The word aral means “study.” But in Tagalog, it doesn’t just stop there. With a few tweaks, you get nag-aral – studied, nag-aaral – studying, and mag-aaral – will study.
There are even words like kain – eat that become kumain – ate, kumakain – eating, and kakain – will eat. Confusing, right? It doesn’t have to be. This is how Tagalog conjugation works.
You don’t use helping words or endings to change verbs in Tagalog. You add affixes and repeating syllables. This guide will show you how Tagalog verbs are conjugated and help you spot patterns that make everything easier.
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What Is Tagalog Conjugation?
Tagalog conjugation is known as pagbanghay ng pandiwa. It combines pag – process and banghay – pattern, linked by ng (pronounced like the -ng in “sing”) to the verb or pandiwa.
In short, pagbanghay ng pandiwa translates to “patterning of the verb” or “verb conjugation.” It refers to the process of forming verbs into different aspects and focuses, not tenses.
What Makes Verb Conjugations In Tagalog Unique?
Tagalog grammar doesn’t rely on fixed tenses like English does. Instead, verbs change based on two factors, depending on what the speaker wants to highlight in the sentence.
1. Tagalog Has Verb Aspects
Verb aspects, or aspekto ng pandiwa, refer to the progress of an action. They show how an action unfolds over time, communicating when something happened and how it was completed.
There are three main verb aspects in Tagalog. Let’s take a look at them.
Completed (Past) Aspect – Perpektibo
The perpektibong aspekto (completed aspect) in Tagalog describes an action that is done or has already been finished.
For example:
- He/She read a book. – Nagbasa siya ng libro.
This sentence shows that the action (reading) is already completed in the past.
Progressive (Present/Ongoing/Incomplete) Aspect – Imperpektibo
Imperpektibong aspekto (progressive aspect) refers to an action that is either repeating, currently ongoing, or still happening.
Example:
- He/She is reading a book. – Nagbabasa siya ng libro.
Now, the sentence shows that the action (reading) is still in progress, or ongoing.
Contemplative (Future/Intent) Aspect – Kontemplatibo
Kontemplatibong aspekto (contemplated aspect) describes an action that hasn’t started yet. It can either be planned or expected.
Example:
- He/She will read a book. – Magbabasa siya ng libro.
In this sentence, the actor (he/she) hasn’t started the action (reading), but it is expected to happen.
By following a specific pattern of affixation and syllable reduplication (repeating the whole word or part of it), the meaning of the verb is changed. This makes it easier to tell if an action has happened, is happening, or will happen.
2. Tagalog Verbs Change According To Focus
Verb focus, or pokus ng pandiwa, is similar to the active vs passive voice in English. It tells us whether the subject (actor) or the object is the one emphasized.
There are two types of focus in Tagalog:
- Actor Focus (AF) – This focus highlights the actor or the doer of the action
- Object Focus (OF) – This focus highlights the object affected by the action
Example:
- Sumulat ang bata ng liham. (The child wrote the letter.) – The actor (child or bata) is the focus.
- Sinulat ng bata ang liham. (The letter was written by the child.) – The object (letter or liham) is the focus.
In the first sentence, the focus is on the actor (child or bata). But in the second sentence, the focus is now on the object (letter or liham), the thing acted upon by the child.
Tagalog Verb Groups And Their Conjugation Patterns
Tagalog conjugation is one of the challenging topics to study. But if you group the verbs by their affixes and focus, you will better understand the patterns in forming them.
Actor Focus Affixes For Tagalog Verbs
Three Tagalog affixes (panlapi) are considered actor focus verbs: MAG-, MA-, and UM-. They are called as such because the emphasis is placed on the actor (doer of the action).
The MAG- Verbs
The most common verbs used in Tagalog fall under the MAG- group of verbs. They are called as such because they start with the prefix (unlapi) MAG-.
You use MAG- to create the future/contemplated and imperative (verbs for commanding or ordering someone to do an action) verb forms.
