Filipino Verb Affixes with Meanings and Examples

ma- (adj)

• quality or state

• bad or negative

• happy or joyful

• slow or sluggish

pag-

• the way you do something

• a type of project

• a cleaning method

• a way to answer questions

naka-

• Past tense of 'maka' (did something by chance)

• Present tense of 'maka' (doing something by chance)

• Future tense of 'maka' (will do something by chance)

• A noun form of 'maka' (a chance occurrence)

ikina

• past tense of 'ika' (cause)

• present tense of 'ika' (cause)

• future tense of 'ika' (cause)

• past participle of 'ika' (cause)

pa-

• how something is done or how someone does something (like position, state or manner)

• a term used for a type of food preparation

• a method of transportation

• a style of painting

ipa-

• to do something oneself

• to have someone else do something

• to avoid doing something

• to suggest doing something

maka-

• Ability / chance (casual)

• A type of food

• A place to sleep

• A form of transportation

makapag-

• Ability with effort

• Inability to act

• Lack of resources

• Desire to succeed

ipag-

• to do something on behalf of someone

• to refuse to do something

• to ask for help

• to cook a meal

Ma-

• action done intentionally (so it's a certainty to do or feel sth)

• action done accidentally /unintentionally (so it's a possibility to do or feel sth)

• action done with great effort (so it's a challenge to do or feel sth)

• action done with full awareness (so it's a decision to do or feel sth)