3. instrumental passive: the subject is viewed as a means, an instrument, something given forth or parted from: Isinúlat nya aŋ kwènto. Was-written-down by-him the story (subject), i. e. 15He wrote the story. Ipinútol nya aŋ gúlok. Was-cut-with by-him the bolo (subject), i. e. He used the bolo for cutting, He cut with the bolo.
4. local passive: the subject is viewed as an object partly or less fully affected, as a place or sphere: Sinulátan nya akò. Was-written-to 20by-him I (subject), i. e. He wrote me. Pinutúlan nya aŋ káhoy. Was-cut-from by-him the wood (subject), i. e. He cut a piece off the wood.
For a detailed description of these classes of transient words, see Morphology.
2593. In general the choice between these four constructions is made in accordance with the logical situation: the definite, known object underlying the predication as starting-point of discourse is chosen as subject: Binigyàn nya akò naŋ aklàt. Was-given-to (local passive) by-him I (enclitic subject) a book, books, 30i. e. He gave me a book, books. Ibinigay nyà sa ákin aŋ aklàt. Was-given (instrumental passive) by-him to me the book (subject), i. e. He gave me the book. In the first example the speaker is talking about himself, in the second about a certain book.
94. However, the active construction is avoided whenever 35any object other than the actor is available as subject. Especially are active constructions with an anaphoric subject (siyà, silà, itò) avoided wherever a passive construction is at hand. Thus, in the instance in § [93], even if “he”, the actor, were the real subject of discourse, one would rarely use the active construction: Sya y 40nagbigày sa ákin naŋ aklàt. He (subject) gave (active) me a book, books. Even elements which we should look upon as somewhat indefinite are preferred as subjects to an actor: Kinúha nya aŋ isa ŋ aklàt. Was-taken (direct passive) by-him a book (subject), i. e. He took a (certain) book (he knew, or I know which one or what kind).
The active construction is thus confined to instances in which 5the object-ideas other than the actor are entirely vague and undetermined or lacking: Umalìs syà. He went away. Sya y kumúha naŋ aklàt. He took a book, some books (no matter to him or to me which one or what kind). Sumùsúlat sya naŋ líham. He is writing a letter, letters. Sya y pumútol naŋ káhoy. He cut some 10wood. Kumáin sya naŋ kánin. He ate some boiled rice; but: Kináin nya aŋ kánin. Was-eaten (direct passive) by him the boiled rice (subject), i. e. He ate the boiled rice.
If, in spite of the presence of other definite objects, the actor is very decidedly emphasized, a different construction (§§ [104].107.) 15is used.
(2) Static predicate.
95. The predicate may consist of a static word with its modifiers: Aŋ bátà ay mabaìt. The child is good. Iyà y masamàʾ. That’s bad, wrong. Pulà aŋ panyo ŋ itò. This handkerchief is red.
2096. This type of predicate is regular in word-questions: the question word is used as predicate; it precedes the subject: Páno aŋ pagkágusto ninyò sa trabáho-ŋ-kanyunéro? How (predicate) your liking for (i. e. How did you like) the artillery-service? Papáno aŋ pagsasábi sa wíka ŋ Tagálog naŋ salità ŋ Inglès na 25“scissors”? How (predicate) the saying in the Tagalog language of the English word “scissors”? i. e. How does one say “scissors” in Tagalog? Gaáno aŋ pagkakagalìt nila? How great, How serious was (predicate) their quarrel?