Verb Conjugation

Introduction

Verb conjugation in Tagalog refers to the systematic process of combining focus affixes with aspect markers to create complete verb forms. Unlike English conjugation that primarily changes verb forms based on subject and tense, Tagalog conjugation produces forms that encode both focus (which participant is emphasized) and aspect (completion status). Mastering these patterns enables accurate verb production for any context.

Basic Conjugation Procedure

Step 1: Identify the Root Word

Every Tagalog verb is built from a root word, which carries the basic meaning.

Examples:

• kain — eat
• sulat — write
• luto — cook
• bili — buy
• linis — clean

Step 2: Select the Focus

Determine which participant should be the topic (marked with ang or si).

Focus options:

• Actor focus — emphasizes the doer
• Patient focus — emphasizes the object
• Locative focus — emphasizes the place
• Benefactive focus — emphasizes the beneficiary
• Instrumental focus — emphasizes the tool

Step 3: Apply the Focus Affix

Add the appropriate affix for the chosen focus.

Focus	Common Affixes
Actor	-um-, mag-, ma-, mang-
Patient	-in, i-
Locative	-an, pag-...-an
Benefactive	ipag-, i-
Instrumental	ipang-, pang-

Step 4: Apply Aspect Marking

Add the appropriate aspect markers through reduplication or affix changes.

Aspect	Typical Marking
Perfective	Nasal changes (mag- → nag-), infix -in-
Imperfective	First CV syllable reduplication
Contemplative	Base affix with specific reduplication

Actor Focus Conjugation (-um-)

Pattern Rules

1. Perfective: Insert -um- after the first consonant
2. Imperfective: Insert -um- + reduplicate first CV after affix
3. Contemplative: Reduplicate first CV of root only

Examples

Root: kain (eat)

1. Identify first consonant: k
2. Insert -um-: k + um + ain → kumain
3. Reduplicate for imperfective: ku + m + kain → kumakain
4. Reduplicate root for contemplative: ka + kain → kakain

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	kumain	Kumain si Ana ng tinapay.	Ana ate bread.
Imperfective	kumakain	Kumakain si Ana ng tinapay.	Ana is eating bread.
Contemplative	kakain	Kakain si Ana ng tinapay.	Ana will eat bread.

Root: sulat (write)

1. First consonant: s
2. Insert -um-: s + um + ulat → sumulat
3. Imperfective: su + m + sulat → sumusulat
4. Contemplative: su + sulat → susulat

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	sumulat	Sumulat ang bata ng liham.	The child wrote a letter.
Imperfective	sumusulat	Sumusulat ang bata ng liham.	The child is writing a letter.
Contemplative	susulat	Susulat ang bata ng liham.	The child will write a letter.

Root: bili (buy)

1. First consonant: b
2. Insert -um-: b + um + ili → bumili
3. Imperfective: bu + m + bili → bumibili
4. Contemplative: bi + bili → bibili

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	bumili	Bumili si Jose ng libro.	Jose bought a book.
Imperfective	bumibili	Bumibili si Jose ng libro.	Jose is buying a book.
Contemplative	bibili	Bibili si Jose ng libro.	Jose will buy a book.

Actor Focus Conjugation (mag-)

Pattern Rules

1. Perfective: Change mag- to nag-
2. Imperfective: Use nag- + reduplicate first CV of root
3. Contemplative: Keep mag- + reduplicate first CV of root

Examples

Root: luto (cook)

1. Perfective: nag + luto → nagluto
2. Imperfective: nag + lu + luto → nagluluto
3. Contemplative: mag + lu + luto → magluluto

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	nagluto	Nagluto si Maria ng adobo.	Maria cooked adobo.
Imperfective	nagluluto	Nagluluto si Maria ng adobo.	Maria is cooking adobo.
Contemplative	magluluto	Magluluto si Maria ng adobo.	Maria will cook adobo.

Root: linis (clean)

1. Perfective: nag + linis → naglinis
2. Imperfective: nag + li + linis → naglilinis
3. Contemplative: mag + li + linis → maglilinis

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	naglinis	Naglinis ang bata ng kwarto.	The child cleaned the room.
Imperfective	naglilinis	Naglilinis ang bata ng kwarto.	The child is cleaning the room.
Contemplative	maglilinis	Maglilinis ang bata ng kwarto.	The child will clean the room.

