Learn Hardcore Filipino: Pakihanda ang bayad bago pumila upang mas mabilis tayong makaalis. - Please prepare the payment before lining up so we can leave faster.

Pakihanda is a polite request meaning “please prepare.” It’s formed by adding the prefix paki- (a courtesy marker for requests) to the root verb handa (“prepare”). So paki‑handa literally means “please prepare.”

Why is ang bayad used here instead of another marker?

ang is the common marker for the focus of the verb—in this case, the thing to be prepared. bayad means “payment,” so ang bayad signals “the payment” as the direct object or topic of this command.

How is pumila constructed?

pumila comes from the root pila (“line up”) with the infix ‑um‑, which marks actor focus in Filipino verbs. So pumila means “to line up” (actor-focused).

What role does bago play in this sentence?

bago means “before.” It introduces the clause bago pumila, so the full phrase means “before lining up.” It connects two actions in sequence.

Why does the sentence use upang rather than para?

Both upang and para can express purpose (“so that”), but upang is slightly more formal or literary. Here, upang mas mabilis tayong makaalis means “so that we can leave faster.”

How does the comparative mas mabilis work?

mabilis means “fast.” Adding mas before an adjective makes it “more” or “faster.” Thus, mas mabilis literally means “more fast,” i.e. “faster” or “more quickly.”

What does tayong mean, and why is there a “-ng” at the end?

tayo means “we” (inclusive). The suffix ‑ng is a ligature that connects tayo to the next word (makaalis) because mas mabilis ends in a vowel. So tayong makaalis reads smoothly as “us to leave.”

Why is makaalis used instead of umalis, and what’s the difference?

umalis (“to leave”) and makaalis (“to be able to leave/get to leave”) are both valid. Here, makaalis uses the prefix ma- to express the potential or ability to leave. So the emphasis is on “being able to leave faster,” fitting the purpose clause upang mas mabilis tayong makaalis.