The Cheat's Guide To Tagalog v2.0

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THE CHEAT’S
GUIDE TO
TAGALOG
A refreshingly easy method
Philip Smithson, Angela Imana

www.learntagalogfast.com
Copyright © 2018 Philip Smithson, Angela Imana
All rights reserved.
Second edition.
www.learntagalogfast.com
info@learntagalogfast.com
Contents
THE CHEAT’S GUIDE TO TAGALOG 1
CONTENTS 3
PREFACE 14
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THIS BOOK. 16
BEGINNER LESSONS 18
Lesson 1 Introducing Yourself 19

Greeting 19
Name 19
Place of Origin 20
Place of Current Residency 20
Nationality/ Citizenship 20
Age 21
Work or Hobby 21
Reason for going/ staying in the Philippines 22
Practice 22
Lesson 2 Taglish Rules! 23

English in Tagalog Grammar 23
Tagalog in English Grammar 25
Practice 26
Lesson 3 Pronunciation Guide 27

Consonants 27
Vowels 27
Diphthongs 27
Notable sounds 27
Stress 29
Stress in Tagalog 30
Practice 31
Lesson 4 Everyday Questions 32

Kamusta...? / Kumusta...? 32
Ano...? 32
Kailan...? / Kelan...? 33
Alin…? 34
Saan...? / San…? 34
Practice 34
Lesson 5 Everyday Questions Part 2 36

Ba Marker 36
Paano…? / Pano…? 36
Bakit…? / Ba’t…? 37
Ilan…? 37
Gaano…? / Gano…? 37
Magkano…? 38
Practice 38
Lesson 6 Everyday Questions Part 3 39

Ha? 39
Di (po) ba? 39
...No? /...Ano (po)? 39
Talaga (po)? / Talaga (po) ba? 39
Practice 40
Lesson 7 Going Places and Doing Things 41

To do: English words 41
To do: Tagalog Words 41
Tayo versus Kami 41
Practice 42
Lesson 8 Expressing Likes and Wants 43

Likes: Activities 43
Vocabulary: Indirect Personal Pronouns [IPP] 44
Mahilig 44
Do you like…? 44
Likes: Nouns 45
Likes: Intensified 45
Practice 45
Lesson 9 Expressing Dislikes 46

Dislikes: Activities 46
Dislikes: Nouns 46
Ayoko 46
Dislikes: Intensified 46
Asking Dislikes 47
Practice 47
Lesson 10 Going to Places and Doing Things Part 2 48

Ano 48
Saan 48
Nasaan 49
Paano 50
Describing Where Things and Places Are 50
Vocabulary: Location Words 50
Practice 51
Lesson 11 Describing People and Things 52

Vocabulary: Modifiers 52
Ma- Modifiers 52
Root Word Modifier 52
Describe: Common Nouns 53
Describe: Specific Nouns 53
Describe: Multiple People 53
Describe: Ba 53
Practice 53
Lesson 12 Describing People and Things Part 2 54

Vocabulary: Direct Personal Pronouns [DPP] 54
Describe: Personal Pronouns 54
Describe: Ba 54
Vocabulary: Direct Demonstrative Pronouns (ODP) 55
Describe: Pointed Things 55
Describe: Ba 55
Practice 56
Lesson 13 Very… Slightly 57

Mas vs. Pinaka- 57
Talaga/ talagang 58
...Nang Kaunti 58
Masyado/ Masyadong 58
Medyo 58
Practice 58
Lesson 14 Very… Slightly Part 2 60

Sobra 60
Napaka- 60
Ang + [modifier] 61
ang + [modifier x 2] 61
Practice 61
Lesson 15 Comparing People and Things 63

Parehong/ Parehas 63
Katulad/ Tulad 63
Kasing-/ sing- 63
Magkasing-/ magsing- 64
Practice 64
Lesson 16 Ownership of Things 65

Object First 65
Pronoun First 65
Vocabulary: Oblique Personal Pronouns [OPP] 65
Practice 66
Lesson 17 Commanding/ Requesting 67

Imperative Form in Actor Focus 67
Imperative form: Root Word 67
Imperative form in Actor Focus: Mag- verb 67

Imperative form in Actor Focus: -um- verb 68
Imperative form in Actor Focus: ma- verb 68
Requesting 69
Practice 70
Lesson 18 Here, There, Everywhere 71

Vocabularies: Oblique Demonstrative Pronouns (ODP) 71
On Dito 71
On Doon 72
On Diyan 72
Practice 72
Lesson 19 Expressing Needs 73

Needs: Pointed Things 73
Needs: Common Noun 73
Needs: Activities 73
Asking for Needs: 74
Needs: Negated 74
Practice 74
Lesson 20 Expressing Permission 75

Permission: Actions 75
Permission: Nouns 75
Permission: Pointed Things 75
Asking for Permission 75
Permission: Intensified 76
Asking for permission: Negated 76
Practice 77
Lesson 21 Expressing Capability 77

Capability: Actions 78
Capability: Nouns 78
Capability: Pointed Things 78
Asking if Capable 78
Pointed Things and Places 79
Capability: Intensified 79
Capability: Negated 79
Asking if Capable: Negated 80
Practice 81
Lesson 22 Expressing Duty 82

Required: Actions 82
Required: Nouns 82
Required: Modifiers 82
Asking if Required: 83
Required: Negated 83
Nouns 83
Asking if Required: Negated 84
Practice 84
Lesson 23 Having / Not Having and Asking for Something 85

Existing and Non-Existing 85
There is? There’s no? 85
There’s a lot of… 86
Not even… 86
Practice 87
Lesson 24 Buying Something 88

There is… 88
I’m gonna buy… 88
Paying 89
Practice 89
Lesson 25 Getting Sick 91

I have.... 91
I’m hurting… 92
That hurts… 93
Practice 93
INTERMEDIATE LESSONS 94
Lesson 26 Interjections 95
Aba! 95
Aray! 95
Ay! 95
Huy! / Uy!/ Hoy!/ Oy! 95
Hay… 95
Naku! / Nako! 96
Sayang… 96
Grabe! 96
Yih…/ Ih… 96
He! / Che! / Tse! 97
Nye! /Ngek! 97
Hala! 97
Bahala na 97
Practice 98
Lesson 27 Making Small Talk Last 99

At/ At saka/ Tsaka 99
O 99
Pero 99
Kaso 99
Kung 100
Kapag/ pag 100
Dahil 100
Kasi 100
Kaya 100
Habang 101
Bago 101
Tapos/Tas 101
Kaysa/ Kesa 101
Hanggang 101
Nang 102
Para 102
Parang/ Para bang 102
Mukhang/ Kamukha 103
Practice 103
Lesson 28 Sentences 104

Tagalog Word Order 104
Ay Inverse Marker 105
Types of Tagalog Sentences 105
Practice 106
Lesson 29 Sentences Part 2 107

Tagalog Word Order Part 2 107
Rule of Word Order 108
Practice 108
Lesson 30 How Universal is Universal? 110

Kay Marker 111
Word Order? 111
Practice 112
Lesson 31 Which? That? 113

Na Marker 113
Na = Ng? 114
Practice 114
Lesson 32 Particles 116

Po/ Ho 116
Ba 116
Na 116
Pa 116
Muna 117
Lang 117
Naman 117
Nga 118
Daw/Raw 118
Yata/ Ata 119
Din/Rin 119
Pala 119
Sana 119
Practice 120
Lesson 33 Take Your Time 121

Ano... 121
Kwan 121
O... 122
...O 123
Bale… 123
E... 123
E di.../ Edi... 124
...e 124
a... 125
...a 125
...ha 125
...ha? 126
Di ba? 126
...No 126
...No? 126
Practice 127
Lesson 34 “Present Tense” 128

Uncompleted Aspect 128
Vocabulary: Past Tense Words 130
Practice 131
Lesson 35 “Past Tense” 132

Completed Aspect 132
Practice 133
Lesson 36 “Future Tense” 134

Contemplated Aspect 134
Vocabulary: Future Tense Words 134
Practice 136
Lesson 37 Recent “Past Tense” 137

Recently Completed Aspect 137
Recently Completed English Words 138
Practice 139
Lesson 38 To be or not to be? 140

Using Maging with Nouns 140
Using Maging with Modifiers 141
Practice 141
Lesson 39 How’s the Weather? 142

Verb-Acting Weather or Natural Phenomenon Words 142
Natural Phenomenon as Modifiers 143
Philippine Seasons 144
Practice 144
Lesson 40 Don’ts and Don’ts 146

Hindi 146
Wala 146
Huwag 146
Bawal 147
Practice 147
Lesson 41 Describing Actions 148

Adjective = Adverb? 148
Frequency words 149
Practice 150
Lesson 42 Having / Not Having Part 2 151

Practice 153
Lesson 43 Commanding/Requesting Part 2 154

Dual Type Verbs 154
Dual Type Verb Words 154
Practice 155
Lesson 44 Commanding/ Requesting Part 3 156

Imperative Form 156
Practice 158
Lesson 45 “Past Tense” Part 2 159

Practice 160
Lesson 46 “Present Tense” Part 2 162

Practice 163
Lesson 47 “Future Tense” Part 2 164

Vocabulary: Future Tense Words 164
Dual Pronoun? 165
Practice 165
Lesson 48 Object Focus of Pseudo-Verbs 167

Kailangan 167
Kaya 167
Gusto 168
Wala 168
Practice 168
Lesson 49 Forming Nouns 170

Number 170
Compounding 171
Possession 171
Gender 172
Practice 172
Lesson 50 Forming Nouns Part 2 174

Noun/Verb + -an 174
ka- + Noun/Verb 174
ka- + Noun/Modifier + -an 174
mag- + Noun 175
pag- + Noun/Verb 175
pang- + Noun/Verb 176
taga- + Noun (Name of a Place) 176
taga- + Noun/Verb 176
Practice 177
REFERENCES 179
TERMINOLOGY 180
GLOSSARY 183
Greetings 183
Days 183
Months 183
Numbers 184
Parts of the Body 184
Question Words 185
Directions 185
Pseudo-Verbs 185
Modifiers 186
Colors 186
APPENDIX 188
Appendix 1: Pronouns and Markers 188
Pronoun and Marker Chart 188
Appendix 2: Frequency Words 188
Appendix 3: -UM- Verbs 190
Appendix 4: MAG- Verbs 194
Appendix 5: MA- Verbs 196
Appendix 6: -IN Verbs 198
Appendix 7: -AN Verbs 202
Appendix 8: I- Verbs 206
Appendix 9: Aspect of Natural Phenomenon 210
Verb-Acting Weather or Natural Phenomenon Words 210
PHRASEBOOK 1: 211
INTRODUCTIONS 1 212
Introducing Yourself 212
INTRODUCTIONS 2 212
INTRODUCTIONS 3 213
INTRODUCTIONS 4 213
Hobbies 213
INTRODUCTIONS 5 213
Asking further details 213
INTRODUCTIONS 6 214
Asking further details 214
PHRASEBOOK 2: 215
GIVING INSTRUCTIONS 1 216

Telling people what you need them to do 216

Asking if it’s done yet 216

Asking questions and saying thank you 217
PHRASEBOOK 3: 218
DIRECTIONS 1 219
Basic directions 219
DIRECTIONS 2 219
Being more specific 219
DIRECTIONS 3 220
Being even more specific 220
PHRASEBOOK 4: 221
MEETINGS 1 222
Basic useful phrases 222
MEETINGS 2 222
Asking 222
PHRASEBOOK 5: 224
IN A RESTAURANT 1 225
Navigating the dining room 225
That’s mine! 225
Useful questions 226
PHRASEBOOK 6: 227
HAVE SOME FUN 1 228

Helping you help yourself 228
HAVE SOME FUN 2 228

Tagalog swearwords and curses 228
GOOD LUCK! 230

Preface
Learning Tagalog changed my life.

It opened up a whole new way of living for me in the Philippines and unlocked richer
experiences and personal connections that I could never have imagined before moving here.
As you go through this humble book, and as you apply what you learn in your everyday life, I
hope you will also uncover the beauty, excitement and charm of this delightful archipelago.
Learning Tagalog has brought me three main things:
1. A deeper understanding of cultural differences.
Having lived in one country my whole life I had a feeling of how things were supposed to be,
what people were supposed to think and what was supposed to be important.
Coming to the Philippines, this was turned on its head and I encountered people who did
things differently, thought differently, and valued different things.
As a young man, it made me realize that there wasn’t one “correct” culture or one way of
thinking that was “right” and it helped me understand how culturally diverse the world is.
Applying this knowledge made it easier for me to accept the differences between home and
the Philippines and to adjust to life on the other side of the planet.
2. More meaningful connections with the people you engage with.
Tagalog has enabled me to interact with more people, to learn about their families, what they
do, how they work, what they think about a particular topic and many other things. It’s nice
being able to go the extra mile and have that interaction with strangers, on a level deeper
than just “where are you from?”.
Whether I’m at work or in the province, speaking Tagalog helps people I talk to relax and be
comfortable enough to get past the common language barriers.
3. An “ease of use” quality that non-Tagalog speakers aren’t privy to.
Whether I’m riding a taxi, renting a boat or looking for a guide in the mountains, I’ve become
incredibly comfortable engaging with local service providers and making sure I can clearly
have conversations about what I want, where I’m going, what I need, how long it will take to
get there, how much it will cost, asking for a better price, stating whether or not something
is acceptable and so on.
This makes it easy for me to go anywhere and do anything knowing that I’m unlikely to run
into any serious language barriers.
I hope that you too will be able to experience all this and more as you apply the lessons contained
within this book.
Good luck!
- Phil Smithson, Manila, December 2017

What you can expect from this book.

“The expert at anything was once a beginner.”
- Helen Hayes
Many people struggle with Tagalog; this book is designed to make it easy.
What will hold you back from starting to learn any language is linked to three main problem
areas: 1. the fear of making mistakes, 2. the fear of being misunderstood and 3. the fear of
being laughed at.
In order to be good at something, however, we must first be bad at that thing. The more
comfortable we are being bad at it, the quicker we can progress towards mastery.
The first step in learning something is to try it, to stumble, to make mistakes and to put
yourself in situations in which you don’t feel comfortable.
It’s like learning to walk again.
Do babies get frustrated at being unable to walk? At the constant struggle to stand up and
learn? No, the baby just carries on, picks herself up and tries again. As we should.
As life-long learners, we need to rediscover that childlike way of not even thinking about
failure and instead immersing ourselves in ambiguity and to, as soon as possible, start to make
mistakes.
This book is designed to help you take your first steps in interacting with local Filipinos in a
language they understand.
You will not be fluent after reading and learning the material in this book. You will not speak
perfect Tagalog. You will not be able to read a book in Tagalog or understand the TV news
perfectly.
So, what will you learn?
Our goal is to get you interacting with locals. You should use this book as a reference and dip
in and out and skip chapters as you need.
You’ll learn some Tagalog, you’ll learn some Taglish (Tagalog + English is a very common way
of communicating, especially in Manila), you’ll learn some slang and you’ll learn how to make
people feel at ease in Tagalog through basic conversations.
In this book, we focus on teaching what you need to know and removing the things you (a
beginner) don’t need to know right now.
It’s a streamlined way of learning, a streamlined way of getting you to a point where you feel
comfortable interacting with local speakers.
This and this alone is the humble goal of this book.
Here’s to embracing ambiguity and failing fast!
Phil, Leo & Kim.

December 2017
Beginner Lessons
Lesson 1 Introducing Yourself
Learning a new language is one thing but learning how to talk to people in their native language is a
whole different story. This means second-guessing every word and wishing people came with subtitles
or pause buttons. But don’t fret! You’ll discover how friendly it is to learn Tagalog, especially when
talking to its speakers.
P
hilippines is generally a bilingual country Okay lang. = I’m okay.
with English as the second language.
English is so prevalent in the Philippines / Oh + kay + lang/
that Tagalog speakers developed Taglish. As
the name suggests, it is Tagalog and English
combined. This is mainly done using English You can even add Ikaw/ Kaw? (/ee + kaw/) as in
words or phrases in Tagalog grammar. So, “You?” or “How about you?” to ask how they
when you find yourself struggling to find the are. For example:
right Tagalog word, just throw in the towel and
use the English word and try again next time. :)
Kamusta? = How are you?
Okay naman. Ikaw? = I’m okay. You?
Like when you are getting to know a new
person, learning a new language is easier to
start when you talk about yourself first. In this
Oh, and feel free to use English greetings like
lesson, we are tackling how to answer basic
“Hi!” and “Hello!”. More often than not,
personal questions and how to properly
Filipinos will understand you and great back.
introduce yourself.
Greeting Name
Next is introducing yourself. There are usually
First, we start with a greeting. In Tagalog, we
two ways to introduce yourself and these
say Kamusta? (/kah + moose + TAH/) or “How
answer the question:
are you?” as a greeting. It’s a candid and
friendly way to break any ice while also
prompting the other person to talk. How to
answer this? You can say the following: Anong pangalan mo? = What’s your name?
/ah + NONG + pah + NGAH + lan + moh/
Okay naman ako. / Okay naman. = I’m okay.

/Oh + kay + nah + MAN +ah + koh/ Hi, Ako si [your name]. Ikaw? = Hi, I am [your
name]. You?
Mabuti naman ako. / Mabuti naman. = I’m
great. Hi, Ang pangalan ko ay [your name]. = Hi, my
name is [your name].
/mah + BOO + tea + nah + MAN +ah + KOH/
So far, so good? Great! Here are more /sah + AN + ka + nah + kah + tea + RAH/ OR /san
introductory questions that you may + ka + nah + kah + tea + RAH/
encounter when talking about yourself:
Nakatira ako sa _____. (current address)
Place of Origin Taga-saan ka? = Where are you from?

Let’s be real, in a foreign country like the
Philippines, you are the foreigner, so people Taga-_____ ako. = I’m from ______. (current
are naturally curious about your country of address)
origin. There are generally two ways to ask and
subsequently answer country of origin:
Nationality/ Citizenship
Again, peg this to your foreign-ness and the
Taga-saan ka? = Where are you from? natural curiosity of the locals but when Tagalog
/tah + gah + sah + AN + kah/ OR /tah + gah + san speakers ask you your nationality/ citizenship,
+ kah/ they don’t mean anything malicious or bad
about it. It is just one of those glaring
Taga-_____ ako. = I’m from ______. (country of conversation starters waiting to be used!
origin)
Anong citizenship mo? = What’s your

Saan ka galing? = Where are you from? citizenship?
/sah + AN + kah + GAH + ling/ OR / san + kah + ________ ako. (citizenship; in English or
gah + ling/ Tagalog)
Galing ako sa _____. (country of origin)
In this case, feel free to use the English word
for your nationality/ citizenship. Tagalog
Place of Current Residency speakers rarely translate nationality/
No matter how sketchy it is at first, asking and citizenship anyway. But if you do want to use
knowing a person’s current address is one sure the Tagalog translation, here are some of the
way of being relatable or creating rapport, more common nationality/ citizenship in
especially when you discover that you are from Tagalog:
the same area. After all, knowing that you
know the same places means that you have
shared experiences and rapport is all about Americano/a American
shared experiences!
Espanyol/la Spanish
Just remember that you are not required to
give out your full address. Just the city or the Koreano/a Korean
province will do.
Hapon/nesa Japanese
Intsik Chinese
Saan ka nakatira? = Where are you staying/
Italiano/a Italian
living?
Mexicano/a Mexican
Manager ako. = I am a manager.

As you can see, you have the option to include Vlogger ako. = I am a vlogger.
your gender, i.e. ending in -a for women and
ending with -o for men. But this is not required. App Developer ako. = I am an App Developer.
Anong ginagawa mo ngayon? = What do you do

Age right now? /gee + NAH + gah + WAH/ /ngah +
As you continue your stay in the Philippines, YON/
you’ll discover that age is often a topic of
discussion. Feel free to say your age in English Nagta-trabaho/ Nagwo-work ako sa _____.
if you want. Tagalog speakers rarely count let (place of work) = I’m working at/ in _____.
alone say their age in Tagalog. (place of work) /trah + bah + ho/
Ilang taon ka na? = How old are you? Nag-ta-trabaho ako sa Makati. = I’m working in
Makati.
/ee + LANG + tah + ON + kah + nah/
Nag-wo-work ako sa Makati. = I’m working in
21 years old ako. = I am 21 years old. Makati.
21 taong gulang ako. = I am 21 years old.
/GOO + lang/ Trabaho is “work in Tagalog. Notice how the
________ ako. (age) first syllable of the word “work” and trabaho
were repeated? You can also do this for your
hobbies and interests, but you don’t say nag-
ho-hobby or nag-in-interest. Instead you can
Work or Hobby say:
Depending on the location or speaker, Tagalog
speakers would ask about what you do for a Nag + [first syllable of hobby] + [hobby] ako.
living… or just in general. Some would prefer
the latter to reduce the pressure for the other
person regarding their work or how much they For example, your hobby is going on road trips
make for a living. In these cases, you can talk or playing basketball. You can say:
about a hobby or other interests.
Nag-ro-road-trip ako. = I’m going on a road-trip.
Anong work mo? = What do you do for work?

Nag-ba-basketball ako. = I’m playing basketball.
________ ako. (work/ position)
For more details about this repetition of

You can answer this by saying your general syllables, you may go to Lesson 34: “Present
work or position. For example, are you a Tense”. :)
manager or a vlogger or even an app
developer? Then you can say:
Reason for going/ staying in the Practice

Philippines Imagine that you are in a classroom in your first
And no, this is not an Immigration/ Foreign day of school as a transfer student in the
Affairs interview. This is just a curious question Philippines. Introduce yourself by saying
since you did decide to leave your own country your…
and go to the Philippines. So, relax and feel free 1. Name
to share your plans in this country. 2. Age
3. Place of Origin
4. Place of Current Residency
Bakit ka pala pumunta/ nag-visit dito sa 5. Nationality/ Citizenship
Philippines? = What brings you here in the 6. Work or Hobby
Philippines? (Lit. Why you went/ visited here in 7. Reason for going/ staying in the
the Philippines?) Philippines
Lesson 2 Taglish Rules!
In the first lesson, you were introduced to the concept of Taglish or the combination of Tagalog and
English. In this age of globalization, English is so ubiquitous that it is not surprising that some
languages borrow or adapt to it. One of those languages is Tagalog, and thus, Taglish was developed.
I
f you’ve been in the Philippines or heard Greetings
Tagalog speakers talk, you’ll notice some Feel free to say, “Good Morning!”, “Hello!”, or
English words in their conversations. Of “Bye!”, because Tagalog speakers themselves
course, these English words will not give you use these. You might even say that these are
the whole context of the conversation, but it’s more common than the actual Tagalog
a start. You would’ve thought that you can greetings like Magandang umaga!, Kamusta!,
learn Tagalog by speaking English. Now that’s or Paalam!.
irony!
Numbers
Now, Taglish is not just two languages mashed Like Greetings, Tagalog speakers prefer to use
together willy-nilly. It is true that most Taglish the English numerical system over the Tagalog
speakers use the English words in Tagalog one, mainly because it is shorter and faster to
grammar approach, but you just can’t say I use. More often than not, you’ll hear Tagalog
kumain the mango! or “I ate the mango!”. speakers say Twenty-one na mansanas for
There are rules to follow. “twenty-one apples” instead of Dalawampu’t
isa na mansanas which means exactly the same
thing but longer.
Just like how you can make your own version
of a chocolate cake. Maybe you want sprinkles
in your cake or maybe a layer of milk chocolate Note that Tagalog speakers also use the
ganache instead of dark chocolate between Spanish numerical system for smaller number
the cake layers. But before you reinvent, you and years. For example:
must follow the essential steps on baking a
Tagalog Spanish
chocolate cake, right? It’s the same concept in
Taglish. isa uno 1
dalawas dos 2
English in Tagalog Grammar tatlo tres 3

How do you know when to use English words?
apat kwatro 4
Well, the easiest way is to accept that most
Tagalog speakers would prefer to use the lima singko 5
English translations for several cases. Some of
dalawampu beinte 20
those are:
limampu singkwenta 50
dekada nobenta the 19’s Band-aid adhesive bandages
Coffeemate coffee creamer
If you do want to learn about the Tagalog Coleman cooler

Numerical System, go to Appendix. :)
Colgate toothpaste
Crayola crayons
Days, Months, Years, Time
Downy fabric conditioner
Numbers are not the only mouthful words in
Tagalog. When time is of the essence— or Frigidaire refrigerator
topic, you wouldn’t want to allot too much
Gasul liquefied petroleum gas
time (pun fully intended) pronouncing them,
right? Kiwi shoe shine
Mongol pencil
So, feel free to use “Monday”, “December”, Nescafe coffee
“Twenty-eighteen”, or “one P.M.”! If Tagalog
speaker use the, you can use them. If you do Pampers diapers
want to learn the Days, Months, Years, and Payless noodle soup
Time in Tagalog, go to Appendix. :)
Pentel permanent marker
Rugby heavy adhesive

Trademarked Brand Names
“Bubble wrap”, “chapstick”, “frisbee”, Scotch tape adhesive tape
“jacuzzi”— sounds familiar, right? In fact, too Stabilo highlighting pen
familiar. These words are actually trademarked
brand names that are used as generic terms in Tasty sliced loaf bread
American English. Tupperware plastic container
Xerox photocopy
In the Philippines, brand names, both local and Zonrox bleach
international, are also so mainstream that
Filipinos often use them as generic terms of
their products. A classic example of this is the
Technical Terms and Jargon
quintessential Filipino childhood experience:
Growing up at least bilinguals, Filipinos had
Bili ka ng Colgate, yung Close-up (“Go buy
been exposed to English as early as their
Colgate, the Close-Up brand”).
elementary years, in which the major subjects
like the Sciences and Math are taught in
English. More often than not, you’ll hear
Here are some of the trademarked brand
Tagalog speakers discuss technological or
names used as generic terms in Tagalog:
scholarly subjects without translating the term
Albatros bathroom deodorizer and jargon (words and/or expression used in
particular context, often by a particular These changes are more common in borrowed
profession or group of people) into Tagalog. nouns and verbs. For example:
May dumaan na mga doctor tapos nag-jogging

sila sa park. = There were doctors that passed by
There have been attempts by the Commission
and then they jogged in the park.
on the Filipino Language , to translate and
standardize scholarly terms without getting
influenced by English (and/or Spanish). But In this Taglish sentence, the “doctor” is
most of these never caught up to the speaker singular and yet the translation says there were
themselves. more than one doctors. At the same time, the
verb used was “jogging” and yet the
translation says it was in Past Tense. This what
For example: why use agsikapin, for happens when Taglish uses English word as
“engineer” if inhenyero (pronounced, /in + hen root words.
+ YEH + ro/ from the word “engineer”) and
“engineer” itself is understandable? Some may
use agsikapin in formal writing or speech, but
you won’t be hearing it in casual setting.
Tagalog in English Grammar
Another version of Taglish is when the majority
of the sentence is in English. The Tagalog
additions may not mean much at first glance
You may ask, Ano ang “engineer” sa Tagalog?
but when used properly, Tagalog in English
(“What is “engineer” in Tagalog?”). Most often
Grammar will show your Tagalog friends you
than not, Tagalog speakers will reply,
deep understanding for their language.
Inhenyero pero okay na yung “engineer”
(““Inhenyero” but “engineer” is also okay”).
Conjunctions
Conjunctions are the parts of speech used to
So next time you find yourself discussing
connect words, phrases, clauses or sentences.
technical terms and jargons, don’t sweat too
These are the “and”, “but”, “then”, “yet”, etc.
much on translating. What matters is that you
of languages.
are understandable. :)
In Taglish, you can use Tagalog conjunctions to

English words as root words
connect English words, phrases, clauses, or
In the previous cases, Tagalog speakers
sentences, to give them that Tagalog flavor.
directly borrowed from English without
For example:
changing the word and then inserted these
English words in a Tagalog sentence. In this I was about to go kaso my alarm didn’t go off.
case, the English words borrowed are further = I was about to go but my alarm didn’t go off.
changed to fit the grammar of Tagalog.
I will go to the office tapos pupunta ako sa
Greenbelt. = I will go to the office then I’ll go to
Greenbelt.
It’s a good thing I ligo-ed this morning. = It’s a

good thing I showered this morning.
For more details on Tagalog Conjunctions, you
can go to Lesson 27: Making Small Talk Lasts. :) He’s like so gwapo and bait! = He is so
handsome and nice.
Interjections
On the other hand, Interjections are sounds or Note that this version of Taglish is also called
expressions that conveys spontaneous Coño or Conyo. This is the version of Taglish
feelings or reactions. Unlike conjunctions, they often used by younger members of rich people
don’t really connect words, phrase, clauses, or in major cities. This may have negative
sentences. However, they do add nuance to connotations from other Tagalog speakers,
the general “feel” of the sentence. For especially when the Coño/ Conyo speakers
example: themselves are Filipino. However, a foreigner
learning Tagalog are given a pass since they are
still learning the language.
Aray! He bit me! = Ouch! He bit me!
Please let me go to the party naman o. = Please
let me go to the party, please? Practice
What is the meaning of the following
sentences?
For more details on Tagalog Conjunctions, you
can go to Lesson 32: Take Your Time. :) 1. Please, buy the baby pampers, yung
Huggies.
2. Anong date ngayon? Ah, May 14, 2018.
Tagalog words as root words 3. Anong oras yung meeting? 1 p.m.
4. I’m like so stressed kanina, buti nalang
The same way Tagalog speakers use English
the guard made tulong me to lift the
words as root words, Tagalog speakers also do
groceries.
the opposite of this. For example:
5. I ligo-ed kanina before you came!
Kuya guard made bantay my gamit while I was

away. = Kuya guard guarded my stuff while I was
away.
Lesson 3 Pronunciation Guide
Before anything else, the trick to sounding like a native Tagalog speaker is not in the vocabulary or
sentences that you know. It is in the sounds that you can produce.
I
t is true that Tagalog and English has similar vice versa. To start, here are the sounds that
alphabet but it is important to remember occurs in Tagalog:
that not all English sounds in Tagalog, and
Consonants Vowels Diphthongs

b as in robe ng as in king a as in aisle ai/ ay as in pie
d as in feed ñ/ ny as in onion e as in let; aw as in owl
f as in food p as in cap seem; iw as in ew
g as in flag r as in rose; sit; oy as in oil
h as in hand burrito; butter say uy as in —
j as in hand s as in sand i as in seem
k as in sock t as in late o as in low
l as in lemon w as in wow u as in soon
m as in man y as in yawn
n as in not
BONUS TIP consonants and vowels at are different from

Before the Latin alphabet, a.k.a. the alphabet their English counterparts.
we are using right now, Tagalog and other
Philippine languages actually have different
ancient scripts that precede all of the D d and T t
colonizing cultures that stayed in the Compared to their English counterparts,
Philippines. The indigenous script of Tagalog is Tagalog T’s and D’s are harder and sharper.
called Baybayin. Unlike the Latin alphabet There are produced by hitting the tip of the
used today, it is an abugida or a writing system tongue behind the front teeth instead of
in which the smallest unit is a consonant-vowel hitting it to the fleshy bit just about them.
syllable, instead of letter.
Most foreigners learning Tagalog won’t be able

Notable sounds to tell the difference, but if your goal is to
As you can see, there are corresponding sound as Tagalog as possible, this is also a good
English words you can use to determine the place to start.
actual sound of a Tagalog letter (marked by the
bold). Most of these are similar to the English
sounds but there are some notable Tagalog
Jj in the words “butter” or “cutter” in American

Borrowed from Spanish, the Tagalog J is also Accent. It is so soft it is almost non-existent.
pronounced like an /h/ as in “hand”. This is This R started to become common when more
usually used in borrowed Spanish names like Filipinos started learning and using English.
Juan, Jacinta, Jacobo, etc., which are all
pronounced with an /h/. Sometimes, you may
see these names spelled with an H too, The last one is the tap R. It is called tap because
especially if the person naming a child was you just need one tap with your tongue to
feeling experimental. It can be confusing at produce this. It is harder than an American
first but just remember that the Tagalog of English R but softer than the Spanish R. This is
“Jesus” is also Hesus. the “default” R of Tagalog.
Ñ ñ/ Ny ny Of all the three the Trill R is the rarest while

This also originated from Spanish and people retroflex and tap are almost interchangeable.
read the letter as enye. True to its name, it is However, if you really want to bull’s eye that
pronounced as the combination of /n/ and /y/. neutral Tagalog accent, try to avoid retroflex
Since the dawn of typewriters and computers, as much as possible.
people find it hard to type without putting an
extra effort, e.g. keyboard shortcuts. Hence,
the NY ny alternative was practiced. People are
Glottal Stop
usually lax when it comes to choosing between
Believe it or not, there is a consonant sound
the two, but it is important to remember to
that doesn’t have an equivalent letter. This is
stick to Ñ ñ if it is a proper name.
the glottal stop. It is the sudden pause
between two vowels or sometimes at the end
of some words. The same pause or stop you do
Rr when saying, “Uh oh”. For example, paaralan
There are actually several kinds of R’s in is pronounced /pa + a + ra + LAN/ and not /pa +
Tagalog. This is due to the fact that a lot of ra + lan/. It literally separates the two vowels
languages contributed to Tagalog. without the use of a hyphen.
One of the more obvious one is Trill R or the Vowels

kind of R you hear in the word “burrito”. In this You might not notice it, but each English vowel
word the R is long, as if growling. This came has different pronunciation. The good thing is
from Spanish. This R is usually used when the that, Tagalog vowels are more simple and
Tagalog word starts with an R or there are easier to understand.
double R’s in the word
First things first, understand that sometimes /i/

Next is the retroflex R or what is commonly is interchangeable with /e/, and sometimes /o/
used in American Accent English. It id the is interchangeable with /u/. In these cases, the
sound you make when you pronounced the t’s
meaning of the word doesn’t change. For Like in English, Stress also affects the
example: pronunciation and meaning of the words in
Tagalog. For example:
puno
babai babae woman
➢ /POO + no/ tree
lalaki lalake man
➢ /poo + NO/ full
konti konte few
There are four kinds of stress in Tagalog: (1)

Of course, this is not always the case. A good Malumay, (2) Malumì, (3) Mabilís, (4) Maragsâ.
rule of thumb is “if the word ends this vowel, it And as their names look like, there are stress
can interchange with that vowel”. The rest are marks involved.
by familiarizing yourself with the words.
Malumay
Next, don’t add extra vowels when This is the default stress of most Tagalog
pronouncing the sound. For example: The A in words; therefore, it is the most common. The
Tagalog is the A in the word “aisle”. Just the A, stress is on the second to the last syllable and
not including the /i/ sound. It is not /ai/ as in it is traditionally left unmarked. For example:
“eye”. Another example is the O’s. The O’s in
Tagalog /ta + GA + log/ Tagalog
Tagalog is also independent. Don’t add an
additional /u/ or /w/ sound in the end. bubuyog /boo + BOO + yog/ bee
kabayo /ka + BA + yo/ horse
Diphthongs
These are sounds made up of vowels combined
with either /y/ or /w/. These are pronounced as
Malumì
a single, combined sound. For example: Similar to malumay, the stress is on its second
to the last syllable. However, there is a glottal
kaibigan /kai + BEE + gan/ friend stop at the end (marked by underline). Malumì
words always ends with a vowel and it is
Maynila /mai + KNEE + lah/ Manila
traditionally marked by a grave symbol ( ` ) over
sabaw /sah + BAU/ soup the vowel. For example:
sisiw /SEE + seew/ chick batà /BA + ta/ child
baboy /BAH + boy/ pig binatà /bee + NA + ta/ young man
baduy /bah + dui/ off-fashion dalagà /da + LA + ga/ young woman
Stress Mabilís
In English, a “PREsent” is a gift while Meaning “fast” or “quick”, Mabilís puts the
“preSENT” is the act of presenting something. stress on the last syllable. In this case, it is
traditionally marked by an acute symbol ( ´ ) salitâ /sa + lee + TA/ word

over the vowel. A Mabilís word can either end
with a vowel or a consonant. For example:
You might ask, “Do Tagalog speakers really use
galáw /ga + LAU/ move
these accent marks?”. The honest answer is
diláw /dee + LAU/ yellow No. We don’t. For some Tagalog speakers, the
only time they can see written Tagalog with
bulaklák /boo + lak + LAK/ flower
accents marks is when it is on formal
documents like diploma or certificates. We
don’t actually need the accent marks because
Maragsâ we know how to pronounce the words.
Like Mabilís, the stress is also on the last
syllable. However, like malumì, it also has a
glottal stop in the end (marked by underline). However, for a learner like you, you might want
Maragsâ words always ends with a vowel and to learn how to read with accent marks or
it is traditionally marked with a circumflex ( ˆ ). pronunciation guide, e.g. /sa + lee + TA/, first
For example: before memorizing a bunch of Tagalog words.
dugô /doo + GO/ blood As a review, here are the different Tagalog
stresses compared with each other:
butikî /boo + tea + KEY/ lizard
Stress in Tagalog
Stress Type Characteristics Sample word Sample words
with accent marks as pronunciation
guide
• stress on the 2nd to the
Tagalog
Malumay last syllable /tah + GAH + log/
• no added stress mark
Malumì • stress on the 2nd to the batà /BA + ta/
last syllable child
• glottal stop at the end
➢ added grave symbol ( ` )
over the last vowel
• stress on the last syllable
galáw
Mabilís ➢ added acute symbol ( ´ ) /ga + LAU/
move
over the last vowel
Maragsâ • stress on the last syllable dugô /doo + GO/
• glottal stop at the end blood
➢ added circumflex ( ˆ )
over the last vowel
Hack: Only Tagalog words ending with a vowel at the end of the word. For this e-book, we will
can have a glottal stop (marked by underline) follow the latter or the pronunciation guide, so
you may learn the proper pronunciation and 2. /sa + REE + lee/ self
stress at the same time. :) 3. /hin + DEE/ no
4. /mah + lah + MIG/ cold
5. /poo + LO/ island
Practice 6. /COO + yah/ big brother
Convert the following pronunciation guides to 7. /too + LAH/ poem
accented Tagalog words: 8. /mah + doo + MEE/ dirty
9. /poo + NO/ full
1. /ee + SA/ one 10. /POO + no/ tree
Lesson 4 Everyday Questions
So, you are in a new country, meeting new sets of people, and hearing a new language. You will need
all the help that you can get! Like they always say, “Ask and you shall receive,” so don’t be shy to ask
friendly Tagalog speakers around you.
B
y now you know that “Kamusta?” means Simple, right? What if you want to sound more
“How are you?” in English, right? Now, candid and more Tagalog? You can also
we’re going to re-use this same word in interchange ang with yung. For more details
the example below: about ang and yung, you may go to Lesson 12:
Describing People and Things Part 2. :)
Kamusta...? / Kumusta...?
/kah + MOOSE + tah/ OR /coo + MOOSE + tah/ For example:
Kamusta ang meeting? = How was/ is the Kamusta yung pagkain? = How was/ is the food?
meeting? (/ang/ as in the Avatar: Legend of Kamusta yung meeting? = How was/ is the
Aang) meeting?
The tense is not indicated in the question so the BONUS TIP

“was/ is” is only provided in this example in the When answering Non-Yes/ No questions in
context of the conversation. The word ang acts Tagalog, you can treat the question words like
as the word “the” here to identify a specific a blank that you can fill with your answer. For
“meeting”, and not just any meeting. You example:
wouldn’t care about a meeting irrelevant to
you and to the one you’re talking to, right?
Kamusta yung pagkain? = How was/ is the food?
So Kamusta ang... is a phrase that can be easily [_______] yung pagkain?

repeated and all you have to do is switch out
_Masarap_ yung pagkain. = The food was/ is
the noun that follows with a Tagalog or English
delicious. /mah + sah + RAP/
word:
Kamusta ang pagkain? = How was/ is the food? Ano...?

(Say: /pag + KAH + in/) /ah + NOH/
Kamusta ang beer? = How was/ is the beer? Ano means “what” in Tagalog. This is a useful
word, especially when you’re trying to learn
Kamusta ang traffic? = How was/ is the traffic? new Tagalog words.
Kamusta ang beach? = How was/ is the beach?
Using the same structure as above, we can ask BONUS TIP

questions like: You know when you want to say something,
but you can’t remember the right words for it
and the next thing you know you’re saying “...
Ano yung “vacation” sa Tagalog? = What is um... you know... hm...” or “You know the...
“vacation” in Tagalog? whatchamacallit?”
Ano ang pangalan mo? = What is your name?

