Core Tagalog Grammar I Summary — EXERCISES!

Take a breather, you’ve reached an important checkpoint!

This set of exercise marks the end of Core Tagalog Grammar I. Up to this point, you’ve moved beyond just how verbs work and started learning how Tagalog treats the participants in a sentence: who they are, how they’re described, and how they relate to one another. In this section, you learned about:

  • Nouns, -in and ma- forms, different types of prefixes, and using mga to signify plurality
  • Personal pronouns, including their classification into ang, ng, and sa forms
  • How pronouns like to take the second position in sentences
  • Adjectives
    • ma-, -in
    • how adjectives connect using the na/-ng linker
    • and how adjective placements are often interchangeable
  • How to negate sentences using hindî
  • How to express possession in Tagalog

If Basic Grammar focused on focus (heh) and verb conjugations, this section zoomed in on the noun side of the sentence — giving people and things personality through adjectives and possession. Now it’s time to lock all of that in.

💡BEFORE WE START: The term Tagalog used extensively in this guide refers to the variety spoken in Metro Manila. This variety is part of the broader Filipino/Tagalog umbrella that also includes Batangas and Quezon Tagalog, both of which retain more of the older, original Tagalog from history. This guide only covers the informal Filipino/Tagalog (or Taglish) used in everyday Metro Manila speech.

Exercise A: Personal Pronouns

Replace the underlined noun/s with the corresponding pronoun or possessive pronoun.

  • Q: Michael wore his shoes.
    → Sinuót ni Michael ang sapatos niyá.
    A: Sinuót niyá ang sapatos niyá.
  1. Q: Maria brought Dylan’s lunch.
    → Dinalá ni Maria ang tanghalian ni Dylan.
    A: Dinalá ni Maria ang tanghalian niyá.
  2. Q: Daniel will fix Mandy and Billy’s toy.
    → Aayusin ni Daniel ang laruán niná Mandy at Billy.
    A: Aayusin niyá ang laruán nila.
  3. Q: Michael and Michael Ian are wiping the wardrobe.
    → Nagpupunas siná Michael at Michael Ian ng aparador.
    A: Nagpupunas silá ng aparador.

Exercise B: Negation with Hindî

Convert these sentences into negative statements. Pay close attention to how the diva pronouns shift.

Q: Mabaít na bata.
A: Hindî mabaít na bata.

  1. Q: good kid
    → batang mabaít
    A: batang hindî mabaít
  2. Q: her shiny watch
    → reló niyáng makislâp
    A: reló niyáng hindî makislâp
  3. Q: Joshua’s morning is good.
    → Magandâ ang umaga ni Joshua.
    A: Hindî magandá ang umaga ni Joshua.
  4. Q: The movie is interesting.
    → Interesting ang pelíkula.
    A: Hindî interesting ang pelíkula.
  5. Q: They bought tasty food.
    → Bumili silá ng masaráp na pagkain.
    A: Bumili silá ng hindî masaráp na pagkain.
  6. Q: Her explanation is clear.
    → Malinaw ang paliwanag niyá.
    A: Hindî malinaw ang paliwanag niyá.

Exercise C: Possession (Nouns & Names)

Use the correct possession particle.

  • Q: a student’s laptop
    → laptop ___ estudyante
    A: laptop ng estudyante
  1. My cat is fat.
    → Matabâ ang ___ pusà.
    A: Matabâ ang aking pusà.
  2. I’ll wash their clothes.
    → Maglalaba akó ng damít ___.
    A: Maglalaba akó ng damít nila.
  3. I’ll go to Kristine and Joy’s party.
    → Pupunta akó sa party ___ Kristine at Joy.
    A: Pupunta akó sa party niná Kristine at Joy.
  4. Q: We repaired the child’s bike.
    → Inayos namin ang bisikleta ___ bata.
    A: Inayos namin ang bisikleta ng bata.
  5. Q: I’m cleaning my dog’s water bowl.
    → Nililinis ko ang water bowl ___ alaga ko.
    A: Nililinis ko ang water bowl ng alaga ko.

Exercise D: Adjectives and Possession

Translate each phrase. Pick ALL correct translations.

  • Ex: Chopper’s blue nose
    1. ang ilóng na Chopper ni bugháw
    2. ang bugháw na ilóng ni Chopper
    3. ang Chopper ng ilóng na bugháw
    4. ang ilóng ng Chopper na bugháw
    5. ang ilóng na bugháw ni Chopper
  • A: [2], [5], [ ]
  • Q: my long hair
    1. ang mahabá kong buhók
    2. ang kong buhók mahabá
    3. ang buhók kong mahabá
    4. ang mahabáng buhók ko
    5. ang mahabá na kong buhók
  • A: [1], [3], [5]

  • Q: Jake’s cheerful grandma
    1. masayahin ang lola ni Jake
    2. ang masayahing lola ni Jake
    3. ang lola ni Jake na masayahin
    4. ang lolang masayahin ni Jake
    5. ang lola ni masaya na Jake
  • A: [2], [3], [4]

  • Q: the student’s red bag
    1. ang estudyante ng bag na pulá
    2. ang puláng bag ng estudyante
    3. ang bag ng puláng estudyante
    4. ang bag na pulá ng estudyante
    5. ang estudyante ng puláng bag
  • A: [2], [4], [ ]

What’s Next?

Nice work making it this far!

In the next section, you’ll be introduced to another verb conjugation. While the Basic Grammar focused on actor-focus and object-focus verbs, the next step dives into target-focus conjugation. I promise, this won’t be the last set of verb conjugation to teach!

You’ll also meet enclitics, the short but powerful words that also sneak into second position and add nuance to your sentences. And finally, you’ll start learning how to ask questions in Tagalog!

Ready when you are!

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