
Change the verb affix and you change the topic.
The question of what COMPLEMENT to focus on is very important. It is
cultural and involves a little awareness and sensitivity especially for the

learner. What to focus on depends on what you are talking about and this is
usually decided by the context or situation.
Example:
Boyet is bored. He wants to do something. So, Boyet will see a movie. Here,
the topic is Boyet and his action. So, MOATUD SI BOYET HONG SINE.
You receive a book. You like it and you want to read to right away. You will say
for instance. I will read this book. Here, the topic is this book. So you will
say: BASAHON KO INING LIBRO.
I bought a fish. I will say, I will cook it. The topic is it. So, LUTOON KO INI. (It
is understood in lutoon.)
It is the birthday of your friend Boyet. You will say: I will give Boyet a tie.
Here, the topic is Boyet. So you say:TAGAN KO SI BOYET HONG KURBATA.
The verb affixes, aside from indicating the FOCUS, also indicate the MOOD
which refers to the nature of an action e.g. as a momentary or an
immediately completed action; or a voluntary durative action nor one that
lasts over a long period of time, and/or the psychological state of the doer of
the action whether its intentional or unintentional. The affixes below indicate
ACTION - NOT BEGUN (ANB). The MOOD of the affixes is given after each
affix. Based on FOCUS, the verb affixes are classified into four forms.
ACTION FOCUS AFFIXES
These indicate that the topic is the actor, or doer of the action.
MO- : express a momentary or an immediately completed action.
M obili si Cory hong libro.
Mokadto ang tao ngadto baybay.

Cory will buy a book.

The man will go to the beach.

MAGA (may be contracted to MAG)- : expresses a voluntary durative

action or one that lasts over a period of time.
NOTE: some verbs because of the nature of action involved naturally take
this set of affixes.
Magabasa/magbasa hong libro si Cris ngaun.
Cris will be reading a
book later.
Magadaa/Magdaa siya hong libro.
She will bring a book.
INERTANT FOCUS AFFIXES
These indicate that the topic is the object or the recipient of the action.
PAGA -ON (can be contracted to GA ON or -ON): expresses a momentary
or an immediately completed action.
Pagabil-on ni Ryan ang libro.
(Gabil-on ni Ryan ang libro.)
(Bil-on Ryan ang libro.)
Pagakaw-on ni Benjie ang libro.
(Gakaw-on ni Benjie ang libro.)
(Kaw-on ni Benjie ang libro.)

Ryan will buy the book.

(Ryan will buy the book.)
(Ryan will buy the book.)
Benjie will get the book.
(Benjie will get the book.)
(Benjie will get the book.)

TERMINAL FOCUS AFFIXES

These indicate that the topic is:
the place where the action is done
the receiver or that to/for whom and to/for which the action is done or the
beneficiary of the action
the thing or person affected by the action
partial recipient of the action
PAGA AN (can be contracted to GA AN or AN): express a momentary or
an immediately completed action.
IPAGAkatugAN hong mga bisita ang kwarto mo. The visitor will
sleep in your room.
(GAkatugAN hong mga bisita ang kwarto mo.) (The visitor will sleep in your
room.)
(KatugAN hong mga bisita ang kwarto mo.) (The visitor will sleep in your
room.)
II-

PAGAbil- AN ni Lino si Bobit hong libro. Lino will buy Bobit a book.

(GAbil-AN ni Lino si Bobit hong libro. (Lino will buy Bobit a book.)
(Bil-AN ni Lino si Bobit hong libro. (Lino will buy Bobit a book.)
III-

PAGAsakitAN si Benji hong tiyan. Benji will have a stomach ache.

(GAsakitAN si Benji hong tiyan.) (Benji will have a stomach ache.)

(SakitAN si Benji hong tiyan.) (Benji will have a stomach ache.)
(lierally: Benji will be afftected by pain in the stomach.)
IVcake.

PAGAkan-AN hong bata ang cake. The child will eat some of the

(GAkan-AN hong bata ang cake.) (The child will eat some of the cake.)
(Kan-AN hong bata ang cake.) (The child will eat some of the cake.)
INSTRUMENTAL CONVEYANCE FOCUS AFFIXES
These indicate that the topic is:
The thing or object used to perform the action (INSTRUMENT)
The person or thing directly acted upon in the course of being conveyed if
transferred from its point of origin to its goal to the temporal meaning time
to do the action (CONVEYANCE).
c.)The verbs taking this affix (i-) are also called separation verbs.
I: expresses a momentary or an immediately completed action.
I-utd nya ang sirutso hong kahoy. He will cut tree with the saw.
Isalibay niya ang basura. He will throw away the trash.
Other Uses of Action-Not-Begun (ANB) Affixes:

Simple future
Mokadto ako ngadto Cebu. I will go to Cebu.
Habitual or customary actions
Mobatyag ako kada alas sais hong hinaat. I wake up at six every morning.
Hugasan ko ang awto ko kada sabado. I wash my car every Saturday.
General Statements
Mosubang ang adlaw ngadto subanganan. The sun rises in the East.
Motiyaho ang bata kon masakit. The baby cries when sick.
After some expressions like gusto, mahimo, kinahanglan and dii
More on this in other chapters
Gusto niya mokadto ngadto syudad.
Mahimo kaw moiban kanamo.
Mahimo mo atudon ang sine ngaun duum.
Kinahanglan niya limpyohan ang kwarto niya.
Dii niya ibaligya ang awto mo.

