Here is a little help about the Tenses First you have to learn that Tagalog verbs have 3-4 major groups[ for the actor focus verbs] [ -um-, mag-, and m verbs..i think i forgot the other one] ...if you know these already you already know that if a verb belongs to a group it will not be found in the other group. example the word EAT= KAIN belongs to -um- verbs it means it has its own way how to form the tenses . The other verbs goes the same. Basic sentence pattern [ I recommend Victoria P. Carlo's book] verb + actor + [ ng] object + sa [places,dates]. Kumain ako ng ice cream./ I ate an ice cream. Kumain si Claire ng donut sa Dunkin Donut. / Claire ate donut in Dunkin Donut. Basically,- um- verbs are the easiest. we have infinitive form [ we can use this to instruct someone to do the action] infinitive form in -um- verbs is when you add - um- to the verb [ the same spelling in past tense but differs in meaning in usage] Kumain ka ng kanin. / You eat rice. [ i am instructing someone] Kumain kayo ng gulay. All of you , eat vegetable. [ I am instructing a group to eat by using " kayo"] past tense of -um- verb Add -um- before the verb that starts with a vowel. inom= drink, uminom= drank Add um in between the first and second letter of the verb. if a verb starts with a consonant: takbo= run , tumakbo= ran For future tense For verbs starting with vowels double the vowel inom= drink, iinom= will drink For verbs starting with consonants, double the first syllable: takbo= run, will run =tatakbo For present tense get the root verb: Takbo= run, then double the first syllable TA, it will become tatakbo then insert - um- in between the first and second syllable. the result is tUMatakbo For verbs starting with vowels: IINOM for example. we doubled the vowel of the verb [ from the word inom], then add -um - before the first letter . it will be UMiinom and yes Object focus verbs exist. another group need to be learned with different rules

let's say "KAIN" for "EAT" Here's how you it goes with the tenses (past, present, future): KUMAIN / KUMAKAIN / KAKAIN > for simple S-V or S-V-O or S-V-Adv. sentence pattern kumain siya (he has eaten) / kumain sya ng mabilis (he ate hurriedly) kumakain siya (he is eating) / " kakain sya (he is going to eat)/ " KINAIN / KINAKAIN / KAKAININ > these are used for S-V-O sentence pattern kinain nya ang mansanas (he ate the apple) kinakain nya ang mansanas (he is eating the apple) kakainin nya ang mansanas (he's going to eat the apple) ... these verbs type can also be used with inversion (where predicate comes before the subject): well, Tagalog is pretty confusing at the start... you'll get used to it with a lot of practice. good luck. :)