Supposing the pupil knows the classification of the nouns into proper, common or appellative &., we shall occupy ourselves with their formation, being as it is, so much diverse and usual.

A great number of nouns and verbs are compounded in Bisaya by means of roots and particles.

The root is the word which contains in itself the signification of the thing, but can not express it without any other word, which we call a particle, to which the root must be united.

1.a With the particle ca at the beginning of the root, and an after, are formed collective nouns, and nouns of place, as:—Grove, cacahoyan—Banana plantation, casagingan.

2.a With the particle ca before, are formed the nouns of quality, as:—Whiteness,—Ang caputi.

3.a By placing the particle pagca before the roots, are formed the abstract nouns, and those pointing out the essence of the things, as:

4.a With the particle isigca before the root, are formed correlative nouns, placing the possessive pronoun in genitive case, as:

5.a With the particles mag and man are formed substantive and adjective nouns, duplicating the first syllable of the roots, thus:

6. With the particle pala before, are formed several substantives, as:

7.a With tag before the root, are formed nouns expressing the owner of a thing, as:

8.a Putting this same particle before the words signifying the seasons of the year or the atmospherical changes, points out the time of these changes: and placing it before words signifying the farming-works, it shows the time of those operations. In some provinces are used also in this same sense, the particles tig and tin, thus:

9.a The particle taga before the nouns of countries or nations, serves to ask some one about his town, as:

10.a Taga signifies also until, and points out the end of the action, as:

11.a By means of the articles pag and pagca are formed the verbal substantives. Ex:

12.a Placing the particle tagi before the root it points out permanency on a place, as: