Vocabulary
*sa
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for, at, on, in, to, etc.
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sa loób
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inside
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sa ilalim
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under
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sa labás
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outside
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sa tabí
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beside
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sa ibabaw
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above; on top of
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*You have seen this before.
Grammar
Sa is a very versatile word in Tagalog. This lesson is to give you some practice with sa by itself and as a compound preposition. Adjective phrases will also be covered.
Sa by Itself
Here are some uses you have already seen for sa by itself. Notice how many English prepositions it is equivalent to.
Ex: sa mga bata
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= for the children
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Ex: sa bahay
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= at home
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Ex: sa Biyernes
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= on Friday.
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Ex: Tuturuan niya kami sa kuwarto namin.
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= She will teach us in our room.
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Ex: Nagbisikleta si Maria papunta sa eskwelahan.
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= Maria cycled to the school.
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Sa Compound Prepositions
Sa can be combined with certain nouns to make compound prepositions.
Ex: sa + loob (interior) = sa loob = inside
Ex: sa + ilalim (bottom) = sa ilalim = under
Ex: sa + labas (exterior) = sa labas = outside
These can also be used with nouns:
sa compound preposition + noun (Tag.) = preposition noun (Eng.)
Note: Noun takes ng form.
sa loob ng bahay
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= inside the house
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sa ilalim ng bahay
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= below the house
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sa labas ng bahay
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= outside the house
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These can be used to answer nasaan questions, so remember to use nasa for the positive and wala for the negative:
Nasa loob siya ng bahay.
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= He is inside the house.
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Wala siya sa ilalim ng bahay.
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= He is not below the house.
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Wala sa labas ng bahay.
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= Not outside the house.
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Adjective Phrases
Given the sentence:
Ex: Masaya ang babaeng kumakain sa tindahan.
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= The woman eating in the store is happy.
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As mentioned earlier, babaeng kumakain sa tindahan is a noun phrase because, as a unit, it can replace a solitary noun. If you think about it, kumakain sa tindahan is an adjective phrase because, as a unit, it can replace a solitary adjective:
Ex: babaeng masaya
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= woman who is happy
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Replacing adjective masaya with adjective phrase kumakain sa tindahan:
Ex: babaeng kumakain sa tindahan
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= woman who is eating in the store
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Noun Phrase + Linker + Adjective Phrase = Noun Phrase that/who Adjective Phrase
The reason we use “phrase” here rather than “clause” is that a verb is not required.
Ex: babaeng nasa labas
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= woman who is outside
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Ex: babaeng may pera
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= woman who has money
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Ex: babaeng mahilig sa tsokolate
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= woman who likes chocolate
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Here is an interesting comparison:
Ex: Magluluto si Maria ng manok sa bahay ni Angel.
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= Maria will cook a chicken at Angel’s house. The sa phrase is applied to the verb, so she will actually do the cooking at Angel’s house.
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Ex: Magluluto si Maria ng manok na nasa bahay ni Angel.
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= Maria will cook a chicken that is at Angel’s house. The adjective phrase is applied to the preceding noun, so the chicken is one that is at Angel’s house.
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Sample sentences
Q1
Jessica does not want the pesos inside your shoes.
Ayaw ni Jessica ang mga piso sa loob ng sapatos mo.
Q2
They will not buy her the two basketballs under the car.
Hindi nila siya ibibili ng dalawang basketbol na nasa ilalim ng sasakyan.
Q3
When did he plant the tree outside?
Kailan niya itinanim ang puno sa labas?
Q4
Yes (resp.), the money is there, next to the light you turned on.
Opo, nandun ang pera, sa tabi ng ilaw na binuksan mo.
Q5
Do you like the sun when it is above your drink?
Gusto mo ba ang araw kapag nasa ibabaw ito ng inumin mo?
Q6
Let's show them the CR inside their room.
Ituro natin sa kanila ang CR sa loob ng kuwarto nila.
Q7
If you get me that under the bicycle, I will make you some food.
Kung ikukuha mo ako non sa ilalim ng bisikleta, igagawa kita ng pagkain.
Q8
Joe's son is at home. He is not outside.
Nasa bahay ang anak ni Joe. Wala siya sa labas.
Q9
We (excl.) search for a dog for the teacher every day next to the school.
Ihinahanap namin ng aso ang guro araw-araw sa tabi ng eskwelahan.
Q10
The cat is in the tree above the store.
Nasa puno sa ibabaw ng tindahan ang pusa.
Drills - Lesson 37