Mag-Verbs
      Mag-Verbs

There are many different aspects in Filipino, or Tagalog verbs from either English or Japanese. The major difference perhaps is that the Filipino verbs does not represent tense but aspects. That is, the English verbs have past-present-future forms that describes tense whileas the Filipino verbs describe the state of the agents that are engaged in the act, such as perfect, progressive, or prospective.

Another interesting fact about the Filipino verbs is the way they are composed from a single root. In Japanese, adding "suru" makes up a verb from certain nouns. A noun such as program can form a verb "program-suru" (to program). In Filipino, a prefix such as "mag-" can create verbs. A root word "kape" (coffee) can be used as a verb when it is combined with the prefix -- "magkape". The verb takes then the different aspect forms as above. magkape (to drink coffee) - nagkape (had some coffee) -- nagkakape (drinking coffee) -- magkakape (going to drink coffee).

The applet below shows such formation of the mag- verbs. The roots are listed in the drop-down list so select any one of the root. The infinitive-perfect-progressive-prospective forms of the verb that is derived from the root will be shown.