naka-
ability or perfect tense marker
Usage Note
Naka- marks both the ability to perform an action and stative conditions resulting from a completed action — nakatulog means was able to sleep or is asleep, nakasuot means is wearing or has dressed. It is extremely versatile and appears constantly in everyday Tagalog.
Examples
" Nakaupo ang lola. "
Natural Translation
Grandma is seated.
Literal Translation
Seated the grandma.
" Nakabarong ang lalaki. "
Natural Translation
The man is wearing a barong.
Literal Translation
Wearing-barong the man.
" Nakatulog ako agad kagabi dahil sobrang pagod ako matapos ang buong araw na trabaho. "
Natural Translation
I managed to fall asleep right away last night because I was so tired after a whole day of work.
Literal Translation
Was-able-to-sleep I immediately last-night because very tired I after the whole day that work.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
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