Root: trabaho (work)

1. Perfective: nag + trabaho → nagtrabaho
2. Imperfective: nag + tra + trabaho → nagtatrabaho
3. Contemplative: mag + tra + trabaho → magtatrabaho

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	nagtrabaho	Nagtrabaho siya sa opisina.	He/She worked at the office.
Imperfective	nagtatrabaho	Nagtatrabaho siya sa opisina.	He/She is working at the office.
Contemplative	magtatrabaho	Magtatrabaho siya sa opisina.	He/She will work at the office.

Patient Focus Conjugation (-in)

Pattern Rules

1. Perfective: Insert -in- after first consonant (or add -in as suffix)
2. Imperfective: Use perfective form + reduplicate first CV of root
3. Contemplative: Reduplicate first CV of root + add -in suffix

Examples

Root: kain (eat)

1. Perfective: k + in + ain → kinain
2. Imperfective: Reduplicate first syllable (ka) → kakain → Infix -in- → k(in)akain
3. Contemplative: Reduplicate first syllable (ka) → kakain → Suffix -in → kakainin

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	kinain	Kinain ni Ana ang tinapay.	The bread was eaten by Ana.
Imperfective	kinakain	Kinakain ni Ana ang tinapay.	The bread is being eaten by Ana.
Contemplative	kakainin	Kakainin ni Ana ang tinapay.	The bread will be eaten by Ana.

Root: sulat (write)

1. Perfective: s + in + ulat → sinulat
2. Imperfective: Reduplicate first syllable (su) → susulat → Infix -in- → s(in)usulat
3. Contemplative: Reduplicate first syllable (su) → susulat → Suffix -in → susulatin

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	sinulat	Sinulat ni Pedro ang liham.	The letter was written by Pedro.
Imperfective	sinusulat	Sinusulat ni Pedro ang liham.	The letter is being written by Pedro.
Contemplative	susulatin	Susulatin ni Pedro ang liham.	The letter will be written by Pedro.

Root: bili (buy)

1. Perfective: b + in + ili → binili
2. Imperfective: Reduplicate first syllable (bi) → bibili → Infix -in- → b(in)ibili
3. Contemplative: Reduplicate first syllable (bi) → bibili → Suffix -hin → bibilhin

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	binili	Binili niya ang libro.	The book was bought by him/her.
Imperfective	binibili	Binibili niya ang libro.	The book is being bought by him/her.
Contemplative	bibilhin	Bibilhin niya ang libro.	The book will be bought by him/her.

Locative Focus Conjugation (-an)

Pattern Rules

1. Perfective: Add ni- prefix + root + -an suffix
2. Imperfective: ni- + reduplicate first CV + root + -an
3. Contemplative: Reduplicate first CV + root + -an

Examples

Root: luto (cook)

1. Perfective: ni + luto + an → nilutuan
2. Imperfective: ni + lu + luto + an → nilulutuan
3. Contemplative: lu + luto + an → lulutuan

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	nilutuan	Nilutuan ni Maria ang kalan.	The stove was cooked on by Maria.
Imperfective	nilulutuan	Nilulutuan ni Maria ang kalan.	The stove is being cooked on by Maria.
Contemplative	lulutuan	Lulutuan ni Maria ang kalan.	The stove will be cooked on by Maria.

Root: sulat (write)

1. Perfective: Root + -an → sulatan → Infix -in- → s(in)ulatan
2. Imperfective: Take perfective → sinulatan → Reduplicate first syllable of root (su) → sinusulatan
3. Contemplative: Root + -an → sulatan → Reduplicate first syllable of root (su) → susulatan

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	sinulatan	Sinulatan ng bata ang papel.	The paper was written on by the child.
Imperfective	sinusulatan	Sinusulatan ng bata ang papel.	The paper is being written on by the child.
Contemplative	susulatan	Susulatan ng bata ang papel.	The paper will be written on by the child.

