13/08/2019
Question of the Day:
The pseudo verb:
Previous posts have said that the pseudo verbs: Gusto, kailangan, ayaw will always use an object focused pronoun like ko, mo, niya, nila. natin, namin and ninyo,
My question is: in a simple statement like,
'You need to relax' would you say:
- kailangan mo mag-relax.
Or
- kailangan mo relaxin.
How would you say:
'You need to repeat it.'
Teacher Jim replies,
Sentences with pseudo verbs like 'gusto', 'nais', 'ibig' (want/like), 'ayaw', (not want/not like), 'kailangan' (need) followed by a noun phrase functioning as object or goal, DO NOT REQUIRE A SUBJECT WHEN THE OBJECT IS INDEFINITE. By indefinite, it means any kind of that thing or NONSPECIFIC.
Examples:
Gusto ni Jim ng mansanas.
(Jim likes an apple.)
Ayaw ni Jim ng mansanas
(Jim doesn't like an apple.)
Kailangan ni Jim ng mansanas.
(Jim needs an apple.)
Grammar Note:
The actor and indefinite object patient take a nonfocused or nonsubject phrase. It could be any kind of apple, red apple or green apple, as long as it is an apple, that Jim likes/doesn't like/needs. Hence,
Actor: ...ni Jim
Indefinite Object: ...ng mansanas
However, IF THE OBJECT IS DEFINITE, IT MUST BE THE SUBJECT.
Examples:
Gusto ni Jim ANG mansanas.
(Jim likes THE apple.)
Ayaw ni Jim ANG mansanas.
(Jim doesn't like THE apple.)
Kailangan ni Jim ANG mansanas.
(Jim needs THE apple.)
The actor is still unfocused, but the definite object becomes focused as it is the subject. It could be THE APPLE which both the speaker and listener know, the red apple or the green apple or the apple in discussion. That SPECIFIC apple.
Also, the actor patient can be replaced by any object or unfocused pronoun like 'ko' (I), 'mo' (you, sg.), 'niya' (he/she), 'natin' (we, inclusive), 'namin' (we, exclusive), 'ninyo' (you, pl.), and 'nila' (they).
Examples:
Gusto NIYA ng mansanas.
(He/She likes an apple.)
Gusto NIYA ang mansanas.
(He/She likes the apple.)
Ayaw NIYA ng mansanas.
(He/She doesn't like an apple.)
Ayaw NIYA ang mansanas.
(He/She doesn't like the apple.)
Kailangan NIYA ng mansanas.
(He/She needs an apple.)
Kailangan NIYA ang mansanas.
(He/She needs the apple.)
Now, going back to your question in a statement like, 'You need TO RELAX.' When a verb is present in the pseudo sentences like 'gusto', 'ayaw', 'kailangan' which is roughly similar to the English "like to relax," or "don't like to relax," or "need to relax," THE ACTOR-FOCUS VERB REQUIRES NO SUBJECT, WHILE THE OBJECT-FOCUS VERB REQUIRES AN OBJECT. Hence,
Kailangan ni Jim Na MAG-relax.
(Jim needs to relax.)
Kailangan moNG MAG-relax.
(You need to relax.)
Notice the linker na/-ng after the actor and the use of actor-focus prefix 'mag' (in 'mag-relax') has no subject in the above example.
Now, if the verb is in object-focus, then it requires a subject. It answers the question what needs to be relaxed. Hence, the use of -i prefix. But to some object-focus verbs, affixes -in and -an/-han are used.
Examples:
Kailangan mong I-relax ANG paa mo.
(You need to relax your feet.)
Gusto ni Jim kainIN ANG mansanas .
(Jim likes to eat the apple.)
Ayaw mong kalimutAN SIYA.
(You don't like to forget him/her.)
Kailangan nating puntaHAN ang ospital.
(We need to go to the hospital.)
So to say, 'You need to repeat it,'
Kailangan moNG ulitIN ITO.
The use of object-focus verb 'ulitin' requires a subject 'ito'.
However, if you will use the intransitive verb 'repeat' to mean that you need to do something again or say something again, then you will use an actor-focus verb that requires no subject.
Example:
Kailangan mong UMulit.
(You need to repeat.)
I hope this answered your question clearly. Happy learning!
