Tagalog Lesson 2

HOW ARE YOU? HOW IS…?

Read the following greetings.
Kumusta ka? means How are you?
Kumusta – an expression that came from the Spanish ¿Cómo está?, which means How are you?
Ka – subject pronoun, singular You

Kumusta ang trabaho? means How is the work?

Ang – definite article The
Trabaho – means work

Kumusta si David? means How is David?

Si – a particle in Tagalog that does not have any meaning. It is used when the subject of the
sentence is a name of a person.

Now, to reply to these questions, take a look at the pattern.

Kumusta ka? Kumusta ang trabaho? Kumusta si David?
Mabuti ako. Mabuti ang trabaho. Mabuti si David.
I am fine. The job is fine. David is fine.

Mabuti – means fine

Ako – subject pronoun, singular I

As you may notice, you focus on the answer for Kumusta first before mentioning the rest of the
sentence.

Now let us memorize new words:

Kumusta ang… pamilya? (family?) Kumusta si… Nanay? (Mother?)
buhay? (life?) Tatay? (Father?)
Pilipinas? (Philippines?)

1
 NOW!
1-on-1 Exercise. Instructions: Teacher (T) pronounces each statement. Student (S) listens and repeats
what teacher says.

T: Kumusta ka?
S: _______________
T: Kumusta ang buhay?
S: _______________
T: Kumusta si David?
S: _______________
T: Mabuti ako.
S: _______________
T: Mabuti ang pamilya.
S: _______________

REVIEW!
Exercise 1. Fill in the blanks with correct letters and translate each into English.
1. _ u _ u s t a 4. P _ l _ p _ n a s
2. M a b _ _ i 5. _ u h a _
3. _ a m _ l y _ 6. N a _ a y

Exercise 2. Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. Kumusta ka? 5. Kumusta si Luke?
2. Kumusta ang trabaho? 6. Kumusta si Nanay?
3. Kumusta si Tatay? 7. Kumusta ang Pilipinas?
4. Kumusta ang pamilya? 8. Kumusta si Mary?