Conjugating '-In' Verbs
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the '-in' suffix when the focus of your sentence is the object being acted upon, not the person acting.
- Add '-in' to the root verb if it ends in a consonant (e.g., kain -> kainin).
- Add '-hin' to the root verb if it ends in a vowel (e.g., basa -> basahin).
- The actor (doer) is marked by 'ng' or 'ni' (e.g., Kinain ng bata ang mansanas).
Meanings
The '-in' conjugation is used to highlight the object of the action. It shifts the grammatical focus from the doer to the thing being affected.
Direct Object Focus
Focusing on the specific item being acted upon.
“Basahin mo ang libro.”
“Kunin mo ang susi.”
Command/Request
Giving a direct instruction involving an object.
“Linisin ang kwarto.”
“Ayusin ang gamit.”
Passive Description
Describing an action done to an object in the past.
“Binili ko ang sapatos.”
“Sinulat niya ang liham.”
Conjugation of -in Verbs
| Root | Infinitive | Past | Present | Future |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| kain | kainin | kinain | kinakain | kakainin |
| basa | basahin | binasa | binabasa | babasahin |
| kuha | kunin | kinuha | kinukuha | kukunin |
| luto | lutuin | niluto | niluluto | lulutuin |
| sulat | sulatin | sinulat | sinusulat | susulatin |
| linis | linisin | nilinis | nililinis | lilinisin |
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Short Form |
|---|---|
| kainin mo | kainin mo |
| basahin mo | basahin mo |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Verb-in + ng + Actor | Kainin mo ang mansanas. |
| Negative | Hindi + Verb-in + ng + Actor | Hindi ko kinain ang mansanas. |
| Question | Verb-in + ba + ng + Actor | Kainin mo ba ang mansanas? |
| Past | In- + Root | Kinain ko ang mansanas. |
| Present | In- + Reduplication | Kinakain ko ang mansanas. |
| Future | Reduplication + -in | Kakainin ko ang mansanas. |
طیف رسمیت
Pakikain ang mansanas. (Dining)
Kainin mo ang mansanas. (Dining)
Kainin mo na 'yan. (Dining)
Kainin mo na 'to. (Dining)
The -in Verb Focus
Usage
- Commands Direct orders
- Past Actions Completed events
Markers
- ng Actor marker
- ang Object marker
Examples by Level
Kainin mo ang saging.
Eat the banana.
Basahin mo ito.
Read this.
Kunin mo ang bag.
Get the bag.
Lutuin mo ang kanin.
Cook the rice.
Binili ko ang sapatos.
I bought the shoes.
Sinulat niya ang liham.
He/she wrote the letter.
Hindi ko binasa ang libro.
I did not read the book.
Ano ang kinain mo?
What did you eat?
Kailangang linisin ang kwarto bago umalis.
The room needs to be cleaned before leaving.
Pinag-isipan ko ang iyong alok.
I thought about your offer.
Dapat mong ayusin ang iyong pagkakamali.
You must fix your mistake.
Nakalimutan kong dalhin ang susi.
I forgot to bring the key.
Ang proyektong ito ay ginagawa ng aming team.
This project is being done by our team.
Sana ay nabasa mo ang aking email.
I hope you have read my email.
Hindi ko mapigilang umiyak.
I cannot help but cry.
Ang lahat ng ito ay sinabi niya sa akin.
All of this was told to me by him/her.
Ang mga batas na ito ay dapat sundin ng lahat.
These laws must be followed by everyone.
Pinagtalunan nila ang isyung ito sa loob ng maraming oras.
They debated this issue for many hours.
Hindi ko akalain na mangyayari ito.
I didn't think this would happen.
Ang desisyong ito ay pinagtibay ng lupon.
This decision was ratified by the board.
Ang mga sinaunang tradisyong ito ay patuloy na pinangangalagaan ng komunidad.
These ancient traditions are continuously preserved by the community.
Hindi maikakaila na ang pagbabagong ito ay kinakailangan.
It cannot be denied that this change is necessary.
Ang bawat salita ay binigyang-diin ng tagapagsalita.
Every word was emphasized by the speaker.
Ang mga dokumentong ito ay kinakailangang suriin nang mabuti.
These documents must be examined carefully.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up object focus (-in) and location focus (-an).
Learners use actor-focus prefixes with object-focus suffixes.
Learners think -in is just passive voice.
