Filipino Um- Verbs

Filipino, or Tagalog um-verbs are actor-focus verbs that follows the rules of formation that are characterised by adding "um" to the roots of the verbs. A mag-verb and an um-verb can be derived from a same root with different meanings.

• Sumara ang pinto. (The door closed.)
• Magsara ka ng pintuan. (You shut the door.)

The above case is a contrast between an intransitive and a transitive verb. The um-verbs usually describe state, or relocation. Compare to the mag-verbs, the um-verbs indicate actions that are moderate and those that shows less intensity [*].

The verb's infinitive and complete form are created by adding "um" to the root. The "um" rules state that "um" word must follow the first consonant if the first letter of the word is a consonant, and if the first letter of the root verb is a vowel, "um" prefix must precede the root word.

   kain → kumain (to eat) 

   alis → umalis (to leave)

Repeating the first syllable of the root means the verb is in prospective aspect, which means that the agent that is indicated by ANG marker(absolutive marker) has the intentions to do the act in the future.

   kain → kakain (will eat)

   alis → aalis (will leave)

A list of um-verb roots and their conjucated forms are shown in the following Java applet. Select any of the verb roots and infinitive-perfect-progressive-prospective forms of the verb will be shown below. Note that while most of the um-verbs follow the rules that is stated above, when the root starts with a "d" consonant, that may be replaced with "r" as in the case with dating (to arrive) - darating.

[*] Filipino Grammar (in Japanese) by M. Ooue, 2006