He wants to go to the city.

You may come with us.
You can see the movie tonight.
He must clean his room.
He will not sell your car.

In English, EMPHASIS is made by saying the word louder or by stressing it.

In Butuanon, emphasis is made on the word by putting it at the beginning of
the sentence at the same time making it the topic or putting it in focus;
except for time/place expressions.
Examples:
Lino will give a book to Bobit. It is not Judit who will give it.
Si Lino mohatag hong libro kang Bobit.
or Si Lino ang mohatag hong libro kang Bobit, dii si Judit.
The man will bring the guitar not the radio.
Dad-on hong tao ang sista, dii ang radyo.
Lino will give a book to Bobit not to Tyron.
Si Bobit ang tagan ni Lino hong libro, dii si Judit.
Lino will give a book not a pen to Bobit.
Libro ang ihatag ni Lino kang Bobit, dii kun bolpen.
Libro is not marked by ang because its not definite; yet, libro is still the topic
because it begins the sentence.
Below is a diagram illustrating the normal basic verbal Butuanon sentence
pattern of COMMENT and TOPIC and a chart showing the functions of the
FOCUS and ACTION NOT BEGUN affixes.
TOPIC
Actor Actor or doer of action
Prefix Inertant Object or recipient of action
Verb+Affixes> Infix+ Focus___> Terminal Place, receiver, affected, partial
recipient Suffix Instrumental Instrument of action
Conveyance
CHART of FOCUSES and ACTION-NOT-BEGUN AFFIXES

FOCUS FUNCTION ANB AFFIXES MOOD / TYPE of VERB Actor Doer of action
MO- MAG- Customary/Habitual/Easily completed actions Durative or actions
that last for a long time InertantGoal/Object or Recipient/Receiver of action
PAGA ON (GA -ON) (-ON) PAGA -HON (GA -HON) (-HON) For verbs ending
in Consonants and Glotall Stops sound For verbs ending in an Open Vowel
soundTerminal sound Beneficiary/Place/ Location/ Object partially affected
and Person affected by the actionPAGA AN (GA -AN) (-AN) PAGA -HAN (GA
-HAN) (-HAN) For verbs ending in Consonants and Glotall Stops For verbs
ending in an Open Vowel soundInstrumentalInstrument used to perform an
action is in focusI-For instrumental verbsConveyanceobject conveyed is in
focus I-For separation verbs
SUBSTITUTION DRILL
Substitute the words or cues given to the verb. Follow the same pattern for
tape use as in the previous lessons.
Example: Cue
basa
kawa
kawa .
magdaa .
bili .
basa .

Tubag
Answer
Magbasa si Jo hong libro.
Jo will read a book.
Magkawa si Jo hong libro. Jo will get a book.
Magakawa/mokawa si Jo hong libro.
Magadaa/modaa si Jo hong libro. .
Magabili/mobili si Jo hong libro.
Magabasa/mobasa si Jo hong libro.

Get
Bring
Buy
Read

Note:
Maga is often contracted to Mag
EXAMPLE:
Magabasa si Jo hong libro is contracted to Magbasa si Jo hong libro.
Tubag/ Answer
Repeat:
panaw
The man is going to walk away.
ang tao.

Mopanaw/magapanaw na

simba
tao.

Mosimba/magasimba ang

The man will attend mass.

inum
The man will drink water.
tao hong tubig.
lagoy

The man will run.

Moinum/magainom ang
Molagoy ang tao.

Repeat:
basa
Jo
will
read
the
Magbasa/magabasa/mobasa si Jo hong libro.
kawa
Jo will get the book.
libro si Jo.
magdaa
Jo will bring the book.
hong libro.

book.

Magkawa/magakawa hong
Magdaa/magadaa si Jo

bili
libro.

Jo will buy a book.

Repeat:
silhigan
kwarto.

Magbili/magabili si Jo hong

He will sweep the room.

Silhigan niya ang

lampaso
sawog.

He will scrub the floor.

Lampasohan niya ang

manghinlo
baay.

He will clean the house.

Manghinlo siya disani

hugas
plato.

He will wash the dishes.

Hugasan niya ang mga

adorno
baay.
Repeat:

He will decorate the house.

