Question: clarification on verb conjugation after 'huwag'

Removed by Author

“Huwag” and “hindi” are the words we use to mean “no” or “not”. “Huwag” is what we use to prohibit/prevent/disallow something from happening. “Hindi’, on the other hand, is used to contradict or deny something.When used in the imperative with a verb, “huwag” then translates to “do not”. However, when it is not associated with a verb, it only means “not”.HUWAG kang MATULOG dito. = DO NOT SLEEP here.
Doon ka matulog, HUWAG DITO. = Sleep over there, NOT HERE.It shows that “huwag” does not always translate to “do not” and as such, it does not behave like the English auxiliary verb “do (not)” when used in the imperative, i.e., to be followed by the infinitive of the verb without “to”.The Tagalog “huwag” may be followed by a verb conjugation depending on the meaning it is meant to convey.Using the verb “bumitaw” as the example, we can use “bumitaw (infinitive/imperative)”, “bumibitaw”, or “bibitaw” after “huwag”.Huwag kang BUMITÁW = Don’t let go. - Use this when someone is holding on to you or to something at the moment. The command is only about that particular moment.Huwag kang BUMÍBITAW = Don’t let go (this time, unlike the other times that you did). - The command gives an implicit reference to a similar situation (or situations) in the past to make sure that it does not happen this time. Huwag kang BÍBITAW = Don’t let go (ever or as long as necessary). - The command is prospective. Since “ 'pag nahulog, nakahawak ako, 'wag ka lang bibitaw (when you fall, I’m holding on to you, just don’t let go)” is a situation that might only happen, then the use of “bibitaw” instead of “bumitaw” is correct.

@kuya19 If you meant "bitawan" in place of "bibitaw", then it should be "bumitaw" because "bibitaw" is a conjugation of "bumitaw" and not of "bitawan".If you will use "bumitaw" it will still be understood but the impression it gives is that the situation is already happening at that moment. It's like saying "... just don't let go now". If we’d use the verb “bitawan” instead of “bumitaw”, then the 3 sentences above become:Huwag mo akong BITAWAN = Don’t let go of me.Huwag mo akong BINIBITAWANHuwag mo akong BIBITAWAN The time references would remain the same, but the identity of the speaker might shift. The one who uses “bumitaw” is usually the person that one needs to hold on to:Huwag kang BUMITAW/BUMIBITAW/BIBITAW sa akin.
while “bitawan” would imply that it is the person who is depending on someone to hold on to is the one saying it.Huwag mo akong BITAWAN/BINIBITAWAN/BIBITAWAN Since the lyrics of the song makes no mention of the actor of the verb “nahulog”, i.e., it is not clear if it’s “nahulog ako” or “nahulog ka”, the use of “bibitaw” would be understood more as “nahulog ka”. ... nahulog KA... huwag KANG bibitaw... nahulog AKO ... huwag mo AKONG bibitawan

Thanks! I accidentally suggested bitawan because I mixed up the conjugation of in and um verbs

@kuya19 Ah, yes, the three "i"s in "bibitiw" can mislead anyone to think that the infinitive is "bitiwan" instead of "bumitaw".BTW, I forgot to mention that the verbs that follow "huwag" are often in the future tense because prohibition or prevention is usually more about anticipated events than those happening at the moment.