1 Part of speech, core meaning, sentence position, and example sentences
- Part of speech
- Sentence-position rule
A conjugated ampo form normally heads the predicate and any clitic actor-pronoun follows it: Mo-ampo ko sa simbahan karong gabii.
I will pray in church tonight. - Example sentences
2 Verb derivations of ampo
| Form | Voice & aspect | Typical translation | Sample sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| mag-ampo | Actor focus, habitual / future | “will be praying; usually pray” | Mag-ampo sila sa kapilya kada Domingo. — They pray in the chapel every Sunday. |
| mo-ampo | Actor focus, non-past / imperative | “will pray; pray!” | Mo-ampo ta karon, ha. — Let’s pray now, okay. |
| nag-ampo | Actor focus, progressive | “is / was praying” | Nag-ampo siya pag-ring sa kampana. — She was praying when the bell rang. |
| mi-ampo / ni-ampo | Actor focus, completed past | “prayed” | Ni-ampo ko kagahapon sa pilgrimahe. — I prayed yesterday on the pilgrimage. |
| gi-ampo | Patient focus, completed past | “was prayed for (by …)” | Gi-ampo sa komunidad ang mga biktima. — The victims were prayed for by the community. |
| ampo-on (-on) | Patient focus, future / imperative | “to be prayed for / pray it” | Ampo-on nato ang kalinaw sa kalibutan. — Let us pray for world peace. |
| ampo-an (-an) | Beneficiary / locative focus | “to pray for someone / pray at” | Ampo-i siya sa iyang operasyon, palihog. — Please pray for her operation. |
3 Common phrases (collocations)
- ampo sa Ginoo — pray to God
- mag-ampo og novena — pray a novena
- gi-ampo sa pari — prayed over by the priest
- ampo-on nga tuyo — intention to be prayed for
- ampo-an sa Lourdes — place to pray in Lourdes
4 Detailed usage notes
- Actor-focus everyday use – mo-/nag-/ni-ampo emphasize the person praying.
- Patient focus – gi-ampo, ampo-on highlight the intention or object of prayer.
- Beneficiary / locative focus – ampo-an, ampo-i draw attention to the person or place for which prayers are offered.
- Noun sense – ampo as “prayer”: loud ang iyang ampo — “his prayer is fervent.”
- Reduplication – ampo-ampo can suggest quick or casual prayers throughout the day.
5 Common mistakes & things to look out for
| Mistake | Issue | Correct form |
|---|---|---|
| Mo-ampo ako ug Ave Maria. | Actor clitic misplaced. | Mo-ampo ko ug Ave Maria. |
| Gi-ampo ko ang kaluwasan. | With gi-, actor must be genitive (ni / sa). | Gi-ampo ni ko ang kaluwasan. |
| Ampo-on ta siya! | Beneficiary command needs ampo-i. | Ampo-i siya! |
6 Five short everyday conversations
- A: Unsa imong ampo-on karon? — What will you pray for today?
B: Mo-ampo ko para sa akong pamilya. — I’ll pray for my family. - A: Nag-ampo ba sila sa misa? — Are they praying at mass?
B: Oo, nagsugod na ang rosaryo. — Yes, the rosary has started. - A: Ampo-i ko palihog sa akong exam ugma. — Please pray for my exam tomorrow.
B: Sige, apilon tika sa akong mga ampo. — Sure, I’ll include you in my prayers. - A: Nganong ni-ampo ka sa grotto kagabii? — Why did you pray at the grotto last night?
B: Nag-pasalamat ko sa mga grasya. — I was giving thanks for blessings. - A: Mag-ampo ta og novena para sa pasyente? — Shall we pray a novena for the patient?
B: Oo, magsugod ta karong gabii. — Yes, let’s start tonight.
