The Most Popular Tagalog Verbs This 2021!

Ling Learn Languages
5 min readApr 28, 2021

When it comes to learning any new language, one of the trickiest parts to master is its critical structural points. If you are interested to learn Tagalog grammar and speak like a pro, Tagalog verbs or “pandiwa” should be your top priority as it 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 on 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 it 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 much exciting, the Filipino people have adopted foreign English words which have resulted 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 like the 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 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.

See how those sentences are formed? As someone who is just learning, we understand that 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 Tagalog verb forms below and use them along with other Filipino nouns and adjectives.

Now that we have expanded your knowledge on this Tagalog language rule on 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 so that can 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 by Simya Solutions 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 from the basic ones to the most complex points in languages. It is one of the pioneering applications that offers a fully interactive chatbot and immersive to watch animation for quizzes.

What is even better is that it is available for free 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 are checked by linguists and native speakers. So, what are you waiting for? Download it today!

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