useful questions and phrases It has been a while. thank you for those who followed and added me in their friends' list. For now, I will just share some phrases which are very useful . all you need to do is memorize /remember, no grammar points for those who hate rules of grammar. Every language is unique. There are times people can't really explain the nature of the words. Have a nice day! How much is this? Magkano ito? When is this? Kailan ito? Who is this? Sino ito? What is this? Ano ito? Why? Bakit? How many is this? Ilan ito? Where is this? Saan ito? Give me a second. Sandali lang./ Saglit lang. Go ahead. Mauna ka na. Sorry for the trouble. Pasensya na sa abala. I am very sorry. Pasensya na talaga./ Sorry na talaga. Do you like this? Gusto mo ba ito? Yes, I do. Oo, gusto ko iyan. No, I don't. Hindi ko gusto iyan. Walking through. Makikiraan po. I have a question. May tanong ako. What is it? Ano yun? Locating something, a place, a person... In Tagalog we have to versions of the question 'WHERE' Nasaan-- 'where' that we use only to locate. NO Verbs involve Where is my bag? Nasaan (where) ang (the) bag ko (my)? Where are you? Nasaan ka? Where is Manila? Nasaan ang Manila? Saan--'where' that we use to know where an action is to be done, where an action has happened or an action currently happening.--we use only with VERBS Where are you going? Saan (where) ka (you) pupunta (will go)? Where are you going to eat? Saan ka kakain (will eat)? Where have you been? Saan ka pumunta (went)? When do you work? Kailan ka nagtatrabaho? If you have more questions let me know. Professional corrections are very much appreciated.

Guide to Simple Sentence pattern: Using verbs and pronouns This entry contains few grammar points about Tagalog sentence pattern. I hope this will help the learners because I also included examples. Good Luck! Sentence pattern: Verb+ actor[ use pronouns,si, sina, ang ]+ ng[ object ] +sa[ place ] In English the actor comes first in the sentence before the verb. Let’s use this verb[ past tense of “ate”] : Kumain Kumain ako ng spaghetti sa Jollibee. Translation: I ate spaghetti in Jollibee. Kumain [ ate ] Ako [I] ng [ of, object marker] Spaghetti [object ] sa [ place marker ] Jollibee [place] Note that there are 3-4 groups of verbs [ Kumain belongs to – um – verb grouping] Try to compose your own sentences by using the following words Verbs: Uminom [ drank] Iinom [ will drink, future tense] Pronouns and names: Siya – he/she Sila / they Si Karen / Karen Sina PJ at TJ / PJ and TJ Objects: Pineapple juice Alak [ wine] Sa [ place marker] Sa restawran [ in restaurant] Sa bahay [ in the house] Again, professional corrections are very much welcome!

How to properly introduce yourself in Tagalog: Self help How to properly introduce yourself in Tagalog? Note: There are Spanish words included in most of Tagalog sentences and has replaced the old and very formal Tagalog words. Left: Tagalog Right: English Ako po si Dianne. / I am Dianne. Or Dianne ang pangalan ko. / My name is Dianne. Ang pangalan ko ay Dianne. /My name is Dianne. Nakatira ako sa Makati City. / I live at Makati City. Taga- Canada ako. / I am from Canada. Isa akong Canadian. / I am a Canadian. Nagtatrabaho ako sa Manila. /I am working in Manila. Isa akong part-time model. / I am part time model. [ I am working as a part time model.] Bente tres anyos na ako. / I am 23 yrs old. [ Or "Ako ay bente tres anyos na." / With Spanish words] [ Ako ay dalawampu’t tatlong taong gulang na./ Tagalog version] Notes: The particle " na" is already or now in English. But we don't say "I am 23 yrs old now/ already." in English. Before you can properly say your age , you need to know how to count Tagalog or Spanish numbers. Again, professional corrections are welcome.

Useful Tagalog phrases, greetings, and questions: Self study

Greetings

Magandang umaga!/ Good morning!

Magandang araw! / Good day! [ beautiful day]

Magandang hapon!/ Good afternoon!

Magandang gabi!/ Good evening!

Magandang tanghali! [ Americans don’t greet “Good noon!”] this is a greeting in the middle of the day  by Filipinos

 

Useful Tagalog questions:

Anong pangalan mo?/ What is your name?

Anong pangalan niya?/ What is his/ her name?

Ilang taon ka na?/ How old are you?

Saan ka nakatira?/ Where do you live?

