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root
kain
inom
kuha
bili
gawa
sulat
basa
eat · pick a root to change the verb rows
not
hindi
not / no
Goes first. The actor slides in right after it: Hindi ako kumain.
ask
ba
ba lands after the first piece: Kumain ka ba?
yes / no marker
Turns a statement into a question. Sits after the first piece: Kumain ka ba?
ano
what
Asks about a thing → object focus verb + ang: Ano ang kinain mo?
sino
who
Asks about the doer → ang + actor focus verb: Sino ang kumain?
saan
where (it happens)
Saan ka kumain? — 'nasaan' is for where something IS.
kailan
when
Kailan ka kumain? Replaces the time word.
bakit
why
Bakit ka kumain? Question word first, then actor, then verb.
paano
how
Paano ka kumain?
verb · actor
kakain
will eat (actor focus)
KA-kain: doubled syllable, no -um-: hasn't started.
kumakain
is eating (actor focus)
ku-MA-kain: the doubled syllable means 'not finished'. Ongoing.
kumain
ate (actor focus)
k-um-ain: -um- slips in after the first consonant. Completed.
verb · object
kakainin
will eat (object focus)
ka-kain-IN: future, thing in focus.
kinakain
is eating (object focus)
ki-NA-kain: ongoing, thing in focus.
kinain
ate (object focus)
k-in-ain: -in- puts the THING in the spotlight. The eater becomes ko/mo/niya.
who · ang
ako
The who comes after the verb (Kumain ako), or after hindi / a question word.
I
ang-form. Use after actor-focus verbs: Kumain ako.
ka
The who comes after the verb (Kumain ako), or after hindi / a question word.
you
ang-form, short. 'ikaw' at the start of a sentence, 'ka' after a word.
siya
The who comes after the verb (Kumain ako), or after hindi / a question word.
he / she
ang-form. No gender in Tagalog.
kami
The who comes after the verb (Kumain ako), or after hindi / a question word.
we (not you)
ang-form, exclusive: the listener is not included.
tayo
The who comes after the verb (Kumain ako), or after hindi / a question word.
we (with you)
ang-form, inclusive: the listener is in. Kain tayo!
kayo
The who comes after the verb (Kumain ako), or after hindi / a question word.
you all / you (polite)
ang-form. Also polite singular for elders.
sila
The who comes after the verb (Kumain ako), or after hindi / a question word.
they
ang-form.
who · ng
ko
The who comes after the verb (Kumain ako), or after hindi / a question word.
I / my (ng-form)
Doer when something else is in focus: Kinain ko ang mangga. Also after gusto.
mo
The who comes after the verb (Kumain ako), or after hindi / a question word.
you / your (ng-form)
Kinain mo ang mangga. Ano ang kinain mo?
niya
The who comes after the verb (Kumain ako), or after hindi / a question word.
he / she (ng-form)
Kinain niya ang mangga.
namin
The who comes after the verb (Kumain ako), or after hindi / a question word.
we (not you, ng-form)
Kinain namin ang mangga.
natin
The who comes after the verb (Kumain ako), or after hindi / a question word.
we (with you, ng-form)
Kinain natin ang mangga.
ninyo
The who comes after the verb (Kumain ako), or after hindi / a question word.
you all (ng-form)
Kinain ninyo ang mangga.
nila
The who comes after the verb (Kumain ako), or after hindi / a question word.
they (ng-form)
Kinain nila ang mangga.
marker
ng
Markers tag a thing. They come after the verb and the who.
marker: not in focus
Marks the thing when the doer is in focus: Kumain ako NG mangga. Said 'nang'.
ang
Markers tag a thing. They come after the verb and the who.
marker: in focus
Marks the spotlight noun: Kinain ko ANG mangga. Ano ANG kinain mo?
thing
mangga
A thing needs its marker first: ng (not in focus) or ang (in focus).
mango
kanin
A thing needs its marker first: ng (not in focus) or ang (in focus).
cooked rice
Uncooked rice is 'bigas'.
isda
A thing needs its marker first: ng (not in focus) or ang (in focus).
fish
manok
A thing needs its marker first: ng (not in focus) or ang (in focus).
chicken
tinapay
A thing needs its marker first: ng (not in focus) or ang (in focus).
bread
mansanas
A thing needs its marker first: ng (not in focus) or ang (in focus).
apple
From Spanish 'manzanas'.
pagkain
A thing needs its marker first: ng (not in focus) or ang (in focus).
food
when
kahapon
Time goes at the end, after the action.
yesterday
Needs a completed verb: kumain.
ngayon
Time goes at the end, after the action.
now / today
Goes with ongoing (kumakain) or completed (kumain = ate today).
mamaya
Time goes at the end, after the action.
later (today)
Needs a future verb: kakain.
bukas
Time goes at the end, after the action.
tomorrow
Needs a future verb: kakain.
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