To conjugate MAG- verbs, follow this pattern:
- Future/Contemplative: mag + first syllable of the root verb + full root verb
- Present/Progressive: nag + first syllable of the root verb + full root verb
- Past/Completed: nag + full root verb
- Imperative: mag + full root verb
Quick Tips:
- Future and present aspects: Take the root verb first. Then identify if the root verb starts with a consonant or a vowel. If it starts with a consonant, repeat the whole first syllable. But if it starts with a vowel, repeat only the vowel.
- Past and imperative aspects: Attach the prefix nag-/mag– to the full root verb without repeating the first syllable. Add a hyphen (gitling) before connecting the root verb if its first syllable starts with a vowel.
There are plenty of MAG- verbs in Tagalog, but here are the ones you’ll commonly use in conversations.
| English Verb | Tagalog Root Verb | Future/Contemplative | Present/Progressive | Past/Completed | Imperative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| study | aral | mag-aaral (will study) | nag-aaral (studying) | nag-aral (studied) | mag-aral (study) |
| read | basa | magbabasa (will read) | nagbabasa (reading) | nagbasa (read) | magbasa (read) |
| write | sulat | magsusulat (will write) | nagsusulat (writing) | nagsulat (wrote) | magsulat (write) |
| play | laro | maglalaro (will play) | naglalaro (playing) | naglaro (played) | maglaro (play) |
| cook | luto | magluluto (will cook) | nagluluto (cooking) | nagluto (cooked) | magluto (cook) |
Other common MAG- verbs include:
- Dance – sayaw
- Wash – hugas
- Clean – linis
- Walk – lakad
- Talk/Speak – salita
The MA- Verbs
MA- verbs are similar to MAG- verbs in that they follow the same conjugation pattern.
- Future/Contemplative: ma + first syllable of the root verb + full root verb
- Present/Progressive: na + first syllable of the root verb + full root verb
- Past/Completed: na + full root verb
- Imperative: ma + full root verb
Here’s a table of the commonly used MA- verbs in Tagalog conversations.
| English Verb | Tagalog Root Verb | Future/Contemplative | Present/Progressive | Past/Completed | Imperative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep | tulog | matutulog (will sleep) | natutulog (sleeping) | natulog (slept) | matulog (sleep) |
| Listen | kinig | makikinig (will listen) | nakikinig (listening) | nakinig (listened) | makinig (listen) |
| Bathe | ligo | maliligo (will bathe) | naliligo (bathing) | naligo (bathed) | maligo (take a bath) |
| Watch | nood | manonood (will watch) | nanonood (watching) | nanood (watched) | manood (watch) |
| Stroll | pasyal | mamamasyal (will stroll) | namamasyal (strolling) | namasyal (strolled) | mamasyal (stroll) |
Notice that for the Tagalog verb pasyal, /p/ becomes /m/ when conjugating it. This allows the verb to naturally blend with the nasal prefixes ma- and na-.
The UM- Verbs
UM- verbs are called such because the verb conjugations are formed by adding the infix (gitlapi) -um-. However, their conjugation patterns aren’t as straightforward as MAG- and MA- verbs.
- Future/Contemplative: first syllable (root verb) + full root verb
- Present/Progressive: first consonant (root verb) + um + first vowel (root verb) + full root verb
- Past/Completed and Imperative: first consonant (root verb) + um + first vowel (root verb) + second syllable (root verb)
| English | Tagalog Root Verb | Future/Contemplative | Present/Progressive | Past/Completed | Imperative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eat | kain | kakain (will eat) | kumakain (eating) | kumain (ate) | kumain (eat) |
| Laugh | tawa | tatawa (will laugh) | tumatawa (laughing) | tumawa (laughed) | tumawa (laugh) |
| Run | takbo | tatakbo (will run) | tumatakbo (running) | tumakbo (ran) | tumakbo (run) |
| Choose | pili | pipili (will choose) | pumipili (choosing) | pumili (chose) | pumili (choose) |
You’ll notice that um- is not used in the future/contemplative aspect.