Taga- saan ka?/ Where’re you from?

Anong trabaho mo? Or Anong hanap-buhay mo?/ What is your job? What is your livelihood?

Anong nasyonalidad mo?/ What is your nationality?

 

Ilan ito?/ How many is this?

Expected answer: numbers

 

Magkano ito?/ How much is this?

Expected answer: numbers/ price of the item

 

Saan ito?/ Where is this?

Expected answer:  the place /  Sa+  [ name of the place]

Note: we usually use the question “ Saan” if we have verbs in our  question

Example:

Saan tayo kakain?/ Where are we going to eat?

We answer:Sa  isang restaurant./ In a  restaurant.

It is incorrect to ask : “Nasaan tayo kakain?”

 

Nasaan ito?/  also means Where is this? [ suggested question for locating a place  when a questions doesn’t  have  verbs]

Example: Nasaan ang  Philippines?/ Where is the  Philippines?

We answer: Nasa South-East Asia.

Nasaan si Claire?/ Where is Claire?

Nasa Manila si Calire./  Claire is in Manila.

 

Kailan ito? / When is this?

Expected answer: Sa +  date, date, exact day/ month/ year

 

Sino ito?/Who is this?

Expected answer:  name of the person,  Si________  or Sina _________

 

Ano ito?/ What is this?

Expected answer: name of the object + ito   [ or another pattern is : Ito ay  bola.]

                            Example:    Bola ito.  / This is  a ball.

 

Useful phrases and others:

Salamat!/ thank you!

Maraming salamat!/ thank you very much!

Walang anuman.  / you are welcome!

Pasensya na./ also use like “ I am sorry”

Mawalang galang na.  / we rarely use this nowadays . it means  “ excuse me”

Patawarin mo ako.  / Forgive me/ Please forgive me.

Sori./ Sorry.

Sori talaga./  I am very sorry.

 

Ok ito./ This is ok./ This is good.

Ayoko nito./ I don’t like this.

Ayaw ko nito. / the same: I don’t like this.

 

Gusto ko nito. / I like this.

Gusto ko ng ___________./ I like  ____________.

Example: Gusto ko ng ice cream.   / I like ice cream.

 

Kailangan ko ng ____________. / I need __________.

Example: Kailangan ko ng kutsilyo.   / I need a knife.

 

Masarap!/ delicious! Taste good!

Hindi masarap! / awful! Taste bad!

 

<em>note: please correct any typo errors.</em>

 

maraming salamat sa inyo!

Proper use of Sa and adverbs of time

This post will benefit the Fil-Ams or Filipinos with dual citizenship especially those who are still confuse with some parts  of Tagalog grammar.
While browsing the net I found some posts by Tagalog learners using

SA+ adverb of time [ ngayon, mamaya and alike]  which I find challenging.
I don’t want to correct but I want to help them to improve their learning.On my previous entries I ‘ve shared the use of “SA” [ again, the same with English prepositions ‘in, on. at, towards, to, belonging to]

Let’s familiarize ourselves with the Tagalog adverbs of time
Tagalog     /  English translation
Ngayon                  - today
Mamaya                 - later
Bukas                    -tomorrow
Kanina                   -earlier
Kaninang umaga      - earlier this morning
Kagabi                   - last night
Buong magdamag    -the whole night
Buong araw            - the whole day
Kahapon                - yesterday
Noon                    - last [ day of the week], back then, past
                                            [specific day]
Noong isang araw    -the other day
Sa isang araw         -the day after tomorrow
Sa susunod na . .. .     [ the next  ]  [ month is buwan, year is  taon, week is linggo ]
Note : Linggo is Sunday   and linggo is week

Next, we should remember we should not use SA together with an adverb of time [grammatically incorrect]

Wrong usage:
Sa mamaya, Sa bukas, Sa ngayon  
Unless you are referring “Sa ngayon” as  “ for today” or “ for this day” [ para sa araw na ito]
Today and For today have different meanings

Observe the following sentences:These are  correct
Sa June 10, 2013        /on June 10, 2013
Sa Martes                 / on Tuesday
Sa meeting               / on the meeting
Noong Martes           /Last Tuesday
Noong Pasko            /Last Christmas
Noong 2011             / Last 2011, back on the year 2011


Useful phrases and sentences you may want to learn:
Anong petsa ngayon?            /What’s the date today?
January 5 ngayon.                    /Today is January 5.

