Commands and Requests
Giving instructions and making polite requests
Overview
Commands (imperatives) in Bisaya use the base form of the verb. To make requests more polite, add 'palihug' (please) or soften with particles like 'lang', 'ra', or 'ba'. Command patterns: ā¢ Direct command: Verb + (object) ā¢ Polite request: Palihug + verb OR verb + lang ā¢ Negative command: Ayaw + verb
Examples
Kaon! (Eat!), Lakaw! (Walk/Go!)
Direct commands
š” Base form of verb for commands
Palihug lingkod
Please sit down
š” 'Palihug' (please) makes it polite
Sulod lang
Just come in / Please come in
š” 'Lang' softens the command
Ayaw kalimot!
Don't forget!
š” 'Ayaw' + verb root for negative commands
Hinay-hinay lang
Slowly please / Take it easy
š” Reduplicated adjective + 'lang' for gentle instructions
Hatag nako ang libro
Give me the book
š” Verb + indirect object + direct object
Pwede ba nimo tabangan ko?
Can you please help me?
š” 'Pwede ba' + pronoun + verb for polite requests
š” Tips to Remember
- ā¢'Palihug' (please) can come before or after the verb
- ā¢'Lang' softens commands and makes them more polite
- ā¢Use 'ayaw' + verb root for 'don't': Ayaw hilak (Don't cry)
- ā¢'Dali' at the start means 'Come on' or adds urgency: Dali, kaon ta! (Come on, let's eat!)
- ā¢Adding 'ba' makes commands into polite requests: Sulod ba (Please come in?)