Ano ang ibig sabihin ng “paro-paro”? = What Well, ano has got you covered! Don’t worry,
does “butterfly” mean? this is pretty common for Tagalog speakers.
Just say ano whenever you’re lost for words or
Ano sa palagay/ tingin mo? = What do you just want to say something to fill up the dead
think? / air or until you find the perfect word that you
are looking for.
BONUS TIP
More frequent than not, restaurants here in
the Philippines have these “Best-Sellers” in Ano ulit ang pangalan ni ano? = What’s his/ her
their menu. This is usually their best dish and a name again? (Lit. What again the name of the
crowd-favorite of the customers. So, the next what?)
time you are having a hard time choosing which Na-ano si ano? = Something happened to
meal to order, try the “best-seller” by asking: what(who)?
Ano yung best-seller niyo? = What is your best- And if you really need the time to think, you can
seller (here)? even extend it like:
Anoooooo... = ummmm...
Easy so far, right? What if I tell you that you can
still make it easier? Tagalog speakers like
blending words together to make them shorter Kailan...? / Kelan...?
and easier to pronounce, similar to English /KAY + lan/ or /KEH + lan/
speakers with their “can’t”, “won’t”, “don’t”:
Kailan means “when” in Tagalog. It can also
follow the same structure as the first question
Ano ang pangalan mo? / Ano yung pangalan words.
mo?
> Anong pangalan mo? = What is your name? Kailan ang meeting? = When is the meeting?
Kailan yung dinner? = When is the dinner?
As you can see, anong came from the Kailan ang bakasyon? = When is the vacation?
combination of ano and ang/ yung. This is (say: /bah + kash + SHYON/)
generally done by the Tagalog speakers for
ease of articulation and speed. Kailan yung game? = When is the game?
Now, say you are talking to an older person, or Saan...? / San…?

maybe the parents of your Filipino girlfriend/ /sah + an/ or simply /san/
boyfriend, or even a complete stranger, and
you just want to present yourself as the best The last word saan means “where”. It’s used
and most polite you, you can add this word: the same way as the three question words
above but let’s take it a step further and make
it even more useful for you:
Po, pronounced /poh/, is the magical word you
can add to any sentence, whether questions or
statement, to make them more polite. Saan yung beer ko? = Where’s my beer?
Saan ang kape nila? = Where’s their coffee?
(say: /kah-PEH/)
Kailan po ang meeting? = When is the meeting?
(polite) Saan yung beach? = Where’s the beach?
Saan po ang beach? = Where’s the beach?
(polite)
Kailan po ang dinner? = When is the dinner?
(polite) Saan ako? = Where am I?
Saan ka? = Where are you?
Saan tayo? = Where are we?
Alin…?
/ah + LIN/
This simply means “Which?”. This implies that Practice
the one asking has options. Let’s see how we can apply this to some
imaginary real-world situations. How would
you answer the following scenarios?
Alin dito? = Which from these? (say: /dee + toh/)
1. You are drinking with friends and you
think someone picked up your beer by
mistake. Ask your friends, “where’s
Alin can also be immediately followed by a
your beer?”.
noun. In these cases, it is implied that there are
2. A friend that you are expecting calls
a lot of this noun and you can choose from
you and said that they are running late
them:
because of the traffic. Ask them where
they are and how is the traffic.
3. You forgot the time of your meeting, so
Alin book yung discounted? = Which from these you call your boss and politely ask him,
books is the discounted one? “When is the meeting?”
Alin coupon ang sulit? = Which from these 4. You’re in the beach and you see a girl
coupons is worth it? (say: /SOO + lit/) selling seashells by the seashore, so
you stop and ask, “What is “seashell”
Alin flavor yung masarap? = Which from these in Tagalog?”.
flavors is the delicious one? (say: /mah + sah + 5. You notice that there’s a soft opening
RAP/) café near you and they offer 20% off for
select bread. Ask “Which of these
breads are discounted?”
Lesson 5 Everyday Questions Part 2
Sometimes, there are more things to ask than the usual Yes and No’s, and What, Where, When, Who’s.
In this lesson, we are tackling some more question words that are uniquely Tagalog in their own ways
and the curious ba that can turn any sentences into a question.
T
here are some more useful question Paano…? / Pano…?
words in this lesson that can be very /pah + ah + noh/ or simply /pah + noh/
useful if ever you get stuck or are unsure
of something. This means “how” in English. This is very useful
when asking people to give you a solution to a
problem.
Ba Marker
And since we are at the topic of asking
questions, you may find ba useful. Ba is added You can simply ask Paano ba? which just means
right after a question word for extra emphasis “How?” with the implied meaning of “How do
that it is a question. we do it?”, given that both you and the person
you are talking to are aware of the task in hand.
Kamusta ba yung coffee mo? = How is your

coffee? Paano na ba? = How do we do it now? or [Ok so]
what are we supposed to do now? e.g. when
Ano ba ang pangalan ng restaurant? = What is someone calls you and says they can’t come to
the name of the restaurant? work today.
Kailan po ba ang meeting? = When is the
meeting?
You can also combine with the previous
Saan ba yung beach? = Where is the beach? lesson’s ang + [noun] to ask how things are
done. A very useful question that you can use
is:
This small but powerful word can also turn
statements into Yes/ No questions. For
example: Paano mo sasabihin ang [English word] sa
Tagalog? = How do you say [English word] in
Tagalog?
Kamusta yung coffee mo? “How is your
coffee?”
Paano ang [English word] sa Tagalog? = How
Masarap ang coffee ko. “My coffee is do you say [English word] in Tagalog? (Lit: How
delicious.”
is [English word] in Tagalog?)
Ah… Kamusta yung spaghetti? Masarap ba?
“Ah… How’s the spaghetti? Is it delicious?”
You can use this sentence whenever you want Bakit…? / Ba’t…?
to ask someone to translate a word into /BAH + kit/ OR /bat/
Tagalog. For example:
This means “Why” in English. This is used a lot
in Tagalog for a few different situations, it’s
Paano mo sasabihin ang “birthday” sa very flexible and can be used obviously to ask
Tagalog? = How do you say “birthday” in “why” e.g. Someone tells you they’re going to
Tagalog? be late, you can ask Bakit? or you can also say,
Oh Bakit? when answering a phone call from a
close friend and just want to get down to
business.
Paano ang “This is delicious” sa Tagalog? =
How do you say “This is delicious” in Tagalog?
Ilan…?
What if you want to learn how to do things? /ee + LAN/
Like ride the MRT (Manila Metro Rail Transit) This basically means “How many...?” and is
for example: used when asking for the quantity of anything
countable, with the exception to money.
Paano mag-MRT? = How do you ride the MRT?

Ilan ba? = How many?
Mag- is a very useful prefix that you can attach

to any English or Tagalog verb/ noun and it will You can also use Ilan along with the ang +
transform it into an action. [noun] format:
Paano ba mag-bayad ng Meralco bill? = How do Ilan ang MRT stations? = How many MRT
you pay a Meralco bill? (say: /BAH + yad/) stations (are there)?
Paano mag-long-distance call? = How do you
make a long-distance call?
And like Alin, you can also put a noun
Paano mag-P2P? = How do ride a P2P (Point to immediately after Ilan to ask how much of it is
Point bus)? there. For example:
Paano mag-Makati? = How does one go to
Makati?
Ilan flavors ang available? = How many flavors
are available?
As shown in the last three examples, there is no
need to translate the “make”, “ride”, and “go”
part that exists in English translation. Tagalog Gaano…? / Gano…?
speakers instinctively know what action you’re /gah + AH + noh/ or /GAH + noh/
talking about based on the noun/ verb used.
If ilan means “how many?”, gaano means
“how much?”. It is used for asking the quantity
of things that are not countable. For example:
Magkano ang mansanas? = How much is the

apple? (say: /man + SAH + nas/)
Gaano kabigat yung Balikbayan box? = How
heavy is/was the Balikbayan Box? Magkano ba ang pamasahe? = How much is the
commute?
Gaano ka ka-heavy? = How heavy are you?
BONUS TIP
What is interesting about gaano is that it can
In Tagalog, “commute” is more than the travel
also ask about the degree of a quality. So, it is
between one's home and place of work on a
used not only with quantity, but also quality. :)
regular basis. It means to travel using the
Consider:
public transportations regardless of
destination or when you are not using a private
car.
Gaano kahirap yung exam? = How difficult
is/was the exam? (say: /kah + HEE + rap/)
Gaano kainit sa Philippines? = How hot it is/was Practice
in the Philippines? 1. Your friend keeps on calling his dog
different names and it is confusing you,
so you intently ask, “What is the name
Magkano…? of your dog?” (emphasized).
/mag + KAH + noh/ 2. You want to know how to get to BGC
(Bonifacio Global Center) so you ask,
This simply means “How much money?”. Like “How to go to BGC?”. (“Go” in Tagalog
Ilan, it is for asking the amount of something, is punta)
only this time, it is specifically asking for 3. Your friend said that they were absent
amount of money. So, instead of asking Ilan yesterday so now they have to offset
pera…? which is both awkward to say and for work. Ask them, “Why were you
hear, you can simply say Magkano…? absent?”.
4. Your friend is still gushing on how cute
his dogs are and you discover that he
Magkano po? = How much, please? has more than one dog. Ask “How
many dogs do you have?”. (“dog” in
Tagalog is aso)
You can also combine it with the previous 5. You just had a very satisfying meal and
lessons’ ang [noun] to ask the price of a now ready to pay the bill. Ask, “How
specific thing. much is the total?”.
Lesson 6 Everyday Questions Part 3
In the previous lessons on Everyday Questions, you’ve learned about kamusta and the different
question words. In this lesson, we are going to tackle the small ways you can question things and how
to confirm information you just received.
Y
ou asked your questions and gotten your
answers, or maybe, you assumed
something. Either way, you may want to Di ba traffic sa EDSA? = Isn’t there traffic on
check if the information you received, or your EDSA?
assumption is correct. There are different ways Traffic sa EDSA, di ba? = There’s a traffic along
to do it. EDSA, right?
Ha? ...No? /...Ano (po)?

/hah/ /noh/, not like the word “no” in English, OR /ah
Ever talked to someone and for some reason, + noh/
you didn’t hear what they said or, if you did, ...No? is the contracted form of ...Ano? in this
you can’t understand what they said? Well, case but it is also the more commonly used
you’ll be experiencing more of that, especially variety.
now that you’re learning another language.
You can use ha? Like the way you use “huh?”.
For example: In a way, ...no? and ...ano? are similar to di ba?,
that all of them can be more or less translated
to “isn’t that right?” or “right?”. The difference
Traffic daw sa —*inaudible* = Someone said is that ...no? has the implication that you are
there’s traffic in —*inaudible* expecting that you are right. Whereas, di ba? is
more neutral; you are simply asking to
confirming things. In addition to that, you can
Ha? Sorry di kita narinig. = Huh? Sorry, I didn’t only use ...no? in the end of the sentence.
hear you.
Traffic sa EDSA, no? = There’s a traffic along

Di (po) ba? EDSA, right?
/dee + POH + ba/ OR /dee + bah/
One way of making sure you heard someone
right is by confirming it. The closest translation
Talaga (po)? / Talaga (po) ba?
of di ba? / di po ba? is “isn’t that right?” or /tah + LAH + gah/
“right?”. You can only use this if you already More or less translated to “Really?”, talaga?
know the information and you are just can function on its own or at the start of a
repeating it to the person to confirm it. It can sentence. Using this at the start of the
be used both at the start and in the end of a sentence gives the impression that yes, you
sentence. heard what they said, and you just want to
double check the information you just got. On your umbrella. On your way out of your
its own, talaga (ba)? can be interpreted as a house, you thought you someone
reaction or interjection. calling your name. Answer back.
2. Turns out, it’s your friend and they’re
asking why you are bring your
Traffic sa EDSA. = There’s a traffic along EDSA. umbrella. Tell them aboout the
weather report using di ba?
Talaga?! Hassle… = Really?! What a hassle… 3. After hearing the news, your friend
looked worried and looked at the
overcast sky. Tease them by pointing
OR Talaga po bang traffic sa EDSA? = Is there’s out that they’re not bringing an
really a traffic along EDSA? umbrella.
4. They assure you that they do have an
umbrella, so you tease them further by
Practice asking, “Oh really?” in Tagalog.
1. According to the weather report, there
are 45% chance of rain, so you brought
Lesson 7 Going Places and Doing Things
So, you’ve been asking around and been trying new places and things. With your new and gained
knowledge, you can try inviting someone to go somewhere or to do something! After all, imagine all
the Tagalog practice you can have with your Tagalog friend over a delicious lunch or relaxing day in
the park.
S
ay you want to eat lunch with your new The great thing is that you can reuse this
Tagalog speaker friend and you want to structure just by replacing the English word,
impress them with your Tagalog skills. almost anything goes:
How will you invite them?
Mag-football tayo = Let’s play football

Try: Tara, mag-lunch tayo!
Mag-dinner tayo = Let’s eat dinner
Mag-beach tayo = Let’s go to the beach
Let’s break it down word by word:
Mag-beer tayo = Let’s have a beer
Mag-Starbucks tayo = Let’s go to Starbucks
You can use tara (say: /tah + RAH/) as a generic
term of invitation. You can vaguely translate it Mag-Ayala tayo = Let’s take Ayala (e.g. when
to “Come on/ let’s go!” giving directions in a Taxi)
Remember mag- from the previous lesson? If To do: Tagalog Words

not, mag- is the prefix, or an addition to the This pattern also works with a lot of Tagalog
beginning of a word, that you can use to turn nouns and verbs. Consider:
any English verb/ noun into a Tagalog action. In
this case, the English word is “lunch”.
Mag-lakad tayo = Let’s walk. (say: /LAH + kad/)
Mag-hati tayo = Let’s share a half. (say: /HAH +
Tayo, say /TAH + yoh/, is like “we” in English but
tih/)
it slightly different too. Tayo is the “inclusive
we”. That means that you are including the Mag-sasakyan tayo = Let’s (drive a) vehicle (say:
person you are talking to the activity that you /sah + sak + YAN/)
are doing, with or without other people.
Mag-K.K.B. tayo = Let’s “Kanya-Kanyang
Bayad”. (means, “Pay for Yourself”)
To do: English words

So, Tara, mag-lunch tayo! vaguely translates to
“Come on, we go eat lunch!”
Tayo versus Kami
What if for some reason, that one you are
talking to is not included in the lunch date?
There is a specific pronoun used to exclude
them. Kami (say: /kah + me/) is used to exclude a. go to the park

the person you are talking to. b. buy ice cream
c. ride bicycle
d. eat at Jollibee
Mag-Starbucks kami vaguely translates to “Let e. go for a walk
us, except you, go to Starbucks” while Mag-
Starbucks tayo is more “Let us, and yes you too, 2. On your way to the park, you met your
go to Starbucks” officemate and they asked where you
and your housemate are headed.
Again, your itinerary is:
This does not mean that Tagalog speakers like a. go to the park
excluding people out of their plans. It is just the b. buy ice cream
way the Tagalog language is. c. ride bicycle
d. eat at Jollibee
e. go for a walk
Practice
1. It’s weekend and you are itching to go
outside. Invite your housemate to:
Lesson 8 Expressing Likes and Wants
When meeting new people and going to new places, often times the topic of interests is brought up.
After all, is it one of the easiest way to connect and build a rapport with an acquaintance.
R
emember the format from the previous It is essentially the same as Gusto ko mag-lunch
lesson, mag + [verb/ noun] + tayo? but notice that we added -ng at the end of ko.
We’re going to expand on this here and It doesn’t add any additional meaning to the
instead of saying just “Let’s go for lunch”, sentence except making it easier to flow to the
you’re going to say: “I want to go for lunch”. ears of Tagalog speakers. Isn’t that,
interesting?
Likes: Activities
Let’s start with “I want”: Gusto kong mag-football = I want to play
football.
Gusto ko… = I want / like (say: /GOOSE + to/)
Gusto kong mag-beach = I want to go to the
beach
Then, the mag + [verb] format. In this case, you Gusto ko mag-tuna = I want to eat tuna
want to go for lunch: Gusto ko mag-lunch.
Now, this -ng is called a linker and it connects

Gusto, like in Spanish, means “to like/ want” one word to another. In the cases of the
and Ko means “me” in English so the phrase pronouns, it is optional. However, it is required
literally translates to “Me like go for lunch”. for nouns, verbs, and modifiers. In addition to
You also have the option to use Nais, that, there’s rule: You can only add -ng when
pronounced /nah + is/, which also mean “want” the word is ending with a vowel (a/ e/ i/ o/ u) or
but at a deeper level. However, for some n. Otherwise, there’s no need to link the words.
Tagalog speakers, it sounds to formal or even
archaic so only use nais when you are really
yearning or longing for something.
Examples:
vowels (a/ basang sisiw
e/ i/ o/ u) /bah + SANG + SEE + seew/
Linker -ng Lit: “wet chick”, means
Remember anong, the combination of ano and “pitiful”
ang/ yung? Like any other speakers, Tagalog
speakers likes making things easier and faster libreng food
to say so sometimes, they say: /lee + BRENG/
“free food”
Gusto kong mag-lunch. madaming pera

/mah + DAH + ming + PEH + rah/
“lots of money”
bagong car mahilig, you don’t just like something at a

/BAH + gong/ given point of time. You’re fond of it. You love
“new car” it. Akin to saying that it’s your favorite. For
example:
sampung piso
/sam + POONG + PEE + soh/
“ten pesos” Gusto ko ng chocolate. = I like chocolate
n bayang magiliw
/BAH + yang + mah + GEE + liw/ VERSUS
“dear country” Mahilig ako sa chocolate. = I am fond of
chocolates. / I love chocolates. / Chocolate is my
Again, it isn’t required for pronouns, but it does favorite.
help make the sentence more cohesive.
For more details about ako “I”, you may go to

But that’s enough about you. Let’s talk about Lesson 12: Describing People and Things Part 2.
someone else. Interchange these pronouns :)
with ko to talk about someone else:
Do you like…?
Vocabulary: Better yet! Ask people if they like something by
using the question word ba. Remember this
Indirect Personal Pronouns [IPP] little word? If not, ba is a word you add right
ko /koh/ me after a question word for extra emphasis that
mo /moh/ you it is a question, OR a word used to turn a
statement into a Yes/ No question. Like this:
niya /nyah/ him/ her
natin /NAH + tin/ us
Gusto ba nilang mag-football? = Do they want
(inclusive or including the person you are to play football?
talking to)
Gusto ba niya mag-beach? = Does he/ she wants
namin /NAH + min/ us to go to the beach?
(exclusive or excluding the person you are Gusto ba ninyong mag-tuna? = Do you guys
talking to) want to eat tuna?
nila /ni + LAH/ them
ninyo /nin + YOH/ you Note that the order of words slightly differs
(plural; like “you guys”/ “you all”) when talking about “you”, as in, the person
you are talking to:
Mahilig Gusto mo bang mag-Starbucks? = Do you want

/mah + HEE + lig/ to go to Starbucks?
Another way of saying that you like something
is by using mahilig or “fond of”. However, for
Gusto mo ba mag-lunch? = You do want to eat Gusto kong tuna = I want (some) tuna
lunch?
Gusto mo bang beer? = Do you want (a) beer?
Easy, right? Notice how we used -ng to make

the sentences flow a little nicer? It is optional Likes: Intensified
and attaches to either the ba word or the Do you really like something or someone?
pronouns. However, in these sentences, Intensifying gusto in Tagalog is really easy. You
remember that it can only attach to the second just say, Gustong gusto… then whatever it is
one: that you like or want. For example:
Gusto mo bang mag-lunch? Gustong gusto ko ng tuna = I want (some) tuna.
NOT Gusto mong ba mag-lunch? Gustong gusto niyang mag-Starbucks = He/ She
really wants to go to Starbucks.
Gusto ba nilang mag-lunch?

BONUS TIP
NOT Gusto bang nila mag-lunch? Want to subtly suggest a thing or an activity to
a friend while still giving them the final say? Use
Gusto mo...? / Gusto niyo…?
Likes: Nouns
Say, you want a thing, or you want to ask
someone if they like a thing. You can talk about Say, you want to eat ramen but you’re not sure
an object by putting a ng in front of it. For if your friends/ company would like that idea.
example: You can subtly put that idea in their head by
saying…
Hey guys, gusto niyong mag-ramen?
Gusto ko ng tuna = I want (some) tuna
Gusto mo ba ng beer? = Do you want (a) beer?
The final decision is theirs but hey! At least you
got it out there, right? :)
Note that in these cases, you want/ like the
object itself, not the act of eating tuna, or
drinking beer. You use mag- for that. Practice
1. You are in a restaurant and waiter is asking
for your order. Order Set A: Donburi.
Like in sentences using mag-, you can also 2. Now, the waiter is asking for the drinks. Say
shorten the sentence by attaching the you want their house blend ice tea.
separate ng to the word preceding it: 3. Finally, he’s asking if you want anything
else. Say you want to order desserts.
Lesson 9 Expressing Dislikes
We’ve talked about liking or wanting things and activities. What about not liking or not wanting things
and activities? It’s as easy as using Gusto!
I
n English, you say that you dislike something
by saying “I do not like…”, where “like” is
negated by the word “not”. Technically, the Ayaw ko ng tuna = I don’t want (some) tuna
same thing can be said in Tagalog. For example: Ayaw mo ba ng beer? = Don’t you want (a) beer?
Di ko gustong mag-Starbucks. = I don’t like to

go to Starbucks.
Ayoko
Most of the times, you’ll hear Tagalogs say
Hindi ko gusto yung coffee nila. = I don’t like Ayoko. Ayoko is ayaw and ko combined. Why?
their coffee. Because it is shorter that way! And that ng just
before the object you dislike? You can combine
it with ayoko to make things even shorter. For
As you can see, “not” in Tagalog is hindi/di and example:
they are interchangeable. However, there is a
shorter way of saying that dislike something.
Consider: Ayaw ko ng tuna = I don’t want tuna.
> Ayoko ng tuna = I don’t want tuna
Ayaw = to dislike (say: /AH + yaw/) >> Ayokong tuna = I don’t want tuna
Ayaw ko ng football = I don’t like football
What if the sentence doesn’t have the ng? You

Dislikes: Activities can still add the ending -ng to make it flow
Note that Ayaw… also follows the same easier to the ears.
patterns as Gusto…:
Ayaw ko mag-Starbucks = I don’t want to go to

Ayaw ko mag-football = I don’t want to play Starbucks
football
Ayokong mag-Starbucks = I don’t want to go to
Ayaw kong mag-beach = I don’t want to go to Starbucks
the beach
Ayaw nilang mag-sasakyan = They don’t want
Ayaw ko mag-tuna = I don’t want to eat tuna to drive a vehicle
Dislikes: Nouns Dislikes: Intensified

You or your friends don’t like a thing? You can Like Gusto, you can also express your intense
also use the ng + [noun] format: dislike for something or someone by
repetition. In Ayaw’s case, you say, Ayaw na Gusto ko ng coffee sa Seattle’s Best = I like
ayaw. Like so: coffees from Seattle’s Best
Ayaw na ayaw ko ng tuna = I really don’t like Ayaw nilang mag-swimming sa beach = They
tuna. don’t want to swim on the beach
Ayaw na ayaw ko ng tuna = I really don’t like Gusto nilang mag-volleyball sa beach = They
tuna. want to play volleyball on the beach
Asking Dislikes Have you ever observed that Tagalogs tend to

By now, you should remember ba. Like the mix-up prepositions like “on”, “at”, “in”,
previous lessons, you can turn statements into “into”, etc. in English? That is because Tagalog
Yes/ No question with it. only have sa to cover all of those. So, if you feel
that there should be a preposition in a Tagalog
sentence and you are not sure which to use?
Use the marker sa.
Ayaw ba nilang mag-football? = Don’t they
want to play football?
Ayaw ba niya mag-beach? = Doesn’t he/ she Ayaw ko ng pinya sa pizza ko = I don’t like
wants to go to the beach? pineapple on my pizza. (say: /pin + nyah/)
Ayaw ba ninyong mag-tuna? = Don’t you guys Ayaw nilang mag-commute sa Makati = They
want to eat tuna? don’t want to commute in Makati
Ayaw ba niyang mag-lunch sa BGC? = Doesn’t
he/ she want to eat lunch at BGC?
Marker Sa
Easy, right? Now, let’s make this even more
useful for you. What if you want to further Practice
specify something you don’t like? Like you may Here are some challenges for you:
not like the coffee in Starbucks, but you do like
the ones in Seattle’s Best? 1. Try to tell a friend that you don’t
want to go to Starbucks.
2. How do you say, “I don’t like
You add more details in your sentences, such tuna.”? in Tagalog.
as location, by using the marker sa. Sa is a
separate word that precedes the extra phrases 3. How do you say, “I don’t like eating
you might want to add regarding locations. For tuna.”? in Tagalog
example: 4. Ask someone, “Don’t you want to
go to a vacation in Bohol?”
Ayoko ng coffee sa Starbucks = I don’t like

coffees from Starbucks
Lesson 10 Going to Places and Doing Things Part 2
Navigating in a foreign country is always going to have its up’s and down’s let alone in a country with
7,107 islands, 180+ languages, and notoriously inconsistent transportation means. This lesson may not
help you island-hop across the archipelago nor avoid the infamous Philippine traffic, but it will help
you ask, “Where is the train?” or “How do you go to the museum” in one of the country’s lingua franca,
Tagalog.
W
henever travelling or going to Of course, you can also use saan to ask for the
somewhere, the two of the most general address of your location, but you can
important things to know is (a) the also use Saan to ask for the general location of
location, and (b) how to go to that location. In the place you want to go to. For example:
Lessons 2 and 3, you learned about Ano
“what”, Saan “where”, and Paano “how”. Saang street ang “Learn Tagalog Fast”? = Lit.
Where street is the “Learn Tagalog Fast”?
Saang city ang “Learn Tagalog Fast”? = Lit.
Ano Where city is the “Learn Tagalog Fast”?
/ah + NOH/ Saan ang “Learn Tagalog Fast”? = Where is the
What if you want to know the exact address of “Learn Tagalog Fast”?
the location? You use the format, Anong
address ng [where you want to go]?. Example:
When you ask for directions, don’t be surprise
if Tagalog speakers fail to give you the exact
Anong address ng “Learn Tagalog Fast”? = address or the distance to be travelled.
What is the address of “Learn Tagalog Fast”? Filipinos generally don’t give directions that
way, so sometimes you might hear:
Sa Unit 44B, Zeta Building, 191 Salcedo Street,
Legaspi Village, Makati, 1229 Metro Manila. Saan ang “Learn Tagalog Fast”? = Where is the
“Learn Tagalog Fast”?
Malapit sa Indonesian Embassy, taas ng “Café
You may also use Ano to ask for the street, France”, 4th floor. = Near the Indonesian
town, city, province, etc. Just change ng to Embassy, on top of Café France, 4th floor.
ang. Consider:
How far?
Anong street ang “Learn Tagalog Fast”? =
What street is the “Learn Tagalog Fast”? Depende sa traffic pero walkable. = Depends
on the traffic but it is a walkable distance.
Anong city ang “Learn Tagalog Fast”? = What
city is the “Learn Tagalog Fast”?
Filipinos prefer using landmarks over street
names and numbers and general “feel” of the
Saan distance over kilometers and miles. Unless it is
part of their daily commute, don’t expect
/sah + AN/ or /san/ Filipinos to know the time it takes to go from
one place to another, especially in a place Nasaan ka bumili ng buko juice? = Where did
known for notorious traffic like Metro Manila. you buy the coconut juice?
Nasaan Saan natulog si Kim? = Where did Kim sleep?

/nah + sah + AN/ OR /NAH + san/ NOT:
Another question word you will find useful is Nasaan natulog si Kim? = Where did Kim sleep?
Nasaan. Like saan, it literally means “where”.
Their difference is that saan is used when
asking for the location of an action while
nasaan is used to ask for the location of a noun.
Sa versus Nasa
In the Lesson 9: Expressing Dislikes, you
learned about the Marker Sa and how it
precedes the extra phrases you might want to
Saan versus Nasaan
add regarding locations. The same is true for
“Wait a minute… “street”, “city”, and “Learn
nasa. However, like the difference between
Tagalog Fast” are nouns. Why didn’t we use
saan and nasa, nasa specifically indicates
nasaan there?”, you ask? Remember that
where someone or something is while sa
Tagalog speakers love making words or
indicates where an action is done or being
sentences shorter for ease of articulation.
done.
Those saan you’ve been using with regards to
location of people/ things/ places are actually
nasaan’s!
Rule of thumb: nasa answers the question
Nasaan while sa answers the question Saan?.
And just like saan versus nasaan, feel free to
(Na)saang street ang “Learn Tagalog Fast”? =
shorten nasa into sa if you want to EXCEPT
Lit. Where street is the “Learn Tagalog Fast”?
when talking about location of an action.
(Na)saang city ang “Learn Tagalog Fast”? = Lit.
Where city is the “Learn Tagalog Fast”?
For example:
(Na)saan ang “Learn Tagalog Fast”? = Where is
the “Learn Tagalog Fast”? Saan natulog si Kim? = Where did Kim sleep?
Sa couch. = On the couch.
“How will I know when to use saan and
nasaan?”, you might also ask. As a rule of
thumb: you can use saan and nasaan Nasaan ang “Learn Tagalog Fast”? = Where is
interchably, EXCEPT when talking about the “Learn Tagalog Fast”?
location of an action. You can only use saan in Nasa Salcedo Street. = On Salcedo Street.
that case. For example:
OR
Sa Salcedo Street. = On Salcedo Street.
Saan ka bumili ng buko juice? = Where did you
buy the coconut juice? (say: /boo + koh/)
NOT:
Paano Kaliwa /kah + lee + WAH/ left

Now that you know where you are going, you Harap /ha + RAP/ front
can use paano to ask how to go there. You can
use it in tandem with pumunta “to go”. For Likod /lee + COD/ behind
example:
Loob /loh + OB/ inside
Paano pumunta sa “Learn Tagalog Fast”?
Labas /lah + BAS/ outside
Taas /tah + ASS/ top
In this case, you are giving the person you are
Baba /bah + BAH/ below
asking leeway in the direction he/she will give
you. So, it is their discretion how thorough the Ilalim /ee + LAH + lim/ under
direction will be.
Malapit /mah + LAH + pit/
near
What if you want to ask how to drive or walk to Malayo /mah + LAH + yoh/ far
the location? Or maybe how to use the public
transportation? You can do this following the Tabi /tah + BEE/ beside
format, Paano [mag + mode of transport] Gitna /git + NAH/ between
papuntang [location]?. For example:
You can use these location words to describe

Paano mag-drive papuntang Mall of Asia? = the location of something or place relative to
How do you drive going to Mall of Asia? another thing or place by following the
Paano mag-commute papuntang Ayala formats:
Triangle? = How do you commute going to Ayala Sa/Nasa [Location word] ng [landmark]
Triangle? ang/yung [location] (for places)
Paano mag-bus papuntang UP Diliman? = How Sa/Nasa [Location word] ng [Thing 1] ang/yung
do you take a bus going to UP Diliman? [Thing 2] (for things)
Describing Where Things and Places For example:

Are Nasa taas ng “Café France” ang “Learn
As mentioned earlier, Filipinos in general rarely
Tagalog Fast”. = Lit. On top of “Café France” is
locate places and things using their actual
the “Learn Tagalog Fast”.
addresses. Instead, they favor using landmarks
relative to the location. Of course, the same is Nasa loob ng cabinet yung book. = Lit. Inside of
true when describing the location of an item the cabinet, the book.
relative to another item. In this case, we use
location words.
In the case of gitna “between”, you will
obviously need a third location or thing. In this
Vocabulary: case, use at “and” to add the third location or
thing. For example:
Location Words
Kanan /KAH + nan/ right
Nasaan yung Jollibee? = Where is Jollibee?

4. Answer the questions in 3 in Tagalog:
Nasa gitna ng KFC at McDo. = In between KFC a. under the table
and McDo. b. in front of the park
c. in the faculty room
d. in the break room
For more details about at “and’, you may go to
Lesson 27: Making Small Talk Last :)
Practice
1. Anong complete address mo? (What is
your complete address?)
2. You need to go to the embassy, but you

don’t know where it is or how to get
there. Ask:
a. Where is the embassy?
b. How to go to the embassy?
c. How to go to the embassy by
commuting?
3. Ask for the locations of the following:

a. the book
b. the library
c. the teacher
d. the location where Kim slept
(used natulog “slept”)
Lesson 11 Describing People and Things
We’ve learned how to say you like or dislike something and ask other people’s likes and dislikes. Maybe
you want to justify your choices or maybe you just want to describe things.
I
n English, you learned about the different magaling /mah + gah + LING/ great
parts of the speech, namely: noun,
masarap /mah + sah + RAP/ delicious
pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb,
preposition, conjunction, and interjection. In mabango /mah + bah + NGO/ good-
Tagalog, you’ll discover that adjective and smelling
adverbs are literally the same words used in
mabaho /mah + BAH + ho/ smelly
different scenarios; as adjective when
describing nouns, and as adverbs when matalino /mah + tah + LEE + noh/
describing verbs. Because of that, all adjectives intelligent
and adverbs in this book will be referred to as
mahal /mah + HAL/ expensive
modifiers.
mura /MOO + rah/ cheap
Vocabulary: Modifiers
Describing things is really easy in Tagalog. Your Ma- Modifiers
bigger challenge will be learning the Have you noticed a pattern in our listed
vocabulary. Here are some Tagalog modifiers modifiers? If not, note how most of them start
that you can practice with: with the syllable ma-. That is not a coincidence.
In Tagalog, almost any quality can become a
mainit /mah + EE + knit/ hot
modifier if you add main front of it. These are
malamig /mah + la + MIG/ cold (fittingly) called ma- modifiers.
malaki /mah + lah + KI/ big
maliit /mah + li + IT/ small In this case, ma- means “full of”. Therefore,
[ma-] “full of” + ganda “beauty” = maganda
matangkad /mah + TANG + kad/ tall
“full of beauty” a.k.a “beautiful”. Consider:
masaya /mah + sah + YAH/ happy
Saya happiness > masaya happy
malungkot /mah + LUNG + kot/ sad
Ganda beauty > maganda beautiful
maganda /mah + GAN + da/ beautiful
Bilis speed > mabilis fast
gwapo /GWAH + poh/ handsome
Bagal slowness > mabagal slow
panget /PAH + nget/ ugly
gutom /goo + TOM/ hungry
Root Word Modifier
busog /bu + SOG/ full (satiated) Not all modifiers follow this rule such as in the
marami /mah + RAH + mi/ cases of gwapo, panget, konti, etc. These
many modifiers are examples of root word modifiers.
konti /KON + ti/ few

Describe: Common Nouns this, a girl named Julie is with her friends. You
Now, if you want to describe something in don’t know their names, but you observed that
English, you would say for example, “The they all look happy. How would you describe
building is big” i.e. Noun + to-be verb + them?
modifier.
In these cases, you use sina (say: /see + nah/) to

In the Tagalog constructions, we swap it mark a proper name of a person and his/ her
around and remove the to-be verb, so we get, company. All it takes is one name and you can
in English, “Big the building.”, “Happy the include his/ her company in the description.
boy.”, “Beautiful the girl”. This is where ang + Know all of their names? Good for you! You can
[noun] gets relevant again. also use sina to list down their names if you
want to:
Malaki ang building = The building is big

Masaya sina Julie = Julie and her company are
Konti ang food = The food is few happy
Masarap yung ice cream = The ice cream is Masaya sina Julie, Jody, Judith, at Jude. = Julie,
delicious Jody, Judith, and Jude are happy.
Matalino yung aso = The dog is intelligent (say:
/ah + soh/)
Describe: Ba
Masaya yung bata = The child is happy (say:
This format can also be turned into a Yes/ No
/bah + tah/)
question with…? You guessed it! The question
Maganda yung girl = The girl is beautiful marker ba:
Describe: Specific Nouns Masarap ba yung ice cream? = Is the ice cream
What if you want to describe a specific child or delicious?
girl, as in using their proper names? In these Maganda ba yung girl? = Is the girl beautiful?
cases, you can use si. Si is a marker you put
before the proper name of a person the same Gutom ba si Jody? = Is Jody hungry?
way you use ang before specific nouns. For Masaya ba sina Julie? = Is Julie and her company
example: happy?
Masaya si Jude = Jude is happy

Practice
Maganda si Judy = Judy is beautiful 1. Describe yourself in third person point
of view.
Gutom si Jody = Jody is hungry
2. Describe your favorite snack in the
Philippines.
3. Describe your favorite actor/ actress.
Describe: Multiple People 4. Describe your favorite duo.
What if there is more than one person and you
know the name of at least one of them? Picture
Lesson 12 Describing People and Things Part 2
You’ve learned how to describe common and specific noun in the previous lesson. What if you just
want to point at stuff, then describe them? Well, you’re in luck! Using pronouns in describing things
and people is as straightforward as you can get.
F
irst, let’s run through a new set of Marami kayo = You guys are many or There’s a
personal pronouns. These are the lot of you guys
pronouns you can use when describing
Magaling tayo = We, and yes including you, are
people:
great
Vocabulary: Describe: Ba
Direct Personal Pronouns [DPP] Got it? Let’s combine this with what we learned
ako /ah + KOH/ I in the previous lessons using ba to ask
ka /kah/ you questions. Remember, just by putting in the ba
word, a sentence becomes a Yes/ No question,
tayo /TAH + yoh/ we for example:
(inclusive; including the person you are talking
to)
kami /kah + MEE/ we Matangkad ba ako? = Am I tall?
(exclusive; excluding the person you are talking Masaya ba siya = Is he/ she happy?
to)
Maganda ba sila? = Are they beautiful?
kayo /kah + YOH/ you
(plural; like “you guys”/ “you all”) Gwapo ba kami? = Are we handsome?
siya /sha/ she/ he/ it Marami ba tayo? = Are we are many? or Is there
a lot of us?
sila /si + LAH/ they
Magaling ba kayo? = Are you guys great (at
this)?
Describe: Personal Pronouns
Like the previous lesson, the modifier precedes
Again, note that the order of words slightly
the pronouns. Only this time, exchange ang +
differs when talking about “you”, as in, the
[noun] with a personal pronoun:
person you are talking to. For example:
Matangkad ako = I’m tall

Gutom ka ba? = Are you hungry?
Masaya siya = he/ she happy
Maganda sila = they’re beautiful
Now, what if you want to describe an object
Gwapo ka = you’re handsome but you are also too lazy to repeat “the dog” or
“the building” or “the coffee”? Well, you are in
Gutom kami = We, but not you, are hungry
luck because Tagalog also has “this/ these”,
“that/ those”, and… those things waaaaaay you, the speaker, and the person you are
over there. talking to. Why? Why not? It’s convenient!
Vocabulary: Siya as a Thing

Direct Demonstrative Pronouns Sometimes, you’ll hear Tagalog speakers say:
(ODP)
ito/ to/ tong /ee + TOH/ or /toh/
Mura siya (but referring to the cheap Coke)
this
iyan/ yan/ yang /ee + YAN/ or /yan/ Mahal siya (but referring to the expensive
that (near your listener) ramen)
iyon/ yun/ yung /ee + YON/ or /yun/ Masarap siya (but referring to the yummy
that (far from both you) tonkatsu)
Describe: Pointed Things If the latest set of personal pronouns is still

fresh in your memory, you’ll know that siya is
Ito/ to/ tong is essentially “this”, meaning the
referring to “he/ she”, a person. Yet the
object you are referring to is nearer to you, the
subjects in the previous sentences were food.
speaker, than to the person you are talking to.
Objects! What is happening? Well, the food
Iyan/ yan/ yang is essentially “that”, meaning
items weren’t suddenly sentient. It just
the object you are referring to is nearer to the
happens that this is another convenient
person you are talking to than you, the
language quirk Tagalog speakers discovered.
speaker. Iyon/ yun/ yung is like “yonder”; It is
Especially since this siya can refer to any object
both far from you, the speaker, and the person
of any distance. So, if you forgot which is ito,
you are talking to. For example:
iyan, or iyon, just use siya and you’ll be
understood (given that both of you and your
listener are aware of the object that you are
Mura ang Coke = Coke is cheap.
referring to, of course.)
> Mura yan = That is cheap.
Describe: Ba
Mahal yung ramen = Ramen is expensive.
Finally, like any other statement sentences in
> Mahal to = This is expensive. our previous lessons, you can also turn these
sentences into questions by adding ba:
Masarap yung tonkatsu = Tonkatsu is yummy

Mura ba yan? = Is that cheap?
> Masarap yun = That(yonder) is
yummy Mahal ba to? = Is this expensive?
Masarap ba yun? = Is that(yonder) yummy?
Yung = Ang?
Note that the yung that we’ve been using
Masarap ba siya? … Just make sure your
interchangeably with ang is essentially same
listener knows that you are referring to an
yung referring to an object that is both far from
object (preferably a food item). Pointing helps. 1. Malamig yung Coke (near you)
:) 2. Masarap yung cheesecake (near your
listener)
3. Maganda daw sa Boracay (far from
Practice both you and your listener)
Convert these Describing sentences with 4. Matalino si Maria.
common and specific nouns to Describing 5. Magaling kumanta si Jun.
sentences with pronouns.
Lesson 13 Very… Slightly
Describing things is not always straightforward. Say, the coffee is hot but how hot it is? Is it really that
hot? Is it hotter than the soup? Is it the hottest coffee that you ever tasted? It is all about the degree
of the modifier, or in this case the hotness of the coffee. In this lesson you’ll learn how to modify
modifiers and how to express inequality between described people and things.
R
emember the previous lessons about In these cases, you can use mas and pinaka.
describing people and things? In those Mas pronounced like “mass”, is literally
last two lessons, we’ve been following a translated to “more”. You also use it like how
straightforward format: Modifier + [noun you use “more”, by putting the word mas in
phrase/ pronoun]. front of the modifier. Pinaka (say: / pi + nah +
kah/), on the other hand, is a prefix and
therefore used by adding it at the beginning of
Masaya si Julie. the modifier. It is translated to “most” in
English.
Maganda sina Jody.
Magaling ang aso.
Mas masaya si Julie = Julie is happier. (Lit. more
Matangkad ako. happy)
Masaya sila. Mas maganda sina Jody. = Jody and her
Masarap ito. company are prettier. (Lit. more pretty)
Pinaka-matangkad ako. = I am the tallest. (Lit.
most tall)
Notice that in these sentences, we’ve been
leaving the modifiers (underlined) on their Gusto ko yung pinaka-malaking size, please. =
own. In this lesson, you will learn how to I’d like the largest size (of cup), please. (Lit. most
describe modifiers. All of the modifiers in this large)
lesson will modify ang/ si phrases. Mas masarap ang Starbucks. = Starbucks is
more delicious. (Lit. more delicious)
Mas vs. Pinaka-

/mass/ and /pee + nah + KAH/ Now, what if you want to specify which brand
or shop of coffee you are comparing to
When buying drinks, you usually have the
choices for the size of the cup. But they are Starbucks? You can use kaysa. This basically
never consistent across the different shops, functions as “than”.
aren’t they? “Small” < “medium” < “large”
sounds like you’re buying a shirt and not a
frappe while “short” < “tall” < “grande” < Mas masarap ang Starbucks kaysa Seattle’s
“venti” is too Starbucks-centric. Some don’t Best. = Starbucks(‘s coffee) is yummier than
even offer four different sizes like Starbucks Seattle’s Best(‘s coffee).
does.
Talaga/ talagang connotation that you are complaining that

/tah + la + GAH / or /tah + lah + GANG/ something or someone is “too much.”
Translated to “really”, talaga is used to

intensify a modifier without comparing the And like talaga, you can put it before and after
thing or person to others. You use this before the modifier. Just remember that a masyado
putting it before the modifier. Just remember before the modifier will need the linker -ng.
that a talaga before the modifier will need the
linker -ng. For example:
Therefore…
Masyadong masikip sa Metro Manila. = It is too
Talagang masarap ang food sa Pampanga. = crowded in Metro Manila.
The food from Pampanga is really delicious.
...is literally the same as:
Masikip masyado sa Metro Manila. = It is too
After the modifier: crowded in Metro Manila.
Masarap talaga ang food sa Pampanga. = The

food from Pampanga is really delicious.
Medyo
/MEH + jo/ or simply /mej/
As you can see, both sentences are literally the Medyo/ mej lowers the intensity of a modifier
same so feel free to use any version. and can be translated as “slightly” or “kinda”.
We modify the intensity of the modifier
without comparing it to other entities. It is
...Nang Kaunti used by putting it in front of a modifier:
/nang + kah + OON + tea/
This can be translated to “a bit” in English. Like Medyo mainit yan = That’s slightly/ kinda hot.
the translation suggests, it tones down the
intensity of a modifier. Unlike the rest of the Medyo mahal ang Uber. = Uber is slightly/ kinda
modifiers in this lesson, you can only put expensive.
...nang kaunti after the modifier. Mej okay to. = This is slightly/ kinda okay.
Mahal nang kaunti yung ramen sa Pampanga.

