Vocabulary
malamig
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cold
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kumusta
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how is
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maghanap
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to look for
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Grammar
The purpose of this lesson is to clarify some of the pronouns in Appendix A that are quite different from English.
tayo/natin/atin vs kami/namin/amin
In Tagalog when you say “we” you must specify if the speaker is included.
tayo/natin/atin
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= me, you and possible some other people = we (inclusive)
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kami/namin/amin
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= me and at least one other person but not you = we (exclusive)
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Ex: Nagbasa tayo ng libro.
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= We (you and I) read a book.
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Ex: Nagbasa kami ng libro.
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= We (a friend and I) read a book.
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ito/nito vs iyan/niyan vs iyon/niyon
In Tagalog when you say “this” it means something next to the speaker. But when you say “that”, you must specify if it’s something next to the listener or something far from both the speaker and listener.
ito/nito
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= this, close to the speaker
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iyan/niyan
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= that, close to the listener
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iyon/niyon
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= that, far from both the speaker and listener
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Ex: Maganda ito.
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= This is pretty.
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Ex: Maganda iyan.
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= That (thing next to you) is pretty.
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Ex: Maganda iyon.
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= That (thing far from you and me) is pretty.
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dito/rito vs diyan/riyan vs doon/roon
Dito/diyan/doon is technically the sa-form of ito/iyan/iyon, but “here/there/there” is probably a more fitting definition for it than “this/that/that”. It follows the same rule shown above. The d can optionally be changed to r; r is supposed to be used when it follows a vowel, but this rule is often ignored.
dito/rito
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= here, close to the speaker
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diyan/riyan
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= there, close to the listener
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doon/roon
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= there, far from both the speaker and listener
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Ex: Malamig dito.
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= It’s cold here.
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Ex: Malamig diyan.
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= It’s cold there (next to you).
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Ex: Malamig doon.
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= It’s cold there (far from you and me).
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ka/kayo/ikaw
You in Tagalog is quite different from English because there are different forms depending on whether you mean singular, plural, informal or formal.
ka
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= you (informal singular)
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kayo
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= you (plural) or you (formal singular)
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Ex: Kumusta ka?
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= How are you?
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Ex: Kumusta kayo?
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= How are y’all?
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Ex: Kumusta po kayo?
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= How are you sir? or How are you gentlemen?
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That’s not all. There are certain sentence structures that require the use of ikaw. These are usually sentences in which you comes in the beginning. For example, identificational sentences:
Ex: Ikaw ang guro.
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= You are the teacher.
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You’ll also frequently see ikaw in ay-sentences:
Ex: Ikaw ay matalino.
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= You are smart.
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And there are exceptions where it doesn’t come first:
Ex: At ikaw?
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= And you? or How about you?
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Sample Sentences
Q1
Are y’all having supper at Gerry’s?
Naghahapunan ba kayo sa Gerry’s?
Q2
We (exclusive) are cleaning the car.
Naglilinis kami ng kotse.
Q3
We won’t look for that (far away from both of us).
Hindi kami maghahanap niyon.
Q4
You are the boss.
Ikaw ang boss.
Q5
They played tennis there(far away from both of us) yesterday.
Nag-tennis sila doon kahapon.
Q6
We (inclusive) will study tomorrow.
Mag-aaral tayo bukas.
Q7
Did you brush your teeth yet?
Nagsipilyo ka na ba?
Q8
She read that (near you).
Nagbasa siya niyan.
Q9
Maria will cook there (near you).
Magluluto si Maria diyan.
Q10
Didn’t you speak ma’am?
Hindi po ba kayo nagsalita?