In widespread contemporary Filipino, the contemplated maka- ability form uses makaka- + root: makakakita, makakarinig, makakatulog, makakaalis. More formal or literary variants may instead repeat root-initial material, as in makaririnig and makatutulog. The form presents an ability, opportunity, perception, or attained result as not yet begun. Future time is common, but context—not a future-tense ending—locates the event in time.
The formation pattern
| Root | Basic | Completed | Common contemplated | Contemporary structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| kita | makakita | nakakita | makakakita | maka + ka + kita |
| rinig | makarinig | nakarinig | makakarinig | maka + ka + rinig |
| tulog | makatulog | nakatulog | makakatulog | maka + ka + tulog |
| alis | makaalis | nakaalis | makakaalis | maka + ka + alis |
| abot | makaabot | nakaabot | makakaabot | maka + ka + abot |
The displayed contemporary forms repeat ka, the second syllable of the prefixed word. Formal or literary root-copy variants include makakikita, makaririnig, makatutulog, makaaalis, and makaaabot. With a vowel-initial root, adjacent vowels remain together in ordinary spelling, without a hyphen.
Makakaalis kami pagkatapos ng tanghalian.
We will be able to leave after lunch.
Makakakita ka ng talon kapag umakyat ka sa burol.
You will be able to see the waterfall when you climb the hill.
Contemplated aspect is not simply future tense
The contemplated form says that the event has not begun in the relevant frame. A time expression such as bukas may place it in the future, but a condition, expectation, or imagined situation can do the same work.
Kung maayos ang panahon, makakaabot tayo bago dumilim.
If the weather is good, we will be able to arrive before dark.
Akala ko ay makakatulog ako sa biyahe, pero maingay sa bus.
I thought I would be able to sleep on the trip, but the bus was noisy.
In the second sentence, makakatulog is contemplated relative to the earlier expectation. The whole sentence refers to the past, which is why calling the form a future tense would be misleading. The contemplated-aspect guide develops this distinction.
Basic maka- and contemplated makaka-
Basic maka- + root commonly appears after modal or subordinating expressions where the clause itself does not assert a scheduled event. The contemplated form profiles the not-yet-begun event more directly. The boundary is partly constructional, so English alone cannot choose the form.
Sana makarinig tayo ng magandang balita ngayong araw.
I hope we hear good news today.
Makakarinig tayo ng opisyal na pahayag bukas ng umaga.
We will hear an official statement tomorrow morning.
After sana, basic makarinig is the natural complement of the wish. In the second sentence, makakarinig presents the expected perception as a contemplated event. Do not mechanically replace every English can with makaka-.
Keep aspect and voice separate
Makakakita is actor voice: the perceiver is the ang/si pivot, while the perceived entity commonly takes ng. Patient-oriented makikita makes the perceived entity the pivot. Both are contemplated.
Makakakita si Ina ng mga bakawan mula sa bangka.
Ina will be able to see mangroves from the boat.
Makikita ni Ina ang lumang parola mula sa bangka.
Ina will be able to see the old lighthouse from the boat.
The extra ka in makakakita is not emphasis; it reflects the aspect pattern of this actor-voice family. Makikita belongs to a different, patient-oriented family.
Negation, questions, and a natural exchange
With hindi, the contemplated form denies a later opportunity or expected result. It contrasts with basic maka-, which often expresses present or general inability.
Hindi siya makakapasok bukas dahil sarado ang tanggapan.
She will not be able to enter tomorrow because the office is closed.
Hindi siya makapasok dahil sira ang kandado.
She cannot get in because the lock is broken.
The first is tied to a not-yet-begun occasion; the second describes the obstacle now. Natural conversation also places ba after the first predicate word:
—Makakauwi ba kayo bago mag-alas nuwebe? —Oo, makakaalis kami rito pagkaraan ng pulong.
—Will you be able to get home before nine? —Yes, we will be able to leave here after the meeting.
The reply uses exclusive kami, excluding the person asking.
One root across aspect and neighboring families
Compare the same actor-voice root without treating the forms as English tenses:
Nakarinig si Joel ng kaluskos sa kusina kagabi.
Joel heard a rustling sound in the kitchen last night.
Makakarinig si Joel ng anunsiyo kapag nagsimula na ang programa.
Joel will hear an announcement once the program has started.
Nakarinig presents achieved perception; makakarinig presents it as not yet begun. The root rinig also appears in patient-oriented marinig/narinig/naririnig/maririnig, whose perceived sound is the pivot.
For some speakers and registers, makaririnig is an accepted alternative to makakarinig. Makaririnig is particularly associated with (formal) or (literary) style, while makakarinig is widespread in contemporary conversation. This is a conventional variant of this root family, not a rule that licenses arbitrary movement of reduplication.
Eventive activities often use the neighboring makapag- family: makapagluto → makapagluluto, makapagsumite → makapagsusumite. Family membership is partly lexical. There is no safe rule that transforms every English verb after will be able to into a simple makaka- form.
Common Mistakes
❌ Makamakakita kami ng entablado mula sa hulihan.
Incorrect — the common contemplated pattern repeats ka within the prefix complex; it does not repeat all of maka-.
✅ Makakakita kami ng entablado mula sa hulihan.
We will be able to see the stage from the back.
❌ Nakakakita siya ng mga bituin bukas ng gabi.
Wrong for the intended not-yet-begun prediction — nakakakita is incompleted.
✅ Makakakita siya ng mga bituin bukas ng gabi kung maaliwalas.
She will be able to see the stars tomorrow evening if the sky is clear.
❌ Makakakita ko ang tuktok kapag nawala ang ulap.
Incorrect actor-voice alignment — use an actor-pivot pronoun and mark the perceived entity with ng.
✅ Makakakita ako ng tuktok kapag nawala ang ulap.
I will be able to see the summit when the clouds clear.
❌ Makakakita-ed kami ng liwanag bago namatay ang kuryente.
Incorrect — English -ed cannot mark a completed Filipino event.
✅ Nakakita kami ng liwanag bago namatay ang kuryente.
We saw a light before the power went out.
Key Takeaways
- The widespread contemporary contemplated pattern is makaka- + root; formal or literary usage may instead repeat root-initial material.
- The form presents an event as not yet begun; future time comes from context.
- Basic, completed, incompleted, and contemplated forms are selected by construction and viewpoint, not by translating an English tense mechanically.
- Actor makakakita and patient makikita differ in voice as well as form.
- Learn conventional root families and accepted variants such as makakarinig/makaririnig.
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- The maka- ability: Function and DistributionB1 — Understand how maka- expresses actor-oriented ability, opportunity, attainment, and lexicalized perception without reducing it to English can.
- The maka- ability: Completed-Aspect FormationB1 — Form completed maka- verbs with naka- for achieved perception, successful attainment, and realized opportunity.
- The maka- ability: Incompleted-Aspect FormationB1 — Build common contemporary incompleted maka- forms with nakaka- for recurring perception and continuing access to an ability or opportunity.
- Infinitive and Contemplated FormsA2 — Distinguish aspect-neutral infinitive or basic verb forms from contemplated forms that present an event as not yet begun.
- Contemplated Aspect and Future TimeB1 — Use contemplated forms for not-yet-begun events while distinguishing future time from aspect, modality, conditions, and dependent basic forms.
- Ability with maka- and ma-B2 — Choose actor-oriented maka- or patient-oriented ma- ability constructions by viewpoint, pivot, aspect, and the kind of possibility being expressed.