Practice
= The ramen in Pampanga is a bit expensive.
1. Starbuck’s cup sizes are strange. To
start, their smallest size is oddly called
“Tall”; “Grande” for medium, and
Masyado/ Masyadong “Venti” for large. Compare the
/mah + SHA + do/ or /mah + SHA + dong/ different sizes of Starbucks’ cup.
Have you ever needed to describe something a. Tall versus Grande
that is “too much” or beyond of the standard b. Grande versus Venti
or expectation? Well, masyado/ masyadong is c. Tall versus the rest
the word that you can use. It means “too d. Venti versus the rest
much” or “surplus”. Be careful when using
masyado though. Using this may have the
2. Regardless, you ordered a Freshly

Brewed Coffee. However, the coffee is 4. After a few more minutes, your coffee
too hot for you. Describe your coffee. became cold. How do you say, “The
coffee is slightly cold.” in Tagalog?
3. After waiting for it to cool down, you
tried it again. How do you say, “The
coffee is a bit hot.” in Tagalog?
Lesson 14 Very… Slightly Part 2
This lesson is a continuation of the previous lesson on describing the intensity of modifiers and
inequality between described people and things.
I
n this continuation, all modifiers in this Gwapo “handsome”
lesson will modify ng/ ni phrases so the > Sobrang gwapo ng guard. = The guard is so
sentences in this lesson will follow the handsome.
format, [modified modifier] + ng [noun] or
[modified modifier] + ni [person].
You can also use English modifiers as they are
when modifying them with sobra. Consider:
Sobra Sobrang honest ng vendor. = The vendor is so
/SO + bra/ honest.
Last lesson, we tackled masyado which is used
to increase the intensity of a modifier. The
same is true for sobra (say: / sob + rah/). The full forms of the sample sentence above
are actually:
Sobra ang init ng coffee. = The hotness of the
Like masyado, it literally means “too much” or coffee is too much
“surplus”, but unlike masyado, it is more
neutral in meaning and can simply mean that Sobra ang gwapo ng guard. = The
something or someone is “too much” without handsomeness of the guard is too much.
the connotation that you are complaining Sobra ang honest(y) ng vendor. = The honesty
about it. Because of that, sobra is closer to of the vendor is too much.
“so” in English than “too much”. Just
remember, “You put “so” in sobra”.
But even the native speakers themselves rarely
use this format because it sounds too formal
You use it by putting it before the root word of and long-winded.
the modifier, then attaching -ng at the end of
sobra. If you remember from Lesson 11:
Describing People and Things, there are two Napaka-
types of modifiers; the ma- modifiers and the /na + pa + KA/
root word modifiers. For the root word
modifiers, you won’t have to do anything else; This prefix is in a league of its own. It signifies
just use them as they are. For ma- modifiers, extreme intensity of a modifier and can be
first remove the ma-, then use the root word as vaguely translated to “extremely” or
it is. For example: “seriously”. Pronounced as /nah + pah + kah/,
using this prefix in the world where Taglish is
everywhere gives it even more emphasis and
Mainit “hot” intensity.
> Sobrang init ng coffee. = The coffee is so hot.
Why? For some Tagalog speakers, speaking in

straight or malalim na Tagalog “deep Tagalog”
Init sa Pilipinas! = It’s so hot in the Philippines!
is rare and maybe even difficult. So, the mere
fact you are using napaka- gives the impression Ganda ng Black Panther! = It’s so great, the
that something is so intense that napa-Tagalog Black Panther (movie)!
ka “made you speak in Tagalog”. For example:
Don’t worry! They are literally the same :)

So sarap ng ramen. = The ramen is so delicious!
So very init in the Philippines! = It is so hot in
the Philippines! ang + [modifier x 2]
Double the modifier? Yes, in Tagalog, we can
double the modifier root to intensify it. Twice
The Taglish sentences above may sound the modifier, twice the intensity. It’s sound
intense but they pale in comparison with: logic, isn’t it? For example:
Napaka-sarap ng ramen. = The ramen is Ang galing-galing ni Lea Salonga. = Lea Salonga
extremely delicious! is really good.
Napaka-init sa Pilipinas! = It is seriously hot in Ang baho-baho ng durian! = Durian is really

the Philippines! stinky!
Like ang + [modifier], you can also drop the

Ang + [modifier]
ang. Consider:
Surprised? Yes, that is the same ang that marks
specific nouns. In this case, ang intensifies the
modifier while marking it. In English, it has the
Sarap-sarap ng sinigang. = The sinigang is really
same feel to “how” in “How beautiful!”. It is
delicious.
used by putting it in front of a modifier root, or
modifier that is without the prefix ma- Init-init sa Pilipinas! = It’s really hot in the
attached to it. For example: Philippines!
Ang init sa Pilipinas! = It’s so hot in the Practice

Philippines! 1. Continuing your adventure in
Ang ganda ng Black Panther! = It’s so great, the Starbucks, you got hungry, so you
Black Panther (movie)! decided to order a slice of their
blueberry cheesecake. Using sobra,
how do you say, “The cheesecake is so
Unfortunately, the English translation of this sweet!”? (“Sweet” in Tagalog is
format can barely give ang + [modifier] justice. matamis, pronounced, /mah + tah +
It is actually one of the more commonly used miss/)
intensifiers of modifiers. And of course, since
these are the Tagalog speakers and they like 2. Eventually, you finished your cake and
making sentences shorter, you may also hear: noticed how cold it is in the café.
Describe how cold it is using:
a. napaka- c. ang + [cold X 2]

b. ang + [cold]
Lesson 15 Comparing People and Things
In the previous lessons, you learned about describing the degree of the modifiers, a.k.a. adjectives and
adverbs. Since there are different degrees, it is given that all of the compared people and things were
not equal. In this lesson, we are focusing on the equality between compared people and things.
N
ow, we’ve been intensifying (mas vs. ...or by a pronoun if the sentence demands for
pinaka-, talaga, masyado, sobra, a pronoun subject. In these cases, pareho and
napaka-, and ang + [modifier]) and parehas don’t need -ng and na respectively. For
down-playing (...nang kaunti and medyo) example:
modifiers for the last two lessons. In this
lesson, we are tackling similarity or equality
between two or more people or things. Pareho silang magaling sa basketball = They
are both good in basketball.
Parehas silang maganda. = They are both
Parehong/ Parehas beautiful.
/pah + REH + ho/ OR /pah + REH + has/,
Translated to “both”, you can use pareho and
parehas to say that both entities are similar but Katulad/ Tulad
not exactly equal. The same way that Lebron /kah + TOO + lad/ OR /TOO + lad/
James and Stephen Curry are similar because
they are both good in basketball but that does These can be translated to “like” in English,
not exactly mean that they are equal. katulad and tulad, equate a person/ object to
another person/ object. Both forms are
interchangeable but the katulad is certainly the
Pareho and parehas are essentially the same more formal one. You use katulad/ tulad the
but the more formal variant is pareho. Still, same way you use “like” in English. For
they are both pervasive enough to be used example:
interchangeably in casual Tagalog.
Katulad ni Lebron James, magaling rin sa

You use pareho/ parehas by following it with a basketball si Stephen Curry. = Like Lebron
modifier…. James, Stephen Curry is also good in basketball.
Parehong magaling sa basketball si Lebron Magaling sa basketball si Stephen Curry, tulad

James at Stephen Curry. = Both Lebron James ni Lebron James. = Stephen Curry is good in
and Stephen Curry are good in basketball. basketball, like Lebron James,
Parehas na maganda sina Megan at Julich. =

Both Megan and Julich are beautiful. Kasing-/ sing-
Parehong masarap yung ube at avocado ice /kah + SING/ OR /sing/
cream. = Both ube-flavored and avocado-
So far, you’ve learned about words that can
flavored ice cream are delicious.
show similarity between two or more people/
objects. In this case, kasing-/ sing- are prefixes
you attached to a modifier to show similarity. Magkasing-/ magsing- are essentially the same
Despite being prefixes in Tagalog, the closest but magsing- is relatively rare in casual
translation of kasing-/ sing- is the “as + Tagalog.
[modifier] + as” phrase in English. As for the
differences, they are literally the same; sing- is
just a shorter form of kasing-. For example: Magkasing-galing sa basketball sina Lebron
James at Stephen Curry. = Lebron James and
Stephen Curry are equally good at basketball.
Kasing-galing ni Lebron James si Stephen
Curry. = Stephen Curry is as good at basketball Magsing-ganda sila. = They are equally
as Lebron James. beautiful.
Sing-ganda ni Megan si Julich = Julich is as

beautiful as Megan. Practice
You are bored again, and you want to take a
walk outside. Using a map, you determined
Magkasing-/ magsing- that the mall and the park are both 1km away
/mag + kah + SING/ OR /mag + SING/ from your house.
Compared to the other words and prefixes in Describe how malayo “far” both park and mall
this lesson, magkasing-/ magsing- not only are using:
show similarity, they show equality. Meaning,
Stephen Curry is not only good in basketball 1. Parehong
like Lebron James, he is equally as good in 2. Parehas
basketball as Lebron James. 3. Katulad
4. Tulad
5. Kasing-
6. Magkasing-
Lesson 16 Ownership of Things
Now that you know how to describe things and people and locating them, you can now learn how to
claim ownership for them.
R
emember the pronouns we used when Child nino to? = Whose child is that?
describing things and people? Those
were the Indirect Personal Pronouns Anak mo yan = This is your child (say: / ah + nak/)
(IPP), e.g. ko, mo, niya, nila, namin, natin, and
ninyo. We will use those again, only this time
we are going to combine them with the Direct Pronoun First
Demonstrative Pronouns (ODP), e.g. ito, iyan, There is also another way to ask for the owner
and iyon. of a noun. The other question format is Kainino
[noun] ito/ iyan/ iyon? “Whose [noun] is this/
that/ that(yonder)?”. Like the translation
Object First suggests, this is similar to the previous
The format we will be using, Noun + IPP + DDP, question format. The only difference is the
answers the question [Noun] nino ito/ iyan/ focus of the question. In this format, the owner
iyon? “Whose [noun] is this/ that/ of the noun is more important than the noun
that(yonder)?”. Notice that in this question itself.
format, nino (pronounced /knee + noh/) is the
question word and can be answered by ko, mo,
niya, nila, namin, natin, or ninyo. In addition to In this case, kanino (pronounced /kah + knee +
that, the noun is in the start of the sentence noh) is the question word and it requires a new
because the focus is on that noun. In a sense, set of pronouns:
the noun is a more important detail than its
owner.
Vocabulary:
Oblique Personal Pronouns [OPP]
Kape nino iyan? = Whose coffee is that? (sa) akin /sah + AH + kin/ mine
Kape ko to = That’s my coffee. (sa) amin /sah + AH + min/ ours,
but not yours
Beer nino to? = Whose beer is this? (sa) atin /sah + AT + tin/ ours,
and yes, yours too
Beer niya iyan = This is his/ her beer
(sa) iyo/ sayo /sah + ee + YOH/ yours
(sa) inyo /sah + in + YOH/ yours
Bahay nino iyon? = Whose house is that? (plural)
Bahay nila yun = That’s their house (say: / bah + (sa) kanila /sah + kah + knee + LAH/
hi/) theirs
(sa) kaniya / sah + kah + knee + NYAH/
his/ hers
Let’s review. When the question has the word

nino in it, we use the Indirect Personal
Sa Marker Pronouns (IPP), e.g. ko, mo, niya, nila, namin,
The sa in these pronouns are optional in casual natin, and ninyo. When the question has the
conversations, hence the parentheses. word kainino, we use the other set of
pronouns, the Oblique Personal Pronouns
[OPP], e.g. (sa) akin, (sa) amin, (sa) atin, (sa)
Kainino kape iyan? = Whose coffee is that? iyo, (sa) inyo, (sa) kanila, and (sa) kaniya.
Sa akin kape to = This is my coffee.
OR That being said, it is not rare for Tagalog
speakers to interchange these so feel free to
Akin kape to
answer Kainino book to? with Book ko yan!
What’s important is that you are familiar with
both formats.
Kainino beer to? = Whose beer is this?
Sa kanya beer yan = That is his/ her beer
Practice
OR
How would you say the following sentences in
Kanya beer yan = That is his/ her beer Tagalog?
1. That’s my car (yonder)
a. Object first
Kainino bahay iyon? = Whose house is that? b. Pronoun first
Sa kanila bahay yun = That’s their house (say: 2. That’s his chicken
/BAH + hi/) a. Object first
b. Pronoun first
OR 3. That’s their chicken (yonder)
a. Object first
Kanila bahay yun = That’s their house.
b. Pronoun first
4. This is my bag
a. Object first
Kainino anak to? = Whose child is this? b. Pronoun first
Sayo anak yan = That is your child (say: /ah + 5. This is your seat
NAK/) a. Object first
b. Pronoun first
OR 6. This is our table.
a. Object first
Sa iyo anak yan = That is your child
b. Pronoun first
Lesson 17 Commanding/ Requesting
Surprising as it may sound, learning how to give a command/ request in Tagalog is one of the easiest
ways to begin familiarizing yourself with Tagalog verbs and their different forms.
I
n the previous lessons, you’ve learned that Imperative form: Root Word
you can turn any English nouns or verbs into Sometimes, nothing is more compelling than a
Tagalog verbs by following the format, one-word command. For this, we use the verb
mag- + [noun/ verb]: root words. Root word is the foundation of
any word, meaning, it doesn’t have anything
done to it; no affixes and no changes. It can
Mag-SM tayo. = Let’s go to SM. stand on its own. It carries the core meaning of
the word. In these cases, a verb root word is
Mag-lakad tayo. = Let’s walk.
enough:
Mag-lunch tayo! = Let’s eat lunch!
Tayo! = Stand! (say: /tah + YO/, not to be

These are examples of the mag- verbs or verbs confused with /TAH + yo/, as in “us”)
starting with mag-. You are introduced to this
Upo! = Sit! (say: /oo + PO/)
type of verb first because it is easy to use
English words with it. In this lesson you’ll also Takbo! = Run! (say: /tak + BO/)
learn the other types of verbs in addition to the
mag- verbs.
Adding pronoun in a one-word command is
straightforward. You just add ka “you” or kayo
These types are simply based on the format “you(plural)/ you guys” after the verb.
verbs tend to follow when you add something
to the root word. Some root words can follow
several types while some are exclusive to one Tayo kayo! = Stand, you guys!
type. For more details about these dual-type
verbs, go to Lesson 43: Commanding/ Upo ka! = Sit, you!
Requesting Part 2. :)
Takbo kayo! = Run, you guys!
Imperative Form in Actor Focus These are the bare minimum format for a
As the name suggests, imperative form is the command. But most of the times, that is not
form of verb you use when the action is enough.
“imperative”, in other words, a command. On
the other hand, Actor focus indicates that the
focus is on the person or thing that is doing the
Imperative form in Actor Focus: Mag-
action, therefore, the Actor. There are
different ways to say a command. verb
We established earlier, mag- verb is just one of
the verb types in Tagalog. The great thing
about mag- is that it can also function as a > t-um-ayo = tumayo (say: / too + mah + yo/) =
command in Actor focus. ACTOR FOCUS is to stand
when the verb in the sentence puts emphasis
on the Doer of the action.
Unlike Imperative form: Root Words, a
command in this format requires a pronoun:
How do we recognize when it’s the mag- that
just turns any word to a verb versus the mag-
that is already a command? It’s simple. Just Kumain kayo = Eat, you guys
take note of the pronouns used. We will only
use ka “you” or kayo “you(plural)/ you guys” Umalis ka = Go away, you
for commands. After all, it is weird to command Tumayo ka = Stand, you
yourself and impossible to command “he/ she”
or “they”.
Imperative form in Actor Focus: ma-

Mag-lunch ka = You eat lunch. verb
Another type of verb in Actor focus that you
Mag-jeep ka = You take a jeepney can use is the ma- verbs. Ma- is a prefix, or an
Mag-luto ka = Cook, you. affix you add at the beginning of the word.
Verbs under this type are relatively fewer than
Mag-laro ka = Play, you. mag- and -um-, and they tend to be about the
state of mind, body, feelings, or senses of the
Mag-basa kayo = Read, you guys.
Doer of the action. For example:
Imperative form in Actor Focus: -um- Ligo = bathe (say: /LEE + go/)
verb
-Um-, like mag-, means “to do something”, in > ma-ligo > maligo (say: /mah + LEE + go/) = to
Actor focus. It is an infix (an affix you put within bathe
the root word) than you put before the first
vowel of the word. For example:
Tuwa = delight (say: /too + WAH/)
> ma-tuwa > matuwa (say: /mah + too + WAH/)
Kain = eat (say: /KAH + in/) = to be delighted/ happy
> k-um-ain > kumain (say: /coo + MAH+ in/) = to
eat
Kinig = listen (say: /kee + NEEG/)
> ma-kinig > kumain (say: /koo + MAH + in/) = to
Alis = go away (say: /ah + LIS/) listen
> -um-alis = umalis (say: /oo + mah + LIS/) = to
go away
Tulog = sleep (say: /TOO + log/)
> ma-tulog > matulog (say: /mah + TOO + log/)
Tayo = stand (say: /tah + YO/) = to sleep
>This sentence is grammatical because it now

has an Object.
Like mag- and -um-, commands with ma- verbs
require pronouns too:
Paki-cook yung bangus = Please cook the
milkfish (say: /bah + NGOOS/)
Maligo ka = Take a bath, you.
Paki-pass yung paper = Please pass the paper
Matuwa ka = Be happy, you.
Paki-bukas ang TV = Please turn on the TV (say:
Makinig kayo = Listen, you guys /boo + KAS/).
Matulog kayo = Sleep, you guys Paki-sara ang TV = Please turn off the TV (say:
/sah + RAH/).
Requesting
If you are new in a country, surrounded by new BONUS TIP
people and new culture, it is for the best that Bukas actually means “open” but in Tagalog, it
you learn how to say things politely. You can also mean “turn on (electronic)”. In
already encountered po, or the polite marker contrast, sara (pronounced /sah + rah/) means
that can make any sentence more polite. “close” in Tagalog but it can also mean “turn
off (an electronic)”. This is also why Tagalogs
speakers may say “Open the lights” instead of
Now, we’ll be discussing about how to make a “Turn on the lights”, and “Close the lights”
request. When making a request for someone instead of “Turn off the lights”. Interesting,
to do something, we use the paki- prefix. Note isn’t?
that paki- is only applicable in actions that has
something to do with an object. Therefore, you
can translate “Please get the book” but not If paki- is too long for you, you can use its
“Please stand”. For example... shorter form pa-. It is basically the same in
meaning and usage:
Paki-kuha yung book = Please get the book.

(say: / koo + ha/) Pa-mop yung floor = Please mop the floor
… but not: Pa-abot po ng bayad = Please pass the payment

Paki-tayo = Please stand (the…). (say: /ah + bot/ and /bah + yad/).
>This sentence is awkward and ungrammatical, This really useful whenever riding a public
and almost like demanding for an Object. transportation like jeepneys, city buses, and UV
vans. This literally translates to “Please reach
the payment” because you are asking your
fellow passengers to reach out and pass your
Paki-tayo yung chair = Please put the (fallen)
payment to the driver or conductor. If this is
chair in an upright position. (Lit. Please stand the
too long for you, you can simply say, Bayad po.
chair.)
Pabili c. T.V
/pah + bee + LEE/ d. drawing
e. sky-diving
Now, there is this particular word for “buying”
that can have two meanings. The word is pabili 2. You are a referee in a team-building
and it is the combination of short paki- and bili activity and the activity is two-man-
“buy” (pronounced /bee + lee/). The meaning sack race. How will you say, “3… 2…
of the word depends on your intent and the 1… Run!” in Tagalog.
person you are talking to. Consider:
3. A lost person asked you for directions
how to commute to the mall. Tell them
Pabili ng Coke. these directions in Tagalog:
a. Ride a “Fairview” bus.
1) When you are talking to someone and
b. Alight at the footbridge. (Use
you want them to buy you a can/ bottle
baba “down”, an -um- verb)
of Coke, you can say, Pabili ng Coke
c. Climb the footbridge. (Use
and it will mean, “Please buy me Coke.”
akyat “climb”, an -um- verb)
2) When you are talking to the owner of a
store or seller of the can/ bottle of
4. You noticed that your friend is
Coke, you can say, Pabili ng Coke and it
overworked and needing sleep. How
will mean, “I’m going to buy Coke.”
do you tell them to sleep?
5. You want to eat lunch and your other

Practice friend asked you if you want something
1. Turn these English words into Tagalog while they are out doing errands. How
verbs: will you say, “Please, buy me lunch” in
a. jeep Tagalog?
b. aircon
Lesson 18 Here, There, Everywhere
Remember the words we use to point out things when you are too lazy to repeat “the dog” or “the
building” or “the coffee”? If you need a reminder, these are ito/ to/ tong “this”, iyan/ yan/ yang “that”,
iyon/ yun/ yung “that thing way over there”.
I
n this lesson, you will learn how to point the (Over the telephone)
position or location of things, instead
Hello? Traffic dito sa Makati. = Hello? There is
pointing to the things themselves:
traffic here in Makati.
Ah talaga? So, di na tayo mag-mimeet diyan? =
Vocabularies: Oh really? So, we will not meet-up there (in
Makati)?
Oblique Demonstrative Pronouns
(ODP) Oo, doon nalang tayo sa Quezon City. = Yes,
dito/ ditong /DEE + toh/ let’s just meet there at Quezon City.
here
diyan/ jan/ jang /DEE + yan/ or /jan/ there Na/ Lang/ Pa/ Sa
(near your listener)
Very often you’ll need to use dito, diyan, and
doon/ dun/ dung /doh + ON/ or /dun/ doon in combination with one of the words
there far from both you) below to add some extra meaning to the
situation. For more details about na/ lang/ pa/
sa, you may go to Lesson 32: “Particles”. :)
Note the difference of this set of “pointing”
pronouns. ito, iyan, and iyon (DDP) point at
objects while dito, diyan, and doon (ODP) na /nah/ already
point at locations. Consider:
lang /lang/ just
pa /pah/ yet/ further/ still
Ito ang office ko. Malamig dito. = This is my
office. It is cool here. sa /sah/ to/ at/ in
See the difference? Great! Like ito, iyan, and On Dito

iyon, dito, diyan, and doon also distinguishes So, let’s say you’re in a taxi. You’re near where
the distance of a location relative to you (the you want to stop, you could say simply dito
speaker) and the listener (the person you are lang “just here” or you could say dito na po
talking to). Dito refers to a location nearer to “here already”, which more or less means “We
you but farther to your listener. On the other are already here. Please stop”. Na adds a bit of
hand, diyan refers to the location far from you, urgency to it, especially useful when the kuya
but closer to your listener. Finally, doon refers driver is still accelerating and you’re about to
to a location far from both you and your miss your stop.
listener. For example:
On Doon Practice
Let’s say you’re in a taxi again, the driver is far 1. Which from dito/ doon/ diyan should
from where you want to stop, you could say you use in the following situations?
simply doon or you can also say doon pa. a. Discussing with a friend beside
Remember that doon means just you about the sandcastle you
“(somewhere) over there far from both of us”, are building.
while doon pa adds a bit of extra meaning and b. Discussing with a friend from
is like saying “We’re not here yet, it’s a little bit another city about his plans for
further down the road”. studying there
c. At the office, talking about a
restaurant where you are going
If you want to be specific, e.g. about which side to eat later.
of the street, you can say dito lang sa kaliwa
“just here on the left” or dito lang sa kanan 2. You are the assigned navigator for a
“just here on the right”. road trip. Guide your driver using na/
lang/ pa/ sa.
a. You guys are already in front of
your stop, yet the driver is still
On Diyan accelerating. What will you say?
Let’s imagine you’re on the phone to someone b. The stop is on the left side of
who recently left the country and you want to the road. Point your driver to it.
ask how they’re doing over there. The “over c. Your friends a.k.a. backseat
there” is far from you, but near to them so you drivers/navigators are saying
can say: that you missed your stop, but
you are sure that your car has a
long way to go. What will you
Kumusta ka ba diyan? = How are you over there? say?
d. You are really near your stop,
but your driver is uncertain, so
Or if an object is beside the person you’re they just decelerate without
talking to and they ask, “Where is it?”, you can stopping. What will you say to
say: stop the car?
Diyan sa tabi mo. = It’s there beside you.

Lesson 19 Expressing Needs
At some point in your visit to the Philippines, you’re going to need something. After all, “I need that”
still has a different ring to it than, “Give me that” or “Please give me that”.
I
n Tagalog, the word for “need” is is this specific book for now. You can change
kailangan, pronounced /kay + LAH + ngan/. the ng in the previous format with ang/ yung,
It is a useful word to learn, especially when so the final format would be Kailangan + IPP +
expressing that something is needed. ang/ yung [Noun]:
Needs: Pointed Things Kailangan ko ng book. = I need a book.

When saying that you need a pointed thing, the versus
format we use is Kailangan + IPP + DDP, where
IPP is for Indirect Personal Pronouns, e.g. ko, Kailangan ko ang book. = I need the book.
mo, niya, nila, namin, natin, and ninyo, and
DDP is the Direct Demonstrative Pronouns, e.g.
ito, iyan, and iyon: This implies that you not only need any book,
you need a particular book, both you and the
person you are talking to are familiar with this
Kailangan ko ito = I need this (Lit: my need [is specific book, and both of you know that you
for] this) are referring to that book.
Kailangan niya yan = He/ she needs that

Kailangan nila yon = They need that (yonder) Kailangan ko ng tickets. = I need tickets.
versus
Needs: Common Noun Kailangan ko yung tickets. = I need the tickets.

It works with nouns too! All you need to do is
interchange the DDP with a noun. So, the final
format would be Kailangan + IPP + ng [Noun]: The other tickets may be tickets for Beyoncé’s
upcoming concert but if it is not THE tickets
you are referring to, then they are not relevant
Kailangan ko ng hotel room = I need a hotel to the conversation. Beyoncé tickets or not.
room.
Kailangan niya ng tubig = He/ She needs water
Needs: Activities
Kailangan namin ng Uber = We need an Uber. The format is also applicable when you need to
do something. In this case, we follow the
Kailangan + IPP + mag + [verb/ noun] format.
Ang versus Ng
What if you need a specific noun? Like, sure you
may need any book but what if you really need
Stressed kami. Kailangan namin mag-beach = Therefore, in English, we would say “I do not
We (exclusive) are stressed. We need to go to need”, in Tagalog, you say “Not I need”. For
the beach. example:
Kailangan niya mag-taxi = He/ She needs to take
a taxi
Hindi ko kailangan to = I don’t need this
Kailangan ko mag-co-working space = I need to
go to a co-working space. Di nila kailangan mag-hotel = They don’t need
to go to a hotel.
Kailangan mo mag-pahinga. = You need to rest.
(say: / pah + hee + nga/) Hindi niya kailangan ang taxi = He/ she doesn’t
need to take the taxi.
Di ko kailangan ng book = I don’t need a book.
Asking for Needs: Hindi mo ba kailangan mag-overnight? = Don’t
And by using the ba question word, it’s easy to you need to stay overnight?
ask questions:
Kailangan ba niya mag-taxi? = Does he/ she

Practice
needs to take a taxi? 1. List 3 things that you need to do the
moment you wake up.
Kailangan ba nila ng tubig = Do they need
water? 2. List at least 3 ingredients that you need
to cook your favorite meal.
Kailangan ko ba yung book. = Do I need the
book? 3. How do you say that you need…
a. the salt shaker across the table,
near your listener.
Needs: Negated b. the book you ordered over the
Let’s say we want to tell someone we don’t internet for an assignment
need something. In Tagalog, the negation goes c. the sleep that you are about to
at the beginning and usual order of the format take
is flipped. The format for negating needs is
Hindi/ Di + IPP + Kailangan + [needs].
Lesson 20 Expressing Permission
The is a saying that goes, “When in Rome, do as Romans do”, therefore, when in the Philippines, do
as Filipinos do. Of course, it is not required for every aspect of your life. But Filipinos do like it when
they see foreigners putting effort in understanding their culture and lifestyle, especially in the things
that are allowed and not allowed.
I
n Tagalog, word for “possible” or Pwede ang dogs sa amin. = Dogs are allowed in
“allowed” is pwede, pronounced /PWEH + our place.
deh/. It is a useful word to learn, especially
for situations when you have to give and ask Pwede ang food and drinks sa loob. = Food and
for permission. drinks are allowed inside.
Pwede ang minors. = Minors are allowed.
It actually has a more formal counterpart. That

is maari, pronounced /mah + ah + ah + ree/. Permission: Pointed Things
However, it is not that common in everyday
Pwede also works in sentences regarding
conversations. In fact, using it in a casual
pointed objects and places. Remember ito,
setting is weird — the same way using “thou”
iyan, and iyon? Or dito, diyan, and doon?
or “thine” is weird in casus
Pwede ito. = This is allowed.

Permission: Actions
The format we are going to use is Pwede + DPP Pwede iyan. = That is allowed.
+ mag-/ -um-/ ma- verb, where DPP is for Direct Pwede iyon. = This(yonder) is allowed.
Personal Pronouns [DPP], e.g. ako, ikaw/ ka,
siya, kayo, sila, kami, and tayo:
Pwede dito. = Here is allowed.
Pwede kang mag-leave bukas = You are Pwede diyan. = There is allowed.
allowed to take a leave tomorrow.
Pwede doon. = There(yonder) is allowed.
Pwede siya kumain ng mani. = He/ she is
allowed to eat peanuts.
Pwede kang matulog samin = You are allowed Asking for Permission
sleep in our place. What if you want to ask for permission? Well,
like the rest of the Yes/ No Questions, you can
turn statements with pwede by using the
question word ba. For example:
Permission: Nouns
Of course, this works with nouns too. You can
use the format: Pwede + ang + [Noun]:
Pwede po ba akong mag-leave bukas? = May I
take a leave tomorrow, please?
Pwede ba siyang kumain ng mani? = Is he/ she

allowed to eat peanuts?
Pwede ba akong matulog sa inyo? = May I sleep
in your place? Permission: Intensified
What if you want to express a more than
enthusiastic permission? You can do this by
Remember that pronoun ka will act differently repeating the word pwede. Like so:
around ba; instead ka after ba, it will be ka
before ba. For example:
Pwedeng pwede ang dogs sa amin! = Dogs are
more than allowed in our place!
Pwede ka bang uminom ng milk? = Are you
allowed to drink milk?
Technically, you can do this in questions too
but even for Tagalog speakers, Pwedeng
Bang? pwede ba ang dogs sa inyo?, is a bit awkward if
not too much.
Sometimes, you’ll hear Tagalog speakers
combine ba and ang when asking for
permission. Consider:
Asking for permission: Negated
What if, for some reason, you don’t want to
Pwede bang dogs sa inyo? = Are dogs allowed give permission? Negating permission have
in you place? different forms in Tagalog. It all depends on
thing that is negated.
Pwede bang food and drinks sa loob? = Are
food and drinks allowed inside?
Pwede bang minors? = Are minors allowed? Actions
In statements concerning allowing actions, you
follow the format: Hindi/ Di + DPP + Pwedeng
Turning permitted pointed things into + mag-/ ma-/ -um- verb. For example:
questions is straightforward. You just add ba
after pwede.
Di ka pwedeng mag-leave bukas = You are not
allowed to take a leave tomorrow.
Pwede ba ito? = Is this allowed? Hindi siya pwedeng kumain ng mani. = He/ she
Pwede ba iyan? = Is that allowed? is not allowed to eat peanuts.
Pwede ba iyon? = Is this(yonder) allowed? Di ka pwedeng matulog samin = You are not
allowed sleep in our place.
Pwede ba dito? = Is it allowed here?

Turning these to Yes/ No Questions is easy. You
Pwede ba diyan? = Is it allowed there? just add ba after the pronouns except ka. If the
pronoun is ka, you put ba right after it.
Pwede ba doon? = Is it allowed there?
Di ka ba pwedeng mag-leave bukas? = Are you Hindi pwede ito. = This is not allowed.
not allowed to take a leave tomorrow?
Di pwede iyan. = That is not allowed.
Hindi ba siya pwedeng kumain ng mani? = Is he/
she not allowed to eat peanuts? Hindi pwede iyon. = This(yonder) is not
allowed.
Di ka ba pwedeng matulog samin? = Are you
not allowed sleep in our place.
Di pwede dito. = Here is not allowed.
Hindi pwede diyan. = There is not allowed.
Nouns
In statements concerning allowing nouns, it is Di pwede doon. = There(yonder) is not allowed.
simpler. You just add Hindi/ Di before the word
Pwede. For example:
Turning these into questions is
straightforward. You just add ba after hindi/ di.
Hindi pwede ang dogs sa amin. = Dogs are not
allowed in our place.
Hindi pwede ang food and drinks sa loob. = Hindi ba pwede ito? = Is this not allowed?
Food and drinks are not allowed inside. Di ba pwede iyan? = Is that not allowed?
Di pwede ang minors. = Minors are not allowed. Hindi ba pwede iyon? = Is this(yonder) not
allowed?
Turning these to Yes/ No Questions is easy. You

just add ba after Hindi/ Di: Di ba pwede dito? = Is here not allowed?
Hindi ba pwede diyan? = Is there not allowed?
Hindi ba pwede ang dogs sa inyo? = Are dogs Di ba pwede doon? = Is there(yonder) not
not allowed in our place? allowed?
Hindi ba pwede ang food and drinks sa loob? =
Are food and drinks not allowed inside?
Di ba pwede ang minors? = Are minors not
Practice
1. Name one thing you weren’t allowed
allowed?
to do when you were a child.
2. If possible, name one thing you are not

Pointed Things and Places allowed to eat.
Not allowing something while pointing it is as
simple as possible too. You just add hindi/ di 3. Name one thing you are allowed to do
before pwede: in the kitchen that you’re not allowed
do in the restroom.
Lesson 21 Expressing Capability

In the previous lesson, you learned about how to express and ask for permission. In a way, this lesson
is similar to that it can be translated to something “can” or “cannot” do. The same way that,
technically, a lactose intolerance person “can” (as in “capable”) drink milk but that doesn’t mean that
they are pwede “allowed”!
I
n Tagalog, word for “capable” is kaya, we are going to use these in the format, Kaya +
pronounced /KAH + yah/. This is especially IPP + [pointed thing].
helpful if you are the type of person to hype
yourself out loud. Don’t worry! You can do this!
Kaya mo to! Kaya ko ito. = I can do this.
Kaya mo iyan. = You can do that.
Capability: Actions Kaya niya iyon. = He/ she can do that(yonder).
The format we are going to use is Kaya + IPP(-
ng) + mag-/ -um-/ ma- verb, where IPP is for
Indirect Personal Pronouns [IPP], e.g. ko, mo, Kaya niyo dito. = Here is allowed.
niya, nila, namin, natin, and ninyo:
Kaya nila diyan. = There is allowed.
Kaya natin doon. = There(yonder) is allowed.
Kaya kong mag-swimming = I can swim.
Kaya niyang mag-Spanish. = He/ she can speak
Spanish. Asking if Capable
What if you want to ask someone if they can do
Kaya namin makinig. = We can listen. something? Like the rest of the Yes/ No
Kaya kong tumakbo. = I can run. Questions, you can turn statements with kaya
by using the question word ba right after kaya.
For example:
Capability: Nouns
This works with nouns too. You can use the
Kaya ba nilang mag-swimming? = Can they
format: Kaya + IPP(-ng) + ang/ yung [noun]:
swim?
Kaya ba niyang mag-Spanish. = Can he/ she
Kaya namin ang Spicy Noodle Challenge! = We speak Spanish?
can do the Spicy Noodle Challenge!
Kaya ba ninyong makinig? = Can you guys listen?
Kaya ko yung assignment. = I can do the
assignment.
Remember that pronoun mo will act differently
Kaya mo yung pinapagawa ni boss. = You can
around ba; instead mo after ba, it will be mo
do the thing boss is making you do.
before ba. For example:
Capability: Pointed Things
Kaya also works in sentences regarding
pointed objects and places. Remember ito, Kaya mo bang mag-tirintas? = Can you braid?
iyan, and iyon? Or dito, diyan, and doon? Well,
Capability: Negated
Of course, you can’t do everything, which is
Pointed Things and Places okay! Not knowing how to do something
The format is still the same when asking if means more things to discover and learn. In the
someone can do a pointed thing, place, or end, that is what’s important, to never stop
activity; ba after kaya. Consider: learning. :)
Kaya ba ito? = Is this allowed?

Actions
Kaya ba iyan? = Is that allowed? In statements about not being capable to do an
action, you can follow the format: Hindi/ Di +
Kaya ba iyon? = Is this(yonder) allowed? IPP + kayang + mag-/ ma-/ -um- verb, where IPP
is for Indirect Personal Pronouns [IPP], e.g. ko,
mo, niya, nila, namin, natin, and ninyo. For
Kaya ba dito? = Is it allowed here? example:
Kaya ba diyan? = Is it allowed there?
Kaya ba doon? = Is it allowed there? Di ko kayang mag-swimming = I can’t swim.
Hindi niya kayang mag-Spanish. = He/ she can't
speak Spanish.
Capability: Intensified
What if you are really confident in your or other Di namin kayang makinig. = We can't listen.
people’s capability to do something? You can
express this by repeating the word kaya. Like
so: Actions
As usual, we turn these to Yes/ No Questions by
adding ba. However, ba can become more
Kayang-kaya ko ito! = I can really do this! adventurous in this case.
Like in pwede, technically, you can do this in As a general rule, you can turn negated kaya
questions too, but you may sound sentences into questions by adding ba after the
condescending. Saying Kayang-kaya mo ito? IPP’s. Therefore, Hindi + IPP + ba + kayang +
it’s like asking, “Can you really do this? Are you mag-/ ma-/ -um- verb:
sure?”.
Di ko ba kayang mag-gitara? = Can’t I play the

BONUS TIP guitar?
Sometimes, you’ll hear Tagalog speakers say,
Di mo ba kayang mag-swimming? = Can’t you
Yakang-yaka. It is the reverse of kayang-kaya
swim?
and Tagalogs speakers say it for fun or to be
cool. Hindi niya ba kayang mag-Spanish? = Can't he/
she speak Spanish?
Di niyo ba kayang makinig? = Can't guys listen?
Hindi nila ba kayang sumayaw? = Can’t they Asking if Capable: Negated

dance? Turning these to Yes/ No Questions is a little
Di namin ba kayang mag-commute? = Can’t we, trickier. We follow a general rule: add ba after
but not you, commute? the IPP’s. Therefore, Hindi + IPP + ba + kayang
+ [thing that can’t be done]. Consider:
Hindi natin ba kayang mag-tipid? = Can’t we,
and yes you, save money?
Di ko ba kaya yung assignment? = Can’t I do the
assignment?
This is where ba extra adventurous side shows
its face. Sometimes, ba appears before Di mo ba kaya ang Ice Bucket Challenge? =
selected IPP’s. These special IPP’s are niya, nila, Can’t you do the Ice Bucket Challenge?
niyo, namin, and natin. Therefore, Hindi + ba + Di niya ba kaya ang BPO lifestyle? = Can’t he/
[niya/ nila/ niyo/ namin/ natin] + kayang + mag- she do the BPO lifestyle?
/ ma-/ -um- verb. Consider:
Hindi niyo ba kaya ang Spicy Noodle
Challenge? = Can’t you guys do the Spicy Noodle
Hindi ba niya kayang mag-Spanish? = Can't he/ Challenge?
she speak Spanish? Hindi nila ba kaya ang Space Shuttle ride? =
Di ba niyo kayang makinig? = Can't guys listen? Can’t they ride the Space Shuttle ride?
Hindi ba nila kayang sumayaw? = Can’t they Di namin ba kaya yung pinapagawa ni boss? =
dance? Can’t we, but not you, do the thing boss is
making us do?
Di ba namin kayang mag-commute? = Can’t we,
but not you, commute? Hindi natin ba kaya yung Golden Rule, “do
unto others as you would have them do unto
Hindi ba natin kayang mag-tipid? = Can’t we, you”? = Can’t we, and yes you too, do the Golden
and yes you, save money? Rule, “do unto others as you would have them
do unto you”?
Nouns
In statements concerning not being capable to However, there are special IPP’s that demand
do something, is simple. In these cases, you can special attention. Sometimes, ba appears
follow the format, Hindi/ di + IPP + Kaya + before selected IPP’s. These selectedl IPP’s are
[thing that can’t be done]. For example: niya, nila, niyo, namin, and natin. You follow
the format: Hindi + ba + [niya/ nila/ niyo/ namin/
natin] + kayang + [the thing that can’t be
Hindi namin kaya ang Spicy Noodle Challenge. done]. Consider:
= We can’t do the Spicy Noodle Challenge!
Di ko kaya yung assignment. = I can’t do the Di ba niya kaya ang BPO lifestyle? = Can’t he/
assignment. she do the BPO lifestyle?
Di mo kaya yung pinapagawa ni boss. = You Hindi ba niyo kaya ang Spicy Noodle
can’t do the thing boss is making you do. Challenge? = Can’t you guys do the Spicy Noodle
Challenge?
Hindi ba nila kaya ang Space Shuttle ride? =

Can’t they ride the Space Shuttle ride?
Practice
Di ba namin kaya yung pinapagawa ni boss? = 1. Name one thing you weren’t able to do
Can’t we, but not you, do the thing boss is when you were a child.
making us do?
Hindi ba natin kaya yung Golden Rule, “do 2. If possible, name one thing you are not
unto others as you would have them do unto able to eat.
you”? = Can’t we, and yes you, do the Golden
Rule, “do unto others as you would have them 3. Name one thing you are able to do in
do unto you”? the kitchen that you’re not able do in
the restroom.
Lesson 22 Expressing Duty
Just like in any place or in any society, there are rules and laws to be followed by the people in the
Philippines. Sure, not everything is as serious and obvious as “You should follow traffic laws” or “You
should clean as you go”, but “You should not eat snacks before dinner” is still a rule… even if it’s hard
to follow sometimes. :D
I
n Tagalog, when talking about rules or Dapat student daw ako kung mag-a-apply ako
requirements, and other things you really ng internship. = (Someone said that) I should be
have to do, you can use the word dapat a student if I’m going to apply for an internship.
(pronounced /DAH + pat/). It can be closely
translated to “must” or “should” in English.
Required: Modifiers
What if you want to express that someone
Required: Actions should or shouldn’t have a certain quality? In
The format we are going to use is Dapat + DPP(- this case, we are talking about requiring
ng) + mag-/ -um-/ ma- verb, where DPP is for modifiers. Requiring modifiers is also easy. You
Direct Personal Pronouns [DPP], e.g. ako, ikaw/ just follow the format, Dapat + [modifier] +
ka, siya, kayo, sila, kami, and tayo: DPP. For example:
Dapat akong pumunta sa office. = I should go Dapat mabait ka, lalo na sa panahon natin
to the office. ngayon. = You should be kind, especially in our
time right now.
Dapat kang mag-follow ng rules. = You must
follow the rules.
Dapat kayong mag-exercise! = You guys should Dapat madiskarte tayo sa pag-iinvest. = We
exercise! should be street-smart when investing.
Required: Nouns BONUS TIP

