Learn Hardcore Filipino: Pakiabot mo rin ang bayad sa tindera bago ka umalis. - Please also pass the payment to the vendor before you leave.

The prefix paki- turns a verb into a polite request, equivalent to “please.” Without it, abot mo rin ang bayad sounds like a plain command rather than a polite ask.

What does mo refer to in this sentence?

Mo is the second-person singular pronoun “you” attached to the verb. It shows that you are the one who will hand over the payment.

Why is rin placed after mo, and what does it mean?

Rin means “also” or “too.” Placing it after mo indicates that handing over the payment is an additional action—perhaps in addition to something you’ve already done or will do.

What function does ang serve before bayad?

Ang is a marker for the subject or focus noun in Tagalog. Here, ang bayad (“the payment”) is the thing being handed over. It highlights bayad as the main noun in the sentence.

Why is sa tindera used instead of kay tindera?

Both sa tindera and kay tindera can mark indirect objects (“to the vendor”). However, sa tindera is more common with general nouns. Kay tindera typically appears when emphasizing the person or using a proper name.

How is bago ka umalis structured, and what does it literally translate to?

Bago means “before,” ka is “you,” and umalis is “leave.” In Tagalog temporal clauses, the order is bago + pronoun + verb, so bago ka umalis literally says “before you leave.”

Can I use ipakiabot instead of pakiabot?

Yes. Ipakiabot mo rin also works. The prefix ipa- plus ki- adds a causative nuance (“have someone do something for you”), but in polite requests they often overlap. Pakiabot is simply shorter.

Is there a difference between abot and abutin?

Abutin is the infinitive form with the linker -in, often used to mean “reach for” or “pass to.” In polite requests, you’ll hear both, but pakiabot (root form) is very common. If you said pakiabutin mo ang bayad, it’s equally correct.