The i- conveyance voice: Contemplated-Aspect Formation | Filipino Grammar

The contemplated form of an i- benefactive/instrumental verb retains i-, omits begun-event -in-, and repeats the root's first consonant–vowel sequence: ibigay → ibibigay, itapon → itatapon, isulat → isusulat. It presents the selected transfer, placement, application, or benefit as not yet begun.

English often uses will, but the Filipino category is aspect. A contemplated event can be intended, predicted, conditional, or prospective from a past viewpoint.

Formation

Basic	Copied material	Contemplated analysis	Surface form
ibigay	bi-	i + bi + bigay	ibibigay
itapon	ta-	i + ta + tapon	itatapon
isulat	su-	i + su + sulat	isusulat
ipukpok	pu-	i + pu + pukpok	ipupukpok
ilagay	la-	i + la + lagay	ilalagay
iabot	a-	i + a + abot	iaabot

The adjacent vowels in iaabot represent prefix i- plus reduplicated and root-initial a material. Standard spelling keeps the established form solid. The analytical spaces are not ordinary orthography.

For the larger basic-versus-projected distinction, see infinitive and contemplated forms.

Planned transfers and placements

Ibibigay ni Mara kay Joel ang susi pagkatapos ng inspeksiyon.

Mara will give Joel the key after the inspection.

Ilalagay ng mga kawani sa harap ng bulwagan ang mahabang mesa.

The staff will put the long table at the front of the hall.

The key and table are the selected pivots. Recipient kay Joel and destination sa harap ng bulwagan remain oblique; actors take ni/ng.

💡

The contemplated form changes event phase, not voice. Ang susi remains the conveyed pivot in ibigay, ibinigay, ibinibigay, and ibibigay when the same frame is intended.

Conditions, predictions, and past plans

Itatapon ko ang mga sirang lalagyan kung hindi na magagamit ang mga iyon.

I will throw away the broken containers if they can no longer be used.

The kung clause supplies a condition; the disposal is still unrealized.

Akala namin, ipapadala ng tanggapan ang mga pahintulot noong Lunes.

We thought the office would send the permits on Monday.

Here ipapadala is contemplated relative to a past expectation. The form itself is not tied to future time measured from the moment of speaking.

Isusulat ni Dina ang buod kapag nakumpleto na ang panayam.

Dina will write the summary once the interview is complete.

Completed nakumpleto na in the time clause establishes the prerequisite; contemplated isusulat presents the later writing as unbegun.

Beneficiary and instrument-like projections

Ibibili namin ng bagong salamin ang aming ama sa susunod na buwan.

We will buy our father new eyeglasses next month.

Exclusive namin marks the buyer group; beneficiary ang aming ama is pivot and ng bagong salamin is the intended item. The lexical ibili frame differs from theme-conveying ibibigay.

Ipupukpok ng karpintero sa maliit na pako ang magaan na martilyo.

The carpenter will use the light hammer to strike the small nail.

The hammer is the instrument-like pivot. More general instrumental meaning often uses ipang-, so ipukpok should be learned as an attested lexical construction rather than a universal pattern.

Controlled comparison: basic command versus contemplated statement

Iabot mo sa guro ang mga sagutang papel.

Hand the answer sheets to the teacher.

Iaabot mo sa guro ang mga sagutang papel pagkatapos ng pagsusulit.

You will hand the answer sheets to the teacher after the exam.

Basic iabot forms the directive. Contemplated iaabot makes a statement or prediction. English future reference alone does not decide the form: a command about a later action still uses the basic form.

Similarly, Huwag mong itapon ang resibo uses huwag plus basic itapon, not contemplated itatapon.

Negation and a short exchange

Hindi isasama ni Cora sa ulat ang hindi pa kumpirmadong bilang.

Cora will not include the unconfirmed figure in the report.

Declarative hindi negates the contemplated inclusion. It does not turn the clause into a prohibition.

—Kailan ninyo ililipat sa silid-aklatan ang mga lumang mapa? —Ililipat namin ang mga iyon bukas ng umaga.

—When will you move the old maps to the library? —We will move them tomorrow morning.

The maps are selected pivots as ang mga lumang mapa/ang mga iyon. Ninyo addresses the group; exclusive namin in the answer excludes the questioner.

Lexical restrictions and accepted variation

A root is a family of constructions, and one citation form hides the derivational system. Ililipat selects what is moved, lilipatan selects the destination, and actor-voice lilipat selects the mover. English may use “move” for all three.

Some roots support overlapping patient and i- forms, while others strongly prefer one family for a particular meaning. With borrowed or vowel-initial bases, speakers may vary in less established formations. Neutral standard writing should use conventional forms such as iaabot and ilalagay, not an invented spelling produced by counting letters.

💡

Choose the basic form for a directive and the contemplated form for a projected event. Both may concern future time, so English “will happen later” is not enough to decide.

Common Mistakes

Retaining -in- in contemplated aspect

❌ Ibibinigay ni Mara ang susi mamaya.

Incorrect — contemplated ibibigay has no begun-event -in-.

✅ Ibibigay ni Mara kay Joel ang susi mamaya.

Mara will give Joel the key later.

Copying the prefix rather than the root

❌ Iilagay ni Cora sa kabinet ang mga tasa.

Incorrect — contemplated ilagay copies la- from lagay, producing ilalagay.

✅ Ilalagay ni Cora sa kabinet ang mga tasa.

Cora will put the cups in the cabinet.

Using contemplated aspect in a positive command

❌ Ibibigay mo kay Lola ang gamot ngayon.

Wrong as a direct command — this is a contemplated statement or prediction.

✅ Ibigay mo kay Lola ang gamot ngayon.

Give Grandmother the medicine now.

Marking the actor as pivot

❌ Isusulat si Dina ang buod pagkatapos ng panayam.

Incorrect — isusulat selects the summary as pivot, so Dina takes ni.

✅ Isusulat ni Dina ang buod pagkatapos ng panayam.

Dina will write the summary after the interview.

Key Takeaways

Contemplated i- keeps i-, omits begun-event -in-, and reduplicates root material.
It presents a transfer, placement, application, benefit, or instrumental use as not yet begun.
Conditions and past plans show that contemplated aspect is broader than future tense.
Commands and prohibitions normally use the basic form even when the action will occur later.
The selected pivot and other markers remain those of the established lexical i- frame.

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