Saying that someone is required to be, say… a Diskarte in Filipino culture is more than being
student or a senior citizen is also possible in street-smart. Its meaning tends to get lost in
Tagalog. All you have to do is follow the simple translation but to be madiskarte can
format, Dapat + [noun] + DPP. Consider: mean “to be cunning” or “to have the ability/
strategy to solve current and potential
difficulties”. There’s even a saying about it that
Akala ko ba may 20% discount ngayon? = I goes, Daig ng madiskarte ang matalino “Being
thought there’s a 20% discount today? street-smart beats being smart.”
A, dapat senior citizen kayo, sir. = A, you should
be a senior citizen (to avail the discount), sir.
Asking if Required:
Actions Required: Negated
Turning Required Actions into questions is
easy. You just add the question word ba before
Action
the ODP’s. For example: Saying that someone must not do a certain
action is a little tricky. First, you must flip the
order of dapat and the DPP’s, then add Hindi/
di at the start of the sentence. Therefore, the
Dapat ba akong pumunta sa office? = Must I go format to follow is Hindi/ Di + DPP + dapat +
to the office?
mag-/ ma-/ -um- verb. Consider:
Dapat ba kayong mag-exercise? = Should you
guys exercise?
Hindi ako dapat pumunta sa office. = I should
not go to the office.
However, take note that the pronoun ka will Di ka dapat mag-follow ng rules. = You must
demand special attention. When the pronoun not follow the rules.
is ka, ba is put after it. Consider:
Di kayo dapat mag-exercise! = You guys should
not exercise!
Dapat ka bang mag-follow ng rules? = Must you
Hindi ka dapat kumain ng snacks bago dinner.
follow the rules? = You should not eat snacks before dinner
Nouns
Questioning required nouns is easy. You just
Nouns
For sentences with nouns, there’s a twist in the
add ba after dapat. The final format is Dapat +
ba+ [noun] + DPP. For example: word order, instead of the DPP’s after the
required noun, it is the other way around.
Therefore, the final format is Dapat + Hindi/ di
+ DPP + [noun]. For example:
Dapat ba club members kami? = Should we, but
not you, be club members?
Dapat ba UPCAT passer ako? = Should I be an Dapat hindi ka criminal record holder. = You
UPCAT (University of the Philippines College shouldn’t be a criminal record holder.
Admission Test) passer?
Dapat di kayo minors kung gusto niyong
pumasok sa club. = You guys shouldn’t be
minors if you want to enter the club.
Modifiers
Asking if someone should have a certain quality
is simple. You can follow the format, Dapat +
ba+ [modifier] + DPP. For example:
Modifier
Saying that someone shouldn’t have a certain
Dapat ba magaling kami sa basketball? = quality will also shake our format a little. This
Should we, but not you, be good in basketball? case, you can follow the format, Dapat + Hindi/
di + DPP + [modifier]. For example:
Dapat ba mabilis akong mag-lakad? = Should I
be fast when walking?
Dapat hindi ka maarte. = You shouldn’t be

finicky.
Nouns
Dapat hindi siya racist ha! = He/ she shouldn’t be Turning negated required nouns is also easy as
racist, okay? long as you know the format Dapat + ba +
Hindi/ di + DPP + [noun]. Consider:
BONUS TIP
Dapat ba hindi ako student? = Shouldn’t I be a
Like madiskarte, a single English word cannot
student?
do maarte justice. On a lighter note, maarte,
from the way the word is formed, can mean Dapat ba di ako criminal record holder? =
that someone is “full of art” a.k.a. “artistic”. Should I be a criminal record holder?
But this meaning is rarely used because maarte
generally carries negative meaning. Some of its
less-than-positive meanings are “finicky”, Modifiers
“bratty”, “choosy”, “squeamish”, “prima On the other hand, asking if someone
donna”, “vain”, and “fussy”. shouldn’t have a certain quality is done by
following the format, Dapat + ba + hindi + DPP
+ [modifier]. Consider:
Asking if Required: Negated
Actions
When questioning actions that you shouldn’t Dapat ba hindi kami maingay? = Should we, but
do, you can follow the format, Hindi/ Di + ba + not you, be not noisy?
DPP + dapat + mag-/ ma-/ -um- verb. For
Dapat ba di tayo maarte? = Should we, and yes
example:
you too, be not finicky?
Hindi ba ako dapat pumunta sa office? =

Shouldn’t I go to the office? Practice
1. Name one thing that you should do
Di ba kayo dapat mag-exercise? = Shouldn’t you now that you are an adult.
guys exercise?
2. Name three qualities you look for in a
friend.
As usual, ba is added before ka, as in:
3. Name one thing that a leader should be
Di ka ba dapat mag-follow ng rules? = using dapat or hindi dapat.
Shouldn’t you follow the rules?
Lesson 23 Having / Not Having and Asking for Something
In English, the concept of existing and non-existing can be interpreted as something deep and
philosophical. In Tagalog, it’s part of the everyday life. It may sound weird to say, “There exist a coffee
and its mine,” or “There is no existing coffee,” in English but that’s exactly how Tagalog speakers say
it in Tagalog!
I
t may sound a mouthful in English but
saying that you have or don’t have
something in Tagalog is easy. There are two So far, it’s easy, right? What if you just want to
important words you’ll learn in this lesson: point out something, or more specifically, that
something is there or not there? This is more
straightforward in Tagalog. You just use
previous format and remove the pronoun part.
Mayroon/ Meron/ May /mai + roh + on/ or /meh For example:
+ ron/ = There exist… OR There is...
Wala /wah + lah/ = There is no existing... OR
There is no... Walang coffee = There’s no coffee
May available rooms po. = There are available
rooms
You can use these to say that you have
something or otherwise. For example: Mayroong tao. = There are people.
Meron akong coffee = I have coffee (lit. There BONUS TIP

exist I coffee.)
The communication of the word wala can be
Wala akong coffee = I don’t have coffee (lit. done over distance without talking at all by
There is no existing I coffee.) holding up your hand flat and rotating it from
side to side.
Existing and Non-Existing

As you can see, when stating having or not There is? There’s no?
having something, we follow the pattern: By now, you should know our little question
Mayroon/ Wala + DPP + noun. If you need a word ba. As always, ba can turn Mayroon/
review, DPP stands for Direct Personal Meron and Wala statements into Yes/ No
Pronouns, e.g. ako, ikaw/ ka, siya, kayo, sila, questions. You simply add it after Mayroon/
kami, and tayo. Meron and Wala. For example:
Mayroon silang tea = They have tea Meron ba akong coffee? = Do I have coffee?
Wala kaming milk = We don’t have milk Wala ba akong coffee? = I don’t have coffee?
Wala silang available room = They don’t have
available rooms.
Mayroon ba silang tea? = Do they have tea? case however, marami means “There are a lot
of…”. Think of it as a shortcut. :)
Wala ba kayong milk? = Don’t you have milk?
Wala ba silang available room? = Don’t have
available rooms? Not even…
Have you ever wanted to express your
disappointment for something or someone not
Wala bang coffee? = There’s no coffee? meeting an expectation or bare minimum? In
Tagalog, you can use ni in combination with
Mayroon bang tao? = Are there people?
hindi “not” and wala “nothing” to express that
something or someone has not even met an
expectation or bare minimum. For example:
The only exception to this rule is statements
with May. The ba in this case is put after the
thing that may is referring to. For example:
Ni paper, hindi siya nagdala. = He/ she didn’t
bring anything, not even a paper. (Lit: Even a
paper, he/ she didn’t bring.
May available rooms ba? = Are there available
rooms? Di ako naka-ipon, ni isang kusing. = I wasn’t
able to save anything, not even a half-centavo.
Ni souvenirs, hindi kami nakabili. = We weren’t
The person was asking for available room, able to buy anything, not even souvenirs.
therefore may is referring to “available room”.
That is why ba was put right after it. Consider
these other examples:
BONUS TIP
In the example Di ako naka-ipon, ni isang
May coffee ba ako? = Do I have coffee? kusing, we used the translation “half-
centavo”. Way back in the 1900’s, kusing was
May tea ba sila? = Do they have tea? the smallest denomination out of all of
May tao ba? = Are there people? Philippine coins. So, when somebody say they
don’t have any money, not even a kusing, you
can be pretty sure that they are as broke as a
person can be.
There’s a lot of…
Sometimes, instead of using Mayroon/ Meron/
May to answer whether something is there or
Ni resume, wala siya. = He/ she didn’t have
exists, the conversation may go like this:
anything, not even a resume.
Walang tao, ni teacher. = There’s no people, not
May tao ba? = Are there people? even a teacher.
Maraming tao. = There are. A lot of people. (Lit.
Ni jeep, wala. = There’s nothing, not even a jeep.
Many people.)
You know from the past lessons about

modifiers that marami means “many”. In this
Practice String bean, hyacinth bean, lima bean.

Consider the first verse of the folk song “Bahay
Kubo”:
1. Using Mayroon/ Meron/ May, name at
Bahay kubo, kahit munti least 3 plants/vegetables in included in
Nipa hut, even though it's small, the verse.
Ang halaman doon ay sari-sari. 2. What does the line, Ang halaman doon
ay sari-sari (The plants that grow there,
The plants that grow there, are varied:
are varied), implied about the amount
Singkamas at talong, sigarilyas at mani of vegetables around the nipa hut?
Turnip & eggplant, winged bean & peanut, 3. Using Wala, name 3 plant or vegetable
Sitaw, bataw, patani. that is not included in the first verse of
the song.
Lesson 24 Buying Something
Some expats or visitors of the Philippines get to know this “Pearl of the Orient Sea” through its tourist
destinations, others through its diverse culinary traditions and festivals. Some learn its multicultural
landscape and others through its languages. But for some, shopping and haggling in local bazaars or
markets is one way of knowing and commemorating a new place and experience.
S
o, how do you buy something in Tagalog? respect to other people, especially service
Way back in Lesson 5: Everyday providers.
Questions Part 2, you learned the
question word Magkano or “How much?”.
What if you notice that they don’t have what
you are looking for? You can use the opposite
Magkano ang mansanas? = How much for the of Mayroon, that is, Wala, to double-check
apples? your observation. Consider:
Magkano ang baboy? = How much for the pork?
(say: /BAH + boy/ “pork/ pig”)
Wala po kayong baboy? = Don’t you have pork?
Magkano ang kamatis? = How much for the
tomatoes? (say: /kah + MAH + tis/)
But this implies something more than asking if
the vendor have pork. This implies that you
There is… expect the vendor not to have it, but you want
Remember that? Great! Now, we can combine to check anyway. Be careful when using this for
that with the last lesson on it may sound like a passive-aggressive demand
Mayroon/Meron/May. for the vendor to provide you something that
they don’t have anymore. Keep your tone
friendly and you should be fine. But to be safe,
keep to the Mayroon… format.
Meron po kayong baboy? Magkano? = Do you
have pork? How much?
Boss, may kamatis kayo? Magkano? = Boss, do I’m gonna buy…
you have tomatoes? How much? They have it? Check!
You know their prices? Check!
Note that in any public setting, you can hear Now, you can buy whatever you want in
Tagalog speakers call service providers from Tagalog! (Given that you have enough money
the usual ate “big sister”, kuya “big brother”, of course). Remember the word pabili in
manong/ manang “term generally reserved for Lesson 17: Commanding/ Requesting? We are
older people than you” to “boss”/ “sir”. and going to use the second meaning of pabili, “I’m
“ma’am”/ “miss” and even ganda “beautiful” going to buy …”
or pogi “handsome”. It is also common for
Tagalog speakers to use the plural form of
“you” kayo even if they are only talking to a Pabili (po)(ako) ng [item you want to buy]. =
single person. These are their way of showing I’m going to buy.... (Lit. Please let me buy…)
The po and ako are optional.

Pabili ng 1 sako ng bigas = I’m going to buy a
sack of rice, please. (say: /sah + koh/; / bee +
Ate, pabili ako ng mansanas. = Ate, I’m going to gas/)
buy apples, please. (say: /man + SAH + nas/)
Pabili po ng baboy. = I’m going to buy pork.
Pabili ng 3 bundle ng kangkong = I’m going to
Manong, pabili po ng chicken. = Manong, I’m buy a bundle of kangkong, please.
going to buy chicken, please.
Different uses of ng Paying

What if you want to specify which part of the There! Now, you know how to buy things, you
chicken, and how much of it you want to buy? can ask for the final bill for your stuff buy
Consider this: saying:
Pabili po ng 2 kilo ng thigh part ng chicken. Magkano (po) lahat? “How much for all (of
these?)”
OR
Woah okay, that’s a lot of ng’s! Let’s identify
them, shall we? Magkano po total? “How much is the total
(bill)?”
Pabili po [(1) ng 2 kilo] [(2) ng thigh part] [(3)

ng chicken.] Practice
One of the quintessential Filipino cuisine is the
Adobo. The recipe for Chicken Adobo is really
Remember the separate ng we’ve been using simple and you decided to try cooking it. The
to talk about nouns? That is the marker ng recipe calls for:
same ng in (3). We are talking about the • 400 g chicken (manok, /mah + NOK/)
chicken in this sentence after all.
• 3 Tbsp garlic (bawang, /BAH + wang/)
• 1 1/2 Tbsp vinegar (suka, /SOO + kah/)
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce (toyo, /TOH + yoh/)
Phrases (1) and (2) are describing the chicken. • 1/4 tsp peppercorn (paminta, /pah +
They are just additional information, but the mean + TAH/)
focus is not really on the kilos or the thighs.
• 2 Tbsp oil (mantika, /man + TEA + kah/)
These are the chicken’ information therefore
we can say that this ng is the possessive ng. You already have oil and vinegar in your
You can translate this ng to “of” in English. kitchen, but you are sure you can buy the rest
Therefore: in the local market (palengke, /pah + LENG +
keh/). While you are walking, you saw the
butcher:
Pabili po ng 2 kilo ng thigh part ng chicken. = 1. Ask the butcher if they have chicken.
I’m going to buy 2 kilos of the thigh part of the 2. Ask the butcher if they have the wings
chicken, please. part of the chicken.
3. Say that you will buy the chicken. 5. Ask if they have the ingredients that
4. Ask the butcher how much it will all you need.
cost. 6. Say that you are going to buy them.
7. Ask for the total amount for the
Sari-sari Stores (pronounced, /SAH + ree + SAH ingredients.
+ ree/) or the local convenience stores in the
Philippines usually have the rest of the things
you need for the recipe.
Lesson 25 Getting Sick
Wherever you go, getting sick is always a possibility, especially in a country in the Tropics like the
Philippines. Its sandy beaches and warm weather means that you also have to prepare yourself for
mosquito, water, or other animal borne illnesses unique to the tropical climate. But don’t worry! By
knowing which to avoid and preparing with the appropriate vaccinations and immunizations, you’ll be
able to enjoy the beauty of the Philippines disease-free!
G
etting sick is never fun and getting hurt May + [ailment/ symptom] + DPP.
is worse. But it is the worst when you
can’t even express what you have or OR
where it hurts. Of course, the easiest way is to Mayroon/ Meron + DPP(-ng) + [ailment/
cry out in pain. You can cry out Aray! or Aw! or symptom].
even Ow! in Tagalog but “Ouch!”, the usual
English screams of pain is also fine.
As usual, you can use the English terms for the
ailments or symptoms. However, if you do
I have.... want to use Tagalog, here are some of the
One way of letting people around you that you more commonly used Tagalog/ Tagalized terms
are sick (aside from sneezing or coughing away for some ailments and symptoms:
your entire lung capacity) is by using Mayroon.
There can be two formats:
Beke /BEH + ke/ Mumps
Bulutong /boo + LOO + tong/ Chicken pox
Mayroon/ Meron akong lagnat. = I have a
fever. (say: /lag + GNAT/) High-blood High-blood pressure
May lagnat ako. = I have a fever. Lagnat /lag + GNAT/ Fever
Pasma /pass + MAH/ Spasm
The two are essentially the same but take note Rabis /RAH + bees/ Rabies
of the word order. When using May, the
ailment/ symptom is immediately after it. When Sipon /see + PON/ Colds
using Mayroon or Meron, the pronoun is the TB /TEA + bee/ Tuberculosis
one immediately after it and it can be attached
with -ng linker for ease of articulation. Trangkaso /trang + KA + so/ Flu
Tigdas /teeg + DAS/ Measles
Speaking of pronouns, you can interchange Ubo /oo + BO/ Cough

ako with the rest of the Direct Personal
Pronouns (DPP), e.g. ako, ikaw/ ka, siya, kayo,
sila, kami, and tayo. Therefore, the final For example:
formats are:
May sipon siya. = He/ she has common cold.
Mayroon kayong ubo. = You guys have the You can also talk about your overall body
cough. temperature in this format. Consider:
Meron silang dengue = They have dengue fever.
May diarrhea kami = We, but not you, have Mainit ako. = I’m hot.
diarrhea
Malamig ako. = I’m cold.
Mayroon tayong lagnat = We, and yes you, have
fever.
Meron kang pasma. = You have the spasms. I’m hurting…
What if you don’t know what’s wrong with you
but you do know you are in pain? You use the
BONUS TIPS format: Masakit + ang + [body part] + ko. Of
Pasma was from the Spanish “espasmo” and is course, you can use the English term for body
translated to “spasms”. It is a folk illness parts but if you do want to use the Tagalog
unique to Filipinos caused by the sudden translations, here are some common Tagalog
change of temperature in the body. The main words for body parts:
symptom is the inexplicable hand tremors, baba /BAH + ba/ chin
sweaty palms, numbness, and pains. There is
little to no scientific back-up to pasma but this balat /bah + LAT/ skin
does not stop believers from following the key
balikat /bah + LEE + kat/ shoulder
prevention hack for not getting the dreaded
pasma: Don’t get your body too cold after bibig /bee + BIG/ mouth
exerting effort.
binti /bin + TEA/ leg
braso /BRAH + soh/ arm
…or, you can simply say:
daliri /dah + LEE + ree/ fingers
May sakit ako. = I am sick. (Lit. There’s sickness
I.) dibdib /dib + DIB/ chest
Mayroon/Meron akong sakit. = I am sick. (Lit. dila /DEE + lah/ tongue

There’s sickness I.) ilong /ee + LONG/ nose
lalamunan /la + la + MOO + nan/ throat
What if you want to say that your voice is labi /LAH + bee/ lip
hoarse. The Tagalog term for hoarse voice is
paos and unlike the rest of the ailments and leeg /leh + EGG/ neck
symptoms above, it is used as a modifier in the
likod /lee + COD/ back
format, [Modifier] + DPP. For example:
katawan /kah + tah + ONE/ body
mata /mah + TAH/ eye
Sorry, I’m pass sa karaoke night. Paos ako. =
Sorry, I’m gonna pass karaoke night. My voice is paa /pah + AH/ foot
hoarse. (Lit. Voice is hoarse I.)
palad /PAH + lad/ palm
siko /SEE + koh/ elbow
talampakan /tah + lam + PAH + can/ sole Masakit iyan = That hurts.
tenga /TEH + nga/ ear
tuhod /TWO + hod/ knee Again, note that marker sa is like the universal
preposition we use when talking about
ulo /OO + loh/ head
locations. If it is “on”, “at”, “in”, etc in English,
most of the time, it can be translated to sa in
Tagalog.
Masakit ang ulo ko = My head is hurting.
Masakit ang lalamunan ko = My throat is
hurting. Masakit dito = It hurts here
Masakit ang paa ko = My feet are hurting. Masakit dito sa lalamunan= It hurts here in my
throat.
Masakit diyan sa talampakan= It hurts there on
Again, you can interchange ko with the other my soles.
Indirect Personal Pronouns [IPP], e.g. ko, mo,
niya, nila, namin, natin, and ninyo.
Practice
1. You decided to join a gym and hire an
Masakit ang ulo niya = His/ her head is hurting.
instructor. Your instructor said to expect
Masakit ang lalamunan namin = Our, but not pain after workout, especially now that
yours, throat is hurting. your body is just getting accustomed to the
exercise. The next session, your instructor
Masakit ang paa nila = Their feet are hurting. asked you how your body was. You listed…
a. My back hurts.
b. My neck hurts.
That hurts… c. My back hurts at the right side.
You can also use the “pointing” pronouns like d. My legs hurt.
the Oblique Demonstrative Pronouns [DDP],
e.g. ito, iyan, and iyon; and the Direct 2. Your instructor assured you that these are
Demonstrative Pronouns (ODP), e.g. dito, normal and taught you how to properly
diyan, and doon. For example: stretch. This is the part where you cry out,
Aw!. What is “That hurts!” in Tagalog?
Masakit ito = This hurts. 3. Just before the next session, you caught
the flu, so you called your instructor and
Masakit itong ulo ko = This head of mine is informed her. How will you say it?
hurting.
Intermediate Lessons
Lesson 26 Interjections
Ever felt the need to express something but putting it in complete sentences doesn’t exactly express
what you want to express? Some words express thoughts while some words are just better suited in
expressing feelings. Often times, the most spontaneous feelings are those that are difficult to say in
words.
I
nterjections are sounds or expressions floor”-kind of surprise — and not “I’m
that conveys spontaneous feelings or terrified!”-kind of surprise. For example:
reactions. They don’t change the
grammatical meaning of a sentence, but
they do add nuance to the general “feel” of the Ay! Tinamaan mo yung baso ko! = Ay! You hit
sentence. my glass! (say: /bah + soh/ “drinking glass”)
Aba! When used in tandem with “wow”, you can use

/ah + BAH/ ay! to express sarcasm or condescension.
Consider:
In general, you can use Aba! to express your
shock. However, you don’t use Aba! to express Ay wow… ganda ka? = Ay wow… you’re
your shock for a scary thing. For example: beautiful?
Aba! Panalo ang Ginebra? = Oh! Ginebra Huy! / Uy!/ Hoy!/ Oy!
(Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Basketball team) /hui/, /ui/, /hoi/, OR /oi/
won?
You can use huy! or oy! to call out someone
with/without calling out their name. It can be
used from a distance or in near proximity. You
Aray! can also extend it to emphasize your goal to
/ah + RAI/ get the person’s attention. Consider:
As you learned in Lesson 24: Getting Sick, Aray!
or any variants of it like aruy! or ray!, expresses
pain or hurt. It is literally the “ouch!” of Hoy, Kim! Tawag ka ni boss! = Hey Kim! Boss
Tagalog. For example: called for you!
Huuuuuuuuuuy, you saw the latest episode ng
“Game of Thrones”? = Huuuuuuuuuuy, you saw
Aray! Tinamaan mo ako! = Ouch! You hit me! the latest episode of “Game of Thrones”?
Ay! Hay…
/ai/ /hai…/
Ay! on the other hand, is an expression of You can use hay… like how you would say a
surprise — as in, “Ay! Your cup of tea fell to the sigh. It is used to express resignation or
irritation. It all depends on the intonation. For

example:
Grabe!
/GRAH + beh/
Hay Monday… = [Sigh] Monday… Remember how Ay! expresses surprise? Well,
grabe also expresses surprise— but the good
kind of suprise. For example:
Naku! / Nako!
Uy! Grabe! Valedictorian? Congrats! = Hey!
/nah + COO/ OR /nah + KOH/
Wow! Valedictorian? Congratulations!
As an exclamation of alarm, resentment, or
concern, naku!/ nako!’s closest translation is
“Oh no!” in English. It can be used with hay… However, when used in tandem with naman, it
to express irritation or resignation. For can express the opposite of “pleasantly
example: surprise” — as in, the person is expressing
disappointment for something they already
knew. For example:
Naku! Ang taas ng surge ng Grab! = Oh no!
Grabe naman! Traffic din dito?! = Oh no! There’s
Grab’s price surge is too high!
also traffic here?!
Hay nako… Traffic tapos price surge pa. =
[Sigh…] There’s traffic, then there’s a price
surge. For more details about naman, you may go to
Lesson 32: Particles. :)
Sayang…
/SAH + yang/ Yih…/ Ih…
/yeeh/
Sayang is one of those untranslatable Tagalog
words that would require a full sentence in This is a dual-purpose interjection you can use
English to fully translate its meaning. either to tease someone or complain about
something. Yih…/ Ih… when used to tease
someone is usually lengthened as pronounced
It can be an interjection that expresses with a teasing tone. For example:
frustration or disappointment over a missed
Yiiiiiih~ How are you and your crush na ba? =
goal or target. For example:
Yiiiiiih~ How are you and your crush?
Sayang! Di ko na-meet yung high-score! = Too
bad! I didn’t meet the high-score!
While Yih…/ Ih… used to express complains
and exasperation is usually said forcefully.
It can also express frustration or Although sometimes, you’ll hear it lengthened
disappointment on wasted opportunity or too to emphasize the complaint or
resource. Consider: exasperation. Consider:
Sayang! Natapon yung soup. = What a waste! Yih! Walang laman yung coffee pot! = Yih!
The soup was accidentally spilled. There’s no coffee in the coffee pot
Yiiiiiih… Monday na. = Yiiiiiih… It’s Monday.
Hala! Bat nag-“Blue Screen of Death” yung

laptop ko?! = Oh no! Why did my laptop get the
He! / Che! / Tse! “Blue Screen of Death”?!
/heh/ OR /che/
Believe it or not, in Tagalog, you can shush a
person without saying “shhh….”. However, But you may also hear Tagalog speakers use it
this version of Tagalog shushing has a forceful to sarcastically express their lack of shock to an
ring to it like, “Shut up!”. obviously bad outcome, especially when they
expected it. For example:
Of course, Tagalog speakers don’t mean

anything mean or disrespectful by it. It’s just Hala… Nag-“Blue Screen of Death” yung
their way of playfully saying “shut up”. laptop mo? Pagkatapos mong i-charge
However, do remember to mind your tone. overnight? Akalain mo nga naman. = Oh no…
After all, anything said in an unfriendly tone is Your laptop got the “Blue Screen of Death”?
automatically unfriendly. For example: After you charged it overnight? Would you look
at that?
Yiiiiiih… How are you and your crush na ba? =

Yiiiiiih… How are you and your crush? Bahala na
/bah + HAH + lah + nah/
Che! = Shut up!
Used to signify that you are leaving something
or someone in the care of God or the higher
Nye! /Ngek! being, the Bahala na phrase and mentality can
be used either positively or negatively. On one
/nyeh/ OR /ngek/
hand, it can express hopefulness and
This is also one of those Tagalog words that optimism. On the other hand, it can also be
require a full sentence to translate its meaning. used to express fatalism and irresponsibility for
Used when something turns out to be not as one’s own action.
exciting or extraordinary as expected, or when
something is below your intial expectation,
nye! / ngek! is a comical way to express your The closest translation it has in English is
disappointment or surprise. For example: “Whatever will be, will be” or “Que sera, sera”
in Spanish. For example:
Nyek! Walang laman yung coffee pot. = Nyek!
There’s no coffee in the coffee pot.
The ref is empty and wala na akong pera. Hay!

Bahala na! = The refrigirator is empty and I don’t
Hala! have any money. [Sigh] Whatever will be, will be!
/hah + LAH/
In general, hala! is used to express shock when
something bad happens. It’s closest translation Note that despite its inherent religious
in English is “Oh no!”. Consider: beginnings, Bahala na is not considered
blasphemous and may even have less-than-
religious versions. One very common example
is Bahala na si Batman, and yes, that’s the DC
superhero, Batman. This means that you are 3. Di masarap yung ramen! _____ 400
leaving something or someone in the care of pesos ko!
Batman. It’s just a fun way of expressing your 4. Deadline of proposal later 12 midnight
optimism or fatalism (while indirectly blaming and di pa ako nag-start. _____
Batman if things don’t work out in the future)! 5. Person A: Gusto mong matulog, right? I
know you do!
Person B: _____
The ref is empty and wala na akong pera. Hay! 6. Person A, spills coffee all over the
Bahala na si Batman! = The refrigirator is empty table: _____
and I don’t have any money. [Sigh] Whatever will 7. Person B: _____ I think I have a bad
be, will be, and it’s up to Batman! luck.
8. _____ The deadline was yesterday!
9. _____ Can’t you hear me?! Tawag ka ni
boss!
Practice 10. _____ Bakit ako tinatawag ni boss?
Fill in the blanks: Use the most appropriate
interjections. Some items may have several
possible answers. :)
1. _____ Your dog bit me!
2. _____ Di dog ko ang kumagat (“bit”)
sayo!
Lesson 27 Making Small Talk Last
Let’s be real. Small talk can be annoying and a waste of one’s time but every now and then, you’ll meet
genuinely interesting people. However, interesting people may also ask for interesting stories and you
can only do so much with your short and clipped sentences. Luckily, Tagalog speakers are relatively
fluent in English. Using Tagalog conjunctions, you can connect your English phrases and sentences to
the Tagalog sentences you can already use.
C
onjuctions are the parts of speech used Alin ang pinaka-gusto mong OPM band?
to connect words, phrases, clauses or Parokya ni Edgar, Cueshe, o Spongecola? =
sentences. These words can be used at Which OPM band do you like the best? Parokya
the start, end, or middle of a sentence ni Edgar, Cueshe, or Spongecola?
depending on their connotations and nuances. Sinong sasama? Si KAYCEE or si Tari? = Who will
join us? KAYCEE or Tari?
At/ At saka/ Tsaka

/at/ OR /at + cha + kah/ OR /cha + kah/ Pero
/PEH + ro/ NOT /peh + row/
This literally translates to “and” but it can also
mean “too” in some case. These can connect Literally means “but”, this conjunction
just about anything; words to words, phrases connects words, phrases, or sentences with
to phrases, sentence to sentence, or equal weight. This is common in colloquial
combination of the three. One thing to note is Tagalog.
that at saka/ tsaka variants are sometimes too
candid for some situation.
Gusto kong pumayat pero ang sarap kumain! =
I want to get thinner, but it feels so good to eat!
Gusto ko ng apple at orange at saging. = I want
apples and oranges and bananas. May free pizza pero may pineapple toppings.
= There’s free pizza but it has pineapple
Ang ganda niya at mabango pa. = He/ she’s toppings.
pretty and smells good, too.
Pumunta ako sa office tsaka nag-submit ng
papers. = I went to the office and submitted Kaso
some papers. /KAH + so/ NOT /kah + sow/
Similar to pero, this can also be translated to
“but”. And like pero, it also connects words,
O phrases, or sentences with equal weight and is
/o/ NOT /ow/ common in colloquial Tagalog. However, some
Tagalog speaker would say that kaso is more
This is “or” in Tagalog. Like the English “or”,
candid than pero.
this connect two equal choices but sometimes
o is also used for more than two choices.
Gusto kong pumayat kaso ang sarap kumain! = and forgotten the toxic people surrounding
I want to get thinner, but it feels so good to eat! you.
May free pizza kaso may pineapple toppings.
= There’s free pizza but it has pineapple
toppings. Dahil
/DAH + hill/
This means “because” in English and it can
Kung connect just about anything, too. Like
/kung/ “because”, dahil shows the cause of an effect.
Its closest translation in English is “if”. It can
also connect just about anything as long as the
word following it provides the condition for a Sorry! Nalate ako dahil sa traffic. = I’m sorry!
consequence. I’m late because of the traffic.
Kung ayaw mo sumama, mag-stay ka nalang Dahil late ka, iniwan ka na nila Megan. =
dito. = If you don’t want to join us, just stay here. Because you are late, Megan and the company
already left you.
Magdadala ako ng drinks kung walang
corkage fee. = I will bring drinks if there’s no
corkage fee. Kasi
/kah + SEE/
Kapag/ pag This also means “because” in Tagalog but it is

/kah + PAG/ or /pag/ less formal than dahil. In a way, it als shows
justification more than the cause of an effect.
Like kung, kapag/ pag also shows the condition
for a consequence. The only difference is that,
it is more similar to the English “when” than Sorry! Nalate ako kasi traffic. = I’m sorry! I’m
“if”, i.e. the cause is certainly going to happen late because of the traffic.
and that it is only a matter of time before it
happens.
Kaya
/kah + YAH/
Kapag pumayat ako, hu u (who you) ka sakin!
= When I get thinner, you’re “who you?” to me! Instead of the cause, kaya talks about the
effect/ consequence. The closest translation of
this are “That/this is why” / “so” / “therefore”.
BONUS TIP
Hu u or “Who you?”, is a famous phrase used in
Traffic kaya late ako. = There’s traffic that’s
Tagalog textspeak (slang and short spelling
why I’m late.
used in text messages) that transcended the
texting culture. You use this to jokingly indicate Nag-ipon siya kaya siya may bagong phone =
that you changed for the better, moved on, She saved money, that is why she has a new
phone.
But it is also common for older people to offer

their hand and in exchange, it is expected that
Habang the younger person will take it to bless or mano
/HA + bang/ it. Ignoring an older person’s offered hand can
a sign of utter disrespect.
Literally translates to “while”, habang
connects a new event to an ongoing event.
Tapos/Tas
Nakakahiya! Nag-ring phone ko habang nasa /TAH + pos/ NOT /tah + pause/, OR /tas/
conference ako! = Embarrassing! My phone In bago, it means and used as “before” in
ringed while I was in the conference!
English. Tapos/Tas is the opposite. It means
I am downloading movies habang studying. = I and used as “after that” or “then” in English. It
am downloading movies while studying. is especially useful when you are narrating a
story or giving instructions. Tas is just the
shorter version of Tapos and is the notably
more common version in colloquial Tagalog.
Bago For example:
/BAH + go/ not /bah + gow/
Although similar to the Tagalog word for
“new” (see sample sentence for kaya), bago in Buhay-baboy ako noong weekend. Kain tas
this case is literally translated to “before” in tulog. = I had a life of a pig (Lit. life-pig) last
English. weekend. Eat then sleep.
Sakay kay ng MRT tapos baba ka sa Buendia
Station. = Ride the MRT then alight at Buendia
Bago ka umalis, mag-bless ka muna. = Before Station.
you go, bless yourself.
BONUS TIP Kaysa/ Kesa

Mag-bless, or more formally known as mag- /KAY + sah/ OR /KEH + sah/
mano, is the act of guiding an elder’s back hand You use kaysa when comparing two unequal
to your forehead or lips. Both are signs of things, people, or event. The closest
respect for the elders, but the latter is rarer. translation of this is “than” or “instead of”.
In some regions in the Philippines, it is Mas gusto kong mag-park kaysa mag-mall. = I
expected that the younger person would would rather go to the park than go to the mall.
prompt the older one but saying Bless po or
Mano po while slightly bowing and reaching Mas gusto kong coffee kaysa tea. = I would
out for the older person’s hand. The older rather drink coffee than tea.
person may accept it or decline the offer and
good-naturedly say, Bata pa ako “I’m still
young.” Hanggang
/hang + GANG/
Hanggang can be translated to “until” or “til”. Bes, kandong ka nalang sakin para tipid. = Bes,
This connects an event that can happen or is just sit on my lap so that we can save money.
still happening before reaching the point in
time that hanggang mentioned.
BONUS TIP
Tumanggap sila ng donation hanggang 12pm = Bes, besh, beshie, or any variant of “best
They accepted donations until 12pm. friend” is a currently popular term of
endearment used by acquaintances or close
Hanggang end of the month lang yung promo. friends.
= The promo is valid until the end of the month.
Kandong, pronunced /kan + DONG/, on the

Nang other hand, is “the act of sitting on someone’s
/nang/ lap”, usually done by parents with their child
when riding jeeps or buses. A kandong-ed
This can also be translated to “when” but person doesn’t have to pay the pamasahe
unlike kapag/ pag, nang connects an event to (/pah + mah + SAH + he/) or “commuting fee”
event and both events are occurring at the because they are technically not occupying a
same time. Nang also has the nuance that the seat in the jeepney or bus.
new event is surprising. In that sense, it can
also be translated to, “when suddenly”.
Parang/ Para bang
/PAH + rang/ OR /PAH + rah + bang/
Natutulog ako nang narinig kong pumasok si
boss sa conference room = I was sleeping when Don’t be fooled by its similarity to para, this
suddenly, I heard Boss entering the conference parang means “it is like” or simply “like”. Like
room. the translation suggests, parang/ para bang
connects two similar things.
Nag-iinit ako ng food nang sumabog yung
microwave. = I was heating up food when
suddenly, the microwave exploded.
Ang ganda ng weather! Parang ang sarap mag-
lakad sa Ayala Triangle = The weather is so nice!
Like it’s going to feel good to walk in Ayala
Para Triangle.
/PAH + rah/
Masarap ang coffee sa office, parang bang
You may already know para as in the Starbucks. = The coffee in the office is delicious,
preposition “for” in Tagalog and this new para it is like the coffee in Starbucks.
stemmed from that. Vaguely translated to “in
order to/ that” or “so that”, this para
introduces purpose. On the flip side, it can also mean “as if” in
English, Consider:
Mag-coffee ka para di ka makatulog. = Drink

coffee so that you won’t fall asleep, Ay wow, ang suplada niya… para bang ang
ganda niya eh. = Oh wow, she’s such a snob… as
if she’s that pretty.
Practice
Fill in the blanks: Use the most appropriate
Mukhang/ Kamukha conjunctions. Some items may have several
/mook + HANG/ OR /kah + mook + HA/ possible answers. :)
Literally translates to “face”, mukha is the root 1. Di ako pwede sa after party _____ it’s
word of kamukha which means “to have a late.
similar face”. However, like in the case of siya 2. From Quezon City ______ Makati
“he/ she” that was eventually used as “it”, traffic.
Tagalog speakers eventually used kamukha as 3. Ang cute ni Pikachu ______ Hello Kitty.
“like” or “similar to”.
4. Anong mas masarap na flavor? Vanilla
______ Chocolate.
5. I’m trying this Intermediate Diet
Kamukha ni Daniel Radcliff si Elijah Wood. = ______ pumayat ako.
Daniel Radcliff looks like Elijah Wood. 6. I was shocked kanina. I was playing sa
Magaling ang Spongecola, kamukha ng laptop ______ Ma’am passed by sa
Parokya ni Edgar. = Spongecola is great, like likod ko.
Parokya ni Edgar. 7. Gusto kong try yung peanut butter cup
______ allergic ako sa peanuts.
Kamukha ni Megan, maganda si Julich = Like 8. ______ ka umalis, mag-dala ka ng food.
Megan, Julisch is beautiful. 9. Do 3 more sets ______ don’t forget to
do cool down stretches.
10. Exotic or not, I rather kain fried frog
On the other hand, mukhang functions more ______ adobong crickets.
like “looks like”: For example: 11. ______ you’re playing games, I’m
studying Tagalog.
12. I’m interesado sa languages ______ I’m
Mukhang mahina ngayon ang Ginebra. = Looks studying Tagalog.
like Ginebra (Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 13. ______ I get my sweldo, mag-food trip
Basketball team) is weak right now. ako sa Binondo.
14. Tignan mo yung girl! ______ ni J.Lo.
Mukhang uulan. = Looks like it’s going to rain. 15. Paki-exchange this 100Php please.
Kailangan ko ng coins ______ sa
pamasahe.
Lesson 28 Sentences
When you were new to Tagalog and your first language is English, chances are, you translated, “I eat
chocolate,” to Ako kumain chocolate. Of course, it is a reasonable mistake since English is a subject
first, predicate later language.
I
n English, you learned about the subject and • marked by ang/ yung, or
the predicate, where the subject is what • marked by si/ sina, or
the sentence is about or the doer of the • DPP, e.g. ako, ikaw/ ka, siya, kayo, sila,
action, while the predicate is usually a verb or kami, and tayo, or
something about the subject. Whatever the • DDP, e.g. ito, iyan, iyon.
sentence is about, the common pattern is
usually subject first, predicate later. For
On the other hand, you can usually tell he
example:
predicate part of the sentence if it is:
• marked by ng, or
The dog is intelligent. • marked by sa, or
• marked by ni, or
Kaycee ate.
• marked by kay, or
• IPP, e.g. ko, mo, niya, nila, namin,
natin, and ninyo, or
The underlined parts are the subjects, while the
• IDP, e.g. nito, niyan, and niyon, or
double-underlined parts are the predicate. In
• OPP, e.g. (sa) akin, (sa) iyo, (sa) kanya,
English, that is the common word order, and
(sa) amin, (sa) atin, (sa) inyo, and (sa)
scrambling this word order can be acceptable
kanila, or
in some context, but weird most of the times.
• ODP, e.g. ito, iyan, and iyon, or
After all you won’t say, you don’t usually say
• a simple noun, or
“Intelligent, the dog is” (unless you’re Yoda).
• an adjective, or
• an adverb, or
• a verb.
Tagalog Word Order
Like you learned in the previous lessons, the
common word order of Tagalog is predicate
Therefore, if we are to translate the precious
first, subject later, the opposite of English’s sample sentences into Tagalog, the subjects
word order. This is so common in fact that in and predicate are as follows:
Tagalog grammar, it is called the karaniwang
ayon or “common form”.
Matalino ang aso.
You can usually tell the subject part of a [Predicate: an adjective] [Subject: marked by
Tagalog sentence if it is: ang/ yung]
Kumain si KAYCEE. “very” in American English. It’s alright if you

find it quite confusing. :)
[Predicate: a verb] [Subject: marked by si]
Ay Inverse Marker Types of Tagalog Sentences

Going back to predicates, Tagalog sentences
However, Tagalog word order is actually
are sorted into types according to their
flexible. You can actually say something in the
predicates. In this categorization you’ll notice
subject first, predicate later pattern in
that the determining factor of a Tagalog
Tagalog. This is called the di-karaniwang ayon
sentence’s type is the predicate’s main part of
or “not common form”. The catch is, you need
the speech.
to add either (1) the inverse marker ay, or (2)
a pause after the subject. For example:
Nominal Sentences
The main part of the sentence’s predicate is a
1) Ang aso ay matalino.
noun. For example:
Si KAYCEE ay kumain.
Student is Kim. = Kim is a student.
2) Ang aso, matalino.
Corgi ang breed ng aso ko. = The breed of my
Si KAYCEE, kumain.
dog is corgi.
“Harry Potter” ang favorite book series ko. =

Ay is called the inverse marker because it “Harry Potter” is my favorite book series.
inverses the common form of Tagalog.
Although not exactly the same, you can treat
ay like the English be-verb “is/was” or Adjectival Sentences
“are/were”. The main part of the sentence’s predicate is an
adjective. For example:
Matalino yung aso. = The dog is intelligent.

Again, these are the “not common forms” so
while you can use these in casual conversation, Masipag si Tari. = Tari is hard-working.
sometimes they may not be casual enough for
the context. Some Tagalog speakers would Mabilis yung car. = The car is fast.
even say that you are being too formal.
Adverbial Sentences
BONUS TIP The main part of the sentence’s predicate is an
In some Tagalog speaking areas like the adverb. For example:
Quezon Province, the “common” and “not Mataas tumalon si Phil. = Phil jumped high.
common” forms are flipped! For them,
Matalino ang aso is more formal than Ang aso Mabilis tumakbo yung kabayo. = The horse ran
ay matalino. Why? Well, that is just their fast. (say: /kah + bah + yo/)
variation or dialect of Tagalog. The same way
“quite” means “fairly” in British English and
Malalim matulog si Mingming. = Mingming 1. Maganda ang Black Panther. = (The

sleeps deeply. movie) Black Panther is good.
a. with ay inverse marker.
b. with a pause.
Verbal Sentences
The main part of the sentence’s predicate is a 2. Magaling mag-drawing si Kim. = Kim is
verb. For example: draws well.
Tumalon si Phil. = Phil jumped. b. with a pause
Tumakbo ang kabayo. = The horse ran.
3. Nag-drawing si Kim. = Kim drew.
Natulog si Mingming = Mingming slept. a. with ay inverse marker.
b. with a pause.
Practice 4. Amerikano si John. = John is an

Inverse the sentences. American.
b. with a pause.
Lesson 29 Sentences Part 2
In the previous lesson, you learned about the different word order and types of Tagalog sentences.
Verbal sentence is a type of sentence which main part of the sentence’s predicate is a verb.
I
n Tagalog, the predicate of a Verbal karaniwang ayon “common form”. As the
sentence can be further separated into two heading suggests, it is made up of verb +
parts: the verb and the object. The verb is, Subject + Object, in that exact order. For
of course, the action done or being done by the example:
Subject. On the other hand, the Object is the
Kumain si Kim ng cupcake. = Kim ate a cupcake.
entity that is acted upon by the Subject. Some
Verbal sentences don’t have an Object, some Uminom si KAYCEE ng juice. = KAYCEE drank
of them do. For example: juice.
Nag-order si Phil ng ice tea. = Phil ordered ice

tea.
Kumain si Kim. = Kim ate.
Kumain si Kim ng cupcake. = Kim ate a cupcake.

