Difference between maka- affix and kaya ? Hello! I would like to know if there is any difference between the affix maka- expressing the ability and the word kaya (or may-kaya) that can express compet

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Difference between maka- affix and kaya ? Hello! I would like to know if there is any difference between the affix maka- expressing the ability and the word kaya (or may-kaya) that can express competence, ability, skills, sufficient power... Halimbawa: Hindi niya kayang tumakbo Hindi siya nakatatakbo. In my dictionary, they seem to say that they are interchangeable. If so, is there one prefered to another and in which conditions (or one more native)? Salamat!

Dec 30, 2014 3:36 AM

Answers · 7

Yes, they are common expressions and would be interchangeable to the same extent their English translations would be. Hindi niya kayang tumakbo. = He/She does not have the capability/ability to run. Hindi siya nakatatakbo/nakakatakbo. = He/She is not capable/able to run. Hindi siya makatakbo. = He/She cannot run. Following the rule of conjugation, "nakatatakbo" is the correct one. However, "nakakatakbo" is, I think, how more of us would say it.

December 31, 2014

They both sound native. I use either of them, but I personally prefer "nakaka-" (nakakatakbo) over "naka-". ;) Manigong bagong taon! :)

December 30, 2014

It's hard to answer that so I will just focus on your example. Hindi siya makatakbo is He can't run, there's an immediate impediment, an impediment that is so near now. HIndi siya nakakatakbo, is He doesn't run. Habitually , he can't run. There's an impediment that is affecting him for a long time already. HIndi niya kayang tumakbo is He does not have the ability to run. Maybe he doesn't want to, or that he never had the ability to do it.

December 21, 2016

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