Grammar Cheat Sheet

Basic Sentence Structure

Standard Word Order

The most common sentence pattern is Verb-Subject-Object (VSO), though variations exist based on focus and emphasis.

Pattern	Structure	Example	English
VSO (Actor Focus)	Verb + Subject + Object	Kumain si Maria ng mansanas.	Maria ate apples.
VOS (Object Focus)	Verb + Object + Subject	Kinain ni Maria ang mansanas.	The apples were eaten by Maria.
SVO (Inverted)	Subject + Verb + Object	Si Maria ay kumain ng mansanas.	Maria ate apples.

Marker Particles

Case Markers

Marker	Function	Used With	Example
ang	Topic marker (common noun)	Common nouns	ang bahay (the house)
si	Topic marker (proper noun)	Personal names	si Ana (Ana)
ng	Non-topic marker (common noun)	Common nouns	ng libro (a book/of the book)
ni	Non-topic marker (proper noun)	Personal names	ni Pedro (Pedro/of Pedro)
sa	Locative/directional marker	Places, recipients	sa eskwela (at/to school)
kay	Locative marker (proper noun)	People (location)	kay Ana (at Ana's place)

Plural Markers

Singular	Plural	Example (Singular)	Example (Plural)
ang	ang mga	ang bata (the child)	ang mga bata (the children)
si	sina	si Maria (Maria)	sina Maria (Maria and others)
ng	ng mga	ng libro (a book)	ng mga libro (books)
ni	nina	ni Juan (Juan)	nina Juan (Juan and others)
sa	sa mga	sa tindahan (at the store)	sa mga tindahan (at the stores)
kay	kina	kay Pedro (at Pedro's)	kina Pedro (at Pedro and others')

Personal Pronouns

English	Tagalog (Topic)	Tagalog (Non-Topic)	Tagalog (Oblique)
I	ako	ko	akin/sa akin
you (singular)	ikaw/ka	mo	iyo/sa iyo
he/she	siya	niya	kaniya/sa kaniya
we (inclusive)	tayo	natin	atin/sa atin
we (exclusive)	kami	namin	amin/sa amin
you (plural)	kayo	ninyo	inyo/sa inyo
they	sila	nila	kanila/sa kanila

Inclusive vs Exclusive

Tayo includes the listener; kami excludes the listener.

Verb Aspects

Aspect	Time Frame	Example Root: kain	English
Perfective	Completed action	kumain	ate
Imperfective	Ongoing action	kumakain	is eating
Contemplative	Future/planned action	kakain	will eat

Common Verb Affixes by Focus

Focus Type	Common Affixes	Root Example	Conjugated	English
Actor	-um-, mag-, ma-	kain	kumain	ate (actor focused)
Patient/Object	-in, -hin, i-	kain	kinain	was eaten (object focused)
Locative	-an, -han	bili	binilhan	was bought from (location focused)
Benefactive	i- + pag-	luto	ipinagluto	was cooked for (beneficiary focused)
Instrumental	i- + pang-, ipang-	sulat	ipinangsulat	was used to write (instrument focused)

Demonstrative Pronouns

Distance	This/These	That/Those (near listener)	That/Those (far from both)
Singular	ito	iyan	iyon
Plural	mga ito	mga iyan	mga iyon
Locative	dito	diyan	doon
Directional	parito	pariyan	paroon

Question Words

Tagalog	English	Example	Translation
Sino	Who	Sino ka?	Who are you?
Ano	What	Ano ito?	What is this?
Saan	Where	Saan ka pupunta?	Where are you going?
Kailan	When	Kailan ka darating?	When are you arriving?
Bakit	Why	Bakit ka malungkot?	Why are you sad?
Paano	How	Paano ito gawin?	How is this done?
Magkano	How much	Magkano ito?	How much is this?
Ilan	How many	Ilan ang bata?	How many children?
Alin	Which	Alin ang gusto mo?	Which do you want?

Negation

Negator	Usage	Example	English
hindi	General negation	Hindi ako kumain.	I did not eat.
wala	Non-existence/absence	Walang tao sa bahay.	There is no one at home.
huwag	Prohibition/negative command	Huwag kang lumabas.	Don't go out.

Linkers

Function

The linker na (or -ng after vowels) connects modifiers to nouns and clauses.

Pattern	Example	English
Adjective + na + Noun	magandang bahay	beautiful house
Noun + na + Adjective	bahay na malaki	house that is big
Verb + na + Clause	Narinig kong kumanta siya.	I heard that she sang.

Numbers Quick Reference

Number	Tagalog (Native)	Tagalog (Spanish-derived)
1	isa	uno
2	dalawa	dos
3	tatlo	tres
4	apat	kwatro
5	lima	singko
10	sampu	diyes
100	sandaan	siyento
1,000	isang libo	mil

Usage

Native numbers are typically used for counting objects; Spanish-derived numbers are common in telling time and money.

Common Connectors

Tagalog	English	Example	Translation
at	and	Ikaw at ako	You and I
o	or	Kape o tsaa?	Coffee or tea?
pero/ngunit	but	Gusto ko, pero mahal.	I want it, but it's expensive.
kaya	so/therefore	Gutom ako, kaya kumain ako.	I was hungry, so I ate.
dahil	because	Umuwi ako dahil umuulan.	I went home because it's raining.
kung	if	Kung libre ka, tara.	If you're free, let's go.
kahit	even if/although	Kahit pagod, magluluto ako.	Even if tired, I'll cook.

Adjective Formation

Prefix	Function	Root Example	Adjective	English
ma-	Forms adjectives	ganda	maganda	beautiful
ma-	Forms adjectives	bait	mabait	kind
ma- + reduplication	Intensification	ganda	magaganda	very beautiful (plural)

Time Expressions

Expression	Tagalog	Example	English
Now	ngayon	Kumain ako ngayon.	I am eating now.
Today	ngayong araw	Masaya ako ngayong araw.	I am happy today.
Yesterday	kahapon	Umuwi ako kahapon.	I went home yesterday.
Tomorrow	bukas	Babalik ako bukas.	I will return tomorrow.
Later	mamaya	Kita tayo mamaya.	See you later.
Already	na	Kumain na ako.	I already ate.
Still/yet	pa	Kumakain pa ako.	I am still eating.

Comparison

Degree	Pattern	Example	English
Positive	Adjective	Mataas ang bahay.	The house is tall.
Comparative	mas + Adjective + kaysa sa	Mas mataas ang bahay kaysa sa puno.	The house is taller than the tree.
Superlative	pinaka- + Adjective	Pinakamataas na bahay	The tallest house

Possession

Type	Pattern	Example	English
With ng	Possessor + ng + Possessed	bahay ni Maria	Maria's house
With pronouns	Possessed + Possessive Pronoun	bahay ko	my house
With may	may + Possessed + Subject	May kotse si Juan.	Juan has a car.

See Also

• Verb Affixes
• Verb Aspect
• Sentence Structure
• Pronouns