The underlined parts are the Subjects, while
the double-underlined parts are the Objects.
The underlined parts are the subjects, while the The verbs are marked with broken underline.
double-underlined parts are the predicate. As
you may have noticed, the subject si Kim in the
second sentence is in the middle of the Verb-Object-Subject (VOS)
predicate. Well, this is where the distinction This is the less common form of the “common
between the components of the predicate form” (as long as it starts with a Predicate, it’s
comes into play. a “common form”), and the only difference is
the Object precedes the Subject. There is no
change in meaning, just in order.
Tagalog Word Order Part 2
In the previous lesson, you learned that
Tagalog word order is more flexible than Kumain ng cupcake si Kim. = Kim ate a cupcake.
English’s: sometimes it’s subject first,
Uminom ng juice si KAYCEE. = KAYCEE drank
predicate later, sometimes it’s predicate juice.
first, subject later. But most of the times, you
can put the Subject just about anywhere in the Nag-order ng ice tea si Phil. = Phil ordered ice
sentence! tea.
Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)

This is the most common pattern in Tagalog Finally, it’s the di-karaniwang ayon or “not
sentences and is the typical example of common form”. As you can remember, the
“not common form” is just the subject first, Kumain ng cupcake si Kim.
predicate later pattern. And unlike the Or…
“common form”, the Object cannot
immediately follow the Subject. Take note of Kumain si Kim ng cupcake.
the inverse marker ay or pause after the
Subject.
But you can never say…
Kumain ng si Kim cupcake. (Wrong)

Si Kim ay kumain ng cupcake. = Kim ate a
cupcake. Or…
Si KAYCEE ay uminom ng juice. = KAYCEE drank Kumain si ng cupcake Kim. (Wrong)

juice.
Or worse…
Si Phil ay nag-order ng ice tea. = Phil ordered ice
Si Kim ay ng kumain cupcake. (Wrong)
tea.
Just remember this simple rule and you’ll be

OR
scrambling your Tagalog sentences in no time!
Si Kim, kumain ng cupcake. = Kim ate a
cupcake.
Si KAYCEE, uminom ng juice. = KAYCEE drank Practice

juice. Identify the word order of the sentence. Then,
mark the circle of the sentence’s word order
Si Phil, nag-order ng ice tea. = Phil ordered ice with a (✓). Finally, the re-order the sentence
tea. according to the remaining wor order. For
example:
1. Nag-drawing ng portrait si Kim. = Kim

Again, there is no change in meaning, just in
drew a portrait.
order. You can never start a sentence with an
o VSO
Object, it simply not grammatically correct.
➢Nag-drawing si Kim ng
portrait.
o VOS
Rule of Word Order o SVO (with ay inverse marker)
The most important thing when scrambling the ➢Si Kim ay nag-drawing
word order is to never separate a marker, e.g. ng portrait.
ang/ yung, ng, ni/ nina, from its noun. They are o SVO (with a pause)
a clingy package deal. Imagine Romeo and ➢Si Kim, nag-drawing ng
Juliet without the family feud and the dying. portrait.
2. Kumanta si Namae ng “On my Own”. =

For example, in the sentence “Kim ate a Namae sang “On my Own”
cupcake,” you can say it in several ways, like… o VSO
o VOS
o SVO (with ay inverse marker) 5. Kumuha si Phil ng tissue paper. = Phil
o SVO (with a pause) got tissue papers.
o VSO
3. Si Tari ay nag-order ng chicken fingers. o VOS
= Tari ordered chicken fingers. o SVO (with ay inverse marker)
o VSO o SVO (with a pause)
o VOS
o SVO (with ay inverse marker)
o SVO (with a pause)
4. Si KAYCEE, bumili ng beer. = KAYCEE

bought beers.
o VSO
o VOS
o SVO (with ay inverse marker)
o SVO (with a pause)
Lesson 30 How Universal is Universal?
In Lesson 7: Expressing Dislike, you were introduced to the marker sa and how this “universal
preposition” in Tagalog used to mark the location of people, objects, or places.
B
ut that is just the tip of the iceberg. The Kumakain si Kim sa tabi ni KAYCEE. = Kim is
flexibility of the marker sa extends eating besides KAYCEE.
beyond its universality as a preposition.
Here are the different uses of marker sa.
To mark Direction
It can also indicate the direction of the
To mark Location movement of the action. In English, it functions
the same way as “to” and “from”. It may sound
This is the main use of sa and in here you will
see how sa can basically be translated to confusing to use sa for both actions going away
different preposition in English. For example: and towards an entity, but the inherent
meaning of the verb comes into play in this
case. For example:
Nag-aaral ako sa Quezon City. = I am studying in
Quezon City.
Pumunta sila sa Pampanga nung summer. =
Nag-aaral ako sa Ateneo de Manila. = I am
They went to Pampanga last summer.
studying at Ateneo de Manila.
Kumakain si Kim sa kitchen. = Kim is eating in The root word of the word pumunta, means
the kitchen. “to go” and when a person goes somewhere,
it is implied that they are going to or towards
Nakapatong yung book sa table. = The book is somewhere.
set on the table.
Tumakbo yung aso sa kalye. = The dog ran into
the street. Umalis siya sa office kanina. = He/She left
(from) the office earlier.
On the other hand, alis from the word umalis

As you can see, it can function as “in”, “at”,
means “to go away” so there is no confusion
“on”, “in”, and “into” in Tagalog. However,
there regarding the direction of the action.
like as shown in Lesson 10: Going to Places and
Doing Things Part 2, you can use sa in tandem
with location words to talk about the specific
location of people, objects, or places. Binigay niya yung toy sa bata. = He/She gave
the toy to the child.
In this case, the word bigay from the word

Nakapatong yung book sa taas ng notebook. = binigay means “to give” and in the act of
The book is set on top of the notebook. giving, something is moved towards the
receiver of the gift.
Kay Marker
In cases where the benefactor identified with
To mark a Specific Future their name, the sa marker is replaced by kay,
In English, there are specific prepositions when just like how the ang in ang babae “the
talking about a specific day, month, season, woman” is replaced by si as in “si Kim”, when
year, or date. In Tagalog, all of those are the person is identified with their name.
replaced by sa. For example: Consider:
May passport appointent ako sa May 25. = I Nag-translate siya para kay Phil. = He/She
have a passport appointment on May 25. translated (something) for the foreigner.
May concert si Beyonce sa June. = Beyonce has
a concert in June.
If the benefactors are more than one person,
Pupunta ako sa Singapore sa 2020. = I will go to you use the plural form of kay which is kina,
Singapore in 2020. just like how you use the plural form of si,
Walang pasok sa Monday. = There’s no class on which is sina when there are more than one
Monday. identified person. For example:
Pupunta ako sa La Union sa summer = I will go

to La Union in the summer (season). Nagluto si Kim para kina KAYCEE and Tari. =
Kim cooked for KAYCEE and Tari.
To talk about the Benefactor of an

Action Going back to unnamed benefactors, what if
Sometimes, people do things for other people. you want to talk about someone using a
In cases like this, the one who benefitted from pronoun? In this case you can use the Oblique
the action is called the benefactor. In English, Personal Pronouns (OPP), e.g. (sa) akin, (sa)
the benefactor is usually marked by the for iyo, (sa) kanya, (sa) amin, (sa) atin, (sa) inyo,
“for”. In Tagalog, that is translated to para and and (sa) kanila. For example:
it is used in tandem with sa to talk about an
action done for another person or thing. For
example: Nag-translate siya para sa kanya. = He/She
translated (something) for him/her.
Nagluto si Kim para sa kanila. = Kim cooked for

Nag-translate siya para sa foreigner. = He/She them.
translated (something) for the foreigner.
Nagluto si Kim para sa office mates niya. = Kim

cooked for her office mates. Word Order?
When it comes to word order of sentences
with the marker sa, it is always safe to put the
sa marker and its noun at the last part of the
sentence. But they can easily go at the

beginning of the sentence too.
Practice
Matching type: Match the sa marked phrases
However, if you do decide to put it somewhere to their functions.
else, it is important to follow the same rules in 1. Pumunta si John o o To mark location
Lesson 29: Sentences Part 2: NEVER separate sa bahay.
the markers from their nouns.
2. Walang pasok o o to mark direction
sa June 12
Kumakain si sa kitchen Kim.
3. Nag-luto siya o o to mark specific
This is a no-no. Remember: NO to separating a para kay Carlo future
marker from its noun. The acceptable versions
of this sentence are: 4. Sa left ka mag- o o To talk about the
turn. benefactor
Kumakain si Kim sa kitchen.
Kumakain sa kitchen si Kim.
Si Kim, kumakain sa kitchen.
Si Kim ay kumakain sa kitchen.
Sa kitchen kumakain si Kim.
As you can see, you can put sa marker and its

noun almost anywhere as long as you never
separate the markers from their nouns. :)
Lesson 31 Which? That?
Sometimes, in the middle of the sentence, you may find yourself expounding or defining the person,
object, place, or time that you are talking about. In English, this is commonly done by adding a relative
clause, or a clause used to define or identify the noun that precedes them, with its corresponding
markers “who”/ “whom”, “whose”, “where”, “when”, “that”, and “which”.
A
s the markers suggested, each of them “who’s”, and “that” versus “which”, there are
has specific nouns that they can still a lot to remember, huh?
identify/ define/ give extra information.
Although, all of them are used to identify or
define nouns that precede them, there are Na Marker
certain limitations unique to each marker. Well, you don’t have to think about all of those
in Tagalog! Like the marker sa that replaces all
prepositions in English, Tagalog also have a
“Who”/ “Whom” and “Whose” are obviously word to replace most relative clause markers in
for people. However, “whose” is used in place English. That is the marker na.
of the possessive pronoun while “who”/
“whom” give extra information about the
person.
Na as “who”/ “whom”
Remember how “who” / “whom” talk about
people by identifying or giving extra
“Where” and “when” are used to identify/
information about them? Marker na got that
define place and time nouns, respectively. They
covered! For example:
are also used to give extra information about
the said place and time.
Siya ang teacher ko na nagturo sakin ng

Tagalog. = He/She is my teacher who taught me
“That” and “which” are more or less treated
Tagalog.
interchangeably, that is, they both used to
define or identify an object or a person. Their Sila ang officemates ko na kasama ko during
only difference in formal English is that “that” lunch breaks. = They are my office mates whom
is used to add a relative clause that is require in I am with during lunch breaks.
the sentence for it to make sense, while
“which” adds a relative that is not really a
prerequisite in the sentence. Na as “whose”
Continuing from the Na as “who”/ “whom”,
“whose” is defined as “belonging to or
Those are the most simple explanations for associated with person”. It is not that common
relative clause markers in English. Not in casual speech since there are other ways to
including other restricting rules like when to express the same meaning without sounding
use “who” versus “whom”, “whose” versus like a character in a Tagalog teleserye
(pronounced /teh + leh + ser+ yeah/, “television Mag-Pampanga tayo kung saan nakaka-kain
series”). ng authentic sisig. = Let’s go to Pampanga
where we can eat authentic sisig.
Mag-vacation tayo kung kailan pwede ang

She is our absent teacher na ang pangalan ay
lahat. = Let’s go on a vacation when everyone is
di ko maalala. = She is our absent teacher namin
available.
whose name I can’t remember.
Na as “that” and “which”

Na = Ng?
Sometimes, you’ll hear Tagalog speakers skip
If casual English doesn’t really differentiate the
na entirely and just add the ending -ng at the
relative markers “that” and “which”, Tagalog
end of the word that is defined or identified by
doesn’t even have separate words for them.
the relative clause. Again, this is a shortcut
For the sake of this lesson, we are going to use
used by Tagalog speakers to streamline a long
“that” and “which” in the translations
sentence for ease of articulation.
interchangeably. For example:
It is completely optional and there is no change

That’s our boss na nag-talk sa convention last
in meaning in the sentence. There is just one
month. = That’s our boss that gave a talk in the
rule: you can only change na to ending -ng if the
convention last month.
word before the na marker is ending with a
Pakuha yung book na bigay sakin ni Kim. = vowel. For example:
Please get the book that Kim gave me.
This is my favorite pokemon na nakuha ko sa

Viridian City = This is my favorite pokemon Pakuha yung libro na bigay sakin ni Kim.
which I got from Viridian City. > Pakuha yung librong bigay sakin ni Kim. =
Please get the book that Kim gave me.
Na as “where” and “when”

In sentences where the relative clause is Akin yung aso na may collar.
marked by “where” and “when”, sometimes
the na marker is not used. That is, they require > Akin yung asong may collar. = The dog that
another pattern and the na marker is optional. has a collar is mine.
For relative clause with “where” and “when”,
you use (na) kung saan and (na) kung kailan,
respectively. For example: Siya yung lalaki na bumili ng motor.
> Siya yung lalaking bumili ng motor. = He is

the man who bought the motorcycle.
Dito ang old classroom ko na kung saan ko na-
meet tatay mo. = This was my old classroom
where I met your father.
Practice
How do you say the following in Tagalog?
1. The boss who was absent.

2. The girl whose dog is missing.
3. The notebook that has black cover.
4. The building where the fire started.
5. The evening when everyone is going
home.
Lesson 32 Particles
In English, you are familiar with particles or a word that has a grammatical function but does not fit
into the main parts of speech (i.e. noun, verb, adverb). They don’t change their form like nouns and
verbs, e.g. “SM” and lakad becoming mag-SM and lumakad. And they don’t have straightforward
“dictionary meaning” making them difficult to translate into English.
N
onetheless, particles have the power to different from the na marker that we use to
change the meaning of sentences. Even introduce relative clauses.
if the sentence is purely English, a
single Tagalog particle has the ability to give
the sentence a uniquely Tagalog flavor to it. Like its usage in Lesson 18: Here, There,
Everywhere, na adds the sense of
immediateness or urgency in a sentence,
Po/ Ho regardless if it’s in English or Tagalog. Consider:
As you can remember, po is the magical word
that can make any sentence more polite.
Sometimes, you’ll hear Tagalog speakers say I’m finished with my assignment na. = I’m
ho. Don’t worry, it is just another variation of already finished with my assignment
po, but it is notably less common than the po in
the cities. Dito nalang tayo mag-park, kuya. = Let’s just
park (the car) here, kuya.
Excuse me, ho. = Please excuse me.

Pa
Bring po kayo ng valid ID. = Please bring a valid At its core, Tagalog pa has the feel as the
ID. English “more”. Like its usage in Lesson 18:
Here, There, Everywhere, it implies that there
is something more. Given that its core meaning
Ba is vague, you can translate Tagalog to several
You are also familiar with ba or the question English words like “more”, “still”, “still more”,
marker. Ba turns any sentences into Yes/ No “even more”, or “yet”. For example:
questions and emphasizes any Non Ye/ No
questions.
Isa pang ChickenJoy! = One more ChickenJoy!
Pwede ka bang kumain ng peanuts? = Are you
allowed to eat peanuts? Gusto ko pang kumain. = I still want to eat.
May pasok ba bukas? = Is there class tomorrow? Meron pa = There’s still more.
Mas magaling pa si Lebron kaysa kay Curry. =
Lebron is even more better than Curry.
Na
Being a particle, it is difficult to give the direct Di pa siya kumakain. = He/she hasn’t eaten yet.
translation of na but for now, the closest
translation is “already”. Note that this is a
Muna Okay lang. = Fairly okay.

Exclusively used when talking about time or
sequence of events, muna, at its core, can
mean like “for the time being”. For example: Naman
At its core, naman’s primary use is to show
contrast. It can be between two or more
Let’s eat muna. = Let’s eat for the time being. entities or even to show contrast from a
standard or expectation. Consider:
Mag-mall muna tayo. = Let’s go to the mall for
the time being.
Masarap yung hot brew ng Starbucks. Yung

frappe naman nila, hinde. = Starbuck’s hot
You can also think of these sentences as:
brew (coffee) is delicious. Their frappe, on the
Let’s eat muna. = Let’s eat first.
other hand, is not.
Mag-mall muna tayo. = Let’s go to the mall first.
Maganda naman siya. = He/she is beautiful
(contrast to the expectation that he/she is not
beautiful).
However, when added commands saying not
to do something, muna can have the same feel
as “yet”.
Another way naman shows contrast is when it
Don’t turn off the lights muna = Don’t turn off shows divergence from a habit or repeated
the lights yet. recent events. For example, you and your
friend have been eating from McDonald’s and
Huwag ka munang matutulog. = Don’t sleep you want to eat at Jollibee’s for a change. You
yet. can say…
Kumain naman tayo sa Jollibee. = Let’s eat at
Jollibee’s for a change.
Lang
The closest translation of lang in English is
“only” or “just”. Like “only” and “just”, it can
used neutrally or negatively. Lang can be used You can also use naman to soften what you are
in tandem with na, too. For example: trying to say. Consider:
Mag-park nalang tayo dito, kuya. = Let’s just Mabuti naman. = I’m okay.
park here, kuya. Panget siya… pero matalino naman. = He/she
Kanin lang, sapat na. = Just rice, is enough. is ugly… but he/she is intelligent.
Siya lang ang kailangan ko. = I only need

him/her. When added to command/requests, it makes
them gentler or friendlier. On the flip side,
naman can also make them more aggressive. In
You can also use lang to tone down a this case, just mind your tone and you should
statement. Consider: be fine! :)
Kamusta ka? = How are you?
Linisin mo naman yung room mo. = Please, ➢ use daw when the word before it ends
clean your room. with a consonant
➢ use raw when the word before it ends
Kain ka naman. = Please, eat. with a vowel
Nga These are not exactly followed by most

At its core, nga expresses agreement or Tagalog speakers so feel free to use daw and
confirmation. You can translate nga to raw interchangeably. For example:
“indeed”. For example:
Sabi ni Kim, maganda daw yung Black Panther.

Maganda nga siya. = Indeed, he/she is beautiful. = According to Kim, Black Panther is great.
Oo nga. = Indeed, yes. Okay daw yung ramen sa Ramen Nagi. =
According to someone, Ramen Nagi’s ramen is
Magaling nga si Curry. = Indeed, Curry is great.
okay.
You can also use nga to express emphasis or

As you can see, it is not required to name the
even irritation and impatience. As usual, just
source of your information when you use
mind your tone. For example:
daw/raw as long as both you and your listener
knows who you are talking about. For example:
Oo nga. = Indeed, yes. (emphasized)

Oo nga! = Indeed, yes. (irritation) [Kim and Uri are talking about KAYCEE]
Kim: Uy, pumunta si KAYCEE sa Little Tokyo.
Masarap daw yung ramen. = Hey, KAYCEE went
Like naman, you can use nga to make to the Little Tokyo. According to her, the ramen
commands/requests gentler or friendlier. On was delicious.
the flip side, nga can also make them more
aggressive.
You can also use daw/raw to relay a common
knowledge without citing an actual person or
Linisin mo nga yung room mo. = Please, clean source. For example:
your room.
Kain ka nga. = Please, eat.
Huwag kang magbasa ng kamay after mag-
iron. Mapa-pasma ka daw. = Don’t get your
hands wet after ironing (clothes). You’ll get
Daw/Raw
spasms.
These small but powerful words mean
“according to someone” and relay information For more details about pasma, you may go to
or statement you heard from one person to Lesson 25: Getting Sick. :)
another. Daw and raw are literally the same but
there are rules that you may or may not follow:
Yata/ Ata Finally, you can also use rin to say… “finally”.
Yata and ata’s core meaning is unsureness and Consider:
can be translated to “I think” or “maybe” in At last! Nag-graduate na rin ako sa college. =
English. Yata and ata are literally the same At last! I finally graduated from college! (Lit. At
therefore you can use them interchangeably. last! I also graduated from college!)
For example:
Masarap yata sa Ramen Nagi. = I think Ramen

Pala
Nagi’s food is delicious. Pala is an interesting particle to learn. Pala can
mean like “I didn’t know that information but
Maganda ata yung Black Panther. = Maybe now I do!”. Because of that, you can use pala
Black Panther is great. to express your realization or even surprise at
the new information. For example:
Din/Rin
Their main use is like the English “too” or May elephants pala dati sa Pilipinas! = So, there
“also”. Din and rin are literally the same but were elephants back then here in the Philippines!
there are rules that you may or may not follow: May 180+ languages pala sa Philippines! = So,
➢ use din when the word before it ends there are 180+ languages in the Philippines!
with a consonant
➢ use rin when the word before it ends
with a vowel You can also use pala to add an afterthought or
extra comment to a statement/command.
Consider:
These are not exactly followed by most
Tagalog speakers so feel free to use din and rin Cook the sinigang. Cook rice na rin pala. = Cook
interchangeably. For example: the sinigang. Oh, and cook he rice, too.
Maganda yung Black Panther. Maganda din Maganda yung Black Panther. And socially-
yung Pacific Rim. = Black Panther is great. relevant din pala. = Black Panther is great. Oh,
Pacific Rim is also great. and socially-relevant, too.
Masarap yung McDo pero masarap rin yung

Jollibee. = McDonald’s is delicious, but Jollibee is
delicious, too. Sana
The core meaning of sana is close to “I wish”
and as the translation suggested, sana can
Sometimes, you can also use din/rin to tone express one’s hopes or wishes. Consider:
down a statement. Consider:
Masarap ba yung Best-Seller nila? = Is their Manalo sana ako sa Lotto. = I hope I win the
Best-Seller delicious? lottery.
Hmm… masarap din = Hmm… it’s fairly okay. Ma-approve sana yung visa ko. = I hope my visa
(Lit. Hmm… delicious too.) gets approved.
You can also use sana in tandem with kaso or 1. Sabi mo traffic. Di _____ traffic sa
pero to express an intention or plan that failed EDSA.
or didn’t come true…. 2. Sabi nung fish vendor, 180Php _____
per kilo of tilapia.
Kakain sana ako ng ramen kaso wala na akong
3. I’m sick of swimming pools. Mag-beach
pera. = I would eat ramen, but I don’t have _____ tayo!
money anymore. 4. I drank all of my ice tea. Gusto ko _____
ng ice tea.
5. You’re Australian _____. I thought
…Or say a statement then promptly say Americano ka.
something to oppose it. For example: 6. Gusto ko yung ice tea nila but gusto ko
Maganda sana sa Boracay pero ang daming _____ yung lemonade.
tao. = It would be beautiful in Boracay but there 7. I’ve been reviewing for months. _____
are a lot of people so it’s not. I’ll pass the entrance exam.
8. Wala na silang chocolate syrup.
Strawberry syrup na _____.
9. The icon on the app said that our Uber
Practice is outside. The driver is here na _____.
Fill in the blanks: Use the most appropriate 10. Kumain _____ ako. I’m so busog.
conjunctions. Some items may have several
possible answers. :)
Lesson 33 Take Your Time
Most language learners want to be articulate and eloquent when conversing with other people in the
language that they are studying. It makes us sound smart, confident, and reliable. But the reality is that
language learning is full of nuances and dead airs. But that is not a bad thing! After all, nuances in a
language gives the language character and more meaning while dead airs are just moments in the
conversation waiting to be filled with meaning.
T
his is where filler words and discourse say something to fill up the dead air or until you
markers come in. Filler words are find the perfect word that you are looking for.
meaningless words, phrases, or even
sounds that “fills” a pause or hesitation in
speech. On the other hand, Discourse Ano ulit ang pangalan ni ano? = What’s his/ her
markers are words, phrases, or even sounds name again? (Lit. What again the name of the
that convey additional meaning like emotions what?)
or intentions of the speaker. All of the particles
Na-ano si ano? = Something happened to
in Lesson 32: Particles are also examples of
what(who)?
Discourse Markers.
And if you really need the time to think, you can

Filler words and discourse markers are not
even extend it like:
required, per say. They don’t change the
grammatical meaning of the sentence. The Anoooooo... = ummmm...
sentence can function without them. But they
do give nuance or flavor to the sentence. And
sometimes, that all the separates the native
speakers from the learners.
Kwan
/quan/, sounds like Quando
In some areas, you can use kwan literally the
Consider these filler words the next time you same way you can use the filler word ano. It is
are lost for words: not as common as ano in the Metro Manila. For
example:
Ano...
You know when you want to say something, Ano ulit ang pangalan ni kwan? = What’s his/
but you can’t remember the right words for it her name again? (Lit. What again the name of
and the next thing you know you’re saying “... the what?)
um... you know... hm...” or “You know the... Na-kwan si kwan? = Something happened to
whatchamacallit?” what(who)?
Na-kwan daw ni kwan yung kwan. = (According
Well, ano has got you covered! Just say ano to someone) Someone did something to
whenever you’re lost for words or just want to someone.
If you want to spice up your conversational You can use O… at the start of a sentence to
Tagalog, you can try adding these discourse candidly acknowledge the presence of the
markers: person you are talking to. Keyword: candidly. It
is not advisable that you use this to people
older or in higher position than you. It can also
O... express a sense of waiting for new information
about something that was already talked about
Believe it or not, this short sound in Tagalog
in a past occasion. It can be loosely translated
has a lot of uses in casual conversation. One of
to “so” or “well”. For example:
its function is as a “pointing” sound,
particularly in situations you are offering/
giving/ handing over something to someone.
O, Kamusta buhay? = So, how’s life?
O, Anyare? = Well, what happened? (say: / an +
Kuya, yung sukli po sa bente? = Kuya, (where is) yah + reh/, This is the shortcut for Anong
the change for twenty (pesos)? nangyare?)
O, eto. = Here. O, Ansabe ng doktor? = Well, what did the
doctor say? (say: / an + sah + beh/, This is the
shortcut for Anong sabe?)
True to its “pointing” nature, you can also use
o… to refer to something or someone as if you
are saying, “Look! Did you see?” Since O… is for acknowledge the presence of
the person you are talking to, you can also use
this when candidly responding to someone
KAYCEE: [Shoots a crumpled paper into the when they refer to you or call your name...
waste bin despite her friends’ discouraging
comments]
KAYCEE: O! Shoot! = Look! Did you see? Shoot!” Carlo, a friend of Tari: Hoy! Tari!
Tari: O?!
Similar to English “oh”, you can use o… on its

own or at the start of a sentence to express ...or even when candidly answering a phone
your surprise or realization. Consider: call:
Buntis ka. = You’re pregnant.

[Tari’s phone is ringing, and Tari saw that it is
O… = Oh... her close friend, Carlo]
Tari: O? Anong kailangan mo? = Well? What do
you need?
Huy may concert daw si Madonna dito. = Hey,
(according to someone) Madonna has a concert
here. In cases when an older person or a person of
O talaga? = Oh really? higher status is the one calling you, you can use
the polite form po instead of o. Consider:
Bale…
Like O…, you can loosely translated bale… to
[Tari’s phone is ringing, and Tari saw that it is “so” or “well”. But unlike O…, it acknowledges
her mother] the established context or the previous
Tari: Po? Mama? conversation rather than the presence of the
person you are talking to. For example:
...O
True to its “pointing” nature, you can use ...o Bale, tumawag si Carlo kanina. = So, Carlo
at the end of a sentence to emphasize the called earlier.
point you just made or the thing you just
pointed. It can act like “look” in English when it Bale, kailangan mo ng 1x1 pic. = Well, you need
is combined with a pointing gesture. Consider: a 1x1 picture.
Bale, pupunta niyan ako sa office mamaya. =
So, I will go to the office later.
Galing o! = (Someone/ something is) Great!
Look!
Ayun o! = There it is! Look! E...
In general, you can use e… to introduce
Tignan mo o! = Look at it/ that! Look! another person or thing or topic tangent or
relevant to the conversation being discussed.
In that sense, you can translate e… to “how
When, added at the end of a command or about”. For example:
request, ...o can make it sound either gentler or
more urgent. In these cases, just mind your
voice and intonation. For example: Nag-bayad ka ng kuryente? = Have you paid the
electricity bill?
Gawa mo naman ako ng coffee o. = Make me Yup, kanina lang. = Yup, just earlier.
coffee, please. E, water bill? = How ‘bout the water bill?
Wala nang laman yung water dispenser.
Palitan mo naman yung tubig o. = There’s no
water in the water dispenser. Change the water However, you can also use e… to introduce
(gallon), will you? cause or the reason why something is/ isn’t
happening. You can think of it as “but” or
“however” in English. For example:
That being said, ...o at the end of sentences is
also used to build rapport or closer
relationships since it can also express concern
Mag-dadiet sana ako. E, ang sarap kumain! = I
or understanding. Consider:
was going to go on a diet. But it feels good to eat!
Galing naman ng friend ko o. Full scholarship

Sometimes, you’ll also hear Tagalog speakers
sa Ateneo! = My friend is so great. A full
use e… like “then” or “so” when prompting
scholarship in Ateneo!
another person to answer a question.
Gusto mo mag-staycation? Edi mag-kulong ka

sa bahay! = Do you want to have a staycation?
Inaantok na ako. Gusto ko ng coffee! = I’m Then lock yourself in the house!
getting sleepy. I want coffee!
E, ano ngayon? = So, what now?
Gawa mo ako ng coffee. = Make me (a cup of) ...e
coffee. Generally, ...e expresses opposition of
disagreement to what was initially said or
established. Think of it like saying “but”
without actually saying the word itself. It is a
E di.../ Edi... useful sound to learn especially in a culture
As you can see, edi.../ e di... is the combination where directly saying no or disagreeing is not
of e and di from hindi. Sometimes, you can see encouraged. But because of that, it can also
it written as one word or two words, but the have a defensive ring to it. For example:
important thing is that they are literally the
same thing.
Pinalitan mo yung font na pinili ko? Astig kaya
ng Comic Sans! = You changed the font that I
Unlike e…, that introduces cause or the reason chose? Comic Sans is cool!
why something is/ isn’t happening, edi…/ e
di… introduces the supposed or planned event Ang panget e. = But it’s ugly.
that didn’t happen when combined with kaso
“however/ but”. You can use it like “so” or
“then” in English. For example: Because of that, you can also use ...e to mark
hesitation or uncertainty. Consider:
Edi pupunta na sana ako sa party, kaso walang

Uber. = So, I was supposed to go to the party, Pwede ka bang mag-OT sa Friday? = Can you OT
but there’s no Uber. (Over-Time) on Friday?
May prior commitment po ako e. = But I have
prior commitment.
It can also function as an introduction of a new
topic or a new point of view. Consider:
Usually added at the end of an explanation, you
can use ...e to elaborate and convince a person
Gusto mo mag-staycation? Edi mag-check in ka to believe what you are saying or to see things
sa Ascott! = Do you want to have a staycation? in your perspective. In a way, it is similar to
Then go and check in at the Ascott!
“you see” in English. For example:
Sometimes, edi.../ e di… is also used to Okay sana yung MRT. Kaso lagi nalang siya
introduce/ re-introduce something so obvious nasisira e. = I’d like to say that MRT is okay. But,
that the speaker presented it as a new thing to it is always breaking down, you see.
be sarcastic. Consider:
Sometimes, ...e can also have a sad note to it. It Ang bilis ng deliver a! = The delivery is
is like sadly saying, “you see” or even (surprisingly) fast!
“unfortunately” or “I’m afraid”.
Ayos tong promo a! = This promo is
(surprisingly) great!
Wala na siya e. = He/ she is already gone, I’m
afraid.
On the other hand, you can also use ...a to
contradict someone or to say something
opposing to that someone’s opinion/
a... statement. This is done by using ...a in tandem
Similar to the English “ah”, you can use a… to with naman. Consider:
express realization, understanding, or
enlightenment.
Maganda naman yung Black Panther a! = (As
opposed to what you said) Black Panther was
Ma, paano pumunta ng SM Fairview? = Mom, great!
how do you go to SM Fairview?
Mabilis naman yung delivery a! = (As opposed
Punta ka sa Philcoa tapos sakay ka ng Fairview to what you said) The delivery is fast!
na bus. = Go to Philcoa then ride a Fairview bus.
A… Ganoon pala. = Ah… so that’s how.
Finally, ...a can also conveys the act of
commanding or requesting even if the
statement is not a command or request.
Sometimes, you’ll hear Tagalog speakers say
this when they don’t have anything else to
contribute to the conversation but wants to
acknowledge what was said. Consider: Waiter, sa table sa tabi ng window kami iuupo
a. = Waiter, we are going to sit at the table
besides the window, okay?
Galit ka pa ba kay Nina? Birthday niya. = Are
you still mad at Nina? It’s her birthday.
...ha
A. = Ah. You can use ...ha at the end of a statement to
convert it into a gentle reminder a gentle
reminder. In a way, it can function like, “okay?”
...a at the end of sentences in English. For example:
Added at the end of a sentence, ...a can give
the extra nuance that you are mildly impressed
or surprised about the thing you just said. For Kain ka ng maayos ha. = Eat properly, okay?
example:
Ingat ka ha. = Take care, okay?
Tulog ka nang maaga ha. = Sleep early, okay?
Galing a! = (Someone/ something is surprisingly)
Great!
...ha? Di ba nanalo si Venus Raj nung 2010? = Isn’t it,

Remember ...o and how it can be used to Venus Raj won back in 2010?
respond to a person calling you or referring to Nanalo si Venus Raj nung 2010, di ba? = Venus
you? Well, ...ha? can also function like that. The Raj won back in 2010, isn’t it?
only difference is that it is more appropriate for
situations when you didn’t hear what the
person said. In a way, it is similar to “What was
Di ba walang pasok sa Wednesday? = Isn’t it,
that?” in English. For example:
there’s no class on Wednesday?
Walang pasok sa Wednesday, di ba? = There’s
Carlo: Kim, na-submit mo na ba yung no class on Wednesday, isn’t it?
presentation? = Kim, did you submit the
presentation already?
Hindi ba ikaw yung sumagasa sa aso ko?! = Isn’t
Kim (didn’t hear Carlo): Ha?
it, you are the one who run over my dog?!
Ikaw yung sumagasa sa aso ko, hindi ba?! = You
However, be careful when using ...ha? in this are the one who run over my dog, isn’t it?!
context. Sometimes, it is in the voice and
intonation, too. You can also use ...ha? when
expressing your irritation at the person you are ...No
talking to or at the topic in hand. For example: Added at the end of the sentence, ...no is used
to emphasize or to forcefully correct someone
or an assumption. In cases where it is used to
Carlo: Kim, na-submit mo na ba yung correct an assumption, the assumption usually
presentation? = Kim, did you submit the reflects negatively to the speaker. When
presentation already? correcting an assumption, ...no can have same
Kim (irritated): Ha? feel as “FYI” or “For your information”. For
example:
Di ba?
As you can see di ba? is the combination of di (Emphasizing)
from hindi and the question word ba that you Nakatulog ka no! = You fell asleep, didn’t you!
can add either at the start or in the end of a (Correcting an assumption)
statement. Together it creates a question that Huy hindi ha! Natapos ko yung paper no! =
aims to double-check a statement or Hey I didn’t okay! FYI, I finished the paper!
information.
...No?
Technically, hindi ba… is also correct but most Also added at the end of the sentence, ...no?
Tagalog speakers find it too long or even too With the question mark is more “consensus-
formal. However, if you really want to seeking” or asking for agreement/
emphasize your intent to double-check a confirmation.
statement, you can use hindi ba…. For
example:
In a way, it is similar to ...di ba? in a sense that 1. _____ Anong sinabi mo? I didn’t hear
it can be translated to “isn’t it?”. The difference you.
is that in ...no?, the speaker who is asking 2. What’s his name again? Si…… _____
expects the person they are talking to to agree 3. _____ Did you see yung ginawa ko?
with them. For example: Bull’s eye!
4. Uy, Ingat on your way home _____
5. Ang galing ng anak ko _____?
Ganda ko no? = I’m pretty, aren’t I? 6. Gusto mo ng icecream? _____ get the
cream sa ref tapos put ice in it.
Ganda ng Black Panther no? = Black Panther is 7. (emphasizing) You ate yung adobo ko
great, isn’t it? _____.
8. _____ So that’s how you debone a
manok.
Practice 9. Person A: Kumain ka again?!
Fill in the blanks: Use the most appropriate Person B: Ang sarap kumain _____.
conjunctions. Some items may have several 10. Oh wow… didn’t expect that. Galing
possible answers. :) pala ng Ginebra _____
Lesson 34 “Present Tense”
In English, when you talk about an action that is going on now or that is generally true anytime, you
are talking about the Present Tense. For example, assuming that you love eating chocolate and you
don’t think that fact would change anytime soon, you would say, “I eat chocolate”. “Eat” is in present
tense.
W
hat if by some reason, you have a about a continuous action that in going on now
chocolate bar right now and you are or that is generally true anytime. This is the
eating it. You can say, “I’m eating Uncompleted Aspect of a verb.
chocolate”. “Eating” is a continuous action
happening right now. What if you were eating
chocolate last night? You can say, “I was eating What is an aspect? Aspect indicates whether
chocolate last night”. Regardless when in time the action has started or not and if started,
you ate the yummy chocolate bar, “eating” is a whether it has been completed or is still
continuous action so it is in Continuous ongoing. Compared to Tense, tense expresses
Tense. action or event in a point in time.
Uncompleted Aspect Remember the basic forms of verbs mag-, -um-

In Tagalog, the “present tense” is actually a , and ma-? Unlike in English, we have to slightly
combination of Present Tense and Continuous change the form of a “present” verb in
Tense, i.e. the “present tense” of Tagalog talks Tagalog.
-um- kumain k-um-akain kumakain

> repeat the first syllable, then put -
“To eat” “eat”
um- before first syllable of root word
“eating”
of the verb
“was eating”
ma- mag-salita nag-sasalita nagsasalita
“To speak” “speak”
“speaking”
> replace /m/ with /n/, then double
“was speaking”
the first syllable of the root word of
mag- ma-tulog na-tutulog natutulog
the verb
“To sleep” “sleep”
“sleeping”
“was sleeping”
Like Present tense in English, these are treated But since these are the Uncompleted Aspect,
as actions that happening in the present and keyword: uncomplete, the actions are ongoing
given facts and the Continuous tense in but not complete. Meaning, as far as the
English, they are continuous actions. speaker could tell, the action hasn’t ended yet.
The same way that you are saying, “I eat
chocolate” means that as far as you could tell,
the fact that you eat chocolate hasn’t ended Examples for ma- verbs
yet. Maybe in the future it will… but for now, Nakikinig ako ng OPM.
the fact that you eat chocolate is ongoing. = I listen to OPM.
= I’m listening to OPM.
= I was listening to OPM.
BONUS TIP
Since having a hobby or interest is an ongoing
Naliligaw si Kim.
action of liking a certain thing or activity, you
can talk about them using the Uncompleted = Kim is lost.
Aspect. Just follow the format for the mag- = Kim is getting lost.
verbs and there’s no need to translate things = Kim was getting lost.
into Tagalog. For example:
Nalilito ako.
= I’m confused.
coin-collecting > mag-coin-collecting
= I’m getting confused.
➢ nag-co-coin-collecting = I was getting confused.
Nag-co-coin-collecting ako. = I collect coins.

Examples for mag- verbs
Nagsusulat ako ng minutes of the meeting.
Remember “I’m eating chocolate” and “I was = I write down the minutes of the meeting.
eating chocolate”? Both actions are = I am writing down the minutes of the
continuous actions, but one is in the present meeting.
and the other is in the past. As far as we can = I was writing down the minutes of the
tell, it wasn’t stated if the actions ended meeting.
Examples for -um- verbs Nag-tatype ako.

= I type.
Kumakain ako ng chocolate.
= I’m typing.
= I eat chocolate.
= I was typing.
= I’m eating chocolate.
= I was eating chocolate.
Nagsasalita si boss.
= Boss talks.
Dumadaan ako sa EDSA.
= Boss is talking.
= I pass through EDSA.
= Boss was talking.
= I’m passing through EDSA.
= I was passing through EDSA.
As you can see, the Uncompleted Aspect of a

Umiinom ako ng beer. Tagalog verb can have three meanings. It can
= I drink beer. also happen in the past since an action that is
= I’m drinking beer. ongoing but hasn’t ended yet can happen in
= I was drinking beer. the past. Tagalog speakers depend on the
context of the conversation when determining
whether an action is happening in the present Kagabi /kah + gah + BEE/

or in the past. For example: “last night”
Dati /DAH + tea/
“in the past”
Huy! Bakit wala ka kahapon sa party? = Hey!
Why weren’t you there in the party yesterday? Noong isang araw /noh + ONG + ee +
SANG + AH + raw/ “the other
Sorry, nagpapahinga ako (kahapon). = Sorry, I day”
was resting (yesterday).
Noong isang gabi /noh + ONG + ee +
SANG + gah + BEE/ “the other
In the conversation, the party that the person night”
missed happened in the past so, based from Noong + [date or day or month or year]
that context, nagpapahinga also happened in
/noh + ONG + .../
the past. “on [date], in [month or year], last [day]”
Notice how helpful kahapon “yesterday” was The great thing about these words is that you
in determining the context. In Tagalog, time can put them almost anywhere in the
words like kahapon determine the tense of a sentence. For example:
sentence. Therefore, in the the sentence:
Kanina, nagsusulat ako ng minutes of the

Nakikinig ako ng OPM kagabi. = I was listening
meeting.
to OPM last night.
Nagsusulat ako kanina ng minutes of the
The verb nakikinig determines the aspect, meeting.
which is Uncomplete Aspect, while kagabi Nagsusulat kanina ako ng minutes of the
determines the tense, which is Past Tense. meeting.
Again, like in the situation where the person
Nagsusulat ako ng minutes of the meeting
who missed the party, a sentence can still be in
kanina.
the Past Tense if it is implied in the context.
= I was writing down the minutes of the meeting
earlier.
If you really want to specify when in the past

the action was happening, you may add the
Kagabi, nakikinig ako ng OPM.
following words to specify the point in time
when the action happened: Nakikinig kagabi ako ng OPM.
Nakikinig ako kagabi ng OPM.
Vocabulary: Nakikinig ako ng OPM kagabi.

