Tagalog | Affixes
Changing a word based on it's affix.
Tense
Um affix and doubled syllable rules.
Some of this information I have taken from here.
Also, here's a link to a huge list of verbs and their proper tense affixes:
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/tagalog_verbs.htm
Past Tense
If the word starts with a consonant you, you split the first consonant and vowel with -um-. If the root word starts with a vowel you prefix it with -um-.
Future Tense
You double up the first syllable.
Present Tense
It's a combination of past and future tense to get the present tense. See chart below:
root word | past | future | present |
---|---|---|---|
kain | kumakin | kakain | kumakain |
inom | uminom | iinom | umiinom |
Mag vs Nag
This should be pretty easy, but mag/nag has other implementations outside of tense. Like turning a noun into a verb. In the sense of tense though: mag is future, nag is present.
root word | future | present |
---|---|---|
kain | mag-kain | nag-kain |
unon | mag-iinom | nag-iinom |
The different uses between using mag/nag and um is kinda wishy-washy. I seem to find different answer as to which is proper. In the end, they both kinda do the same thing, but using mag/nag can sometimes change the word's meaning altogether. This thread had a pretty good breakdown though.
Ma- and Pa-
Changing a noun into an adjective/adverb/verb. Information summarized from this post here.
Ma
When attached to a noun, it changes the noun into an adjective/verb. Then in some cases provide a tense to a verb making it infinitive or future tense. See examples below.
Root word | English | Adjective-Verb | English |
---|---|---|---|
Tulog | Sleep | Matutulog ka | Go to sleep |
ligo | Bath | maligo ka | Go take a bath |
ganda | beauty | maganda | beautiful (full of beauty) |
tabat | fat | matabat | fatso (full of fat) |
lakas | strength | malakas | strong |
Pa
Pa is used to politely ask to perform an action. Information summarized from here.
Root | Example | English |
---|---|---|
abot | Paabot ng suka | Kindly hand me over the vinegar |
lagay | Palagay diyan | Kindly put it there. |
Pa can also be used as still
or yet
when followed up by an action.
Example | English |
---|---|
nagluluto pa ako | I'm still cooking |
merong pa | There's still some (more) |