Question: Causative difficulty: Magpa- vs Makapagpa-, Pa-in vs M

“Mag-pa-” is "to ask someone to do something for another".“Makapag-pa-” is "to be able to ask someone to do something for another". “Pa” may be considered a separate prefix as it can be used independently. Ex: pahingi (let me have some), paupo (let me take a seat, move over and give me some space to sit down), pahiram (let me borrow something). It is the same “pa” in “magpa” when the verb is Subject-Focus (S-F) and in ”ipa” when the verb used is Object-Focus (O-F). “Nagpapakuha ako NG inumín sa akinG anák” = I (regularly) ask/am asking my child to bring me A/something to drink. - When you’re using a S-F focus verb, the object marker “ng” translates to the indefinite article “a”. You have to use the O-F verb (ipakuha) to be able to use the definite article “the (ang)” for the object when it’s translated into English.Ipinakukuha/Ipinapakuha ko ANG inumin sa aking anak. = I (regularly) ask/am asking my child to bring me THE drink. (1) “NakakapagPAkuha ako NG inumín sa aking anak” = I am able to ask my child to bring me A/something to drink. - “Makapagkuha” is not a proper word. It may either be “maka-kuha” or “makapag-pa-kuha”.Naipakukuha/Naipapakuha ko sa aking anak ANG inumin. = I am able to ask my child to bring me THE drink. (2)“Ipinatahî ko ang damít sa mahusay na mananahì” = I had my clothing sewn at/by a skilled tailor. (3)"Naipatahî ko ang damít sa mahusay na mananahì" – I was able to have my clothing sewn at/by a skilled tailor. (4)“Mapa-” (S-F or O-F, depending on how it is used) is “to be able to make something happen”. Napatawa (O-F) si Mary ni John. = Napatawa ni John si Mary. = Mary was made to laugh by John./John was able to make Mary laugh. (5)“Pa- + -in” (O-F) is “to let someone do something”. Its S-F counterpart is also “magpa-”.“Painumín (O-F) mo silá ng tubig.” = “Sila ay painumin mo ng tubig. = (Lit: They should be allowed by you to drink some water.) Let them drink some water. “Magpainóm (S-F) ka sa kanilá ng tubig” = “Ikaw ay magpainom sa kanila ng tubig”. = (You) Let them drink some water. (6)Footnotes:(1) “Ipa-” is the O-F counterpart of the S-F “magpa-” verb. (2) “Mai-pa-” is the O-F counterpart of “makapag-pa-”. (3) We would typically use “sastré” if we mean “tailor” since “mananahì” means “dressmaker”. Also, though “damít” generally means “clothing” more often it is understood as “dress”. Men’s clothes, when tailored, are normally referred to by piece, e.g., pantalón (pants), polo (tailored polo shirt made of woven, not knitted, material), or generally, “pang-itaás” (that which is worn above the waist)/”pang-ibabâ” (that which is worn from the waist down). (4) “Naipatahî” may also take a different meaning if stress is placed on the first syllable. The action becomes unintentional.“Náipatahî ko ang damit sa mahusay na mananahi kaya nápamahál tuloy ako. = Unwittingly, I had my clothing sewn by a skilled tailor that’s why I ended up spending more. The same concept applies to “nápamahál” in the sentence, which gave it that ending-up-spending-more” meaning. (5) Like “náipatahî” and “nápamahál”, if an accent is placed on the first syllable of “napatawa”, it gives it the “unintended or accidental” meaning.Nápatawá (S-F) si Mary kay John = Mary ended up laughing at John. - The 2nd stress falls on “wa” instead.(6) We tend to use the O-F form “pa- + -in” form much more often than its S-F form (magpa-) though. The sentence would sound more natural that way.

Thanks a million for your help. Your post was really useful. Much appreciated and thanks for taking the time to go into the concept in detail.

@TagalogLearner15 You're very welcome!