Past Tense Words = I was listening to OPM last night.
Kanina /kah + KNEE + nah/
“earlier”
Kahapon /kah + HAH + pon/ See? Just remember to never put them
“yesterday” immediately after ng and ang. These markers
are clingy and needed to be with their nouns to 1. What do you do as a hobby?
function. But if you don’t want to risk breaking 2. What is the first 5 things you do in the
these clingy pair, you can stick to putting these morning.
past time words on either start or end of the 3. Name 3 things you were doing
sentence. yesterday afternoon.
Practice
Using the things you learned in this lesson,
answer the following questions:
Lesson 35 “Past Tense”
Say, you are spending time with a friend, or having a small talk with a friendly stranger. What will you
talk about? Maybe it will be about the things you have done in the past. In this lesson, you will learn
about the nuances and uses of Tagalog “past tense”.
I
n the previous lesson, you learned that the
-um- > retain
“present tense” of Tagalog is also
applicable in past events. The actual
Tagalog “past tense” is different. Instead of ma-
the ongoing-ness of the action, the > replace /m/ with /n/
completeness of the action determines its mag-
aspect. Consider these sentences:
Kim was eating her chocolate. Examples for -um- verbs

Kumain ako ng adobo. = I ate adobo (say: / ah +
Kim ate her chocolate. doh + boh/)
Pumunta sila sa office. = They went to the office
The two sentences present the same fact: Kim Bumili siya ng Coke. = She bought Coke.
eating chocolate. The first sentence implies
that in the past, the continuous action of eating
of chocolate was done by Kim. On the other
If you really want to specify when in the past
hand, the second implies that Kim was eating
the action was completed, you may also want
chocolate in the past and the action also
to add the following words to specify the time
finished in the past.
period:
Completed Aspect Vocabulary:

Unlike in English, the “past tense” in Tagalog is
actually called the Completed Aspect or a Past Tense Words
progressive action that has been completed. Kanina /kah + KNEE + nah/
That means that, in Tagalog, the “past tense” “earlier”
of luto (“cook”) is actually “had/has cooked” Kahapon /kah + HAH + pon/
instead of just “cooked” in English. “yesterday”
Kagabi /kah + gah + BEE/
Got it? Don’t worry. You’ll get a hang of it. “last night”
Remember the basic forms mag-, -um-, and ma- Dati /DAH + tea/
verbs? Well, changing them into their “in the past”
Completed Aspect is easy!
Noong isang araw /noh + ONG + ee +
SANG + AH + raw/ “the other
Rules: day”
Noong isang gabi /noh + ONG + ee + Nag-beach sila = They went to the beach.
night” Nag-shopping ka = You went shopping.
Noong + [date or day or month or year] Nag-Bohol ako noong summer = I went to
Bohol last summer.
/noh + ONG + .../
“on [date], in [month or year], last [day]”
BONUS TIP:
Kumain ako ng adobo kahapon. = I ate adobo Forgot your Tagalog vocab or still confused
yesterday. with the types of verbs and their Completed
Pumunta sila sa office kanina. = They went to Aspect? There’s a Taglish hack for you!
the office earlier
Bumili siya ng Coke kagabi. = She bought Coke I basketball-ed noong isang araw. = I played
last night. basketball the other day.
Umalis ka dati. = You went away in the past. We beer-ed kagabi. = We had/ drank beer last
night.
Examples for ma- verbs I Bohol-ed noon summer. = I went to Bohol last
Naligo ako kanina! = I took a bath! summer.
Medyo natulog ako noong break = I took a They may not make a lot of sense in English but
short (sleep) nap during the break. in Taglish, it’s perfectly understood and
sometimes used by Tagalog speakers.
Natuwa siya sa Magic Sing = She was delighted
with the Magic Sing (a plug-and-play karaoke
system that swept the nation in the 2000’s) Practice
Nakinig kami = We listened. Using the things you learned in this lesson,
1. Name at least 3 things that you did

Examples for mag- verbs before going to bed last night.
Nag-luto sila ng adobo = They cooked adobo. 2. Name the first 5 things you did earlier
Nag-basketball ako noong isang araw = I in the morning.
played basketball the other day. 3. What did you eat earlier today?
Nag-beer kami kagabi = We, but now you, had/

drank beer last night.
Lesson 36 “Future Tense”
Remember that small talk scenario in the previous lesson? What if you want to talk about the future?
Or your plans for the near future? In this lesson, you will learn about the ‘future tense” in Tagalog.
These topics may sound daunting, but I assure you that “future tense” in Tagalog is easy! (Can’t help
you with your future though. Sorry!)
S
o, you encountered how the ongoing-
mag- > retain ma- and mag-, repeat
ness and the completeness of an action
the first syllable of root word
can determine its aspect in Tagalog. In
Tagalog, the fact that you are considering or
contemplating doing an action will also
determine aspect of the verb. Examples for -um- verbs
Kumain > Kain “eat”
>Kakain ako ng adobo. = I’m going to eat adobo
Contemplated Aspect (say: / ah + doh + boh/)
Like the Completed Aspect from the previous
lesson, the “future tense” in Tagalog is not
exactly the same as the future tense in English.
Pumunta > Punta “go”
The closest thing to it is the Contemplated
Aspect. It is means that the progressive action > Pupunta sila sa office. = They’re going to go to
has not yet taken place, but you are the office
contemplating on doing it
Bumila > Bili “buy”

You can see this slight nuance in English, “I will
> Bibili siya ng Coke. = She’s going to buy Coke.
eat tomorrow” versus “I am going to eat
tomorrow”. The latter is like the Tagalog
Contemplated Aspect.
Umalis > Alis “go away”
Aalis ka. = He/ she is going away.
Again, remember the basic forms mag-, -um-,
and ma- verbs? Well, changing them into their
Contemplated Aspect is also easy! If you really want to specify when in the future
the contemplated action is going to take place,
you may also want to add the following words
to specify the time period:
Rules:
-um- > remove -um-, repeat the first

syllable of root word Vocabulary:
Future Tense Words
ma- Mamaya /mah + mah + YAH/ “later”
Bukas /BOO + kas/ “tomorrow”
Bukas ng gabi /BOO + kas + nang + gah + BEE/ Mag-luluto sila ng adobo = They are going to
“tomorrow night” cook adobo.
Sa susunod na araw /sah + SOO + soo + NOD +
nah + AH + raw/ “on the next day”
Mag-basketball “to play basketball” >
Sa + [date or day or month or year] /sah + .../
“on [date], in [month or year], on [day]” Mag-babasketball ako bukas = I’m going to play
basketball tomorrow.
Kakain ako ng adobo bukas. = I’m going to eat

adobo tomorrow. Mag-beer “to drink beer” >
Pupunta sila sa office mamaya. = They’re going Mag-bibeer kami mamaya = We, but now you,
to go to the office later. are going to drink/ have beer later.
Bibili siya ng Coke bukas ng gabi. = She going

to buy Coke tomorrow night. Mag-beach “to go to the beach” >
Aalis ka sa Tuesday. = You’re going away on Mag-bibeach sila = They are going to the beach.
Tuesday.
Mag-Bohol “to go to Bohol” >

Examples for ma- verbs
Maligo “to bathe” > Nag-boBohol ako sa summer = I’m going to
Bohol next summer.
Maliligo ako mamaya! = I’m going to take a bath
later!
Notice that when repeating the first syllable of
the root words, sometimes, some English
Matulog “to sleep” > words that have consonant clusters (at least
two consonants pronounced together), are
Medyo matutulog ako sa break = I’m going to
simplified to non-consonant-clustered
take a short (sleep) nap during the break.
syllables:
Matuwa “to be delighted” > Mag-shopping “to go shopping” >

Matutuwa siya sa Magic Sing = She’s going to
Mag-shashopping OR Mag-sashopping ka =
be delighted with the Magic Sing.
You are going to shop
Makinig “to listen” >

Mag-graduate “to graduate” >
Makikinig kami = We are going to listen.
Mag-gragraduate OR Mag-gagraduate ako
this year = I am going to graduate this year.
Examples for mag- verbs

Mag-luto “to cook” >
Practice 3. What is your personal goal for the next

Using the things you learned in this lesson, 5 years?
1. What do you plan to eat for dinner?

2. If you can do anything for the next 24
hours, what do you plan to do?
Lesson 37 Recent “Past Tense”
In English, you proclaim your very recent feat by saying, “I just finished my book!” or “I just finished a
marathon!”. True, you can stick to the plain ol’ past tense, but “I finished my book!” and “I finished a
marathon!”, just don’t have that same fresh sense of accomplishment feel to it, do they?
S
o far, you learned that Tagalog verbs can for you, it is still too soon for another trip to the
be conjugated depending if the action is laundry shop.
ongoing, complete, or contemplated. In
this lesson, you will learn that the time passed What will you say? You can say that you washed
the point of completion of an action can also them last week or you can also use the
determine the aspect of a verb. Recently Completed Aspect for laba “to
launder”.
Recently Completed Aspect

Like the name suggested, the action has just Remember the basic forms mag-, -um-, and ma-
recently completed just before the time of verbs? What’s great with Recently Completed
speaking or just before some other specified Aspect is that there is no type-specific rule for
time. mag-, -um-, and ma- verbs. And there are only
two versions of the Recently Completed
Aspect.
Imagine this scenario: You were invited in a
Filipino household and when you entered, the
family was having their lunch. Being Pinoys, Kaka- + Root Word
your host invited you to join their meal. This is the prescribed format for Recently
However, on your way to their house, you had
Completed Aspect of Tagalog. This is what
a quick snack in Jollibee so you are still full.
Tagalog speakers usually use.
What will you say? Well, you can say that you
kain “to eat”
are full while rubbing your stomach for
emphasis. Or you can use the Recently ➢ kaka + kain
Completed Aspect for kain “to eat”. ➢ kaka-kain /kah + kah + KAH + in/
= just finished eating
Scenario #2: Your partner just visited your place laba “to launder”
and they commented that the curtains need
cleaning. However, you just took those ➢ kaka + laba
curtains to the laundry shop last week. Despite ➢ kaka-laba /kah + kah + lah + BAH/
it being a week ago, curtains usually last you 2 = just finished laundering
months until you have to wash them again. So,
inom “to drink” ➢ ka-i-inom /kah + ee + EE + nom/

= just finished drinking
➢ kaka + inom
➢ kaka-inom /kah + kah + ee + NOM/
= just finished drinking lakad “to walk”
➢ ka + la + lakad
lakad “to walk” ➢ ka-lalakad /kah + lah + LAH + kad/
= just finished walking
➢ kaka + lakad
➢ kaka-lakad /kah + kah + LAH + kad/
= just finish walking
luto “to cook”
➢ ka + lu + luto
As you can see, you don’t need to do anything ➢ ka-luluto /kah + loo + LOO + toh/
to the root word itself. You just have to add the = just finished cooking
prefix kakain front of it. This is why this is the
preferred format of Tagalog users. In this format, you duplicate the first syllable of
the root word. Then, add the prefix ka-. Despite
it being a “bastardization”, most Tagalog
Ka- + 1st syllable of Root Word + Root Word speakers alternate this format with the
You can also hear Tagalog speakers use this previous one (even those who swear up and
other format. In most prescriptive institutions, down that they don’t). Either way, they mean
this is not allowed because, for them, it is a the same thing. :)
“bastardization” of the Tagalog language.
However, since we are aiming to speak like
native Tagalog speakers, it is also good to learn
Recently Completed English Words
Lucky for you, Recently Completed Aspect is
this alternate format.
easy to use with English. Just like mag-, you can
simply add kaka- before the English noun or
verb. For example:
kain “to eat”
➢ ka- + ka + kain Kaka-Grab mo lang tapos mag-gaGrab ka ulet?

➢ ka-kakain /kah + kah +KAH + in/ = You just took a Grab and now you’re going to
= just finish eating take a Grab again?
Kaka-practice mo pa lang di ba? Pahinga ka
muna. = You just practiced, right? Take a break
laba “to launder”
for a bit.
➢ ka + la + laba
➢ ka-lalaba /kah + lah + LAH + bah/ Of course, you have the option to use the [Ka-
= just finished laundering + 1st syllable of Root Word + Root Word]
format, e.g. ka-gaGrab and ka-papractice, but
most Tagalog speakers prefer the first format.
inom “to drink”
➢ ka + i + inom
Practice 7. just finished eating

How do you say the following in Tagalog? 8. just finish bathing
9. just finished walking
1. just finished eating at McDonald’s 10. just finished drinking
2. just finished drinking a Starbuck’s
frappe
3. just finished taking a bus
4. just finished taking a sick leave
5. just finished taking a nap
6. just finished sleeping
Lesson 38 To be or not to be?
… That was Hamlet’s question. But the real question is: What IS the Tagalog “to be”? “To be” or be-
verbs are verbs that show the action or the state of being. In some languages, they can act as linking
verbs. However, in Tagalog, you’ll find bigger plans for the humble be-verb.
R
emember ay the inverse marker and Ang movie ay maganda.
how it is similar to the “to be” verbs in
However, that is where the similarity ends. The
English but not exactly the same? Well,
actual Tagalog word equivalent to the English
their only actually similarity is that ay inverse
“to be” is maging. And like other verbs, it can
marker is used immediately after the Subject,
also be conjugated according to aspect.
the same way “is”/ “was” and “are”/ “were”
are used immediately after the subject in an
English sentence. For example:
In order to change the form of maging to its
The movie is good. different aspect form, treat it like a ma- verb.
Consider:
English Tagalog Imperative Completed Uncompleted Contemplated

Aspect Aspect Aspect Aspect
“Basic form” “Past “Present Tense” “Future Tense”
Tense”
to be/ to maging retain change /m/ duplicate /gi/, duplicate /gi/
become to /n/ change /m/ to /n/
maging naging nagiging magiging
/mah + GING/ /nah + GING/ /nah + GIH + ging/ /mah + GIH + ging/
Now, we don’t use maging like “is”/ “was” and In Tagalog, you express becoming or being a
“are”/ “were”. In the first place, Tagalog certain noun but putting the different aspect of
doesn’t really have the concept of “to be” maging before the noun. For example:
verb. But it is a unique verb because it is not
under the three types of verb, namely mag, -
um-, and ma-. Gusto ko maging doctor. = I want to become a
doctor.
Naging valedictorian ng school si Namae. =

Using Maging with Nouns Namae became the valedictorian of the school.
When asked what you want to be or goal in life,
you probably said “I want to become a doctor” Nagiging threat ang aso mo sa pusa ko. = Your
or maybe “to be an astronaut” back when you dog is becoming a threat to my cat.
were a child.
Magiging manager din ako! = I will also become At this rate, magiging mahina ang Philippine
a manager! peso. = At this rate, the Philippine peso will come
weak.
Using Maging with Modifiers

Being or becoming a person with a certain Practice
quality is also easily expressed in Tagalog. Like How do you say the following in Tagalog?
with nouns, you do this by putting the different
1. I want to become tall.
forms of maging right before the modifier. For
2. I became hard-working
example:
3. I am becoming lazy (use tamad)
4. I want to become a CEO.
5. I was a blogger.
Dapat maging masipag ka. = You should be
hard-working.
Naging successful si Josh sa Kuwait. = Josh

became successful in Kuwait.
Bakit nagiging mahal ang mga bilihin? = Why

are groceries becoming more expensive?
Lesson 39 How’s the Weather?
Weather? I know what you’re thinking. It is the quintessential small talk topic! Zzz… boring, right? Well,
you’ll be surprised to learn that there is more to weather in Tagalog than boring small talk prompt.
I
n a sentence, there is usually a subject, an To review, Aspect expresses how an action or
object, and a verb or modifier. The barest event happen across a stretch of period of
minimum is a verb like in commands, e.g. time. Compared to Tense, tense expresses
Takbo! “Run!”, Tayo! “Stand!”, or Upo! “Sit!”. action or event in a point in time. Focus
generally refers to the most prominent or most
important element in a sentence. Ang and si
In Tagalog, sentences about weather or natural are usually the words that marks the focus in a
phenomenon break that expectation; they can sentence.
stand on their own. In addition to that, some
words about weather and natural
phenomenon in Tagalog act like verbs and have Going back, similar to English, you can
aspect and focus. conjugate some weather or natural
phenomenon words to show when they
happen:
Verb-Acting Weather or Natural Phenomenon Words

Aspect Aspect Aspect Aspect
“Basic form” “Past “Present “Future Tense”
Tense” Tense”
sun/ day araw umaraw umaraw umaaraw aaraw
/AH + rau/
night gabi gumabi gumabi gumagabi gagabi
/gah + BEE/
heat init uminit uminit umiinit iinit
/EE + knit/
coldness lamig lumamig lumamig lumalamig lalamig
/lah + MIG/
chill ginaw guminaw guminaw gumiginaw giginaw
/gi + NAU/
drizzle ambon umambon umambon umaambon aambon
/um + BON/
wind hangin humangin humangin humahangin hahangin
/HA + ngin/
rain ulan umulan umulan umuulan uulan
/oo + LAN/
typhoon bagyo bumagyo bumagyo bumabagyo babagyo
/bag + YOH/
flood baha bumaha bumaha bumabaha babaha
/bah + HA/
thunder kulog kumulog kumulog kumukulog kukulog
/coo + LOG/
lightning kidlat kumidlat kumidlat kumikidlat kikidlat
/kid + LAT/
earthquake lindol lumindol lumindol lumilindol lilindol
/lin + DOL/
Some of these words can also have the

Recently Completed Aspect. However, not Kanina umaambon lang. Ngayon, bumabagyo
all natural-phenomenon words have it, so it is na! = Earlier, it was just drizzling. Now, there’s a
not included in the table. Like mentioned (-n ongoing) typhoon!
before, Verb-acting natural phenomenon Uy! Huwag kang tatalon. Baka lumindol! = Hey!
words can stand on their own and function as Don’t start jumping. It might cause an
a complete sentence. For example: earthquake!
Hala! Umuulan! Babaha sa amin. = Oh no! It’s
raining! It’s going to flood in our place.
Umuulan. = It is raining.
Lumilindol! = There’s an (ongoing) earthquake!
However, some words can also become
modifiers. This is done by attaching the prefix
Of course, you can add more elements to these ma-, a.k.a. the modifier-forming prefix.
one-word sentences.
Natural Phenomenon as Modifiers

English Tagalog Pronunciation Modifier form Pronunciation
dew hamog /ha + MOG/ mahamog /ma + ha + MOG/
wind hangin /HA + ngin/ mahangin /ma + HA + ngin/
rain ulan /oo + LAN/ maulan /ma + oo + LAN/
heat init /EE + knit/ mainit /ma + EE + knit/
day/ sun araw /AH + raw/ maaraw /ma + AH + raw/
coldness lamig /la + MIG/ malamig /ma + la + MIG/
chill ginaw /gee + NOW/ maginaw /ma + gee + NOW/
cloud ulap /OO + lap/ maulap /ma + OO + lap/
drizzle ambon /am + BON/ maambon /ma + am + BON/
humidity alinsangan /ah + lin + SAH + ngan/ maalinsangan /ma + ah + lin + SAH + ngan/
overcast kulimlim /coo + lim + LIM/ makulimlim /ma + coo + lim + LIM/
You can use these words the same way you use
the typical modifiers.
Mahamog kaninang umaga sa garden. = It was

dewy earlier in the morning,
Philippine Seasons
Makulimlim kaninang nasa labas ako, mag- Technically, there are only two seasons in the
ready ka ng payong. Baka umulan. = It was Philippines and those are the dry and wet
overcast earlier, ready an umbrella. It might rain.
seasons. In Tagalog, they are called by several
Di ko makita yung stars kase maulap. = I can’t names. Consider:
see the stars, it’s cloudy.
dry season tag-tuyo /tag + two + YOH/ dry season (Lit: season of dry)
tag-init /tag + ee + KNIT/ hot season (Lit: season of hot)
tag-araw /tag + ah + RAU/ day/sun season (Lit: season of day/sun)
tag-sibol /tag + see + BOL/ blooming season (Lit: season of bloom)
wet season tag-ulan /tag + oo + LAN/ rain season (Lit: season of rain)
tag-lamig /tag + lah + MIG/ cold season (Lit: season of cold)
tag-ginaw /tag + gi + NAU/ chill season (Lit: season of chill)
As you can tell, the prefix tag- means “season”, tag-ani /tag + AH + knee/
so tag-ulan literally means “season rain”. harvest time (Lit: time of harvest)
However, the prefix tag- can also have the Practice

meaning “period of time; time-frame; time of”. 1. For the perfect date, or the perfect get-
So, sometimes you’ll hear Tagalog speakers away, what is your ideal weather? how
say: about season?
2. Say that you are planning on going on a
tag-hirap /tag + hee + RAP/ short trip and the weather forecast for
poverty (Lit: time of difficulty) the week is as follows:
tag-gutom /tag + goo + TOM/
famine (Lit: time of hunger)
28°C 27°C 28°C 30°C 32°C 32°C 33°C

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
a. What is the weather on the 3. Describe the weather/ temperature on:

Monday? a. Sunday
b. How about on Tuesday? b. Wednesday
c. When will you go on your short c. Friday
3-day trip?
Lesson 40 Don’ts and Don’ts
In this book, you learned the power of the word Hindi and how it can negate just about anything.
However, there are some things that Hindi won’t be able to fully express, especially the different
nuances of different negations in Tagalog.
S
o, what is Negation? Negation is when a literally exchange mayroon/ meron/ may in a
word denies or inverts the meaning of sentence with wala to express nothingness or
another word or sometimes in Tagalog “the lack of”. For example:
case, whole sentences.
May Walang pasok bukas. = There’s no

Not to be negative, but Tagalog has at least class/office hours tomorrow.
seven negation words. However, we are only
Mayroong Walang magandang movies
tackling four of them because the rest are
ngayon. = There’s no good movies right now.
rarely used in casual Tagalog. Those more
common Tagalog negation words are Wala, Meron Walang tumatakbo dito bilang
Hindi, Bawal, and Huwag. presidente. = There’s no one here running for
president.
Hindi
/hin + DEE/ However, you never really had the chance to
encounter Bawal and Huwag. That is because
Hindi, meaning “not”, is the most common and Hindi can steal their function when used in
versatile negator. It can negate almost all kinds tandem with their counterparts.
of constructions. Think of it as “not”; it negates
anything that follows it. For example:
Huwag
/who + WAG/ or /wag/
Hindi ka pwedeng mag-coffee. = You are not
allowed to drink coffee. Huwag is the negator that generally means
“don’t” in English. Its main function is to give
Hindi student si Kim. = Kim is not a student.
negative commands. It also has a shorter
Hindi maganda yung Fifty Shades of Grey. = version: Wag, pronounced /wag/ as in tail-
“Fifty Shades of Grey” is not good. wagging. For example:
Wala Uminom ka ng antibiotic. = Drink antibiotics.

/wa + LAH/ Huwag kang uminom ng antibiotic. = Don’t
Wala is the negative counterpart of mayroon/ drink antibiotics.
meron/ may. Since it’s a counterpart, you can
Tumawag ka ng Grab. = Call a Grab. learned in Lesson 20: Expressing Permission,

you can express exactly this by combining
Wag kang tumawag ng Grab. = Don’t call a
Hindi/di with Pwede. However, Bawal is a more
Grab.
simple and shorter option. Consider:
Sumama kayo sa outing. = Join the outing.

Pwede kang mag-beer.
Huwag kayong sumama sa outing. = Don’t join
➢ Hindi ka pwede mag-beer
the outing.
➢ Bawal kang mag-beer
= You’re not allowed to drink beer.
In a way, it is a counterpart of Dapat or “must” Pwede kang mag-overnight.

or “should”. If you can remember Lesson 22: ➢ Hindi ka pwedeng mag-overnight.
Expressing Duty, you know that you can also ➢ Bawala kang mag-overnight.
do that too with Hindi/Di with Dapat. Consider: = You’re not allowed to sleep over
Di ka dapat uminom ng antibiotics. = You overnight.
shouldn’t drink the antibiotic.
Hindi ka dapat tumawag ng Grab. = You Pwedeng students sa loob.

shouldn’t call a Grab. ➢ Hindi pwede and students sa loob.
Di ka dapat sumama sa outing. = You shouldn’t ➢ Bawal ang students sa loob.
join the outing. = Students are not allowed inside.
As you can see, the two options mean literally

As you can see, even the translations can show the same but Bawal is shorter, so it’s no
the subtle difference when you use Hindi/Di wonder why some Tagalog speakers prefer to
with Dapat, versus when you only use Huwag. use it. :)
So, if you want to give a firmer negative
command (“don’t do that”) rather than a
Practice
suggestion (“you shouldn’t do that”), stick to
How do you say the following in Tagalog
Huwag/Wag. It’s shorter too!
without using the word Hindi?
1. Food and drinks are not allowed.

Bawal 2. Dogs are not allowed.
/BAH + wal/ 3. You shouldn’t brink food and drinks.
4. You shouldn/t bring dogs.
Last but not the least, Bawal or “not allowed”, 5. There are no more food and drinks.
the counterpart of Pwede. Its main function is 6. There are no more dogs.
to forbid something or someone. As you
Lesson 41 Describing Actions
In most languages, Adjectives are words that describe a person, place, or thing while an Adverb is a
word that describes a verb or an adjective. In Tagalog, the line that separates the two is a broken white
line where on word can change lanes as long as it is appropriate to do so,
S
o far, we’ve been describing people and Malalim natulog yung aso = The dog slept
things. When using modifiers, you are deeply.
familiar with the format, [modifier] + ang
Masayang tumalon ang bata = The child jumped
[noun]:
happily.
Mabilis nag-lakad yung girl = The girl walked
Magaling yung aso = The dog is/was great. fast.
Masaya ang bata = The child is/was happy
Mabilis yung girl = The girl is/was fast. Of course, this format also works for proper
nouns introduced by si:
Adjective = Adverb?
In this lesson, we are tackling how to describe Malalim matulog si Barky = Barky sleeps deeply.
actions. The nice thing about Tagalog is that Masayang tumalon si Namae = Namae jumps
you can use the same words you use as happily.
modifiers to describe verbs. You can say that
Tagalog uses the same words as both adjective Mabilis naglakad si Kim = Kim walked fast.
and adverb. You can use these modifiers by
following the format: [modifier](-ng) +
Imperative/ Completed Aspect verb + ang What if you want to use pronouns to talk about
[noun]: . yourself or other people? Well, there will be a
little twist— in the word order, that is. When
using pronouns, you can follow the format,
Imperative Aspect Completed Aspect [modifier] + DPP(-ng) + Imperative/
-um- > retain Completed Aspect verb, where DPP is for
kumain kumain Direct Personal Pronouns [DPP], e.g. ako, ikaw/
“to eat” “to eat” ka, siya, kayo, sila, kami, and tayo:
ma- > replace /m/ with /n/

matulog natulog Mabilis akong naglakad. = I walked fast.
“to sleep” “slept” Mataas siyang tumalon. = He/ she jumps high.
mag- nag-laro Malalim kayong natulog. = You guys slept

mag-laro “played” heavily.
“to play”
Sometimes, you may hear Tagalog speakers

say:
Natulog nang malalim yung aso = The dog slept always lagi
deeply. /LA + gi/
palagi
Nag-lakad nang mabilis yung girl = The girl
/pa + LA + gi/
walked fast.
parati
/pa + RA + tea/
every minute minu-minuto
Completed Aspect
Tumalon nang masaya si Namae = Namae
/mi + nu + mi + NU +
jumps happily.
toh/
Naglakad nang mabilis si Kim = Kim walked every hour oras-oras
fast. /o + ras + O + ras/
every day araw-araw
Tumalon siya nang mataas. = He/ she jumps
/ah + rau + AH + rau/
high.
every week linggo-linggo
Natulog kayo nang malalim. = You guys slept /leeng + goh + LEENG
heavily. + go/
every month buwan-buwan
/bwan + bwan/
Pronounced the same way as the word ng, this every year taon-taon
nang connects verbs to modifiers when verbs /tah + ON + tah + ON/
precede the modifier. However, this format is
rarely used by Tagalog speakers because it can
be long-winded and formal. You use these the same way you use modifiers,
i.e. modifier before the verb. Just take note of
the aspect of your verb. For actions in the
In addition to the modifiers already in your Imperative Aspect, you can use the frequency
arsenal, you can also use these Frequency words, madalas, malimit, bihira, madalang,
minsan, minsan-minsan, and paminsan-
words to express how often the action is done
minsan. For example:
or being done:
Frequency words
frequent/ often madalas Madalang matulog si Barky = Barky rarely
/mah + dah + LAS/ sleeps.
malimit Bihira tumalon si Namae = Namae seldom
/mah + LEE + meet/ jumps.
rarely/ seldom bihira Paminsan-minsan tumakbo si Kim = Kim runs
Imperative Aspect
/bee + HEE + rah/ sometimes.

madalang
/ma + DAH + lang/ Malimit akong matulog. = I often sleep.
sometimes/ minsan Madalas siyang kumain. = He/ she often eats.
once /MIN + san/
sometimes/ minsan-minsan
occasionally /min + san + MIN + However, you cannot say…
san/ *Palagi matulog si Barky =
paminsan-minsan
/pah + min + san + *Minu-minuto tumakbo si Kim =
MIN + san/
These select frequency words, e.g. lagi/ Aspect. To review, it is a continuous action
palagi/ parati, minu-minuto, oras-oras, araw- that in going on now or that is generally true
araw, linggo-linggo, buwan-buwan, taon-taon, anytime.
demand verb or actions in the Uncompleted
-um- > repeat the first syllable, kumain k-um-akain kumakain

then put -um- before first “To eat” /coo + mah + KAH + in/ “eat”
syllable of root word of the “eating”
verb “was eating”
ma- > replace / m/ with / n/, then mag-salita nag-sasalita nagsasalita
double the first syllable of “To speak” /nag + sah + sah + lee + TAH/ “speak”
the root word of the verb “speaking”
“was speaking”
mag- ma-tulog na-tutulog natutulog
“To sleep” /nah + two + TWO + log/ “sleep”
“sleeping”
“was sleeping”
Therefore, you can say: Minu-minuto siyang kumakain.

= He/ she eats every minute.
Minu-minuto natutulog si Barky = He/ she is eating every minute.
= Barky sleeps every minute. = He/ she was eating every minute.
= Barky is sleeping every minute.
= Barky was sleeping every minute.
Practice
Lagi tumatalon si Namae. Fill in the blanks: Use the most appropriate
= Namae always jumps. frequency word for the following sentences.
= Namae is always jumping. Some items may have several possible
= Namae was always jumping.
answers. :)
1. _____ ako kumain ng chocolate. = I eat

Oras-oras tumatakbo si Kim. chocolates frequently.
= Kim runs every hour. 2. I splurge sa masasarap na pagkain
= Kim is running every hour. _____. = I splurge on delicious food
= Kim was running every hour. occasionally.
3. _____ ako mag-taxi. = I rarely ride an
taxi.
Parati akong natutulog.
4. _____ ako nag-dedeposit sa savings
= I always sleep.
= I am always sleeping. ko. = I deposit to my savings (account)
= I was always sleeping. every month.
5. _____ na lang, umuulan. = Every week,
it’s raining.
Lesson 42 Having / Not Having Part 2
Way back in Lesson 23: Having/ Not Having and Asking for Something, you’ve learned about Mayroon/
Meron/ May and Wala and how it is useful when asking for something. In this lesson, you’ll learn the
different uses of these words beyond asking for something.
A
s you can remember Mayroon/ Meron/ To review, Aspect expresses how an action or
May means “There exists…” or “There event happen across a stretch of period of
is…” while Wala means “There is no time. Compared to Tense, tense expresses
existing…” or “There is no…”. You’ll be action or event in a point in time. Focus
surprised to know that Mayroon/ Meron/ May generally refers to the most prominent or most
and Wala can also function like verbs, i.e. They important element in a sentence.
can have aspect and focus, too.

Aspect Aspect aspect Aspect
“Basic “Past Tense” “Present Tense” “Future Tense”
form”
There exists… Mayroon magkaroon nagkaroon nagkakaroon magkakaroon
/ There is… / Meron /mag + ka + /nag + ka + roh /nag +ka + ka + /mag +ka + ka +
roh + ON/ + ON/ roh + ON/ roh + ON/
May magka- nagka- nagkaka- magkaka-
As you can see, Mayroon/ Meron and May acts Nagkaroon ako ng pera. = I had money.
like a mag- verb. From these, you can tell when
or up to when someone or something exists or Nagkakaroon ako ng pera. = I am/ was having
existed. money
Magkakaroon ako ng pera. = I’m going to have
money.
However, Mayroon/ Meron follows a different
format than May. For Mayroon/ Meron, the
format is Mayroon/ Meron + DPP + [the thing Note that although magkaroon is the basic
that is existing], where DPP is for Direct form, it is rarely used in a sentence. For that we
Personal Pronouns [DPP], e.g. ako, ikaw/ ka, use the usual Mayroon/ Meron format.
siya, kayo, sila, kami, and tayo: For example:
Now, remember how Tagalog speakers love

Magkaroon ng pera = to have money making things easier and sentences shorter?
Mayroon akong pera. OR Meron akong pera = Well, Tagalog speakers do that to Mayroon/
I have money. Meron sentences by removing the -roon part
and exchanging it with the thing that is
existing.
In these cases, the sentences follow the format Note that although magka- is the basic form, it
for May sentences which May + [the thing that is also rarely used in a sentence. For that, we
is existing] + DPP. So, the sentences about use the usual May format. Here’s another set
having money will become: of examples:
Magka-pera = to have money Magka-aso = to have a dog

May pera ako. = I have money. May aso ako. = I have a dog.
Nagka-pera ako. = I had money. Nagka-aso ako. = I had a dog.

Nagkaka-pera ako. = I am/ was having money Nagkaka-aso ako. = I am/ was having a dog.
Magkaka-pera ako. = I’m going to have money. Magkaka-aso ako. = I’m going to have a dog.
English Tagalog Imperative Completed

Uncompleted Contemplated
Aspect Aspect
aspect Aspect
“Basic form” “Past Tense”
“Present “Future Tense”
Tense”
There is no wala mawala nawala nawawala mawawala
existing… / /mah + wah + /nah + wah + /nah + WAH + /mah + WAH +
There is no… LAH/ LAH/ wah + LAH/ wah + LAH/
Using wala with aspect acts like a ma- verb and

can be straight-forward. You just follow the
format [Wala with aspect] + ang + [the thing Mawalan ng pera. = to lose money
that is missing]. For example: Wala akong pera. = I don’t have money.
Mawala ang pera = To lose a particular money Nawalan ako ng pera. = I lost money.
Walang pera. = There is no money. Nawawalan ako ng pera. = I am/ was losing
money
Mawawalan ako ng pera. = I’m going to lose
Nawala ang pera. = The money was gone. money.
Nawawala ang pera. = The money is/ was
missing.
Noticed how mawala, nawala, nawawala, and
Mawawala ang pera. = The money will go mawawala suddenly have -n at the end? It was
missing. actually -an. However, mawala-an, nawala-an,
nawawala-an, and mawawala-an would sound
What if the thing that is missing, in this case, so long and choppy so Tagalog speakers just
money, is somebody’s? Consider: opted to remove one of the a’s.
and the thing that is missing is present in the

sentence.
Going back, this -an is the suffix for patient
focus. So far, all of the affixes in this e-book
before this are all in Actor focus i.e. focuses on
Here’s another set of examples for wala:
the person/ object who does the action. Mag-,
ma-, and -um- are all in Actor focus. Patient Mawalan ng gana. = to lose drive (for
focus, on the other hand, is when the focus is something)
one the person/ object that undergoes the Wala akong gana. = I don’t have the drive (for
action and changes its state. something).
We can dissect the word Nawalan into three

(3) parts: Nawalan ako ng gana. = I lost the drive (for
something).
nawala -an Nawawalan ako ng gana. = I am/ was losing the
drive (for something).
Actor focus There is no Patient
Mawawalan ako ng gana. = I’m going to lose the
in Completed existing… / focus
drive (for something).
Aspect There is no…
“Past Tense”
Practice
Therefore, the nawalan in “Nawalan ako ng
1. My keys are missing.
pera.”, refers to ako “I” the Doer and pera
2. I lost my keys earlier.
“money” as the Patient, a.k.a. object that
3. I keep on losing my keys.
undergoes the action and changes its state
(existing to non-existing). 4. I don’t have my keys.
5. I’m going to have keys?
6. I had my keys.
Of course, not all words require both the Doue
and Patient focus. It just happens that wala
inherently requires both when both the doer
Lesson 43 Commanding/Requesting Part 2
Mag-lakad or Lumakad? Mag-sulat or Sumulat? By now, you may have encountered verbs like these
that just won’t stick to one verb type, namely the mag- verbs, the -um- verbs. It is a common problem
for most Tagalog language learners. So, the question is, is there a difference?
R emember Imperative forms from way for ma- verbs. You’ll learn that the meaning of
back in Lesson 17: Commanding/ the verb differs depending on the type it
Requesting? To review, there are three realizes.
types of verbs; the mag- verbs, the -um- verbs,
and the ma- verbs. However, you’ll soon learn
that these are not clear-cut categorizations When a Dual Type verb becomes a mag- verb,
according to type. the action is done externally from the Doer of
the action. On the flip side, a Dual Type verb
turned -um- verb means that the action is done
Dual Type Verbs internally to the Doer of the action. Consider
Sometimes, you’ll encounter verbs in Tagalog the table:
that can be both mag- and -um- verbs but not
Dual Type Verb Words

mag- type Root Word -um- type
“external action” “internal action”
mag-sulat /mag + soo + LAT/ sulat /SOO + lat/ sumulat /soo + MOO + lat/
“to write something” “write” “to write”
mag-pasok /mag + PAH + sok/ pasok /PAH + sok/ pumasok /poo + MAH + sok/
“to bring an object inside” “enter” “to enter”
mag-uwi /mag + oo + WEE/ uwi /oo + WEE/ umuwi /oo + moo + WI/
“to bring an object home” “go home” “to go home”
mag-alis /mag + ah + LIS/ alis /ah + LIS/ umalis /oo + mah + LIS/
“to remove an object” “go away” “to go away”
mag-balik /mag + bah + LEAK/ balik /bah + LEAK/ bumalik /boo + ma + LEAK/
“to return an object” “go back” “to go back”
mag-sama /mag + sah + MAH/ sama /SAH + mah/ sumama /soo + MAH + mah/
“to bring” “join” “to join”
mag-tulong /mag + TOO + long/ tulong /TWO + long/ tumulong /too + MOO + long/
“to help each other” “help” “to help”
mag-hingi /mag + hee + NGI/ hingi /hee + NGI/ humingi /who + mee + NGI/
“to ask for something” “ask for something” “to ask for”
mag-lakad /mag + lah + KAD/ lakad /LA + kad/ lumakad /loo + MAH + kad/
“to walk an object” “walk” “to walk”
mag-tayo /mag + tah + YOH/ tayo /tah + YOH/ tumayo /too + mah + YOH/
“to put something in an upright “stand” “to stand”
position”
mag-upo /mag + oo + POH/ upo /oo + POH/ umupo /oo + moo + POH/
“to put something in a sitting “sit” “to sit”

position”
mag-hawak /mag + HA + wak/ hawak /HAH + wak/ humawak /who + MAH + wak/
“to hold each other by hand” “hold” “to hold”
mag-sakay /mag + sah + KAY/ sakay /sah + KAY/ sumakay /soo + mah + KAY/
“to load something in a vehicle” “ride” “to ride”
mag-baba /mag + bah + BA/ baba /bah + BAH/ bumaba /boo + mah + BAH/
“to unload something from a vehicle “go down” “to go down”
or to get something down from a
higher place”
mag-akyat /mag + ak + YAT/ akyat /ak + YAT/ umakyat /oo + mak + YAT/
“to get something on a higher place” “climb” “to climb”
mag-tigil /mag + TEA + gil/ tigil /TEA + gil/ tumigil /too + MEE + gil/
“to stop something” “stop” “to stop”
mag-libot /mag + lee + BOT/ libot /LEE + bot/ lumibot /loo + MEE + bot/
“to go around an area” “go around” “to go around”
mag-bilang /mag + bee + LANG/ bilang /BEE + lang/ bumilang /boo + MEE + lang/
“to count something” “count” “to count”
mag-isip /mag + ee + SIP/ isip /EE + sip/ umisip /oo + MEE + sip/
“to think of something” “think” “to think”
As you can see, there are slight nuances in the

meaning of the verb depending on the type it Sumama ka na sa team-building!
takes. -um- verbs are all about oneself while Pwede kang mag-sama ng plus-one. =
the mag- verbs have all something to do with Join the team-building
an outside entity or object. For example: (activity/seminar) already! You can bring
a plus-one.
Bumalik ako ng office para mag-balik ng books 2. Choose between the two verbs.
sa conference room. = I returned to the office a. _____ ka ng sapatos.
to return some books in the conference room. Umalis Mag-alis
b. _____ kayo ng kamay. We don’t
Umakyat siya ng ladder para mag-akyat ng want anyone to get lost.
books sa bookshelf. = He/she climbed a ladder Humawak Mag-hawak
to bring the books on the bookshelf. c. _____ ka diyan. That’s the
Umuwi ako sa condo galing sa work. Nag-uwi wrong jeep!
pa ako ng workload. = I went home to the Bumaba Mag-baba
condo from work. I even brought home some d. _____ ka ng crystal bowls. May
workload. visitors tayo.
Lumabas Mag-labas
e. Since you’re already inside the
truck, _____ ka ng moving
Practice boxes.
1. Construct a sentence or sentences Sumakay Mag-sakay
showing the difference in meaning of
a Dual Type verb. For example:
Lesson 44 Commanding/ Requesting Part 3
Here’s a question: What is the difference between “Sheila ate the burger.” and “Sheila ate THE
burger”? Well, suddenly your focus is on the burger now, isn’t it? Almost like, regardless whatever that
burger is, you know it is important. That is what exactly happens when you use the Object focus of
verbs in Tagalog.
A
s you know by now, there are three the Object is not moved from one place to
types of verbs in Actor focus, namely: another.
mag-, -um-, ma-. These are said to be in
Actor focus because it indicates or focuses on
the fact that the Subject does the acting (Thus, What does that mean? For example, the
Actor Focus!). What if we turn our focus on the imperative of kain “eat” in Actor focus is
action done to/ at/ on/ for/ with the Object? kumain but in Object focus, it is kainin. In the
Well, that is where Object focus comes into sentence…
play!
Kainin mo yung burger. = Eat THE burger.
Imperative Form It is assumed or given that the burger was

Like in Actor Focus verbs in Lesson 15: eaten it its entirety. Upon eating the burger,
Commanding/ Requesting, verbs in Object the burger itself was not moved from one
Focus also have three Imperative form or location to another.
“command form”. And similar to Actor focus
verbs, learning the Object focus version of
verbs is the easiest way to familiarize yourself
Of course, there are some exception to these
with these new sets of Tagalog verbs.
generalizations. These are the verbs that
inherently have movement from one place to
another in their meaning. For example:
It is important to remember that all types of
verbs in Object focus generally have the same
function: to indicate that the focus is on the
Lakad = walk
action done to/ at/ on/ for/ with the Object.
However, there are some nuances within the > lakad-in > lakarin /lah + KAH + rin/ = Walk
types. the…
Lakarin mo yung papeles. = Walk THE papers

(through the process).
Imperative form in Object Focus: -in verbs
This is the -um- verb of Object focus, meaning,
-um- verbs usually become -in verbs whe it is in
As shown in the previous examples, you form
Object focus. These verbs generally indicate
the -in verbs by adding -in at the end of a root
the Object is acted upon as a “whole” and that
word. Here are some more examples:
inom = drink However, if the root word is ending with a

vowel, you add the <h>. For example:
> inom-in > inomin /ee + nom + MEAN/ = drink
the…
tapon = throw
alis = remove > tapon-an > tapunan /tah + POO + nan/ = throw
to…
> alis-in > alisin /ah + lee + SIN/ = remove the…
punta = go
Now, in cases where the root word is ending
with a vowel, an additional <h> is added before > punta-an > puntahan /poon + tah + HAN/ = go
the -in. For example: to/ over/ at/ on…
basa = read
> basa > basahin /bah + SAH + hin/ = read the… laba = launder
> laba-an > labhan /lab + HAN/ = launder
Imperative form in Object Focus: -an verbs