Anong araw bukas?            / What’s the day tomorrow?
Linggo bukas.                  /Tomorrow is Sunday.

Practice translating the following:
January 6 bukas.
February sa susunod na buwan.
2014 sa susunod na taon.
Pattern :                Date/year/ day  +   [ adverb of time]


NOTE: Again, professional corrections are welcome.
Hope you will learn from this! Magandang araw sa inyo!

Filipino Phrases: some unusual expressions : weird,corny, some are funny I apologize about this entry as I couldn’t think of any proper title. My goal is to let the foreigners and the other Tagalog learners to know some unusual expressions and phrases. WARNING: your Filipino relatives or Pinoy friends might be surprise and think “ wow! He knows this word?” The following phrases might sound corny for foreigners but these are very effective with Filipino friends/ during a conversation. Additional phrases are welcome if you think you have a good share. Enjoy! When someone got promoted, won a lump sum of money, got a prize money, received bonus, when someone got a perfect test score..we say: "wow, pa-burger ka naman..." (wow, buy me a burger.. [or buy us some burger as a treat] ) “ pa-canton ka naman . . . “ (a green joke but very effective) (canton is a variety of Pancit and sound the same like that green word [ that I don’t want to share] ) “ikaw na!” (you already!.. “it is only you!” “ it is you already”) When Filipinos are surprised, shock.. [ some are from yahoo] ay! kabayo! (oh! horse!) *interjection when surprised ay! kalbo!!! (oh! bald) *interjection/expression when surprised "Pusang gala" (stray cat) *euphism of "PI" (a bad word) (your mom is a w*&re) aysus! maryosep!!! *short for Jesus (spanish pronunciation), Maria, and Jose same use with OMG aysus! Ginoo!!! (Jesus! God) (I corrected this one because Ginoo is the translation for God in Bisaya) same use with OMG In instances that we hate someone because of their too much bragging. . . . someone who want too much attention Pa-epal siya! …Masyadong ma-epal! [ as far as I know came from the word “ papel “ epal [ the other p is missing ] means paper, someone who always act like he/she knows everything, who wants to be the leader of every activity … Someone who wants to have a role on something. Papansin.. .. . [ a phrase which is bit mean .. it means that someone is like to have much/ gain attention by telling some false stories, bragging too much about his goals..] Linta.. [ leech] Sip-sip [ from the word “to sip”] we usually don’t let the other person hear this. Instances happen in office or small company, when someone is too close to the boss/manager [ of course with negative agenda]. “Linta kasi siya” “Sip- sip kasi siya” / “Because she is a leech.. that’s why she got promoted easily.”

Tagalog 101:The Difference of IKAW and KA I will attempt to explain the differences of the two for the benefit of learners IKAW, KA- You [ Personal Pronouns] Singular form Usage of IKAW -Only in the beginning of a question or sentence Example: Ikaw si Mark./ You are Mark. Ikaw ba si Mark?/ Are you Mark? Note: the word “ba” makes a sentence into a question form and expects a yes or no response. Usage of KA -Replaces the word Ikaw which is place either inside or at the last part of a question or sentence Example: Si Mark ka./ You are Mark. Si Mark ka ba?/ Are you Mark? It is up to you what you will use . As far as I know, "Ikaw si Mark" and " Si Mark ka" are grammatically correct. Again, professional corrections are very welcome. The sentences and questions below are for Tagalog learners/beginners:[Please don't spoil the answers Pinoys] Let’s try your understanding : do this on your own: Check the following if you think something is wrong 1. Si Diana ikaw. 2. Dan si ikaw. 3. Ka si Paul. 4. Sino ikaw? 5. Ka sino?

