Here’s an exercise in sentence construction for those who are learning Tagalog/Filipino. This may also add new words to your vocabulary. The aim is to form sentences defining familial relationships. You will be given the term for the family member and the person (first, second, third, singular, or plural) of the speaker of the Tagalog sentence you will formulate. You will also be given the nouns to use to define the relationships, but you should figure out the appropriate pronouns to use to form the sentences. Start each Tagalog sentence with “Ang” followed by the familial term to be defined.
You may ONLY USE THESE NOUNS to define the relationships - babae; lalaki; ama/tatay; nanay/ina; asawa; anak; kapatid.
Examples:
Elder brother (kuya); 1<sup>st</sup> person singular => Ang kuya ko ay ang kapatid kong lalaki na matanda sa akin. (First person singular is indicated by the use of “ko”, “kong”, and “akin” pronouns.)
Grandmother (lola); 3<sup>rd</sup> person plural => (possible answers) Ang lola nila ay ang ina ng kanilang ama./Ang lola nila ay ang nanay ng kanilang ina. (Third person plural is indicated by “nila” and “kanilang”.)
Now, see how many of these you can define correctly:
<ol> <li>Aunt (tiya); 1<sup>st</sup> person singular</li> <li>Uncle (tiyo); 2<sup>nd</sup> person singular</li> <li>Cousin (pinsan); 3<sup>rd</sup> person singular</li> <li>Brother-in-law (bayaw); 1<sup>st</sup> person plural</li> <li>Sister-in-law (hipag); 2<sup>nd</sup> person plural</li> <li>Father-in-law (biyenan na/biyenang- lalaki); 1<sup>st</sup> person singular*</li> <li>Mother-in-law (biyenan na/biyenang- babae); 3<sup>rd</sup> person plural*</li> <li>Daughter-in-law (manugang na babae);3<sup>rd</sup> person singular*</li> <li>Son-in-law (manugang na lalaki); 2nd person singular*</li> <li>Grandfather (lolo); 1<sup>st</sup> person plural</li> </ol>
Your use of the pronouns in the items with asterisk (*) may have an effect on the way you word the given relation term.
In order not to make the sentences complicated, do not use “mga” in any of them.
You may want to post your answers here so that any of us (Tagalog-speakers) can correct/comment on your answers.
Have fun!