Benefactive Focus Conjugation (ipag-)

Pattern Rules

1. Perfective: Change ipag- to ipinag-
2. Imperfective: ipinag- + reduplicate first CV of root
3. Contemplative: ipag- + reduplicate first CV of root

Examples

Root: luto (cook)

1. Perfective: ipinag + luto → ipinagluto
2. Imperfective: ipinag + lu + luto → ipinagluluto
3. Contemplative: ipag + lu + luto → ipagluluto

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	ipinagluto	Ipinagluto ni Maria ang anak.	The child was cooked for by Maria.
Imperfective	ipinagluluto	Ipinagluluto ni Maria ang anak.	The child is being cooked for by Maria.
Contemplative	ipagluluto	Ipagluluto ni Maria ang anak.	The child will be cooked for by Maria.

Root: bili (buy)

1. Perfective: ipinag + bili → ipinagbili
2. Imperfective: ipinag + bi + bili → ipinagbibili
3. Contemplative: ipag + bi + bili → ipagbibili

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	ipinagbili	Ipinagbili niya ang kotse.	He/She sold the car.
Imperfective	ipinagbibili	Ipinagbibili niya ang kotse.	He/She is selling the car.
Contemplative	ipagbibili	Ipagbibili niya ang kotse.	He/She will sell the car.

Instrumental Focus Conjugation (ipang-)

Pattern Rules

1. Perfective: Change ipang- to ipinang-
2. Imperfective: ipinang- + reduplicate (with phonological changes)
3. Contemplative: ipang- + reduplicate (with phonological changes)

Phonological Changes

ipang- undergoes assimilation: ipam- before p/b, ipan- before t/d, ipang- elsewhere

Examples

Root: sulat (write)

1. Perfective: ipinang + sulat → ipinangsulat
2. Imperfective: ipinang + su + sulat → ipinangsusulat
3. Contemplative: ipang + su + sulat → ipangsusulat

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	ipinangsulat	Ipinangsulat niya ang lapis.	The pencil was used to write by him/her.
Imperfective	ipinangsusulat	Ipinangsusulat niya ang lapis.	The pencil is being used to write by him/her.
Contemplative	ipangsusulat	Ipangsusulat niya ang lapis.	The pencil will be used to write by him/her.

Root: bili (buy)

1. Perfective: ipam + bili → ipinambili (p→m before b)
2. Imperfective: ipinam + bi + bili → ipinambibili
3. Contemplative: ipam + bi + bili → ipambibili

Aspect	Form	Example Sentence	English
Perfective	ipinambili	Ipinambili niya ang pera.	The money was used to buy by him/her.
Imperfective	ipinambibili	Ipinambibili niya ang pera.	The money is being used to buy by him/her.
Contemplative	ipambibili	Ipambibili niya ang pera.	The money will be used to buy by him/her.

Complete Conjugation List

For a comprehensive list of common verbs conjugated in all focus types and aspects, please refer to the Verb List.

Special Cases and Irregularities

Vowel-Initial Roots

For roots beginning with a vowel, -um- may cause phonological changes.

Example: alis (leave)

• Perfective: umalis (left)
• Imperfective: umaalis (is leaving)
• Contemplative: aalis (will leave)

Roots with Glottal Stops

Glottal stops affect affix placement.

Example: punta (go)

• Actor focus perfective: pumunta (went)
• Actor focus imperfective: pumupunta (is going)
• Actor focus contemplative: pupunta (will go)

CVC Root Pattern

Roots with consonant-vowel-consonant structure may show variations.

Example: dating (arrive)

• Perfective: dumating (arrived)
• Imperfective: dumarating (is arriving)
• Contemplative: darating (will arrive — drops du-)

Practice Conjugations

Try conjugating these roots in actor focus (-um-) and patient focus (-in):

1. takbo (run)
2. tulog (sleep)
3. basa (read)
4. gawa (make)
5. dala (bring)

Conjugation Checklist

When conjugating a Tagalog verb:

• [ ] Identify the root word
• [ ] Select the appropriate focus
• [ ] Choose the correct focus affix
• [ ] Determine the aspect needed
• [ ] Apply reduplication rules
• [ ] Check for phonological changes
• [ ] Verify the particle usage (ang, ng, sa)

See Also

• Affixes
• Aspect
• Focus System
• Verb List