Batangas Tagalog - Morphology

Morphology

Another difference between Batangan Tagalog and Manilla Tagalog is the use of the verb ending '-i' instead of '-an mo', especially in the command form. This only occurs when the verb stands alone in a sentence or when the verb is the last word in the phrase. However, when another word is put after it, Batangueños would never to the use of the '-an' form.

Example 1:

Person A: Meron pong nakatok sa pintô

Person B: Abá'y, buksi! (Then open it!)

However:

Person A: Merong kumakatok sa pintô (Someone is knocking at the door).

Person B: Abá'y, buksán mo! (Then you go open it!)

One could also notice the use of the absolute degree of an adjective, something that is not heard anywhere else. It is roughly the equivalent to the use of '-issimo' or '-issima' in Italian, something absent in the other Tagalog dialects. This is done by putting the pagka- in front of the word.

Example 1:

Pagkaganda palá ng anák ng mag-asawang aré, ah! (Pagkaganda palá ng anák ng mag-asawang iré, ah!)

The child of this couple is indeed beautiful!

Example 2:

Pagkatagal mo ga.

You take so long.