Object-Focus (OF) Verbs

There are several affixes that indicate that the focus of the sentence is the object (receiver of the action). The most common ones are discussed in this section, -IN, I-, -AN, and MA-. Attaching any of these affixes on to a verb indicates that the focus of the sentence is the receiver of the action (object). Be aware however that -IN is the only affix that is used solely to mark the focus as the object. In a sense, it is the prototypical object focus affix. The other affixes can indicate object focus, but they can also be used for different purposes. I- may also mark beneficiary- or instrumental-focus, -AN locative- or beneficiary-focus, and MA- actor-focus. A learner would be advised to memorize the functions of the different affixes. The table of verbs provided in this site should be a helpful introduction.

The -IN Verb

The affix -IN is the only "real" object-focus affix. That is, an -IN verb is always object-focus. When -IN is attached to a verb that ends in a vowel, an H is needed between it and the affix. Here are some examples, all of which are in the imperative or command form:

Let's take a look at the last example:

Lutuin mo ang isda sa kusina.

cook   you         fish     kitchen

The -IN affix tells you that the focus is to recieve the action of the verb. The focus is isda (fish), so you know that it is the fish that is to be cooked, and not you (mo).

The I- Verb

I- verbs are the second most common Object Focus verbs next to -IN.  I- is a prefix, and thus it goes in front of the word. The prefix I- is typically used to mark Object Focus, but I- can also be used to mark beneficiary and instrumental. However, these uses occur less frequently.

Here are a few examples that are in the imperative or command form:

The -AN Verbs

The -AN affix is not used in very many verbs as an object focus marker. There are however a few specific verb roots that use -AN for this purpose. A learner would be advised to memorize the verb roots that take this affix to mark object focus. The most common use of -AN is to mark location/direction-focus.

-AN is suffix, and thus should be placed at the end of a word. When -AN follows a verb root that ends in a vowel, the affix takes the form -HAN.

Here are a few examples:

*These verb have undergone other form changes that are not discussed here.

The MA- Verb

There are certain verbs that use MA- as an object focus marker. These verbs (kita, pansin, alam, etc.) form a special set of verbs because they are always object focused. They can never be actor focused. In some grammar books, these verbs are said to express abilitative and/or accidental mode. Thus, these verbs do not have imperative forms (in other words, they can never be used as commands). Membership of this set is not very large, so learners would be advised to memorize the verb roots that take the MA- affix to indicate object focus. Here some of the most common MA- verbs: