Tagalog “In” Verbs (Object-focus)

The first three verb groups that we discussed are conjugations for actor-focus verbs. These verbs conjugate so that it agrees with the actor as the focus of the sentence. “Kumain ang kambing ng damo.” → The goat ate the grass.

Now we will discuss verb conjugations that agree with the object as the focus of the sentence. “Kinain ng kambing ang damo.” → The goat ate the grass. Conjugating object-focus verbs involves infixes and suffixes. Now let’s dive into the topic… after the vocabulary!

Vocabulary

  • bata → child, kid
  • tita → auntie
  • lola → grandmother, elderly woman
  • pintor → painter
  • estudyante → student
  • pamilya → family
  • kamag-anak → relative
  • kambing → goat
  • unggoy → monkey
  • damo → grass
  • saging → banana
  • kape → coffee
  • almusal → breakfast
  • sardinas → sardines
  • gamot → medicine
  • alak → alcoholic drink
  • pangalan → name
  • listahan → list
  • larawan → picture, portrait
  • lupain → lands (property)
  • kain → eat
  • luto → cook
  • inom → drink
  • kita → see
  • bura→ erase
  • bili → buy
  • dama → feel
  • angkin → take possession

Tagalog “In” Verbs

“In” verbs conjugate to agree with the focused participant of the sentence — the object. Verbs associated with this affix are like “mag” and “um” verbs — intentional and deliberate.

Base Form (Infinitive Form / Imperative Form)

To get the infinitive form / imperative form:

  1. Take the root word. → kain
  2. Attach “-in” after the root word. → kain(in)

For root words ending in /o/:

  1. Take the root word. → luto
  2. Change the last syllable of the root word to its corresponding /u/ sound. → lutu
  3. Attach “-in” after the root word. → lutu(in)

Root wordAffixResult
kain (eat)-inkainin
luto (cook)-inlutuin
inom (drink)-ininumin
kita (see)-inkitain
bura (erase)-hinburahin

Look, the verb “burahin” adds an extra /h/ sound while the rest of the examples have the regular “-in” affix. The secret lies with how the root verb is pronounced. If the root verb ends in a consonant (kain) or ends in a vowel but pronounced with a glottal stop, the “-in” affix is used.

  • kain → kainin /ka • i • nin/
  • kita → kitain /ki • ta • in/

However, there are verbs like “bura” (erase) or “pinta” (paint) where the word ends in a vowel but are pronounced without the glottal stop. In this case, use the “-hin”. Some verbs are also irregular — meaning, root words change form when conjugated — like “bili” (buy) or “dama” (feel; poetic/formal) also end in “-hin”.

  • bura → burahin /bu • ra • hin/
  • bili → bilhin /bil • hin/ (notice how the last ‘i’ in ‘bili’ disappears when conjugated)
  • dama → damhin /dam • hin/ (notice how the last ‘a’ in ‘dama’ disappears when conjugated)

There are few verbs that are irregular and, majority of the vowel-ending verbs in Tagalog ends with a glottal stop so don’t worry if you mistakenly used “-in” and “-hin”, people would still understand you.

Completed Action

To express the completed action form:

  1. Take the root word. → kain
  2. For words beginning with a consonant, insert “in” before the first vowel of the first syllable of the root word. → k(in)ain
  3. For words beginning with a vowel, attach “in” as a prefix. → (in)inom

For root words starting with /l/:

  1. Take the root word. → luto
  2. Attach “ni-” before the root word. → (ni)luto
Root wordNew affixModificationResult
kain (eat)-in-k + in + ainkinain (ate)
luto (cook)ni-ni + lutoniluto (cooked)
inom (drink)in-in + inomininom (drank)
angkin (take possession)in-in + angkininangkin (took possession)
bura (erase)-in-b + in + urabinura (erased)

Examples:

  • Kinain ng kambing ang damo. → The goat ate grass.
  • Niluto ni Miguel ang almusal. → Miguel made breakfast. (lit. Miguel cooked breakfast.)
  • Ininom ng lola ang gamot. → The grandmother took the meds. (lit. The grandmother drank the meds.)
  • Inangkin ng pamilya ang lupain. → The family took possession of the lands.
  • Binura ng teacher ang drawing sa blackboard. → The teacher erased the drawing on the blackboard.