اشتباهات رایج
Magkainin ang mansanas
Kainin ang mansanas
Kainin ako ang mansanas
Kainin ko ang mansanas
Kainin ang mansanas ni Juan
Kainin ni Juan ang mansanas
Basain ang libro
Basahin ang libro
Kinain ko ang mansanas ba?
Kinain ko ba ang mansanas?
Hindi kinain ko ang mansanas
Hindi ko kinain ang mansanas
Lutuin ang ulam ng nanay
Lutuin ng nanay ang ulam
Pinag-isipan ko ang tungkol sa alok
Pinag-isipan ko ang alok
Ayusin mo ang gamit mo
Ayusin mo ang iyong mga gamit
Sinulat ko ang liham sa kanya
Sinulatan ko siya ng liham
Ang batas ay dapat sundin ng lahat ng tao
Ang batas ay dapat sundin ng lahat
Pinagtatalunan nila ang isyu
Pinagtatalunan nila ang isyung ito
Hindi ko akalain na mangyari ito
Hindi ko akalain na mangyayari ito
Sentence Patterns
___ mo ang ___.
___ ko ang ___.
Hindi ko ___ ang ___.
Dapat nating ___ ang ___.
Real World Usage
Kainin mo na 'yung ulam.
Pakilutuin ang order.
Ginawa ko ang report.
Pinanood ko ang movie.
Kunin mo ang ticket.
Basahin ang pahina 10.
Check the root
Don't mix focus
Use 'ko' for actor
Politeness
Smart Tips
Always use the -in form for direct objects.
Use the 'in-' prefix for the past tense.
Use 'ko' instead of 'ako'.
Add 'paki-' to the verb.
تلفظ
Stress
The stress often shifts to the last syllable when adding -in.
Command
Kainin mo ang mansanas! ↘
Falling intonation for a firm command.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember: 'IN' is for the 'IN'side object. If you want to focus on the object 'inside' the action, use -in.
Visual Association
Imagine a spotlight shining on an apple. The apple is the object. The person eating it is in the shadows. The spotlight is the -in suffix.
Rhyme
If the root ends in a vowel, add -hin, if a consonant, -in, that's how you win!
Story
Juan wanted to eat an apple. He didn't say 'I eat apple'. He said 'Kainin ko ang mansanas'. The apple was the star of the show. Everyone looked at the apple.
Word Web
چالش
For the next 5 minutes, label every object you touch using the -in form (e.g., 'Kunin ang phone', 'Buksan ang pinto').
نکات فرهنگی
Using -in verbs is a sign of directness, often used in family settings.
They often use different focus markers, but the concept remains.
In formal settings, 'Paki-' is added to -in verbs for politeness.
The -in suffix is a Proto-Austronesian affix used to indicate the patient or object of an action.
Conversation Starters
Ano ang kinain mo kanina?
Ano ang binabasa mo ngayon?
Ano ang ginawa mo noong weekend?
Ano ang dapat nating gawin para sa proyekto?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
___ mo ang mansanas. (kain)
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Magbasahin mo ang libro.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Read the book.
Answer starts with: Bas...
___ ko ang liham.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Use: linisin, nanay, bahay
Score: /8
تمرینهای عملی
8 exercises___ mo ang mansanas. (kain)
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Magbasahin mo ang libro.
mansanas / ang / kainin / mo
Read the book.
___ ko ang liham.
Match: 1. kain, 2. basa, 3. kuha
Use: linisin, nanay, bahay
Score: /8
سوالات متداول (8)
It depends on the last letter of the root. Consonants get -in, vowels get -hin.
No, they are different focus systems.
No, it's object-focus, which is active in Filipino.
Add 'paki-' to the start.
Use 'ng' or 'ni' before the name.
Use -an for location or recipient focus.
Yes, it's very common in formal reports.
Use 'Hindi ko ginawa'.
In Other Languages
Direct Object Pronouns
Filipino changes the verb; Spanish changes the pronoun.
Passive Voice
Filipino -in verbs are active in meaning, just different in focus.
Accusative Case
German uses case markers; Filipino uses verb morphology.
Particle 'o'
Japanese uses particles; Filipino uses verb suffixes.
Object Pronoun Suffixes
Arabic adds a pronoun; Filipino changes the verb root.
Ba-construction
Chinese uses a particle; Filipino uses verb conjugation.
