Learn Hardcore Filipino: May susunod pa tayong gawain bukas, kaya maaga tayong aalis. - We still have another task tomorrow, so we will leave early.

pa means “still/yet/any more/another,” signaling continuation or an additional item. Here it implies there’s another/next task in addition to current ones.

Placement: pa is an enclitic; it typically goes right after the first content word of the predicate. may is a light existential word, so the clitic attaches to the next content word: May susunod pa tayong gawain… You’ll also hear Mayroon pa tayong…, where pa can sit after mayroon. Putting pa at the very end (…gawain pa) is less natural in this structure.

Should there be a linker na between susunod and gawain?

By the book, yes: when susunod means “next/following,” it’s a modifier and takes the linker: susunod na gawain. Many speakers omit the linker in casual speech (especially after a consonant like d), which is why you’ll see and hear forms like the sentence given. For careful writing, prefer susunod na gawain.

What’s the difference among gawain, gagawin, and gawin?

gawain: a noun meaning “task/work; thing to be done.”
gagawin: future (contemplative) form of gawin “will do [something]” (object-focus verb).
gawin: “to do; do it” (infinitive/imperative or object-focus base). Using gawain frames it as “a task exists”; using gagawin frames it as “something we will do.” Both are acceptable but differ in emphasis.

Why is it tayong in both parts (…tayong gawain; …tayong aalis)? What’s that -ng?

The -ng is the linker.

In May susunod pa tayong gawain, tayong = tayo + -ng linking the pronoun to the noun it modifies, roughly “our (inclusive) task” in this existential pattern. A very natural rewording is: May gawain pa tayo bukas.
In maaga tayong aalis, the linker ties tayo to the following verbal phrase, essentially “we who will leave.” This structure is normal when an adverb/adjective is fronted.

Why not use ating or nating instead of tayong?

Use ating/nating (genitive) when the pronoun directly modifies a definite noun: ang susunod nating gawain (“our next task”). With may, it’s more idiomatic to place the pronoun after the noun: May gawain pa tayo bukas or Mayroon pa tayong gawain bukas. So:

Existential/indefinite: May(roon) [noun] (pa) tayo…
Definite: ang [modifier] nating [noun]

What’s the difference between tayo and kami here?

tayo = inclusive “we” (includes the listener).
kami = exclusive “we” (excludes the listener). If the listener isn’t part of the group, say: May susunod pa kaming gawain bukas, kaya maaga kaming aalis.

How is kaya being used? How is it different from kasi?

Here kaya is a result connector meaning “so/therefore; that’s why.” It links reason to result. Contrast: kasi means “because” and introduces the cause: Maaga tayong aalis kasi may susunod pa tayong gawain bukas. Note: kaya can also mean “be able to” (e.g., Kaya kong umalis nang maaga), but that’s a different usage.

Is the comma before kaya necessary?

It’s common but not mandatory. You can write:

May … bukas, kaya maaga tayong aalis.
Or split into two sentences: May … bukas. Kaya maaga tayong aalis. In formal writing, a period is often preferred because the clauses are independent.

Does bukas mean “tomorrow” or “open” here?

“Tomorrow.” bùkas (stress on the first syllable) = tomorrow; bukás (stress on the second) = open. Stress marks aren’t written in everyday text, so context disambiguates; after gawain, a time adverb makes sense.

Why is it Maaga tayong aalis and not Aalis tayong maaga? Do I need nang?

Two very natural options:

Fronted adverb: Maaga tayong aalis. (Highlights “early.”)
Postverbal adverb with marker: Aalis tayo nang maaga. The version Aalis tayong maaga (without nang) occurs in casual speech but is less standard.

How is aalis formed from alis?

It’s the UM-actor-focus paradigm for a vowel-initial root:

Past/perfective: umalis
Present/imperfective: umaalis
Future/contemplative: aalis With vowel-initial UM-roots, the future shows reduplication (a-) and the UM infix isn’t visible.

Can I say May susunod pa tayong gagawin bukas instead?

Yes. That version emphasizes the action (“we will do”) rather than the existence of a task. Many speakers find May gagawin pa tayo bukas or May susunod pa tayong gagawin bukas very natural, depending on whether you want to keep the “next/following” nuance.

Where can bukas go in the sentence?

Time expressions can go clause-initial or clause-final:

Bukas, may susunod pa tayong gawain, kaya maaga tayong aalis.
May susunod pa tayong gawain bukas, kaya maaga tayong aalis. Both are fine; initial position foregrounds the time.