Ongoing Action

To express the ongoing action form, follow these steps:

  1. Take the root word. → kain
  2. Get the first syllable of the root word. → ka
  3. Insert “in” after the first consonant. → k(in)a
  4. Attach the new affix before the root word. → (kina)kain

Same goes for words beginning in a vowel:

  1. Take the root word. → inom
  2. Get the first syllable of the root word. → i
  3. Place the “in” before the first syllable. → (in)i
  4. Attach the new affix before the root word. → (ini)inom

For words that have its first syllable ending with a consonant:

  1. Take the root word. → bura
  2. Get the first syllable WITHOUT the last consonant. → bu
  3. Place the “in” depending on the word starting with a vowel or a consonant. → b(in)u
  4. Attach the new affix before the root word. → (binu)bura

For words that starts with /l/:

  1. Take the root word. → luto
  2. Get the first syllable WITHOUT the last consonant. → lu
  3. Attach the “ni-” to the syllable. → nilu
  4. Attach the new affix before the root word. → (nilu)luto

Root wordAffix1st syllableNew affixModificationResult
kain (eat)-in-kak + in +akina + kainkinakain (eating)
inom (drink)in-iin + iini + inominiinom (drank)
angkin (sit)in-ain + aina + angkininaangkin (taking possession)
bura (erase)-in-bib + in + ubinu + burabinubura (is erasing)

Examples:

  • Kinakain ng bata ang biscuit. → The kid is eating the biscuit.
  • Binubura ng mga estudyante ang grafitti sa wall. → The students are erasing the grafitti on the wall.
  • Iniinom ni Jane ang alak. → Jane is drinking the alcohol.
  • Inaangkin ni Emman ang jacket. → Emman is claiming the jacket.

Upcoming Action (Future Tense)

To express the upcoming action form, follow these steps:

  1. Take the root word. → kain
  2. Take the first syllable. → ka
  3. Attach it before the root word. → (ka)kain
  4. Lastly, attach “in” after the newly formed word. → kakain(in)

For root words starting with vowels:

  1. Take the root word. → angkin
  2. Take the first syllable (without the consonant, if any). → a
  3. Attach it before the root word. → (a)angkin
  4. Attach “in” after the newly formed word. → aangkin(in)

For root words ending in a /o/ sound:

  1. Take the root word. → inom
  2. Take the first syllable (without the consonant, if any). → i
  3. Attach it before the root word. → (i)inom
  4. Change the last syllable of the newly formed word to its corresponding /u/ sound, then attach “-in”. → iinum(in)

Root wordAffix1st syllableModificationResult
kain (eat)-in-kaka + kain + inkakainin (will eat)
bura (erase)-in-bubu + bura + hinbuburahin (will erase)
inom (drink)in-ii + inum + iniinumin (will drink)
angkin (take possession / claim)-inaa + angkin + inaangkinin (will take possession)

Unlike the “um” upcoming action form where “um” is not placed at all. “In” verbs in this form need to not only repeat the first syllable but also place the “-in” as a suffix. What a diva.

Examples:

  • Kakainin ko ang sardinas. → I will eat the sardines.
  • Buburahin ni Kris ang pangalan sa listahan. → Kris will remove the name from the list.
  • Kikitain ng tita ang kamag-anak. → The aunt will meet the relative.
  • Iinumin ni Jane ang kape. → Jane will drink coffee.
  • Aangkinin ng mga unggoy ang saging. → The monkeys will take possession of the bananas.

Conclusion

Here’s your cheat sheet:

Root wordBase form (Infinitive)Completed ActionOngoing ActionUpcoming Action
kainkaininkinainkinakainkakainin
inominuminininominiinomiinumin
lutolutuinnilutonilulutolulutuin

Conjugating “in” verbs is a lot more work than the first three verb groups. But don’t worry, you’ll get used to these conjugations in no time. In fact, “in” verbs are extremely common in everyday conversations so you’ll get the most practice with it. On the next chapter, we will discuss the last verb group for this Basic Grammar series.

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