Tagalog 101: Asking the question " Sino"- "Who" and Personal Pronouns The Question Who- Sino, and Personal Pronouns To ask the question “WHO” correctly familiarize yourself with the following personal pronouns: Personal Pronouns Singular Ako- I Ikaw, ka- You [ I will post a different entry regarding how “Ikaw” and “ka” are being used] Siya- he/she Ito- it , this [ can be for persons,objects, animals] Plural Tayo – we [ listener included] Kami- we [ listener not included] Sila- They Kayo – You [ plural form] Question: Sino ? is what in English Basic Tagalog questions using “Sino” Sino ako?- Who am I? Sino ka?/ Who are you? Sino sila? / Who are they? Answers: Ako si Paul./ I am Paul. Sila sina Paul at Mark./ They are Paul and Mark. Try to translate these: Sino siya? Sinu-sino kayo?/ Sino kayo ? [ already acceptable and we are using it] Sinu-sino tayo/Sino tayo? Sino kami?/ Sinu-sino kami? Using “Sino” with “ ito / this , iyan/ that [ near] , and iyon/ that [ far]“ Sino ito?/ Sino ‘to? - Who’s this? Answer: Ito si Mark./ This is Mark. We also use this pattern , name+ ito [ Si Mark ito] . When someone ask ouridentity over the phone. Example: A: Hello! Magandang umaga! Sino ito?/ Hello! Good morning! Who’s this? B. Hello! Magandang umaga din! Si Mark ito./ Hello! Good morning too! This is Mark. Sino iyan ? /Sino ‘ yan ? - Who’s that? Answer: Iyan si Mr. Reyes./ That is Mr. Reyes. Sino iyon? / Sino ‘ yon?- Who’s that ? [ the person is far from the speaker and listener] Answer: Iyon ang tatay ko. / That is my father. We tend to double the question " Sino" to "Sinu- Sino" if we are asking a question with 2 or more persons involve. Though in English you don't repeat the word "Who". Example: "Sinu- sino sila?" we sometimes use this question . Nowadays we can use "Sino sila? " regardless of whatever rule is behind it. Answer: Sila sina Karen, Joe, at Peter. They are Karen, Joe, and Peter. NOTE: Professional corrections are very welcome.

Basic Tagalog Grammar: Understanfd Tagalog Easily: Self help

I just knew there are groups here. anyway, I can only help you through my entries because I am a  private Tagalog tutor [ live tutor, face to face]. I do offer tutoring service to those expats who are currently in our country

[ Makati and Taguig Cities, Philippines]. For those who are browsing just read the topics on my entries as they are also the same lessons I use to teach my foreign learners. Maraming salamat at Magandang araw!

 

Check my notebooks/ entries about Tagalog [ Filipino language]

I have a good reference book for the things I wrote here. But then, I am not a graduate of "Major in Filipino". Professional corrections are welcome!

NOUN MARKERS
Singular -Ang (it’s “the” in English), it is the focus marker in Tagalog
Plural -Mga- pluralizes nouns , comes before the noun
[ never at the end]
Examples:
Ang ibon -the bird
Ang mga ibon -the birds
Ang bata - the child
Ang mga bata - the children
Ang nanay -the mother
Ang mga nanay -the mothers
Ang aklat -the book
Ang mga aklat -the books

Personal Markers
si - marker use to identify a specific names [of person,
animals etc]-for singular names

sina - marker use to identify specific names of person
-for plural names
Examples:
Si Anna, Si Peter, Si Karla
Si Browny [a dog's name]
Si President Aquino, Si Secretary Cruz
Sina Patrick, Karl, at Noel

At - is “And” in English
Examples:
Kape at gatas -coffee and milk
Upuan at mesa -chair and table
Eva at Lucy -Eva and Lucy

Uses of “Sa”
Sa- similar to the English preposition ‘to’, ‘towards’, ‘in’, ‘on’ , ‘at’, ‘from’ and ‘belong’, or ‘belonging to’

For Ownership
Sa akin /mine
Sa iyo /yours
Sa kanya hers/ his

Kaninong bag ito? /Whose bag is this?
Sa akin. / Mine.

For Places
Sa kwarto/ in the bedroom
Sa kusina at/ in the kitchen

Saan ka kakain? / Where will you eat?
Sa kainan. / In the dining area.
Sa Kenny Rogers. /In Kenny Rogers.

For Cities/Towns/Barangay
Sa Makati
Sa Barangay Bel Air
Sa Houston, Texas

Saan ka pupunta? /Where are you going?
Sa Pasay City. / In Pasay city.

Sa- use to refer dates, exact day of the week, months, and year
Ex.
Sa Lunes/ on Monday
Sa Biyernes/ on Friday
Sa birthday/ kaarawan ni Paul. On Paul’s birthday.
Sa a- kwatro ng Marso [ with Spanish words]
on the 4th day of March or
Sa ika-apat na araw ng Marso [ Tagalog way]

We also use SA for future events only. NOT past nor events currently happening

Specific events
Sa kasal ko/ on my wedding
Sa kaarawan ni Juan /on Juan’s birthday
Sa araw ng binyag/ on the day of baptism/on the baptismal day\
Sa Pasko/ on Christmas