Cebuano Grammar - Verbs

Verbs

The functionalist school of grammar maintains that Cebuano verbs have no tense but rather aspect, specifically the aspect of inception, that is whether the action has been initiated or not. The aspect of completion is not readily shown by verbs in Cebuano. There are only two aspects: the nasugdan (incepted) aspect and the pagasugdan (expected) aspect.

Past actions are basically in the nasugdan aspect. Present actions are in the nasugdan aspect too unless they are habitual actions.

Habitual actions and future actions are in the to be pagasugdan aspect.

Examples on NASUGDAN ASPECT:

Past actions
1. The carpenters have began building the house.
The act had been started in the past therefore the Cebuano translation is:
"Ang mga mamamanday/panday nagsugod na ug tukod sa balay."
2. It is finish.
The act had been started in the past therefore the Cebuano translation is:
"Nahuman na gyud."

Present actions
1. "I' am going to the kitchen".
The act has been started before the statement is spoken therefore the Cebuano translation is:
"Nagpadulong ko sa kusina."
2. "I am washing the dishes".
The act has been started before the statement is spoken therefore the Cebuano translation is:
"Naghugas/Nanghugas ko sa plato."

Examples of PAGASUGDAN ASPECT

Future actions
1. "The President of the Philippines has won."
The act has not happen yet therefore is has not yet started:
"Nakadaug ang Presidente sa Pilipinas".
2. "Nagsugod na ang eskwela".
The act has not happen yet therefore is has not yet started:
"The school have started".

Habitual actions
1. "The people from the province goes to the city to work."
Although the act had already happened she will still have to start the same act again and again (every morning) so the act itself is still to be started or pagasugdan pa and therefore:
"Ang mga tawo sa probinsiya moadto sa syudad para motrabaho."
2. "How much is the cigarette?"
Although the act had already happened she will still have to start the same act again and again (always) so the act itself is still to be started or pagasugdan pa and therefore:
"Tagpila ang sigarilyo?"

• Cebuano verbs act as predicate or words that tell about the subject or the topic. This topic can either be the doer of the action, the recipient of the action, the purpose for the action, or the means by which the action was made possible. The form of the verb is dependent on the function of the topic in relation to said verb. Some Cebuano grammar teachers call it focus of the verb but some others call it voice.