This type corresponds with the mag- verbs of
Imperative form in Object Focus: i- verbs
the Actor focus. Unlike -in verbs, -an verbs
This type also corresponds with the mag- verbs
indicates that the Object is partially acted upon
of the Actor focus. Like -in verbs, i- verbs
instead of as a “whole”. However, like -in
indicates that the Object is acted upon as a
verbs, the Object is also not moved from one
“whole”. However, unlike -in and -an verbs, the
place to another. Consider:
Object is moved from one place to another.
Consider:
sulat = write
> sulat-an > sulatan /soo + LAH + tan/ = Write tapon = throw
on/ for…
> i-tapon > itapon /ee + TAH + pon/ = throw
Sulatan mo yung papel. = Write on THE paper. (something) to/ in…
Itapon mo yung basura sa trash can. = Throw

THE garbage in the trash can
When you write on a paper, it is not required
nor assumed that you are going to write on its
entire area. And upon writing on the paper, the
When you throw something, in this case a
paper itself is not moved.
garbage, it is thrown as a whole. The act of
throwing something in the trash can moved
the garbage from outside the trash can to
As a general rule, you form the -an form of the
inside the trash can. Therefore, there is
verb by adding -an at the end of the root word.
movement.
fit a particular corresponding type. Not that we

are saying that -um- and mag- verbs perfectly
As a rule, you form the i- form of the verb by
fit the bills, but ma- verbs are more flexible and
adding i- in front of the root word. For
more difficult to categorize. For example:
example:
balita = news
buhos = pour
a) balita-an > balitaan /bah + lee + TAH +
> i-buhos > ibuhos /ee + BOO + hose/ = pour
an/
the…
Balitaan mo si Phil. = Inform Phil.
b) i-balita > ibalita /ee + bah + LEE + tah/

tago = hide Ibalita mo kay Phil yung transport
> i-tago > itago /ee + TAH + go/ = hide the… strike. = Bring THE news to Phil.
Practice
lagay = put
> i-lagay > ilagay /ee + lah + GAI/ = put the…
1. Clean your table.
2. Hide your laundry.
3. Wash the dishes.
Since the nuances of the different types can be 4. Fix your bed. (use ayos)
confusing, here is a table comparing their 5. Drink your medicine.
similarities and differences: 6. Put the dirty clothes in the basket.
-in -an i- 7. Fold your clothes (use tupi)
Corresponding -um-; mag-; mag-; 8. Hang the polo shirts. (use “hanger” as
Actor focus mama- ma- a verb)
as a as a 9. Sweep the floor (use walis)
Acted upon partially
whole whole 10. Mop the floor (use “mop” as a verb)
movement   ✓
You may ask why are ma- verbs correspond to

all types. Well, the answer is, they don’t really
Lesson 45 “Past Tense” Part 2
So, you learned about the concept of Object focus in verbs. Naturally, we can conjugate these verbs
into different Aspects. In this lesson, we are tackling the Tagalog “Past Tense” or Completed Aspect.
Now, in Object focus.
Like the verbs in Actor focus, verbs in Object Well, in this lesson, we are tackling Completed
focus can also be conjugated according to their Aspect or “Past Tense” in Tagalog. Only this
Aspect. Remember Completed Aspect or a time, in Object focus. This time, we are
progressive action that has been completed? changing -in, -an, and i- verbs in the “past
tense” and here are the rules.
-in
> then add -an at the end of

-an > add -in before the first vowel
the word
of the root word
> then add i- at the beginning

i-
of the word
You’ll noticed that -an and i- verbs also Dati /DAH + tea/
followed the first step in conjugating -in verbs, “in the past”
that is, adding -in before the first vowel of the
root word. It is useful to remember this part SANG + AH + raw/ “the other
when conjugating verbs in Object focus in day”
“past tense”.
Noong isang gabi /noh + ONG + ee +
night”
Vocabulary:
Noong + [date or day or month or year]
Past Tense Words
/noh + ONG + .../
“on [date], in [month or year], last [day]”
“earlier”
Kahapon /kah + HAH + pon/
“yesterday” Examples for -in verbs
Kagabi /kah + gah + BEE/ kain “eat” > k-in-ain /key + NAH + in/
“last night”
➢ Kinain ko yung burger sa ref kagabi. = laba “launder” > l-in-aba > linaba-an /lee + nab
I ate THE burger from the refrigerator + HAN/
last night.
➢ Linabhan ko panyo ko kagabi. = I
laundered my HANDKERCHIEF last night.
lakad “walk” > l-in-akad /lee + NAH + kad/

sulat “write” > s-in-ulat > sinulat-an /see + noo
➢ Linakad ko yung papeles para sa
+ LAH + tan/
passport ko. = I walked THE papers
(through the process) for my passport. ➢ Sinulatan ko yung admin kahapon. = I
wrote to THE administration yesterday.
alis “go away” > -in-alis /ee + nah + LIS/

Examples for i- verbs
➢ Inalis ko kung muta ko sa mata. = I
tapon “throw away” > t-in-apon > i-tinapon
removed THE eye gunk in my eye.
/tea + NAH + pon/
➢ Itinapon ko yung contract. = I threw

basa “read” > b-in-asa /bee + NAH + sah/ away THE contract.
➢ Binasa ko yung MOA kanina. = I read

THE Memorandum of Aggreement
buhos “pour” > b-in-uhos > i-binuhos /ee + bee
earlier.
+ NOO + hos/
➢ Ibinuhos ko yung panis na sopas. = I

As you can see, the suffix -in was changed into poured away THE spoiled soup.
an infix. Meaning, instead of adding it at the
end of the word, it is inserted within the word;
before the first syllable of the root word to be tago “hide” > t-in-ago > i-tinago /ee + tea + NAH
exact. It is useful to remember this step + go/
because you’ll see how it is used in all of the
Object focus verbs. ➢ Itinago ko yung pera. = I hid THE
money.
Examples for -an verbs Practice

punta “go” > p-in-unta > pinunta-an /pee + Using the things you learned in this lesson,
noon + tah + HAN/ answer the following questions:
➢ Pinuntahan ko yung family ko sa 1. Name at least 3 things that you did
Philippines. = I went to my FAMILY in before going to bed last night.
the Philippines. 2. Name the first 5 things you did earlier
in the morning.
3. What did you eat earlier today?
Lesson 46 “Present Tense” Part 2
Out of all the basic aspects in Tagalog, it can be said that “Present Tense” is the most complicated one.
Not only in form, but also in function. In this lesson, we are tackling the Tagalog “Present Tense” or
Uncompleted Aspect. Now, in Object focus.
R
emember the “Present Tense” of Tagalog talks about a continuous action that in
Tagalog? As a review, the “present going on now or that is generally true anytime.
tense” of Tagalog is actually a This the called the Uncompleted Aspect of a
combination of Present Tense and verb and we are tackling it in Object focus form
Continuous Tense, i.e. the “present tense” of of the verbs.
-in
> duplicate the first syllable of
the root word, > then add -an at the end of
-an
the word
> add -in before the first vowel
of the word
i-
of the word
Like in Lesson 43: “Past Tense Part 2”, you’ll Dati /DAH + tea/
noticed that all of the types of Object focus “in the past”
verbs have similar first steps. Those are,
duplicate the first syllable of the root word, SANG + AH + raw/ “the other
then adding -in before the first vowel of the day”
root word. Next, you just have to add either -an
or i-. :) Noong isang gabi /noh + ONG + ee +
night”
Vocabulary: Noong + [date or day or month or year]

/noh + ONG + .../
Past Tense Words “on [date], in [month or year], last [day]”
“earlier”
Kahapon /kah + HAH + pon/ Examples for -in verbs
“yesterday” kain “eat” > kakain > k-in-akain /key + nah +
Kagabi /kah + gah + BEE/ KAH + in/
“last night”
➢ Kinakain ni Kim yung pizza.
= Kim is/was eating THE pizza
= Kim eats THE pizza. Examples for i- verbs

buhos “pour” > bubuhos > b-in-ubuhos > i-
binubuhos /bee + noo + BOO + hos/
inom “drink” > iinom > -in-iinom /ee + KNEE +
ee + nom/ ➢ Ibinubuhos ko yung sama ng loob ko
sa letter ko.
➢ Iniinom ni KAYCEE yung beer.
= I am/was pouring all of my resentment
= KAYCEE is/was drinking THE beer.
in my LETTER.
= KAYCEE drinks THE beer.
= I pour all of my resentment in my
LETTER.
basa “read” > babasa > b-in-abasa /bee + nah +

BAH + sa/
tago “hide” > tatago > t-in-atago > i-tinatago
➢ Binabasa ni Tari yung songlist. /ee + tea + nah + TAH + go/
= Tari is/was reading THE songlist.
➢ Itinatago ni Kim yung key sa office.
= Tari reads THE songlist.
= Kim is/was hiding the THE key to the
office.
= Kim hides THE key to the office.
Examples for -an verbs
sulat “write” > susulat > s-in-ususlat >
sinusulat-an /see + noo + soo + LAH + tan/
tapon “throw” > tatapon > t-in-atapon > i-
➢ Sinusulatan ko penpal ko. tinatapon /tea + nah + TAH + pon/
= I am/was writing to my PENPAL.
➢ Itinatapon ni Namae yung mga Post-
= I write to my PENPAL.
it’s.
= Namae is/was throwing away THE
Post-it’s.
laba “launder” > lalaba > l-in-alaba > linalaba- = Namae throws away THE Post-it’s.
an /lee + nah + lab + HAN/
➢ Linalabhan ko yung uniform ko para

bukas. = I am/was laundering my Practice
UNIFORM for tomorrow. Using the things you learned in this lesson,
1. What is something that you do

punta “go” > pupunta > p-in-upunta >
everyday?
pinupunta-an /pee + noo + poon + tah + HAN/
2. What is the first 5 things you do in the
➢ Pinupuntahan ko yung sementeryo morning.
every All Soul’s Day. = I go to THE 3. Name 3 things you were doing
cemetery every All Soul’s Day. yesterday afternoon.
Lesson 47 “Future Tense” Part 2
Along with the Object focus, ongoing-ness, completeness of the verb, you can also change its form
according to your intent to accomplish it. In this lesson, we are tackling the Tagalog “Future Tense” or
Contemplated Aspect. Now, in Object focus.
R
emember the “future tense” of Contemplated Aspect.means that the
Tagalog? Or how the fact that progressive action has not yet taken place, but
considering or contemplating doing an you are contemplating on doing it. In this
action will also determine aspect of the verb? lesson, we are tackling exactly that. Only this
That is the Contemplated Aspect of the verb. time, in Object focus.
-in > add -in after the word
> duplicate the first syllable of > then add -an at the end of
-an the root word, the word

i-
of the word
Although relatively more simple than the “Past Sa + [date or day or month or year] /sah + .../
Tense” and “Present Tense”, you’ll noticed “on [date], in [month or year], on [day]”
that all of the types of Object focus verbs in
“Future Tense” have the similar first step. This
is, duplicate the first syllable of the root word. Examples for -in verbs
Next, you just have to add either -an or i-. :) kain “eat” > kakain > kakain-in /kah + kah + EE
+ nin/
➢ Kakainin ko yung pizza kung wala nang

Vocabulary: kukuha. = I will eat THE pizza if no one
Future Tense Words else will get it.
Mamaya /mah + mah + YAH/ “later”
Bukas /BOO + kas/ “tomorrow”
inom “drink” > iinom > iinom-in /ee + ee + no +
Bukas ng gabi /BOO + kas + nang + gah + BEE/ MIN/
“tomorrow night”
➢ Iinomin ko yung meds ko. Don’t worry.
Sa susunod na araw /sah + SOO + soo + NOD + = I will drink my MEDICINE. Don’t worry.
nah + AH + raw/ “on the next day”
basa “read” > babasa > babasa-in /bah + bah + combined as a single unit. It is tempting to
SAH + hin/ simplify it to “we” but it’s more specific than
that. It literally translates to “you and I”. The
➢ Babasahin ko yung MOA. = I will read
most common Tagalog sentence with kita is
THE Memorandum of Agreement.
Mahal kita or “I love you”.
Examples for -an verbs

Examples for i- verbs
sulat “write” > susulat > susulat-an /soo + soo
tapon “throw” > tatapon > i-tatapon /ee + tah
+ LAH + tan/
+ TAH + pon/
➢ Susulatan ko parents mo pag di ka nag-
➢ Itatapon ko yan pag di mo inayos. = I
behave. = I will write to your PARENTS if
will throw THAT if you don’t fix it.
you don’t behave.
buhos “pour” > bubuhos > i-bubuhos /ee + boo

tapon “throw” > tatapon > tatapon-an /tah +
+ BOO + hos/
tah + POO + nan/
➢ Ibubuhos ko sayo ito pag di ka
➢ Tatapunan kita ng coffee pag di ka
nanahimik. = I will pour THIS on you if
nanahimik. = I will pour COFFEE on you
you don’t quiet down.
if you don’t quiet down.
tago “hide” > tatago > i-tatago /ee + tah + TAH

punta “go” > pupunta > pupunta-an /poo +
+ go/
poon + tah + HAN/
➢ Itatago toys mo pag di ka nag-behave.
➢ Pupuntahan ko si Beyonce sa Araneta.
= I will hide your TOYS if you don’t
= I will go to (watch) BEYONCE at
behave.
Araneta.
Practice
Dual Pronoun? Using the things you learned in this lesson,
In the example, Tatapunan kita ng coffee pag
di ka nanahimik, you didn’t see the pronoun
ikaw/ka and yet the translation showed the 1. What do you plan to eat for dinner?
pronoun “you”. That is because Tagalog has 2. If you can do anything for the next 24
this special type of pronoun reserved for you hours, what do you plan to do?
and me. 3. What is your personal goal for the next
5 years?
These are Dual Pronouns, and this happens

when the speaker (ko) and the listener (ka) are
Lesson 48 Object Focus of Pseudo-Verbs
So far, you’ve learned the concept of Object focus and how it shifts the focus from the doer of the
action, a.k.a. Subject, to the action done to/ at/ on/ for/ with the Object. This time, you’ll learn about
the Object focus of Pseudo-Verbs or non-action words that acts like verbs.
Y
ou don’t know it yet but you have Kinailangan nilang magtago. = They NEED to
actually learned what pseudo-verbs are hide.
in Tagalog. These are the words Gusto,
Kinakailangan mong mag-tipid. = You NEED to
Ayaw, Kailangan, Pwede, Kaya, Dapat, Meron,
be frugal.
and Wala. These are considered pseudo-verbs
because they are not really action words and Don’t go, kakailangan ka namin. = Don’t go, we
yet they act like action words in the Tagalog will NEED you.
grammar. One of the ways they act like actions
words is that they can be conjugated according
to their Aspect and Focus. Here are the pseudo-
Kaya
verbs that has Object focus forms:
If you can’t remember, kaya means “capable”
or “can” and is especially useful when
expressing capability to do something. Like
Kailangan kailangan, it is also an -in verb. Only this time,
As you know, kailangan means “need” and it is <n> is added in front of -in for ease of
a useful word to learn, especially when articulation. Consider:
expressing that something/ someone is
needed. It is also an -in verb. Consider: Basic Form kaya
/KAH + yah/
Basic Form kailangan Object kayanin
/kai + LAH + ngan/ Focus /kah + YAH + nin/
Object kailanganin “Past kinaya
Focus /kai + lah + NGA + nin/ Tense” /key + NAH + yah/
“Past kinailangan “Present kinakaya
Tense” /key + nai + LAH + ngan/ Tense” /key + nah + KAH + yah/
“Present kinakailangan “Future kakayanin
Tense” /key + nah + kai + LAH + ngan/ Tense” /kah + kah + YAH + nin/
“Future kakailanganin
Tense” /kah + kai + lah + NGA + nin/
By changing it to its Object focus, you shifted
the focus from the person that has the
By changing it to its Object focus, you shifted capability to the fact that they can do it in the
the focus from the person needing something first place. For example:
to the fact that something or someone is need.
For example: Come on self, konti nalang. Kayanin mo ‘to. =
Come on self, just a little more. You CAN do this.
Nandito lang ako kung kailanganin mo ako. =
I’m just here if NEED me.
Kamusta ang OT? – Eto, kinaya naman. = How’s Mas gugustuhin kong matulog kaysa
the OT (Overtime)? – Here, pushing through. mamasyal. = I RATHER sleep than to go out for a
walk.
Di ko na kinakaya tong pressure na to. = I CAN’T
deal with this pressure anymore.
Ikaw pa? Kakayanin mo yan! = It’s you! You CAN Wala

do it! You learned wala as “nothing” or the opposite
of meron. Like the previous pseudo-verbs, it is
also an -in verb. Consider:
Gusto Basic Form wala
Meaning “like” or “want”, you learned gusto /wah + LAH/
to express your interests and hobbies. Object walain
However, you can also use it express your Focus /wah + lah + IN/
intent. It is also an -in verb but in this case, an “Past winala
<h> is added. Consider: Tense” /wee + nah + LAH/
“Present winawala
Basic Form gusto
Tense” /wee + nah + wah + LAH/
/goose + TOH/
“Future wawalain
Object gustuhin
Tense” /wah + wah + lah + IN/
Focus /goo + two + HIN/
“Past ginusto
Tense” /gih + NOOSE + toh/ However, note that when used an Object focus
“Present ginugusto pseudo-verb, wala can mean “to purposely
Tense” /gih + noo + goose + TOH/ lose something”. For example:
“Future gugustuhin
Tense” /goo + goose + two + HIN/ Wag mong walain yan. That’s our last barya. =
Don’t LOSE that. That’s our last coin.
By changing it to its Object focus, you shifted Winala ni Moy ang tsinelas niya. = Moy LOST his
the focus from the person who wants slippers.
something or expressing their intent for
Binigay ko kay Kim yung pera, winawala mo
something to the fact that they want it in the
kasi. = I gave the money to Kim, because you
first place. For example:
keep on LOSING them.
Gustuhin ko man mag-travel, I can’t ‘coz
Bakit ko ibibigay sayo yung pera? Wawalain
mahal. = Even if I WANT to travel, I can’t because
mo lang. = Why should I give you the money?
it’s expensive.
You’ll LOSE it anyway.
Don’t cry. Ginusto mo yan. = Don’t cry. You
WANTED this.
I’m not a perfect person, pero para sayo, Practice

ginugusto ko. = I’m not a perfect person, but for 1. What is the difference between, Wala
you, I WANT to be. akong keys versus Winala ko yung
keys?
2. How do you say the following in d. You CAN finish your book.
Tagalog? e. You NEEDED support.
a. You purposely LOST your key.
b. We NEED to save money.
c. Aren’t you happy? You WANTED to
be skinny, right?
Lesson 49 Forming Nouns
In most language schools, learning the different ways to form nouns is often taught at the first part of
the language-learning journey. However, the present Tagalog is so eager and ready to borrow nouns
from other languages, mainly English, that it is really possible to survive without having a big Tagalog
noun vocabulary. But eventually, you may need to know a thing or two about Tagalog nouns and how
to form them.
In English, the man’s best friend, the loyal papel “paper” > mga papel “papers”
canine is called “dog”. The plural of dog is
baboy “pig” > mga baboy “pigs”
“dogs”. The house made for dogs is called a
“dog house”. When you want to talk about the
favorite treat of a dog, you could sa the
“dog’s” bone. Finally, the female dog is called The one of the great things about this marker
a “bitch”. As you can see, we managed to make is that since it is a separate word, it is easier to
several words from the single word and use with English words. In addition to that, you
concept “dog”. can use either singular or plural English nouns.
Tagalog speakers will automatically
understand you without questioning the
redundancy. For example:
In most languages, we can change nouns and
form nouns according to number,
compounding, possession, and gender. In
bata “child” > mga children “children”
Tagalog, the changes in nouns is differs greatly
from the changes in nouns in English. papel “paper” > mga paper “papers”
baboy “pig” > mga pigs “pigs”
Number
Unlike in English where the plural of the noun
You may ask, “Why am I just learning this
is formed by either adding “-s”, “-es”, or by
now?”. Well, it is not really that used in casual
irregular forms like “children” for “child” and
Tagalog especially since using plural forms of
“cacti” for “cactus”, Tagalog has a consistent
borrowed English nouns are quicker than
way of forming the plural of a noun.
adding mga. Consider the sentence, “Please
get the papers,” in Tagalog:
Introducing, the marker mga, pronounced

/mah + NGA/. Forget regular and irregular Pakuha yung mga papel.
nouns, this marker can make any nouns plural
by just being in front of the noun. For example: Pakuha yung mga paper.
Pakuha yung papers.
bata “child” > mga bata “children”

All of them are asking for more than one piece /ah + NAK/ + /PAH + wis/
of paper but the third one is shortest and “son/daughter” “sweat”
quickest to say. And most of the times, that is = anakpawis “the poor”
enough reason to choose the plural English bahay bakasyunan
noun over the Tagalog word plus mga option. /BAH + hai/ + /bah + kah + SHOE
“house” + nan/
“place to stay
during vacation”
Compounding = bahay-bakasyunan
Compounding is the process of combining two /bah + hai + bah + kah + SHOE + nan/
or more words together in order to make a “vacation house”
single word or concept. It is how “doghouse”, aso -ng galis
“pancake”, and “toothpaste” are formed. /AH + so/ + /gah + LIS/
“dog” “scabies”
= asong galis
/ah + song + gah + LIS/
There are several ways to write a Tagalog
“street dog; Lit. dog with scabies”
compound word and these are either by pusa -ng gala
combining, hyphenation, or by adding -ng. /POO + sah/ + /gah + LAH/
The general rule is combine the nouns unless… “cat” “loiter”
= pusang gala
a) the first noun is ending with a vowel. In
/poo + sang + gah + LAH/
this case, attach -ng to the first noun, “street cat; Lit. loitering cat”
or… anak araw
b) the first word ends with a consonant /ah + NAK/ + /AH + rau/
while the second starts with a vowel “son/daughter” “day/sun”
or… = anak-araw
c) the first noun ends with a vowel and /ah + nak + AH + rau/
the second noun also starts with a “albino”
vowel.
In cases (b) and (c), add a hyphen in between Note that in casual written Tagalog, most
the nouns. Here are examples or compound Tagalog speakers aren’t that conscientious
words in Tagalog: when it comes to writing correctly compound
words. So, don’t worry if you get it wrong at
hanap buhay the first try! :)
/hah + NAP/ + /BOO + hai/
“find” “life”
= hanapbuhay
/hah + nap + BOO + hai/ Possession
“livelihood” In English, you talk about a possession of
balik bayan someone by adding “’s” or “of” between the
/bah + LEAK/ + /BAH + yan/ possession and the owner. The former is used
“return” “country/nation” when the owner precedes the possession (ex:
= balikbayan Phil’s apple) while the latter is used when the
/bah + leak + BAH + yan/ possession precedes the owner (ex: apple of
“Filipino returnees” Phil). Either way, they mean the same thing.
anak pawis
are concepts present in most languages. If

really needed, Tagalog speakers can use babae
In Tagalog, we don’t have much choice in the
and lalake to identify the gender of a person.
word order (the possession will always
For example:
precede the owner) but we do talk about the
possession of a person by using either the doktor na babae = female doctor
marker ni or marker ng. What is the
cook na lalake = male cook
difference, you ask?
driver na babae = female driver
You use ng when the owner is a common noun.

For example: However, after years of being counquered by
the Spaniards, Tagalog speakers adapted their
bag ng bata = the bag of the child/ the child’s
way of differentiating the gender of Tagalog
bag
nouns, i.e. turn nouns to their female
apple ng guard = the apple of the guard/ the counterpart by adding -a at the end of the
guard’s apple word. For example:
jeep ng driver = the jeep of the driver/ the Amerikano/ Amerikana = American
driver’s jeep
Hapones/ Haponesa = Japanese
doktor/ doktora = doctor

On the other hand, you use ni when the owner
Katoliko/ Katolika = Catholic
is a proper noun. For example:
tiyo/ tiya = uncle/ aunt, respectively
bag ni Kim = bag of Kim/ Kim’s bag
apple ni Phil = apple of Phil/ Phil’s apple

Of course, some Tagalog speakers will treat
jeep ni John = jeep of John/ John’s jeep
this as optional and will not use the gendered
version of the nouns. Feel free to use what is
easier or more proper for you. :)
Gender
As you may have noticed by now, Tagalog is
not a gendered language. It doesn’t
Practice
differentiate male, female, and the in between
Using the things you learned in this lesson,
like English or German. So, English may have
answer the following:
“sons” and “daughters” to talk about the
offspring of a person but Tagalog only needs 1. Name at least 5 things in your
anak. Tagalog doesn’t even have “he” or “she. bag/wallet, or on your person. What
All you need is the gender-neutral siya. are their plural forms in Tagalog?
2. Identify the following:
a. a child (anak) born into a
Of course, there are gendered nouns in wealthy (mayaman) family
Tagalog like babae “woman” and lalake “man” b. a kid (bata) that lives in the
or nanay “mom” and tatay “dad”. But these streets (lansangan)
c. the fruit (bunga) of staying e. crazy man

under the sun (araw) f. crazy woman
d. a womb; the house (bahay)
where a child/fetus (bata) 4. Translate the following to Tagalog:
developms a. Kim’s book
e. observant, sharp eyes; when b. the man’s wallet
the eyes (mata) are akin to c. the dog’s bone
those of an eagle (lawin) d. Clarise’s bag
e. Victoria’s secret
3. Translate the following to Tagalog:
a. Japanese man
b. Japanese woman
c. male seller
d. female seller
Lesson 50 Forming Nouns Part 2
In the previous lesson, you learned how to form and change nouns according to number,
compounding, possession, and gender. This lesson is a continuation of that lesson, but you’ll soon
learn that there are more ways to change a noun beyond the usual adding other words around it.
N oun is one of the parts of speeches

that are lexical word or have
dictionary meanings. But of course,
you know that. You also know that root word
ka- + Noun/Verb
This transformation denotes “a person or a
thing with whom the place, object, quality or
is the most basic or barest part of a word, i.e.
situation expressed by the root word is
without prefixes, suffixes, infixes, etc., that
shared”. In other words, treat it like the ending
carries the core meaning of the whole word.
“-mate” or word “same” in English. For
example:
In this lesson, we are using nouns as the root klase “class” > kaklase /kak + KLAH + seh/
word and tackling some of the common affixes “classmate”
used to create new nouns.
opisina “office” > kaopisina /kah + oh + pee +
SEA + nah/ “officemate”
Noun/Verb + -an bayan “country” > kabayan /kah + BAH + yan/

This transformation creates noun that means “countrymen; Lit. same country”
“a location associated with the root word” or tulong “help” > katulong /kah + TWO + long/
“a place where the action expressed by the “helper, maid; Lit. same help (with
root is performed”. For example, the word is something)”
kain “eat”, the noun formed when it is added
with -an will mean “a place to eat”.
ka- + Noun/Modifier + -an

If “beautiful” is an adjective, “beauty” is the
Note that this is different from the Imperative
quality or idea that it describes. In Tagalog, we
form in Object focus: -an verbs. This -an purely
for the idea or quality expressed in a general,
denotes location related to the root word. For
abstract way by putting a noun or modifier
example:
between the circumfix (affix that you
tapon “throw” > tapunan /tah + poo + NAN/ simultaneously put at the beginning and the
“garbage can” end of the root word) ka- … -an. For example:
basura “garbage” > basurahan /bah + soo + ganda > kagandahan /kah + gan + DAH + han/
rah + HAN/ “beauty”
“garbage can”
bata > kabataan /kah + bah + TAH + an/ “youth”
damo “grass” > damuhan /dah + moo + HAN/
“grassy area”
ligaya > kaligayahan /kah + lee + gah + YAH + less common. The other way of pluralizing a
han/ “happiness” Tagalog noun formed by adding mag- is by
doubling the first syllable of the word it
attaches to. For example:
Note that when -an is added to a word ending
mag-ama > mag-a-ama /mag + ah + ah + MA/
with a vowel, it turns into -han.
“father and children”
mag-ina > mag-i-ina /mag + ee + ee + NA/

mag- + Noun “mother and children”
This transformation creates a noun designating mag-kaklase> mag-ka-kaklase /mag + ka +
relations between two people, one of whom KLAH + se/ “three or more people that are
bears relation to the other, as designated by classmates”
the root word. This is especially useful when
talking about family relations and kinship. For mag-kaopisina > mag-ka-kaopisina /mag + ka +
example: ka + oh + pee + SEA + na/ “three or more people
that are officemates”
ama “father” > mag-ama /mag + ah + MA/
“father and child”
ina “mother” > mag-ina /mag + ee + NA/ Again, pluralization in casual Tagalog is
“mother and child” optional or even rare, so don’t worry too much
if you can’t get it at the first try. :)
kapatid “sibling” > mag-kapatid /mag + kah +
pah + TID/ “siblings”
asawa “spouse” > mag-asawa /mag + ah + SAH pag- + Noun/Verb

+ wa/ “husband and wife” In this transformation, we form a noun that
denotes “the act of doing the action expressed
by the verb root word”. Think of it as “the act
You can also use this in tandem with the ka- + of [VERB]”. For example:
Noun/Verb formation. For example: lakad “walk” > paglakad /pag + LAH + kad/ “the
kaklase “classmate” > mag-kaklase /mag + kah act of walking”
+ KLAH + se/ “two people that are classmates” takbo “run” > pagtakbo /pag + tak + BO/ “the
kaopisina “officemate” > mag-kaopisina /mag act of running”
+ kah + oh + pee + SEA + na/ “two people that sayaw “dance” > pagsayaw /pag + sah + YAW/
are officemates” “the act of dancing”
kabayan “countrymen” > mag-kabayan /mag +
kah + BAH + yan/ “two people that are from the
same country” You can also use this with nouns to denote
“the act of doing an action related to the noun
root word”. Because of this, pag- is easy to use
There is another way of turning a noun to its with English nouns, too. For example:
plural form. However, when we say that
marker mga relatively rare, this form is even
Starbucks > pag-Starbucks “the act of going to taga- + Noun (Name of a Place)
Starbucks” If can still remember Lesson 1: Introducing
TV > pag-TV “the act of watching television” Yourself, you’ll know that taga- added at the
start of the root word derives a noun
kahon “box” > pag-kahon /pag + kah + HON/ representing a person from a place designated
“the act of boxing something” by the root word. It is especially useful when
you are talking about the present or past
sabon “soap” > pag-sabon /pag + sah + BON/
address of a person. For example:
“the act of lathering something with soap”
Taga-UK si John noon pero ngayon, taga-

pang- + Noun/Verb Makati na siya. = John used to live in United
Ever wanted to find the word used to express Kingdom but not he lives in Makati. (Lit. John
“a tool or an instrument that is used to perform used to be a person who’s living in United
the action specified or related to the root Kingdom but not he’s a person who is living in
word” or “something that is assigned to be Makati.)
used for a specific thing/person/event”?
Well, Tagalog has the prefix for you! Treat

taga- + Noun/Verb
Almost similar to the previous one, this
pang- as you would treat the suffixes “-er” in
formation also derives a noun pertaining to a
English. For example, from the verb “grate”,
person. However, this time it denotes a person
you can form the word “grater” or “the
employed or delegated to perform an action
instrument used to grate stuff”.
related or designated by the root word.
But first, there are some rules: pang- becomes

In a way, you can also treat this taga- as you
pam- when the root word starts with /b, p, m/
would treat the suffixes “-er” in English. For
and pan- when it starts with /t, d, s, l, r/. For
example, from the verb “preach”, you can
example:
form the word “preacher” or “the person who
bahay “house” > pambahay /pam + BAH + hai/ does the preaching”. For example:
“house clothes”
linis “clean” > taga-linis /tah + gah + LEE + nis/
paypay “fan (verb)” > pampaypay /pam + pai + “cleaner”
PAI/ “fan (noun)”
print > taga-print “the person who prints”
lakad “walk” > panlakad “casual clothes”
encode > taga-encode “encoder”
swimming > panswimming “swim wear”
ref “refrigerator” > taga-ref “the person
kasal “wedding” > pangkasal /pang + kah + assigned to put the food inside the
SAL/ “clothes for wedding” refrigerator”
gym > pang-gym “clothes for the gym” sulat “write” > taga-sulat /tah + gah + SOO + lat/
“writer/ person assigned to write”
Practice
1. The act of walking? (use lakad)
2. The person who mops? (use “mop”)
3. The person who shares the same room
as you? (use “room”)
4. The place where you hide? (use tago)
5. The thing you use to wipe a surface?
(use punas)
6. The person who lives in Manila?
7. The quality of being good? (use bait)
8. The place where you sleep? (use tulog)
9. The relationship between you and a
cousin? (use pinsan)
10. The relationship between you and
more than one cousin? (use pinsan)
References
o Blake, F.R. (1925). A grammar of the Tagalog language: the chief native idiom of the Philippine
islands. New Haven, Connecticut: American Oriental Society.
o Ramos, Teresita V. (1989). Conversational Tagalog: a functional-situational approach. Honolulu,
Hawaii: University of Hawaii
o Schachter, Paul and Otanes, Fe T. (1972). Tagalog Reference Grammar. Berkeley, Los Angeles
and London: University of California Press.
o CLSC STAFF. (1995). C.L.S.C. Tagalog Book 2 (Revised Edition). Quezon City, Philippines.
Terminology
abbreviation a shortened form of a word
acronym a word formed from the initial letter or letters of each word in a
phrase/ title/ saying, etc.
Actor the one doing the action
Actor focus the focus is on the person or thing that is doing the action,
therefore, the Actor
adjective describes nouns and pronouns
adverb describes verbs and adjectives
Aspect indicates whether the action has started or not and if started,
whether it has been completed or is still ongoing; expresses how
an action or event happen across a stretch of period of time
benefactor the person or thing that benefits from the action done by the Actor
be-verbs verbs that show the action or the state of being; am/is/ are or
was/were
borrowed words foreign words that are not native in the language; In this case,
words that are native to the Tagalog language
Completed Aspect a progressive action that has been completed; the equivalent of
“Past Tense” in Tagalog
compounding the process of combining two or more words together in order to

make a single word or concept
conjunction the parts of speech used to connect words, phrases, clauses or

sentences
Contemplated Aspect progressive action has not yet taken place, but you are
contemplating on doing it
demonstrative pronouns that point to specific things; this, that, these, and those
diphthongs sounds made up of vowels combined with either /y/ or /w/;

pronounced as a single, combined sound
discourse markers words, phrases, or even sounds that convey additional meaning like
emotions or intentions of the speaker
dual pronoun kita; combination of speaker (ko) and the listener (ka) as a single
unit
dual type verbs verbs that act as either mag- verb or -um- verb
exclusive pronoun pronouns that excludes the listener or the person you are talking
to
filler words meaningless words, phrases, or even sounds that “fills” a pause or
hesitation in speech
focus refers to the most prominent or most important element in a

sentence
glottal stop/ pause the sudden pause between two vowels or sometimes at the end of
some words. The same pause or stop you do when saying, “Uh oh”
Imperative form the form of verb you use when the action is “imperative”, in other
words, a command
inclusive pronoun pronouns that includes the listener or the person you are talking to
interjection sounds or expressions that conveys spontaneous feelings or

reactions
jargons words and/or expression used in particular context, often by a

particular profession or group of people
linker connects one word to another; -ng/ na
loan words foreign words that are not native in the language; In this case,
words that are native to the Tagalog language; see: borrowed
words
Mabilís stress on the last syllable of a Tagalog word; traditionally marked

by an acute symbol ( ´ ) over the vowel
Malumay default stress of most Tagalog words; stress on the second to the
last syllable; traditionally left unmarked
Malumì stress on the second to the last syllable of a Tagalog word with a
glottal stop at the end of the word; traditionally marked by a grave
symbol ( ` ) over the vowel
Maragsâ stress on the last syllable of a Tagalog word with a glottal stop at
the end of the word; traditionally marked with a circumflex ( ˆ ) over
the vowel
modifier cover term for both adjectives and adverbs in this book
negation process of denying or inverting the meaning of another word or

sometimes, in Tagalog case, whole sentences
noun words use to identify people, places, or things
Object the entity that is acted upon by the Subject
Object Focus the focus of the sentence in on the action done to/ at/ on/ for/ with
the Object
particles a word that has a grammatical function but does not fit into the
main parts of speech (i.e. noun, verb, adverb)
personal pronouns pronouns referring to people
predicate the part of a sentence or clause containing a verb and stating

something about the subject
preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and

expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause
pronoun a substitute word that refers to a person, thing, or place
Recently Completed Aspect the action has just recently completed just before the time of
speaking or just before some other specified time
relative clause a clause used to define or identify the noun that precedes them,
with its corresponding markers “who”/ “whom”, “whose”,
“where”, “when”, “that”, and “which” in English, and na in
Tagalog
root word the foundation of any word; the barest form of a word, no affixes
and no changes
Subject the person, place, thing, or idea that is doing, described, or being
something
tense expresses action or event in a point in time
Uncompleted Aspect a continuous action that in going on now or that is generally true
anytime
verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and

forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence
Glossary
Greetings
Kamusta How are you?
Mabuhay Long live!
Magandang gabi Good evening
Magandang hapon Good afternoon
Magandang tanghali Good noon
Magandang umaga Good morning
Days
Linggo Sunday
Lunes Monday
Martes Tuesday
Miyerkules Wednesday
Huwebes Thursday
Biyernes Friday
Sabado Saturday
araw day
bukas tomorrow
kapahon yesterday
kinabukasan the next day
Months
Enero January
Pebrero February
Marso March
Abril April
Mayo May
Hunyo June
Hulyo July
Agosto August
Septiyembre September
Oktubre October
Nobiyembre November
Disiyembre December
buwan month
Numbers
Tagalog Spanish
1 isa uno/una one
2 dalawa dos two
3 tatlo tres three
4 apat kwatro four
5 lima singko fiv
6 anim seis six
7 pito siyete seven
8 walo osto eight
9 siyam nuebe nine
10 sampu diyes ten
11 labing-isa eleven
12 labing- dalawa twelve
13 labing-tatlo thirteen
14 labing-apat fourteen
15 labing-lima fifteen
20 dalawang pu bente twenty
30 tatlung pu trenta thirty
40 apat na pu kwarenta forty
50 limang pu singkwenta fifty
100 isang daan one hundred
200 dalawang daan two hundred
500 limang daan five hundred
1000 isang libo one thousand
Parts of the Body

ulo head
buhok hair
mata eye
ilong nose
bibig mouth
dila tongue
lalamunan throat
tenga ear
baba chin
leeg neck
balat skin
balikat shoulder
braso arm
kamay hand
daliri fingers
dibdib chest
likod back
tiyan stomach
baywang waist
binti leg
tuhod knee
paa foot
talampakan sole
kuko nail
Question Words
alin which
ano what
bakit why
gaano how much
ilan how many
kailan when
kamusta how are you
paano how
saan where
Directions
baba bottom
gitna between
harap front
ilalim bottom
kaliwa left
kanan right
labas outside
likod back
loob inside
malapit near
malayo far
taas top
tabi beside
Pseudo-Verbs
ayaw dislike
bawal forbidden
dapat should/ must
gusto like/ want
huwag don’t
kailangan need
kaya capable
meron there is…
pwede allowed
wala nothing/ there is no…
Modifiers
bago new
bata young
busog full (satiated)
gutom hungry
gwapo handsome
konti little
luma old
mabagal slow
mabaho smelly
mabango nice smelling
mabilis fast
mabuti good/ nice
magaling excellent/ talented
maganda beautiful
mahal expensive
mahirap hard/ difficult
maingay noisy
mainit hot
malaki big
malamig cold
mali wrong
maliit small
malinis clean
malungkot sad
marami many
marumi dirty
masama bad
masarap delicious
masaya happy
matalino intelligent
matanda old
matangkad tall
mayaman rich
mura cheap
panget ugly
tahimik quiet
tama right
Colors
abo gray
asul blue
berde green
dilaw yellow
itim black
kahel orange
kayumanggi brown
pula red
puti white
rosas pink
Appendix
This section consists of some of the grammatical Tagalog terms and words presented in table form.
Appendix 1: Pronouns and Markers .......................................................................................................... 188
Appendix 3: -UM- Verbs ..............................................................................................................................190
Appendix 4: MAG- Verbs .............................................................................................................................194
Appendix 5: MA- Verbs ...............................................................................................................................196
Appendix 6: -IN Verbs..................................................................................................................................198
Appendix 7: -AN Verbs ............................................................................................................................... 202
Appendix 8: I- Verbs ................................................................................................................................... 206
Appendix 9: Aspect of Natural Phenomenon ............................................................................................. 210
Verb-Acting Weather or Natural Phenomenon Words .................................................................................... 210
Appendix 1: Pronouns and Markers
Pronoun and Marker Chart

Subject Predicate
Direct Indirect Oblique
Common Noun Markers
ang ng sa
Singular si ni kay
Specific Noun Markers
Plural sina nina kina
ako ko (sa) akin
ikaw/ ka mo (sa) iyo
Singular
siya niya (sa) kanya
kami (exclusive) namin (sa) amin

Personal Pronouns
tayo (inclusive) natin (sa) atin
Plural
kayo ninyo (sa) inyo
sila nila (sa) kanila
ito nito dito
iyan niyan diyan
Demonstratives Pronouns
iyon niyon doon
Appendix 2: Frequency Words
frequent/ often madalas

Imperativ
e Aspect
/mah + dah + LAS/

malimit
/mah + LEE + meet/
rarely/ seldom bihira

/bee + HEE + rah/
madalang
/ma + DAH + lang/
sometimes/ once minsan
/MIN + san/
sometimes/ occasionally minsan-minsan
/min + san + MIN + san/
paminsan-minsan
/pah + min + san + MIN + san/
always lagi
/LA + gi/
palagi
/pa + LA + gi/
parati
/pa + RA + tea/
Completed Aspect
every minute minu-minuto

/mi + nu + mi + NU + toh/
every hour oras-oras
/o + ras + O + ras/
every day araw-araw
/ah + rau + AH + rau/
every week linggo-linggo
/leeng + goh + LEENG + go/
every month buwan-buwan
/bwan + bwan/
every year taon-taon
/tah + ON + tah + ON/
Appendix 3: -UM- Verbs
Completed Aspect Uncompleted Aspect Contemplated