Let’s use kain (eat) as an example. To form its future verb aspect, you only repeat the first syllable.
- kakain (will eat) = ka (first syllable) + kain (root verb)
But for verbs whose first syllables end in a consonant, you only repeat the first two letters instead of the whole syllable. One example of that verb is lundag (jump).
- First syllable of the root verb: lun- (it ends in “n,” a consonant)
- lulundag (will jump) = lu- (first 2 letters of the first syllable) + lundag (root verb)
For the present/ongoing aspect, add um- as an infix between the first consonant and the first vowel of the root verb.
- kumakain (eating) = k (first consonant) + um + a (first vowel) + kain (root verb)
For the past/completed and imperative aspects, insert -um- between the first consonant and the first vowel of the root verb. Then attach the second syllable.
- kumain (ate) = k (first consonant) + um + a (first vowel) + in (second syllable)
Object Focus Affixes For Tagalog Verbs
Tagalog also has three affixes that form object focus verbs: IN-, I- and -AN. This guide covers the two most common, IN- and I-. They are called object focus verbs because the emphasis is placed on the object (the one affected by the action) rather than the actor.
The IN- Verbs
Unlike the other verb groups, these verbs are formed by adding in- either as an infix or as a suffix. Take a look at the examples below:
| English Verb | Tagalog Root Verb | Future/Contemplative | Present/Progressive | Past/Completed | Imperative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eat | kain | kakainin (will be eaten) | kinakain (is being eaten) | kinain (was eaten) | kainin (eat) |
| Call | tawag | tatawagin (will be called) | tinatawag (is being called) | tinawag (was called) | tawagin (call) |
| Say | sabi | sasabihin (will be said) | sinasabi (is being said) | sinabi (was said) | sabihin (say) |
| Drink | inom | iinumin (will be drunk) | iniinom (is being drunk) | ininom (was drunk) | inumin (drink) |
Conjugating the IN- verbs is not as complicated as you think.
To form the future aspect, you repeat the first syllable of the root verb and then add -in as a suffix after the root verb.
- kakainin (will be eaten) = ka (first syllable) + kain (root verb) + in
But for those whose root verb ends in a vowel, -in becomes -hin. The “h” here is a buffer between the two vowel sounds so they don’t sound awkward when pronounced.
- sasabihin (will say) = sa (first syllable) + sabi (root verb) + hin
To form the present/progressive aspect of in- verbs, follow these steps:
- Get the future aspect of the root verb.
- Put in between the first consonant and the first vowel of the root verb.
- Remove the suffix -in.
- Add the full root verb.
For example:
- winawalis (sweeping) = w (first consonant) + in + a (first vowel) + walis (root verb)
Forming the past and imperative aspects of in- verbs is more straightforward.
- Past/Completed: first consonant + in + first vowel + rest of the root verb
- Imperative: full root verb + in (in some cases, -hin if the root verb ends in a vowel)
But if the verb starts with a vowel like init or inom, add in– as a prefix when forming its past and present aspects.
- ininit (heated/warmed up) = in + init (root verb)
- iniinit (heating/warming up) = in + i (first syllable) + init (root verb)
The I- Verbs
Most I- verbs are object focus verbs. But some can act as MAG- verbs when the actor is the focus of the sentence. But to make things simpler, let’s leave it at object focus I- verbs.
To form the different aspects of the I- verbs, follow this pattern:
- Future/Contemplative: i- + first syllable of the root verb + full root verb
- Present/Progressive: i- + first consonant (root verb) + in + first vowel (root verb) + full root verb
- Past/Completed: i- + first consonant (root verb) + in + first vowel (root verb) + rest of the root verb
- Imperative: i- + full root verb
| English Verb | Tagalog Root Verb | Future/Contemplative | Present/Progressive | Past/Completed | Imperative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Write | sulat | isusulat (will be written) | isinusulat (being written) | isinulat (was written) | isulat (write) |
| Add | sama | isasama (will be added) | isinasama (being added) | isinama (was added) | isama (add) |
Common Tagalog Verbs In English With Meaning
Here are all the Tagalog root verbs from this guide with their English meaning, so you can find a verb quickly before you conjugate it.
