Basahin muna ang kasunduan, saka pirmahan ang kontrata.

Because basahin and pirmahan are affixed verb forms used for commands where the action is directed at a specific thing.

• basa = the root read
• basahin = read it / read this
• pirma = the root sign
• pirmahan = sign it / sign this

In this sentence, the focus is on the things being acted on:

• ang kasunduan = the agreement
• ang kontrata = the contract

So the verb form matches that pattern. A learner will often hear this called object focus, patient focus, or sometimes goal focus.

In this sentence, ang marks the noun that is in focus with the verb form being used.

Since basahin and pirmahan are object-focused command forms, the thing being read or signed is marked with ang:

• ang kasunduan
• ang kontrata

This does not work exactly like English subject marking. In Filipino, ang often marks the focused or highlighted noun, not simply the doer of the action.

Muna means something like first, for now, or before anything else.

In this sentence, it tells you the order:

• Basahin muna ang kasunduan = Read the agreement first

It often makes a command sound a little more natural and less abrupt, because it suggests sequence rather than just a blunt order.

Saka means then, after that, or next.

So:

• Basahin muna ang kasunduan, saka pirmahan ang kontrata.
• Read the agreement first, then sign the contract.

It links two actions in sequence. This is a very common everyday way to say do X first, then do Y.

Both might be understandable, but Basahin muna ang kasunduan is the more natural order.

A common Filipino pattern is:

• verb + adverb + ang-phrase

So here:

• Basahin = read
• muna = first
• ang kasunduan = the agreement

Putting muna right after the verb is very common.

Because in Filipino commands, the subject you is often omitted when it is obvious.

So:

• Basahin muna ang kasunduan naturally means Read the agreement first
• Pirmahan ang kontrata naturally means Sign the contract

The listener is understood automatically. English does the same thing in commands: Sit down, Wait here, Read this first.

It is basically neutral and direct.

It sounds like a straightforward instruction. That is normal in Filipino, especially in instructions, workplace situations, or written reminders.

If you want to make it more polite, you could add po:

• Basahin po muna ang kasunduan, saka po pirmahan ang kontrata.

You could also use a softer request form such as pakibasa or pakipirma in other contexts.

Yes, you could, but the structure changes.

Compare the two:

1. Basahin muna ang kasunduan, saka pirmahan ang kontrata.

   • object-focused
   • emphasizes the thing being read/signed
   • uses ang for the object

2. Magbasa muna ng kasunduan, saka pumirma ng kontrata.

   • actor-focused
   • more like do the action of reading/signing
   • uses ng for the object

The original sentence sounds more natural for a direct instruction involving specific documents.

They are close in meaning, but not always identical.

• kasunduan = agreement, arrangement, understanding
• kontrata = contract, usually more formal or legal

In many contexts they can overlap, but kontrata sounds more specifically like an official signed document. Kasunduan can be broader.

In this sentence, having both may suggest:

• first read the agreement/terms,
• then sign the contract.

Because borrowed words in Filipino can still take Filipino affixes.

So even though pirma ultimately comes from Spanish, it behaves like a normal Filipino root in many contexts:

• pirma
• pumirma
• pirmahan
• pinirmahan

This is very common in Filipino. Loanwords are often fully integrated into the grammar.

Yes, that is a helpful way to think about it.

With this form, pirmahan ang kontrata means sign the contract or more literally put your signature on the contract.

That is why it works well with a specific object marked by ang.

It is not always absolutely required in casual writing, but it is very helpful and natural here.

The comma separates the two command parts:

• Basahin muna ang kasunduan,
• saka pirmahan ang kontrata.

It makes the sequence clearer and easier to read.

Saka by itself often means then / after that in a sequence.

At saka can also mean and then, but it is often used more like and also / besides / moreover depending on context.

In this sentence, plain saka works very well because the main idea is sequence:

• first read
• then sign

Yes.

This kind of imperative sentence can function as:

• a direct spoken instruction
• a written instruction on paperwork
• a standard procedural step

So it may mean either:

• Do this now or
• This is the correct order of actions

That depends on context, not on the grammar alone.

A simple pronunciation guide:

• basahin — ba-sa-HIN
• muna — mu-NA
• kasunduan — ka-sun-DU-an
• saka — SA-ka
• pirmahan — pir-MA-han
• kontrata — kon-TRA-ta

The exact stress can vary a little by speaker, but these are good learner-friendly guides.