1 Part of speech, core meaning, sentence position, and example sentences
- Part of speech
- Sentence-position rule
A conjugated tilaw form normally starts the predicate; any clitic actor-pronoun follows immediately: Mo-tilaw ko ug kape karong buntag.
I will taste coffee this morning. - Example sentences
2 Verb derivations of tilaw
| Form | Voice & aspect | Typical translation | Sample sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| mag-tilaw | Actor focus, habitual / future | “will be tasting; usually taste” | Mag-tilaw sila og wine kada event. — They taste wine at every event. |
| mo-tilaw | Actor focus, non-past / imperative | “will taste; taste!” | Mo-tilaw ta karon, ha. — Let’s taste now, okay. |
| nag-tilaw | Actor focus, progressive | “is / was tasting” | Nag-tilaw siya pag-abot nimo. — She was tasting when you arrived. |
| mi-tilaw / ni-tilaw | Actor focus, completed past | “tasted” | Ni-tilaw ko sa spicy ramen kagabii. — I tasted the spicy ramen last night. |
| gi-tilaw | Patient focus, completed past | “was tasted (by …)” | Gi-tilaw sa chef ang sabaw una sa pag-serbisyo. — The soup was tasted by the chef before serving. |
| tilawon (-on) | Patient focus, future / imperative | “to be tasted / taste it” | Tilawon nato ang dessert human sa main course. — We’ll taste the dessert after the main course. |
| tilawan (-an) | Beneficiary / locative focus | “to taste for / taste at” | Tilawi ko palihog sa timpla sa sauce. — Please taste the sauce for me. |
3 Common phrases
- tilaw sa pagkaon — taste the food
- mag-tilaw og beer — sample beer
- gi-tilaw sa customer — tasted by the customer
- tilawon nga sarsa — sauce to be tasted
- tilawan sa chef — chef’s tasting
4 Detailed usage notes
- Actor-focus everyday use — mo-/nag-/ni-tilaw highlight the taster.
- Patient focus — gi-tilaw, tilawon emphasize what is being tasted.
- Beneficiary / locative focus — tilawan, tilawi spotlight who the tasting benefits or where it occurs.
- Noun sense — As a noun tilaw means “sample/taste”: Hatagi ko’g tilaw — “Give me a taste.”
- Reduplication — tilaw-tilaw can imply casual nibbling or trying a little of many dishes.
5 Common mistakes & how to avoid them
| Mistake | Issue | Correct form |
|---|---|---|
| Mo-tilaw ako ug ice cream. | Actor clitic misplaced. | Mo-tilaw ko ug ice cream. |
| Gi-tilaw ko ang sabaw. | With gi-, actor must appear in genitive (ni / sa). | Gi-tilaw ni ko ang sabaw. |
| Tilawon ta siya! | Beneficiary/locative command needs tilawi. | Tilawi siya! |
6 Short everyday conversations
- A: Unsay imong tilawon karon? — What will you taste now?
B: Mo-tilaw ko sa matcha cheesecake. — I’ll taste the matcha cheesecake. - A: Nag-tilaw ba sila og sample sa tindahan? — Are they giving out samples at the store?
B: Oo, libre ra ang kape. — Yes, the coffee is free. - A: Tilawi ko palihog kung tam-is na ang sikwate. — Please taste if the hot chocolate is sweet enough.
B: Sige, murag kulang pa sa asukal. — Sure, seems it still lacks sugar. - A: Nganong ni-tilaw ka bisan init pa kayo? — Why did you taste it even though it was very hot?
B: Dili ko makahulat, gutom na kaayo ko. — I couldn’t wait, I’m very hungry. - A: Mag-tilaw ta og pagkaon sa food fair ugma? — Shall we taste food at the fair tomorrow?
B: Oo, excited ko mo-tilaw sa bagong street food. — Yes, I’m excited to try the new street food.
