Tagalog lesson 1: MAG verbs

Tagalog lesson 1: MAG verbs

Last Wednesday we learned about using verbs in Tagalog in the context of the past, present, and future… and wowowee it was pretty tough. I’ll just post some examples and have you ask your mom and dad for more info. Tell them I said hi! I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.

Tawa = Laugh. This is the root word.

In English…

  1. Past = Laughed (add -ed)
  2. Present = Laughing (add -ing)
  3. Future = Will laugh

In Filipino/Tagalog

  1. Past = Nagtawa (add nag-)
  2. Present = Nagtatawa (add nag- and repeat the 1st syllable)
  3. Future = Magtatawa (add mag- and repeat the 1st syllable)

So in the comic above, Robin is using the word “nakakareview” in the present form. The root word for “nakakareview” is “kareview” which is Taglish. And I understand Taglish!

Simple right! I have no idea if im right!

For my next post, we’ll learn how to say “watch out for that tree!” in both the present-tense and past-tense. It would be impossible to use that in the future-tense because trees attack too damn fast. Once you see them coming you’re either dead, or surprised that a tree fell out of nowhere.

Hey, it naghahappens.