Tagalog grammar

In Tagalog, there are nine parts of speech: nouns (pangngalan), pronouns (panghalíp), verbs (pandiwà), adverbs (pang-abay), adjectives (pang-urì), prepositions (pang-ukol), conjunctions (pangatníg), ligatures (pang-angkóp) and particles.

Below is a chart of the main verbal affixes, which consist of a variety of prefixes, suffixes, infixes, and circumfixes.

Conventions used in the chart: With object-focus verbs in the completed and progressive aspects, the infix -in- frequently becomes the prefix ni- if the root word begins with /l/, /r/, /w/, or /j/; e.g., linalapitan or nilalapitan and inilagáy or ilinagáy.

In old Tagalog, the complete and progressive aspects of actor trigger I was marked with the affix "-ungm-" or "-ingm-', while "-um-" was used solely as the infinitive form.

The word "pasok" (to enter) therefore becomes "nasok" (complete), "nanasok" (progressive), "mamasok" (contemplative), and "masok" (infinitive).

The central feature of verbs in Tagalog and other Philippine languages is the trigger system, often called voice or focus.

This verb form triggers a reading of the direct noun (marked by "ang") as the agent of the clause.

There are three main affixes/forms used in this trigger, -in-, i-, and -an: Affixes can also be used in nouns or adjectives: baligtaran (from baligtád, to reverse) (reversible), katamaran (from tamád, lazy) (laziness), kasabihán (from sabi, to say) (proverb), kasagutan (from sagót, answer), bayarín (from bayad, to pay) (payment), bukirín (from bukid, farm), lupaín (from lupa, land), pagkakaroón (from doón/roón, there) (having/appearance), and pagdárasál (from dasál, prayer).

It is also used in standard Tagalog as the basis for the imperative form of the verb, by adding a second-person pronoun, such as ka/mo (you) and kayó/ninyó (you all), directly after it.

Tagalog verbs also have affixes expressing grammatical mood; some examples are indicative, potential, social, causative and distributed.

For instance with the sentence above, kumain ang pusà ng isdâ may be read as "the cat of the fish ate".

Note: If "ng liham" is removed from the sentence, it becomes "I was written on" Ibíbigay ko ito sa kaniyá.

They can be used with, or in lieu of, the pô/hô iterations without losing any degree of politeness, formality, or respect: Example: English: "What's your name?"

Using such pluralized pronouns is quite sufficient for expressing politeness, formality or respect, particularly when an affirmative (or negative) pô/hô iteration isn't necessary.

Additionally, the formal second-person pronouns Ikaw (Ka), Kayo, Mo, and Ninyo, third-person forms Niya and Siya, and their oblique forms Inyo, Iyo, and Kaniya are customarily and reverentially capitalized, particularly in most religion-related digital and printed media and their references.

- The contractions are: 're, 'to, 'yan, 'yun, n'yan, gan'to, gan'yan, gan're, gano'n (gayon) *Many Tagalog speakers may use itó in place of iré/aré.

Examples: hinóg (ripe), sabog (exploded), ganda (beautiful) These consist of the root word and one or more affixes.

Examples: tinanóng (questioned), kumakain (eating), nagmámahál (loving) These are formed by the repetition of the whole or part of the root word.

Examples: puláng-pulá (really red), putíng-putî (really white), araw-araw (every day), gabí-gabí (every night) These are compound words.

Examples: muntî (little), biluhabà (oval), matamis (sweet), malubhâ (serious) This states a specific noun.

Examples: wikang Ingles (English language), kulturang Espanyol (Spanish culture), pagkaing Iloko (Ilokano food) This states the number, how many, or a position in order.

The prefix "pinaká" and the words "sobra", "ubod", "tunay", "talaga", "saksakan", and "hari ng ___" are used, as well as the repetition of the adjective.

Examples: medyo matabâ (somewhat fat), malakás nang bahagyâ (slightly strong), malakás-lakás (somewhat strong), matabáng nang kauntî (a little bit insipid) This is when the adjective is accompanied by the words "napaka", "ubod ng", "saksakan ng", "talagáng", "sobrang", "masyadong" or the repetition of the whole adjective.

Examples: napakalakas (so strong), ubod ng baít (really kind), talagáng mabangó (truly fragrant), sobrang makinis (oversmooth) There are rules that are followed when forming adjectives that use the prefix "ma-".

Examples: masayá (happy), malungkót (sad) When the adjective is describing two or more noun/pronoun, "ma-" is used and the first syllable or first two letters of the root word is repeated.

Example: mapágmahál na tao ("loving person") This suffixed allomorph is used if the preceding word ends with a vowel or n; in the latter case, the final n is lost and replaced by the suffix: Examples: mabuting nilaláng ng Diyos ("good creation of God"); huwarang mamámayán (huwaran + mamámayán) ("ideal citizen") Tagalog uses numerous conjunctions, and may belong to one of these possible functions: Modifiers alter, qualify, clarify, or limit other elements in a sentence structure.

The example in (4b) shows that the opposite ordering of the agent and patient does not result in an ungrammatical sentence but rather an unnatural one in Tagalog.

In example (5), the verb, 'binihag', (captivated) is marked for active voice and results in the actor ('Kuya Louis') to take the nominative case.

There are two (or more) special negative forms for common verbs: Tagalog's interrogative words are: alín, anó, bákit, gaáno, gaálin, makáilan, ilán, kailán, kaníno, kumustá, magkáno, nakaníno, nasaán, níno, paáno, pasaán, saán, tagasaán, and síno.

AlíngWhichpaldaskirtangDEFgustólikemo?youAlíng palda ang gustó mo?Which skirt DEF like youWhich skirt do you like?AnóWhatangDEFginagawâdoingmo?you?Anó ang ginagawâ mo?What DEF doing you?What are you doing?BakitWhynasainBarcelonaBarcelonasila?theyBakit nasa Barcelona sila?Why in Barcelona theyWhy are they in Barcelona?KailánWhenuuwìgo homesi-=VictorVictorKailán uuwì si-=VictorWhen {go home} VictorWhen will Victor go home?NasaánWheresi=Antonia?AntoniaNasaán si=Antonia?Where AntoniaWhere is Antonia?Gaano (from ga- + anó) means how but is used in inquiring about the quality of an adjective or an adverb.