When it comes to learning any new language, one of the trickiest parts of the master’s is its critical structural points. If you want to learn Tagalog grammar and speak like a pro, popular Tagalog verbs or pandiwa should be your top priority, as they can significantly change the meaning of any expression. With this being said, we will walk you through the best example sentences, rules, and forms and the most comprehensive explanations of how it is used and formed.
If there is one particular language in Asia that seems to be much easier to tackle, then that would be Tagalog. You see, its current writing system is one of the reasons why it is such a breeze to learn, as it utilizes the classic Western Roman style and only adds two additional letters. Also, it is important to note that Tagalog’s vocabulary is heavily influenced by Spanish to the point that some of the words are actively used even in today’s context. To make matters more exciting, the Filipino people have adopted English foreign words resulting in Taglish.
While the basic words are easy to write and memorize, the Tagalog language can be quite complicated when it comes to grammar rules. Instead of using the classic Subject-Verb-Object rule in English, the structure in the Filipino language is actually Verb-Subject-Object. Below are some examples using this order:
- Kinain niya ang Sisig (He/she ate the Sisig)
- Maglalakad siya pauwi mula dito (He/She will walk her way from this point)
- Siya ang nag basa nitong libro (It was him/her who read this book)
- Nakikinig siya sa paborito niyang kanta (He/She is listening to his/her favorite song)
- Kumain ka na ba? (Have you eaten?)
- Nagsasalita siya sa harap (He/She is speaking in front)
As you can see from the examples above, learning verbs in Tagalog is very important as it will help in the meaning-building and construction of grammatically correct expressions. After all, we cannot just use mere words and ready-made expressions, right? In order to make sense and provide a clearer picture of what you want to say, you have to go all out and take the rules to heart.
Tagalog Verb Groups
Tagalog verbs are indeed overwhelming for total beginners. To help you get started on how you can become a pro, you must first learn about the affixes. Technically, there are four particular types of these in English prefixes (in front of the verb), suffixes (last part of the verb), circumfixes (placed in front and after the verb), and infixes (inside the verb). These are essential in the sense that it reflects the completeness of a particular action. In the Tagalog language, this includes affixes such as:
- Mag verbs (actor-focused)
- Ma verbs (actor-focused)
- Um verbs (actor-focused)
- In verbs (object-focused)
- I verbs (object-focused)
But wait, perhaps you are wondering about the equivalent meaning of those, right? To answer your worries, check out the example table below to understand the complex conjugation process. Take note of the sentence examples, too, as you can use them in interactions.
| Root Verb | Future Tense | Present Tense | Past Tense | Imperative |
| lakad (walk) | maglalakad | naglalakad | naglakad | maglakad |
| nood (watch) | manonood | nanonood | nanood | manood |
| kain (eat) | kakain | kumakain | kumain | Kainin |
| sabi (say) | sasabihin | sinasabi | sinabi | sabihin |
| inom (to drink) | iinumin | iniinom | ininom | inumin |
See how those sentences are formed? As someone just learning, we understand this can be quite challenging. In order to learn Tagalog quickly and use proper conjugation in the future, we recommend that you practice and memorize the most used verbs first.
The Popular Tagalog Verbs
To quickly form expressions, read on and memorize the popular Tagalog verb forms below and use them along with other Filipino nouns and adjectives.
| Tagalog | English | Example Sentence | Translation |
| Ilagay | To place | Ilagay mo ang pagkain sa ref. | Put the food inside the refrigerator. |
| Kumuha | To get | Kumuha ka ng pera sa wallet ko. | Get money from my wallet. |
| Hanapin | To find | Hanapin mo ang papeles sa bahay. | Find the documents at home. |
| Makinig | To listen | Makinig ka sana sa mga sinasabi ko sa’yo. | Please listen to what I am saying to you. |
| Isara | To close | Isara mo ang pinto pag labas mo. | Close the door as you leave. |
| Buksan | To open | Buksan mo ang libro sa ika limang pahina. | Open your book to page five. |
| Lumakad | To walk | Nagsimula na siyang lumakad pauwi. | He started walking home. |
| Magsulat | To write | Magsulat na tayo ng libro! | Let’s write/author a book! |
| Magmahal | To love | Magmahal ka para malaman mo ang sakit. | Love someone and you will know how much it hurts. |
| Tumayo | To rise | Tumayo ka na dyan sa kama. | You have to get up from the bed. |
| Humiga | To lay down | Humiga na si Mark Kevin dahil sa pagod. | Mark Kevin went to bed tired. |
| Magisip | To think | Magisip ka sana bago ka magdesisyon. | Think before you make a decision. |
| Tumakbo | To run | Tumakbo na siya palayo dahil sa takot. | He runs away because of fear. |
| Matulog | To sleep | Matulog ka na dahil alam kong pagod ka. | You should sleep because you are tired. |
Now that we have expanded your knowledge of this Tagalog language rule on popular Tagalog verbs and conjugation structure, the next thing that you can do is just practice it and answer challenging quizzes about it. After all, learning can only be supported when you have a proper learning plan for yourself. If you are interested to know about other topics such as the infinitive, consonant, other language verb root, and the critical tense form (past, present, future case) in Tagalog, then we highly recommend that you check out our other language tips and posts only here at the Ling App.
From this website, you can also directly challenge yourself by learning using its web-based platform. Who knows, using this can literally turn you into a master Tagalog speaker! Additionally, if you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it on social media to reach other language enthusiasts interested in taking fun and free course, lessons, and tips on this language.
Learning Tagalog And Sound Like A Real Filipino Today!
The future of any language depends on the number of interested speakers. There is no rule that states that language can exist for a long time, and this is what makes the Ling App interesting. This application guarantees preservation as it provides anyone who is interested to learn over 60+ languages through its platform. From here, you can take advantage of premium learning content even, apart from learning Tagalog, from the basic ones to the most complex points in the language. It is one of the pioneering applications that offers a fully interactive chatbot and immersive to watch animation for quizzes.
Even better, Ling app is available on Google Play and Apple Store, and you can access it no matter what gadget you have! Learn words, phrases, complete sentence patterns, and the most native slang in an instant with its comprehensive (and regularly updated) list that is checked by linguists and native speakers. So, what are you waiting for? Download it today!