| English Verb | Tagalog Root Verb |
|---|---|
| Study | aral |
| Read | basa |
| Write | sulat |
| Play | laro |
| Cook | luto |
| Sleep | tulog |
| Listen | kinig |
| Bathe | ligo |
| Watch | nood |
| Stroll | pasyal |
| Eat | kain |
| Laugh | tawa |
| Run | takbo |
| Choose | pili |
| Call | tawag |
| Say | sabi |
| Drink | inom |
| Add | sama |
How Do You Say Conjugation In Tagalog?
Conjugation in Tagalog is known as pagbanghay ng pandiwa. It comes from the words pag- (process) and banghay (pattern), translating to “process of patterning.” Ng (pronounced like the -ng in “sing”) acts as a linker to the pandiwa (verb).
When put together, pagbanghay ng pandiwa means “verb conjugation” or forming verbs into different aspects or focuses.
Pro Tips To Master Tagalog Conjugation
- Identify the root verb and syllabicate it. Knowing the most basic form of the verbs is the foundation for understanding where you will place the affixes (panlapi) when forming the verb aspects. Syllabicating (pagpapantig) or breaking the root verb into syllables is helpful since most Tagalog verbs involve repeating the first syllable of the root verb. This makes Tagalog conjugation more predictable.
- Understand the pattern. Don’t just memorize every verb; take time to understand things. Learn the basic rules of aspect and how verb affixes and reduplication change depending on the focus. Once the system clicks in, working with new verbs will be much easier.
- Create your Tagalog conjugation cheat sheet. Learning Tagalog isn’t an exam, so you can use a cheat sheet to guide you. List the root words (luto, sulat, kain) in a verb chart first, and then add their conjugated forms. You’ll soon notice patterns and remember them naturally.
- Tune in to Filipino content. Your ears are powerful learning tools! Tuning in to Tagalog dramas, podcasts, songs, or vlogs will help you pay more attention to how the verbs change depending on the situation.
- Practice a little every day with Ling. Bite-sized, gamified lessons with native speaker audio, mini-games and review help you hear and use Tagalog regularly, which is how verb patterns start to stick.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tagalog Verb Conjugations
Does Tagalog Have Conjugations?
Tagalog has verb conjugations but they work differently compared to English. For one, Tagalog uses verb aspects to show the status of an action—completed (perpektibo), ongoing (imperpektibo), or contemplative (kontemplatibo). Second, Tagalog conjugations involve adding affixes (panlapi) and sometimes reduplication (repeating syllables) to show these aspects.
Is It Okay To Just Use The Root Verb In A Sentence?
You may understand root words like sulat (write) and aral (study) in informal or casual Tagalog, but they are not considered grammatically complete. Verb conjugations show the time and action more clearly. So it’s better to use their correct form, like sumulat (wrote) or nag-aral (studied).
How Do I Know Which Affix To Use For A Tagalog Verb?
Knowing which affix (panlapi) to use for a Tagalog verb depends on the focus (object or actor), the aspect, and the root word. Object focus verbs use IN-, I-, and -AN. Actor focus verbs use the MAG-, -UM-, and MA- affixes. However, you’ll get to recognize the affix that best fits the context through constant exposure and practice.
How Do Tagalog Tenses Differ From Aspects?
Tagalog doesn’t use tenses like the English language. It uses aspects to show the completion status of a particular action. This system better describes the state of the action compared to when it happened.
What Should You Learn After Tagalog Conjugation?
Tagalog conjugation can feel intimidating at first, but you only need to understand aspect and focus to spot the affixation patterns. From here, move on to Tagalog sentences and Tagalog conjunctions. Don’t worry about making mistakes: the more you practice, the more natural conjugation will feel.
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