Adornohan niya ang

gutad

He will slice the pork.

Gutadon niya ang karne.

pikas

He will break the bread.

Pikason niya ang paan.

utod
kahoy.

He will cut the wood.

Magautod siya hong

Repeat:
hatag
Jo gives his money to his parents.
sapi niya ngadto ginikanan niya.
salibay
ang basura.

He throws away the garbage.

Pigahatag ni Jo ang
Pigasalibay niya

bilin
He left his notes at the table.
mga notebook disaon lamesa.

Pigabilin niya ang

mihoog
niya.

Mihoog ang lapis

duhoo
kanako.

His pencil fell down.

Please hand it over to me.

Iduhoo naa iyan

MULTIPLE SUBSTITUTIONS
Substitute the words or cues given to the proper elements or constituents of
the given sentence. If the cue is a verb, change the verb; if topic, change the
topic. Follow the same pattern for tape use as in the previous lessons.
Example:
daa
The child will bring a book.
libro ang bata.

Magadaa hong

hong saging
The child will bring a banana.
saging ang bata.

Magadaa hong

Tubag/ Answer
kaon
The child will eat a banana.
hong saging ang bata.

Mokaon/magakaon

ang tao
The man will eat a banana.
hong saging ang tao.

Mokaon/magakaon

bili
The man will buy a banana.
saging ang tao.

Mobili/magabili hong

mag-aman The man will cook (steam) a banana.

saging ang tao.

Mag-aman hong

Repeat:
amanon
The man will steam the banana.
tao ang saging.

Amanon hong

kan-on
The man will eat the banana.
ang saging.

Kan-on hong tao

ni Jo
saging.

Jo will eat the banana.

Kan-on ni Jo ang

kawa
saging.

Jo will get the banana.

Kaw-on ni Jo ang

ang libro
libro.

Jo will get the book.

Kaw-on ni Jo ang

ni Ryan
ang libro.

Ryan will get the book.

Kaw-on ni Ryan

daa
ang libro.

Ryan will bring a book.

Dad-on ni Ryan

ihatag
ang libro.

Ryan will give the book.

bilin
libro.

Ryan will leave the book (behind).

salibay
ang libro.

Ryan will throw away the book.

ang basura Ryan will throw away the trash.

ang basura.
hong tao
The man will throw away the trash.
ang basura.

Ihatag ni Ryan
Ibilin ni Ryan ang
Isalibay ni Ryan
Isalibay ni Ryan
Isalibay hong tao

ihoog
The man will drop the trash.
ang basura.

Ihoog hong tao

ang saging
ang saging.

Ihoog hong tao

The man will drop the banana.

duhoo
The man will hand over the banana
ang saging.

Iduhoo hong tao

Repeat:
silhigan
The helper will sweep the room.
katabang ang kwarto.

Silhigan hong

ang opisina The helper will sweep the office.

katabang ang opisina.

Silhigan hong

lampaso
The helper will scrub the office.
katabang ang opisina.
ni Katy
Katy will scrub the office.
Katy ang opisina.

Lampasohan hong
Lampasohan ni

limpyo
Katy will clean the office.
Katy ang opisina.

Limpyohan ni

ang awto
Katy will clean the car.
Katy ang awto.

Limpyohan ni

hugas
ang awto.

Katy will wash the car.

ang banyo
ang banyo.

Katy will wash the bathroom.

lampaso
Katy will scrub the bathroom.
Katy ang banyo.
silhig
ang banyo.
ang kwarto
ang kwarto.

Katy will sweep the bathroom.

Katy will sweep the room.

Hugasan ni Katy
Limpyohan ni Katy
Lampasohan ni
Silhigan ni Katy
Silhigan ni Katy

Repeat:
bil-an
He will buy the child a book.
libro ang bata.

Bil-an niya hong

basa
He will read the child a book.
hong libro ang bata.

Basahan niya

hatag
He will give the child a book.
hong libro ang bata.

Hatagan niya

hong saging He will give the child a banana.

hong saging ang bata.

Hatagan niya

luto
He will cook the child a banana.
saging ang bata.

Lutoan niya hong

ni Sol
Sol will cook the child a banana.
bata hong saging.

Lutoan ni Sol ang

bili
Sol will buy the child a banana.
bata hong saging.

Bil-an ni Sol ang

si Katy
Sol will buy Katy a banana.
Katy hong saging.

Bil-an ni Sol si

kawa
Sol will get Katy a banana.
hong saging si Katy.

Kaw-an ni Sol

hong libro
Sol will get Katy a book.
hong libro si Katy.

Kaw-an ni Sol

daa
Sol will bring Katy a book.
hong libro si Katy.

Daad-an ni Sol

basa
Sol will read Katy a book.
hong libro si Katy.

Basahan ni Sol

(Part II of Lesson Five to follow)