Imperative Form
Tagalog [Past Tense] [Present or Ongoing] Aspect [Future]
English put -um- before first put -um- before first repeat the first syllable,
Root Word repeat the 1st
vowel of the root vowel of the root put -um- before first
syllable
word word vowel of the word
akyat
go up umakyat umkyat umaakyat aakyat
/ak + YAT/
alis
leave umalis umalis umaalis aalis
/ah + LIS/
baba
go down bumaba bumaba bumababa bababa
/bah + BAH/
balik
go back bumalik bumalik bumabalik babalik
/bah + LEEK/
bili
buy bumili bumili bumibili bibili
/bee + LEE/
daan
pass through a path dumaan dumaan dumadaan dadaan
/dah + AN/
dating
arrive dumating dumating dumadating dadating
/dah + TING/
gawa
make gumawa gumawa gumagawa gagawa
/ga + WAH/
gising
wake up/awake gumising gumising gumigising gigising
/GI + sing/
gulong
roll gumulong gumulong gumugulong gugulong
/GOO + long/
hanap
look for humanap humanap humahanap hahanap
/hah + RAP/
hold hawak humawak humawak humahawak hahawak
/HAH + wak/
hingi
ask for something humingi humingi humihingi hihingi
/hee + NGI/
hinto
stop huminto huminto humihinto hihinto
/HIN + toh/
ikot
go around umikot umikot umiikot iikot
/EE + cot/
inom
drink uminom uminom umiinom iinom
/ee + NOM/
iyak
cry umiyak umiyak umiiyak iiyak
/ee + YAK/
kagat
bite kumagat kumagat kumakagat kakagat
/kah + GAT/
kain
eat kumain kumain kumakain kakain
/KAH + inn/
kanta
sing kumanta kumanta kumakanta kakanta
/kan + TAH/
katok
knock kumatok kumatok kumakatok kakatok
/kah + TOK/
kita
earn kumita kumita kumikita kikita
/KEY + tah/
kuha
get kumuha kumuha kumukuha kukuha
/COO + hah/
lakad
walk lumakad lumakad lumalakad lalakad
/LAH + kad/
langoy
swim lumangoy lumangoy lumalangoy lalangoy
/lah + NGOY/
to go around/ to libot
lumibot lumilibot lumilibot lilibot
sightsee /LEE + bot/
lipad
fly lumipad lumipad lumilipad lilipad
/lee + PAD/
pasok
enter pumasok pumasok pumapasok papasok
/PAH + sok/
pili
choose pumili pumili pumipili pipili
/PEE + lee/
punta
go pumunta pumunta pumupunta pupunta
/pun + TAH/
sakay
ride sumakay sumakay sumasakay sasakay
/sah + KAY/
sama
go with sumama sumama sumasama sasama
/sah + MAH/
sigaw
shout/yell sumigaw sumigaw sumisigaw sisigaw
/see + GAW/
sulat
write sumulat sumulat sumusulat susulat
/SOO + lat/
sunod
follow sumunod sumunod sumusunod susunod
/soo + NOD/
takbo
run tumakbo tumakbo tumatakbo tatakbo
/tak + BOH/
tama
hit tumama tumama tumatama tatama
/tah + MAH/
tanggap
receive tumanggap tumanggap tumatanggap tatanggap
/tang + GAP/
tawa
laugh tumawa tumawa tumatawa tatawa
/tah + WAH/
tawag
call tumawag tumawag tumatawag tatawag
/tah + WAG/
tayo
stand tumayo tumayo tumatayo tatayo
/tah + YOH/
tigil
stop tumigil tumigil tumitigil titigil
/TEA + gil/
look tingin tumingin tumingin tumitingin titingin
/tea + NGIN/
tulong
help /TWO + tumulong tumulong tumutulong tutulong
long/
upo
sit umupo umupo umuupo uupo
/oo + POH/
uwi
go home umuwi umuwi umuuwi uuwi
/oo + WE/
Appendix 4: MAG- Verbs
Completed Uncompleted
Contemplated
Imperative Form Aspect Aspect [Present or
Tagalog Root Aspect [Future]
English [Past Tense] Ongoing]
Word
nag + [1st syllable of mag + [1st syllable of
mag + [root word] nag + [root word]
RW] + [root word] RW] + [root word]
aral
study mag-aral nag-aral nag-aaral mag-aaral
/AH + ral/
bayad
pay mag-bayad nag-bayad nag-babayad mag-babayad
/BAH + yad/
bigay
give mag-bigay nag-bigay nag-bibigay mag-bibigay
/bee + GAI/
bilang
count mag-bilang nag-bilang nag-bibilang mag-bibilang
/BEE + lang/
buhat
carry mag-buhat nag-buhat nag-bubuhat mag-bubuhat
/BOO + hat/
hilamos
wash (face) mag-hilamos nag-hilamos nag-hilamos mag-hilamos
/he + LAH + mos/
hingi
ask for something mag-hingi nag-hingi nag-hihingi mag-hihingi
/he + NGIH/
hintay
wait mag-hintay nag-hintay nag-hihintay mag-hihintay
/hin + TAY/
isip
think mag-isip nag-isip nag-iisip mag-iisip
/EE + sip/
kita
see each other mag-kita nag-kita nag-kikita mag-kikita
/KEY + tah/
laba
wash (clothes) mag-laba nag-laba nag-lalaba mag-lalaba
/la + BAH/
walk lakad mag-lakad nag-lakad nag-lalakad mag-lalakad
/LAH + kad/
laro
play mag-laro nag-laro nag-lalaro mag-lalaro
/la + ROH/
ligpit
put away/clear mag-ligpit nag-ligpit nag-liligpit mag-liligpit
/lig + PIT/
luto
cook mag-luto nag-luto nag-luluto mag-luluto
/LOO + toh/
merienda
snack mag-mirienda nag-mirienda nag-mimirienda mag-mimirienda
/mer + YEN + dah/
saing
cook rice mag-saing nag-saing nag-sasaing mag-sasaing
/SAH + ing/
salita
speak mag-salita nag-salita nag-sasalita mag-sasalita
/sah + lee + TAH/
sulat
write mag-sulat nag-sulat nag-susulat mag-susulat
/SOO + lat/
tago
hide mag-tago nag-tago nag-tatago mag-tatago
/TAH + goh/
tanong
ask mag-tanong nag-tanong nag-tatanong mag-tatanong
/tah + NONG/
trabaho
work mag-trabaho nag-trabaho nag-tatrabaho mag-tatrabaho
/trah + BAH + hoh/
turo
teach / point mag-turo nag-turo nag-tuturo mag-tuturo
/TOO + roh/
usap
talk to each other mag-usap nag-uap nag-uusap mag-uusap
/OO + sap/
Appendix 5: MA- Verbs
Completed Uncompleted
Contemplated
Imperative Form Aspect Aspect [Present or
Tagalog Root Aspect [Future]
English [Past Tense] Ongoing]
Word
na + [1st syllable of ma + [1st syllable of
ma + [root word] na + [root word]
RW] + [root word] RW] + [root word]
to be able to abot
maabot naabot na-aabot ma-aabot
reach /ah + BOT/
alala
to remember maalala naalala na-aalala ma-aalala
/ah + LAH + lah/
amoy
to smell maamoy naamoy naaamoy maaamoy
/ah + MOY/
balita
to hear a news mabalita nabalita nababalita mababalita
/bah + LEE + tah/
busog
be full mabusog nabusog nabubusog mabubusog
/boo + SOG/
galit
get angry magalit nagalit nagagalit magagalit
/gah + LIT/
gutom
be hungry magutom nagutom nagugutom magugutom
/goo + TOM/
huli
be late mahuli nahuli nahuhuli mahuhuli
/who + LEE/
hulog
fall mahulog nahulog nahuhulog mahuhulog
/WHO + log/
iwan
leave behind ma-iwan na-iwan na-iiwan ma-iiwan
/EE + one/
kinig
listen makinig nakinig nakikinig makikinig
/key + NIG/
to see kita makita nakita nakikita makikita
/KEY + tah/
ligaw
to get lost maligaw naligaw naliligaw maliligaw
/lee + GAW/
ligo
bathe maligo naligo naliligo maliligo
/LEE + goh/
limot
to forget malimot nalimot nalilimot malilimot
/LEE + mot/
loko
get tricked maloko naloko naloloko maloloko
/LOH + koh/
niwala
to believe maniwala naniwala naniniwala maniniwala
/knee + WAH + lah/
pansin
to notice mapansin napansin napapansin mapapansin
/pan + SIN/
ramdam
to feel maramdam naramdam nararamdam mararamdam
/ram + DAM/
takot
be frightened matakot natakot natatakot matatakot
/TAH + cot/
turing
to be considered maturing naturin natuturing matuturing
/TOO + ring/
tuto
learn matuto natuto natututo matututo
/TOO + toh/
tuwa
be happy matuwa natuwa natutuwa matutuwa
/too + WAH/
Appendix 6: -IN Verbs
Imperative Completed Aspect Uncompleted Aspect Contemplated

Form [Past Tense] [Present or Ongoing] Aspect [Future]
Tagalog Root duplicate the first
English duplicate the first
Word add -in at the add -in before the first syllable of the root
syllable of the root
end of a root vowel of the root word, then add -in
word, then add -in
word word before the first vowel of
after the word
the word
abot
to be able to reach abutin inabot inaabot aabotin
/ah + BOT/
akyat
go up akyatin inakyat inaakyat aakyatin
/ak + YAT/
alis
leave alisin inalis inaalis aalisin
/ah + LIS/
amoy
to smell amuyin inamoy inaamoy aamoyin
/ah + MOY/
aral
study aralin inaral inaaral aaralin
/ah + RAL/
bayad
pay bayarin binayad binabayad babayarin
/BAH + yad/
bilang
count bilangin binilang binibilang bibilangin
/BEE + lang/
bili
buy bilhin binili binibili bibiliin
/bee + LEE/
buhat
carry buhatin binuhat binubuhat bubuhatin
/BOO + hat/
busog
be full busugin binusog binubusog bubusogin
/boo + SOG/
get angry galit galitin ginalit ginagalit gagalitin
/gah + LIT/
gawa
make gawin ginawa ginagawa gagawin
/gah + WAH/
gising
wake up/awake gisingin ginising ginigising gigisingin
/GI + sing/
gutom
be hungry gutomin ginutom ginugutom gugutomin
/GOO + tom/
hanap
look for hanapin hinanap hinahanap hahanapin
/HAH + nap/
hawak
hold hawakin hinawak hinahawak hahawakin
/HAH + wak/
hilamos
wash (face) hilamusin hinilamos hinihilamos hihilamosin
/he + LAH + mos/
hingi
ask for something hingin hiningi hinihingi hihingin
/he + NGIH/
hintay
wait hintayin hinintay hinihintay hihintayin
/hin + TAY/
hinto
stop hintuhin hininto hinihinto hihintoin
/hin + TOH/
huli
be capture hulihin hinuli hinuhuli huhuliin
/who + LEE/
ikot
go around ikutin inikot iinikot iikotin
/EE + cot/
inom
drink inomin ininom iininom iinomin
/ee + NOM/
isip
think isipin inisip iniisip iisipin
/EE + sip/
kagat
bite kagatin kinagat kinakagat kakagatin
/kah + GAT/
kain
eat kainin kinain kinakain kakainin
/KAH + in/
kanta
sing kantahin kinanta kinakanta kakantahin
/kan + TAH/
katok
knock katokin kinatok kinakatok kakatokin
/kah + TOK/
kita
see each other kitain kinita kinikita kikitain
/KEY + tah/
kuha kuhanin/
get kinuha kinukuha kukuhain
/COO + hah/ kunin
laba
wash (clothes) labahin linaba linalaba lalabain
/lah + BAH/
lakad
walk lakarin linakad linalakad lalakarin
/LAH + kad/
langoy
swim languyin linangoy linalangoy lalanguyin
/lah + NGOY/
laro
play laruin linaro linalaro lalaruin
/lah + ROH/
libutin linibot linilibot lilibotin
ligaw
to woo ligawin linigaw liniligaw liligawin
/lee + GAW/
ligo
bathe liguin linigo liniligo liliguin
/LEE + goh/
ligpit
put away/clear ligpitin linigpit liniligpit liligpitin
/lig + PIT/
limot
to forget limutin linimot linilimot lilimutin
/LEE + mot/
loko
get tricked lokohin linoko linoloko lolokohin
/LOH + koh/
luto
cook lutuin linuto linuluto lulutuin
/LOO + toh/
snack merienda meriendahin minerienda minemerienda memeriendahin
/mer + YEN + dah/

pansin
to notice pansinin pinansin pinapansin papansinin
/pan + SIN/
pasok
enter pasukin pinasok pinapasok papasukin
/PAH + sok/
pili
choose piliin pinili pinipili pipiliin
/PEE + lee/
sunod
follow sundin sinunod sinusunod susunodin
/SOO + nod/
takbo
run takbuhin tinakbo tinatakbo tatakbohin
/tak + BOH/
takot
be frightened takutin tinakot tinatakot tatakotin
/TAH + kot/
tanggap
receive tanggapin tinanggap tinatanggap tatanggapin
/tang + GAP/
tanong
ask tanungin tinanong tinatanong tatanongin
/tah + NONG/
tawag
call tawagin tinawag tinatawag tatawagin
/tah + WAG/
tayo
stand tayuin tinayo tinatayo tatayuin
/tah + YOH/
trabaho
work /trah + BAH + trabahuhin trinabaho trinatrabaho tratrabahuhin
hoh/
Appendix 7: -AN Verbs

Tagalog Root duplicate the first
English add -an at the add -in before the syllable of the imperative duplicate the first
Word
end of a root first vowel of the form, then add -in before syllable of the
word imperative form the first vowel of the imperative form
word
alis
leave alisan inalisan inaalisan aalisan
/ah + LIS/
balik
go back balikan binalikan binabalikan babalikan
/bah + LEEK/
balita
to hear a news balitaan binalitaan binabalitaan babalitaan
/bah + LEE + tah/
bayad
pay bayaran binayaran binabayaran babayaran
/BAH + yad/
bigay
give bigyan binigyan binibigyan bibigyan
/bee + GAI/
bilang
count bilangan binilangan binibilangan bibilangan
/BEE + lang/
daan
pass [a path] daanan dinaanan dinadaanan dadaanan
/dah + AN/
gawa
make gawan ginawan ginagawan gagawan
/gah + WAH/
hanap
look for hanapan hinanapan hinahanapan hahanapan
/HAH + nap/
hawak
hold hawakan hinawakan hinahawakan hahawakan
/HAH + wak/
wash (face) hilamos hilamusan hinilamusan hinihilamusan hihilamusan
/he + LAH + mos/

hingi
ask for something hingan hiningan hinihingan hihingan
/he + NGIH/
hinto
bite hintuhan hinintuhan hinihintuhan hihintuhan
/hin + TOH/
ikot
go around ikutan inikutan iniikutan iikutan
/EE + cot/
iwan
leave behind iwanan iniwanan iniiwanan iiwanan
/EE + one/
iyak
cry iyakan iniyakan iniiyakan iiyakan
/ee + YAK/
kanta
sing kantahan kinantahan kinakantahan kakantahan
/kan + TAH/
katok
knock katokan kinatokan kinakatokan kakatokan
/kah + TOK/
kuha kuhanan/ kinuhanan/ kinukuhanan/
get kukuhanan/ kukunan
/COO + hah/ kunan kinunan kinukunan
laba
wash (clothes) labhan linabhan linalabhan lalabhan
/lah + BAH/
lakad
walk lakaran linakaran linalakaran lalakaran
/LAH + kad/
langoy
swim languyan linanguyan linalanguyan lalanguyan
/lah + NGOY/
ligaw
to woo ligawan linigawan liniligawan liligawan
/lee + GAW/
ligo
bathe liguan liniguan liniliguan liliguan
/LEE + goh/
pansin
to notice pansinan pinansinan pinapansinan papansinan
/pan + SIN/
pasok
enter pasukan pinasukan pinapasukan papasukan
/PAH + sok/
punta
go puntahan pinuntahan pinupuntahan pupuntahan
/pun + TAH/
sakay
ride sakyan sinakyan sinasakyan sasakyan
/sah + KAY/
sama
go with samahan sinamahan sinasamahan sasamahan
/sah + MAH/
sigaw
shout/yell sigawan sinigawan sinisigawan sisigawan
/see + GAW/
sulat
write sulatan sinulatan sinusulatan susulatan
/SOO + lat/
sunod
follow sundan sinundan sinusundan susundan
/soo + NOD/
tago
hide taguan tinaguan tinataguan tataguan
/TAH + goh/
takbo
run takbuhan tinakbuhan tinatakbuhan tatakbuhan
/tak + BOH/
tama
hit tamaan tinamaan tinatamaan tatamaan
/tah + MAH/
tanong
ask tanungan tinanungan tinatanungan tatanungan
/tah + NONG/
tawa
laugh tawanan tinawanan tinatawanan tatawanan
/TAH + wah/
tawag
call tawagan tinawagan tinatawagan tatawagan
/TAH + wag/
tayo
stand tayuan tinayuan tinatayuan tatayuan
/tah + YOH/
tigil
stop tigilan tinigilan tinitigilan titigilan
/TEA + gil/
tingin
look tignan tinignan tinitignan titignan
/tea + NGIN/
work trabaho trabahuhan trinabahuhan trinatrabahuhan tratrabahuhan
/trah + BAH + hoh/

tulong
help tulungan tinulungan tinutulungan tutulungan
/TOO + long/
turo
teach / point turuan tinuruan tinuturuan tuturuan
/TOO + roh/
upo
sit upuan inupuan inuupuan uupuan
/oo + POH/
uwi
go home uwian inuwian inuuwian uuwian
/oo + WE/
Appendix 8: I- Verbs

duplicate the first
Tagalog Root add -in before the first duplicate the first
English syllable of the root
Word vowel of the root syllable of the root
add i- before the word, add -in before the
word, then then add i- word, then add i- at
root word first vowel of the word,
at the beginning of the beginning of the
then add i- at the
the word word
beginning of the word
abot
to be able to reach iabot iniabot iinaabot iaabot
/ah + BOT/
akyat
go up iakyat iniakyat iinaakyat iaakyat
/ak + YAT/
baba
go down ibaba ibinaba ibinababa ibababa
/bah + BAH/
Balik
go back ibalik ibinalik ibinabalik ibabalik
/bah + LEEK/
Balita
to hear a news /bah + LEE + ibalita ibinalita ibinabalita ibabalita
tah/
bayad
pay ibayad ibinayad ibinabayad ibabayad
/BAH + yad/
bilang
count ibilang ibinilang ibinibilang ibibilang
/BEE + lang/
buhat
carry ibuhat ibinuhat ibinubuhat ibubuhat
/BOO + hat/
daan
pass [a path] idaan idinaan idinadaan idadaan
/dah + AN/
gawa
make igawa iginawa iginagawa igagawa
/gah + WAH/
gulong
roll igulong iginulong iginugulong igugulong
/GOO + long/
hingi
ask for something ihingi ihiningi ihinihingi ihihingi
/he + NGIH/
hinto
stop ihinto ihininto ihinihinto ihihinto
/hin + TOH/
huli
last ihuli ihinuli ihinuhuli ihuhuli
who + LEE/
hulog
fall ihulog ihinulog ihinuhulog ihuhulog
/WHO + log/
ikot
go around iikot iniikot iiinikot iiikot
/EE + cot/
kain
eat ikain ikinain ikinakain ikakain
/KAH + inn/
kanta
sing ikanta ikinanta ikinakanta ikakanta
/kan + TAH/
katok
knock ikatok ikinatok ikinakatok ikakatok
/kah + TOK/
kuha
get ikuha ikinuha ikinukuha ikukuha
/COO + hah/
lakad
walk ilakad ilinakad ilinalakad ilalakad
/LAH + kad/
ilibot ilinibot ilinilibot ililibot
ligo
bathe iligo ilinigo iliniligo ililigo
/LEE + goh/
ligpit
put away/clear iligpit iligpit iliniligpit ililigpit
/lig + PIT/
lipad
fly ilipad ilipad ilinilipad ililipad
/lee + PAD/
cook luto iluto iluto ilinuluto iluluto
/LOO + toh/
pasok
enter ipasok ipasok ipinapasok ipapasok
/PAH + sok/
saing
cook rice isaing isaing isinasaing isasaing
/SAH + ing/
sakay
ride isakay isakay isinasakay isasakay
/sah + KAY/
sama
go with isama isama isinasama isasama
/sah + MAH/
sigaw
shout/yell isigaw isigaw isinisigaw isisigaw
/see + GAW/
sulat
write isulat isulat isinusulat isusulat
/SOO + lat/
sunod
follow isunod isunod isinusunod isusunod
/soo + NOD/
tago
hide itago itago itinatago itatago
/TAH + goh/
tama
hit itama itama itinatama itatama
/tah + MAH/
tanong
ask itanong itanong itinatanong itatanong
/tah + NONG/
tawa
laugh itawa itawa itinatawa itatawa
/tah + WAH/
tawag
call itawag itawag itinatawag itatawag
/tah + WAG/
tayo
stand itayo itayo itinatayo itatayo
/tah + YOH/
tigil
stop itigil itigil itinitigil ititigil
/TEA + gil/
turo
teach / point ituro ituro itinuturo ituturo
/TOO + roh/
tuwa
be happy ituwa ituwa itinutuwa itutuwa
/too + WAH/
upo
sit iupo iupo iinuupo iuupo
/oo + POH/
uwi
go home iuwi iuwi iinuuwi iuuwi
/oo + WE/
Appendix 9: Aspect of Natural Phenomenon
Verb-Acting Weather or Natural Phenomenon Words

English Tagalog Imperative Aspect Completed Uncompleted Aspect Contemplated Aspect
“Basic form” Aspect “Present Tense” “Future Tense”
“Past Tense”
sun/ day araw umaraw umaraw umaaraw aaraw
/AH + rau/
night gabi gumabi gumabi gumagabi gagabi
/gah + BEE/
heat init uminit uminit umiinit iinit
/EE + knit/
coldness lamig lumamig lumamig lumalamig lalamig
/lah + MIG/
chill ginaw guminaw guminaw gumiginaw giginaw
/gi + NAU/
drizzle ambon umambon umambon umaambon aambon
/um + BON/
wind hangin humangin humangin humahangin hahangin
/HA + ngin/
rain ulan umulan umulan umuulan uulan
/oo + LAN/
typhoon bagyo bumagyo bumagyo bumabagyo babagyo
/bag + YOH/
flood baha bumaha bumaha bumabaha babaha
/bah + HA/
thunder kulog kumulog kumulog kumukulog kukulog
/coo + LOG/
lightning kidlat kumidlat kumidlat kumikidlat kikidlat
/kid + LAT/
earthquake lindol lumindol lumindol lumilindol lilindol
/lin + DOL/
PHRASEBOOK 1:
Introducing Yourself
INTRODUCTIONS 1
Tagalog Meaning Pronunciation

Ako si John. I’m John ah + KOH + see + John
Ikaw You ee + COW
Ano What ah + noh
Pangalan Name pah + NGAH + lan
Anong pangalan mo? What’s your name? ah + NONG + pah +NGAH +
lan + moh
ah + KOH + see + John + ee +
Ako si John, ikaw? I’m John, what about you?
COW
Ikaw si David, di ba? You’re David, right? ee + COW + see + David +
dee + bah
ee + LANG + tah + ON + kah
Ilang taon ka na? How old are you?
+ nah
25 na ako. I’m 25. twenty five + nah + ah +
KOH
Taga-saan ka? Where are you from? tah + GAH + sah + AN + kah
Taga-saan po kayo? Where are you from? tah + GAH + sah + AN + poh
(polite) + kah + YOH
tah + GAH + Manila + ah +
Taga-Manila ako. I’m from Manila.
KOH
INTRODUCTIONS 2

Sa Havard ako nag-aral I studied at Harvard sah + Harvard + ah + KOH +
nag + AH + ral
sah + London + ah + KOH +
Sa London ako lumaki I grew up in London
loo + MAH + key
Doon ako natuto mag- That’s where I learned how do + ON + ah + KOH + nah +
swimming to swim (literally: “Over TOO + toh + mag +
there me learned how to swimming
swim”)
Nagtrabaho ako sa Silicon nag +trah + BAH + hoh + ah
I worked in Silicon Valley
Valley + KOH + sah + Silicon Valley
Nagtatrabaho ako sa Google I am [currently] working at nag + tah + trah + BAH + hoh
Google + ah + KOH + sah + Google
INTRODUCTIONS 3

Kailan ka nag-graduate? When did you graduate? kai + LAN + kah + nag +
graduate
When did you learn how to kai + LAN + kah + nah + TOO
Kailan ka natuto mag-biking?
bike? + toh + mag + biking
Saan ka nag-aral? Where did you study? sah + AN + kah + nag + AH +
ral
Saan ka natuto mag Where did you learn how to sah + AN + kah + nah + TOO
biking? (ride a) bike? + toh + mag + biking
Nung 21 ako. When I was 21 (years old). nung + twenty one + ah +
KOH
When I was only 21 ako
nung + twenty one + pah +
Nung 21 pa ako. (Literal translation: When I
ah + KOH
was still 21)
INTRODUCTIONS 4
Hobbies

Mahilig ako sa basketball. I enjoy playing basketball. mah + HE + lig + ah + KOH +
sah + basketball
mah + HE + lig + ah + KOH +
Mahilig ako sa kape. I enjoy coffee.
sah + kah + PEH
Mahilig ako sa hiking. I enjoy hiking. mah + HE + lig + ah + KOH +
sah + hiking
INTRODUCTIONS 5
Asking further details

May anak ka na ba? Do you already have any mai + ah + NAK + kah + nah +
children? bah
May anak ka ba? Do you have children mai + ah + NAK + kah + bah
Nag-graduate ka na ba? Have you graduated? nag + graduate + kah + nah +
bah
May girlfriend/ boyfriend ka Do you have a girlfriend/ mai + girlfriend/ boyfriend +
na ba? boyfriend already? kah + nah + bah
Oo Yes o+o
Hindi No HIN + dee
Meron (Yes, I) have MEH + ron
Wala (No, I) don’t have wah + LAH
INTRODUCTIONS 6
Asking further details

Mahilig ka ba mag- Do you like playing mah + HE + lig + kah + bah +
basketball? basketball? mag + basketball
Ikaw ba si John? Are you John? ee + KAW + bah + see + John
Nag-aral ka ba sa Harvard? Do you study at Harvard? nag + AH + ral + kah + bah +
sah + Harvard
bah + KIT + kah + poo +
Bakit ka pumunta dito sa Why did you come here to
MOON + tah + DEE + toh +
Pilipinas? the Philippines?
sah + Pilipinas
Kasi gusto ko mag-aral dito. Because I want to study kah + SEE + goose + TOH +
here koh + mag + AH + ral + DEE +
toh
PHRASEBOOK 2:
Giving Instructions
GIVING INSTRUCTIONS 1
Telling people what you need them to do

Paki-linis ang banyo. Please clean the bathroom. pah + key + LEE + nis + ang +
BAN + yoh
pah + key + bee + LEE + nang
Paki-bili ng candy. Please buy some candy.
+ candy
Paki-laba ang mga damit. Please do the laundry. pah + key + lah + bah + ang +
ma + ngah + dah + MEET
pah + key + LEE + nis + ang +
Paki-linis ang kusina. Please clean the kitchen.
coo + SEE + nah
Paki-plantsa ang mga damit. Please iron the clothes. pah + key + plan + TSA + ang
+ ma + ngah + dah + MEET
pah + key + lah + bah + ang +
Paki-laba ang mga damit
Please do the laundry now. ma + ngah + dah + MEET +
ngayon.
ngah + YON
Paki-luto ngayon. Please cook now. pah + key + LOO + toh +
ngah + YON
pah + key + LEE + nis + ang +
Paki-linis ang kwarto. Please clean the bedroom.
kwar + TOH
Paki-linis ang sala. Please clean the living room. pah + key + LEE + nis + ang +
Asking if it’s done yet

Tapos na ba ang laundry? Is the laundry finished? tah + POS + nah + bah + ang
+ laundry
tah + POS + kah + nah + bah
Tapos ka na ba mag-luto? Are you finished cooking?
+ mag + LOO + toh
Mag-laba ka mamaya. Do the laundry later. mag + lah + bah + kah + mah
+ mah + yah
mag + LOO + toh + kah +
Mag-luto ka muna ng lunch. Cook lunch first.
MOO + nah + nang + lunch
Mag-luto ka muna ng lunch Cook lunch before you do mag + LOO + toh + kah +
bago mag-laba, the laundry. MOO + nah + nang + lunch +
BAH + goh + mag + lah + bah
Four new words here: tapos, mamaya, muna, and bago.

They can all be used with what we know already, such as:
Q: Nag-basketball ka ba? Q: Did you play basketball?

A: Tapos na. A: I’m done (literally: Done already.)
Nag-aral ako sa Harvard bago ako pumunta I studied at Harvard before I came here to
dito sa Pilipinas. the Philippines.
Q: May boyfriend ka na ba? Q: Do you have a boyfriend?
A: Wala. A: No. (literally: Don’t have)
Q: Bakit? Q: Why?
A: Kasi gusto ko mag-aral muna. A: Because I want to study first.
Asking questions and saying thank you

Marunong ka ba? Do you know how? mah + ROO + nong + kah +
bah
mah + ROO + nong + kah +
Marunong ka ba gumamit Do you know to use a
bah + goo + MAH + meet +
ng washing machine? washing machine?
nang + washing machine
Marunong ka ba mag-luto? Do you know how to cook? mah + ROO + nong + kah +
bah + mag + LOO + toh
Marunong ka ba mag- Do you know how to speak mah + ROO + nong + kah +
English? English? bah + mag + English
Marunong ako I know how. mah + ROO + nong + ah +
KOH
Halika Come here. hah + LEE + kah
Ipapakita ko sayo. I’ll show you. ee + pah + pah + key + tah +
koh + sah + YOH
Salamat! Thank you! sah + LAH + mat
Salamat po! Thank you! (polite) sah + LAH + mat + poh
sah + LAH + mat + AH + teh +
Salamat Ate Emily. Thank you, Ate Emily.
Emily
Salamat Kuya Paul. Thank you, Kuya Paul. sah + LAH + mat + COO + yah
+ Paul
PHRASEBOOK 3:
Directions
DIRECTIONS 1
Basic directions

Kaliwa Left kah + lee + WAH
Kanan Right KAH + nan
Diretso Straight ahead. dee + RET + tsoh
coo + mah + lee + WAH +
Kumaliwa ka. You go left.
kah
Kumanan ka. You go right. coo + MAH + nan + kah
doo + meh + RET + tsoh +
Dumeretso ka. You go straight ahead.
kah
Kakaliwa ka. You’ll go left. kah + kah + lee + WAH + kah
Kakanan Ka. You’ll go right. kah + KAH + nan + kah
Dederetso ka. You’ll go straight ahead. deh + deh + RET + tsoh + kah
Kumaliwa ka tapos Go left, then go straight
kah + TAH + pos + doo +
dumeretso ka, ahead.
meh + RET + tsoh + kah
Kumanan ka tapos kumaliwa Go right, then go left. coo + mah + lee + WAH +
ka. kah + TAH + pos + coo + mah
+ lee + WAH + kah
DIRECTIONS 2
Being more specific

Sa labas ng McDonald’s Outside McDonald’s sah + lah + BAS + nang +
McDonald’s
sah + hah + RAP + nang +
Sa harap ng KFC In front of KFC
KFC
Sa likod ng Greenbelt Behind Greenbelt sah + lee + COD + nang +
Greenbelt
Sa kanto On the corner sah + KAN + toh
Unang kanto First corner OO + nang + KAN + toh
pah + ngah + lah + WANG +
Pangalawang kanto Second corner
KAN + toh
Pangatlong kanto Third corner pah + NGAT + long + KAN +
toh
Pang-apat kanto Fourth corner pang + AH + pat + KAN + toh
Tawid ka. Cross the street tah + WEED + kah

tah + tah + WEED + kah +
Tatawid ka tapos kakanan You will cross the street,
TAH + pos + kah + KAH + nan
ka. then you will turn right.
+ kah
Malayo siya. It’s far. mah + LAH + yoh + sha
Malapit siya. It’s nearby. mah + LAH + pit + sha
Malapit na! Almost there! mah + LAH + pit + nah
DIRECTIONS 3
Being even more specific

Dito na! Here! DEE + toh + nah
Diyan lang. Just over there. jan + lang
Doon pa. Further down over there. doh + ON + pah
doh + ON + pah + nang +
Doon pa ng konti. Just a little bit further down.
KON + tea
Pumunta ka sa… Go to… poo + MOON + tah + kah +
sah
poo + POON + tah + kah +
Pupunta ka sa… You’re going to go to…
sah
Hanapin mo… Look for… hah + NAH + pin + moh
Hahanapin mo… You’re going to look for… hah + hah + NAH + pin + moh
Kakanan ba ako? I will go right? kah + KAH + nan +
Kakaliwa ba ako? I will go left? kah + kah + lee + WAH +
Dederetso ba ako? I will go straight? deh + deh + RET + tsoh +
tah + tah + WEED + bah + ah
Tatawid ba ako? I will cross the street?
+ KOH
Kumanan ka ba? Did you go right? coo + MAH + nan + kah
Kumaliwa ka ba? Did you go left?
kah
Dumeretso ka ba? Did you go straight? coo + mah + lee + WAH +
kah
too + mah + WEED + kah +
Tumawid ka ba? Did you cross the street?
bah
PHRASEBOOK 4:
Meetings
MEETINGS 1
Basic useful phrases

Saan yung meeting? Where’s the meeting? sah + AN + yoong + meeting
Kailang yung meeting? When’s the meeting? kai + LAN + yoong + meeting
Sa Starbucks tayo mag- Let’s have our meeting at sah + Starbucks + TAH + yoh
meeting. Starbucks. + mag + meeting
Sa Monday tayo mag- Let’s see each other on sah + Monday + TAH + yoh +
meeting. Monday. mag + meeting
Anong oras yung meeting? What time is the meeting? ah + NONG + OH + ras +
yoong + meeting
Ala una At one o’ clock ah + LAH + OO + nah
Alas dos At two o’ clock ah + LAS + dos
Alas tres At three o’ clock ah + LAS + tres
Alas kwatro At four o’ clock ah + LAS + KWAT + troh
Alas singko At five o’ clock ah + LAS + SING + koh
Alas sais At six o’ clock ah + LAS + sah + IS
Alas siyete At seven o’ clock ah + LAS + SHE + te
Alas otso At eight o’ clock ah + LAS + OT + cho
Alas nwebe At nine o’ clock ah + LAS + NEW + be
Alas dyes At ten o’ clock ah + LAS + jes
Alas onse At eleven o’ clock ah + LAS + ON + se
Alas dose At twelve o’ clock ah + LAS + DOH + se
MEETINGS 2
Asking

Paki- abot yung documents. Please pass the documents. pah + key + ah + BOT + yung
+ documents
Tapos mo na ba yung Have you finished the tah + POS + moh + nah + bah
report? report? + yung + report
Tapos na po. It’s done. tah + POS + nah + poh
Di pa po tapos. It’s not done yet. dee + pah + poh + tah + POS
Paki-photocopy mamaya Please photocopy the pah + key + photocopy +
yung documents. documents later. mah + mah + YAH + yung +
documents
Saan si George? Where’s George? sah + AN + see + George
Bakit wala si George? Why isn’t George here? BAH + kit + wah + LAH + see
+ George
Bakit wala siya? Why isn’t he/she/it here? BAH + kit + wah + LAH + sha
Kailan babalik si George? When is George coming kai + LAN + bah + bah + LEEK
back? + see + George
What time are you coming ah + NONG + OH + ras + kah
Anong oras ka babalik?
back? + bah + bah + LEEK
Siya ang secretary ko. She’s/He’s my secretary. sha + ang + secretary + koh
Siya si George. She/He is George. sha + see + George
Yan ang boss ko. That’s my boss. yan + ang + boss + koh
PHRASEBOOK 5:
In a restaurant
IN A RESTAURANT 1
Navigating the dining room

Penge… Give me… PEH + ngeh
PEH + ngeh + nang + TOO +
Penge ng tubig. Give me water.
big
Penge ng tissue. Give me tissue/ napkin. PEH + ngeh + nang + tissue
Penge ng menu. Give me a menu. PEH + ngeh + nang + menu
Kuya, penge ng tubig. Kuya, give me water. COO + yah + PEH + ngeh +
nang + TOO + big
Waitress (Literally: big
Ate AH + the
sister)
May Coke ba kayo? Do you (plural) have Coke? mai + Coke + bah + kah +
YOH
What is your bestselling
item? (A very common ah + NONG + bestseller +
Anong bestseller niyo?
question in Filipino nyoh
restaurants!)
Paki-balot Please wrap this up. pah + key + BAH + lot
pah + key + ah + BOT + yung
Paki-abot yung salt. Please pass the salt.
+ salt
Pa-abot yung pasta. Please pass the pasta. pah + key + ah + BOT + yung
+ pasta
IN A RESTAURANT 2
That’s mine!

Sa akin yan. That’s mine. sah + ah + KEEN + yan
Sa kanya yan. That’s hers/his sah + KAN + yah + yan
Sa iyo yan. That’s yours. sah + ee + YOH + yan
Sa akin ito. This is mine. sah + ah + KEEN + ee + TOH
Sa iyo ito. This is yours. sah + ee + YOH + ee + TOH
Sa kanya ito. This is hers/his. sah + KAN + yah + ee + TOH
Hindi sa akin ito. This is not mine. hin + DEE + sah + ah + KEEN
+ ee + TOH
sah + ah + KEEN + ee + TOH
Sa akin ito, di ba? This is mine, right?
+ dee + bah
Yata I think so. YAH + tah
Hindi yata. I don’t think so. hin + DEE + YAH + tah

Kanino ba to? Whose is this? kai + KNEE + noh + bah + toh
IN A RESTAURANT 3
Useful questions

Pwede bang walang nuts? Is it possible without nuts? PWEH + deh + bang + wah +
LANG + nuts
Where is the toilet?
[C.R. stands for Comfort
Saan yung CR? sah + AN + yung + see + ar
Room and is commonly
used in the Philippines]
Pero isang extra egg. But (also) one extra egg. PEH + roh + ee + SANG +
extra egg
At isang extra egg. and two extra egg at + ee + SANG + extra egg
Dalawang extra egg. two extra egg dah + lah + WANG + extra
egg
Tatlong extra egg. three extra egg tat + LONG + extra egg
Apat na extra egg. four extra egg AH + pat + nah + extra egg
Bill out. Can I have the bill please? bill out
Wala kaming… We (exclusive) don’t have wah + LAH + kah + MING +
any… …
We (inclusive) don’t have wah + LAH + TAH + yong +
Wala tayong…
any… …
Wala pa yung order namin. Our order isn’t here yet. wah + LAH + pah + yung +
order + NAH + min
PHRASEBOOK 6:
Have some fun!
HAVE SOME FUN 1

Helping you help yourself

Anong Tagalog ng X? What is the Tagalog of X? ah + NONG + tah + GAH + log
+ nang + …
What’s that about?! / What’s
Ano ba yan?! ah + NOH + bah + yan
going on?
Magkano yan pre/’te? How much is that, dude? mag + KAH + noh + yan +
pre/teh
GRAH + beh + ang + mah +
Grabe! Ang mahal! Wow! That’s expensive!
HAL
Hay naku! Oh no! hai + nah + COO
[Used to express
exasperation]
Jus ko po! / Diyos ko po! Oh my god! juice + koh + poh
HAVE SOME FUN 2

Tagalog swearwords and curses

pakshet fuck shit pack + SHET
pakingshet fucking shit pack + king + SHET
pakyu fuck you pack + YOU
(used to express one’s
leche irritation) leh + CHE
Literally “milk” in Spanish
punyeta wanker poon + YEH + tah
(from Spanish)
gago crazy man gah + goh
gaga crazy woman gah + gah
baliw crazy bah + LEEW
ulol crazy (like a rabid animal) oo + LOL
walang hiya no shame / shameless wah + LANG + he + YAH
walangya wah + LANG + yah
langya LANG + yah
buwisit (used to express one’s boo + we + SIT
bwisit irritation) bwee + SIT
hinayupak like an animal he + nah + YOU + pak
lintik (may you be hit by) lighting lean + TICK
puta prostitute (from Spanish) POO + tah

anak-puta (ka) ah + NAK + POO + tah
you’re a prostitute’s child
nakputa (ka) NAK + POO + tah
putang ina (ka) your mom is a prostitute POO + tang + EE + nah
tangina TANG + ee + nah
W ell, that’s it for this version of

the book! Now it’s over to you.
You’ve hopefully learned a few
useful phrases in this book that I hope will
start your Tagalog journey off on the right
foot. Now you have to go out into the
world and use what you’ve learned!
You’ll no doubt find, as I have, that

speaking Tagalog is fantastic fun and that
by knowing even just a few phrases, you’ll
make people smile even when you make
mistakes!
Making mistakes is, after all, the first step

towards mastery. Know that if you’re out
there, making mistakes, then you’ve
started the learning process.
I’d love to hear back from you if you have

suggestions for more content areas we
could add to the book.
What do you think was missing that should

have been included? Did you spot any
mistakes? Were any parts not clear? You
can email me directly on:
phil@learntagalogfast.com
Good luck!
-Phil Smithson

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A refreshingly easy method

Philip Smithson, Angela Imana

Copyright © 2018 Philip Smithson, Angela Imana

All rights reserved.

THE CHEAT’S GUIDE TO TAGALOG 1

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THIS BOOK. 16

Lesson 1 Introducing Yourself 19

Lesson 2 Taglish Rules! 23

Lesson 3 Pronunciation Guide 27

Lesson 4 Everyday Questions 32

Lesson 5 Everyday Questions Part 2 36

Lesson 6 Everyday Questions Part 3 39

Lesson 7 Going Places and Doing Things 41

Lesson 8 Expressing Likes and Wants 43

Lesson 9 Expressing Dislikes 46

Lesson 10 Going to Places and Doing Things Part 2 48

Lesson 11 Describing People and Things 52

Lesson 12 Describing People and Things Part 2 54

Lesson 13 Very… Slightly 57

Lesson 14 Very… Slightly Part 2 60

Lesson 15 Comparing People and Things 63

Lesson 16 Ownership of Things 65

Lesson 17 Commanding/ Requesting 67

Imperative form in Actor Focus: Mag- verb 67

Lesson 18 Here, There, Everywhere 71

Lesson 19 Expressing Needs 73

Lesson 20 Expressing Permission 75

Lesson 21 Expressing Capability 77

Lesson 22 Expressing Duty 82

Lesson 23 Having / Not Having and Asking for Something 85

Lesson 24 Buying Something 88

Lesson 25 Getting Sick 91

Lesson 27 Making Small Talk Last 99

Lesson 28 Sentences 104

Lesson 29 Sentences Part 2 107

Lesson 30 How Universal is Universal? 110

Lesson 31 Which? That? 113

Lesson 32 Particles 116

Lesson 33 Take Your Time 121

Lesson 34 “Present Tense” 128

Lesson 35 “Past Tense” 132

Lesson 36 “Future Tense” 134

Lesson 37 Recent “Past Tense” 137

Lesson 38 To be or not to be? 140

Lesson 39 How’s the Weather? 142

Lesson 40 Don’ts and Don’ts 146

Lesson 41 Describing Actions 148

Lesson 42 Having / Not Having Part 2 151

Lesson 43 Commanding/Requesting Part 2 154

Lesson 44 Commanding/ Requesting Part 3 156

Lesson 45 “Past Tense” Part 2 159

Lesson 46 “Present Tense” Part 2 162

Lesson 47 “Future Tense” Part 2 164

Lesson 48 Object Focus of Pseudo-Verbs 167

Lesson 49 Forming Nouns 170

Lesson 50 Forming Nouns Part 2 174

Introducing Yourself 212

GIVING INSTRUCTIONS 1 216

GIVING INSTRUCTIONS 2 216

GIVING INSTRUCTIONS 3 217

HAVE SOME FUN 1 228