In the last two chapters, you learned the conjugation rules for Tagalog “mag” verbs and the concept of verb aspects. In this chapter, we will continue discussing the rules of verb conjugation. Thankfully, for “ma” verbs, the rules are quite the same as it is for “mag” verbs. In this chapter we will discuss Tagalog “ma” verbs. But first… vocabulary!
Vocabulary
- binata → lad, young man, teenager
- dalaga → lass, young woman, teenager
- sanggol → toddler
- bisita → visitor, guest
- magnanakaw → thief, robber
- kawatan → thief, robber
- kriminal → criminal
- kama → bed
- pangyayari → happening, event, scene
- tulog → sleep
- huli → caught
- gutom → hunger
- kita → see
- aliw → fascinate
Tagalog “Ma” Verbs
Tagalog “Ma” verbs, like “mag” verbs, attach “ma-” before the root word to form the infinitive or imperative form. While some “ma” verbs express deliberate actions like “mag” verbs, other “ma” verbs express actions that are passive, or involuntary experiences, or something that happens to the actor.
Base Form (Infinitive Form, Imperative Form)
To get the infinitive form / imperative form, follow these steps:
- Take the root word. → tulog
- Attach “ma-” as a prefix. → matulog
| Root Word | Affix | Result |
|---|---|---|
| tulog (sleep) | ma- | matulog (to sleep) |
| huli (catch) | ma- | mahuli (to get caught) |
| gutom (hunger) | ma- | magutom (to become hungry) |
| kita (see) | ma- | makita (to see) |
Completed Action
To express the completed action form, follow these steps:
- Take the root word. → tulog
- Change “ma-” to “na-”.
- Attach the new affix as a prefix. → natulog
| Root Word | New Affix | Result |
|---|---|---|
| tulog (sleep) | na- | natulog (slept) |
| huli (caught) | na- | nahuli (was caught) |
| gutom (hunger) | na- | nagutom (became hungry) |
| kita (see) | na- | nakita (saw) |
Examples:
- Natulog si Jane sa kama. → Jane slept on the bed.
- Nahuli ang magnanakaw. → The thief was caught.
- Nagutom ang binata. → The lad got hungry.
- Nakita ng dalaga ang pangyayari. → The young woman saw the scene. (crime scene)
Ongoing Action
To express the ongoing action form, follow these steps:
- Take the root word. → tulog
- Get the first syllable of the root word. → tu
- Change “ma-” to “na-” and attach the syllable after “na”. → natu-
- Attach the new affix as a prefix. → natutulog
| Root Word | First syllable | New Affix | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| tulog (sleep) | tu | natu- | natutulog (sleeping) |
| huli (caught) | hu | nahu- | nahuhuli (being caught) |
| gutom (hunger) | gu | nagu- | nagugutom (feeling hungry) |
| kita (see) | ki | naki- | nakikita (being visible) |
Examples:
- Natutulog si Robert. → Robert is sleeping.
- Nahuhuli ng CCTV ang mga kawatan. → The thieves are being caught by CCTVs.
- Nagugutom sina Drake at Josh. → Drake and Josh are hungry.
- Nakikita ang buwan sa gabi. → The moon is visible at night.
Upcoming Action
To express the upcoming action form, follow these steps:
- Take the root word. → tulog
- Get the first syllable of the root word. → tu
- Attach the syllable after “ma”. → “matu-”
- Attach the new affix as a prefix. → matutulog
| Root Word | First syllable | New Affix | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| tulog (sleep) | tu | matu- | matutulog (will sleep) |
| huli (caught) | hu | mahu- | mahuhuli (will be caught) |
| gutom (hunger) | gu | magu- | magugutom (will feel hungry) |
| kita (see) | ki | maki- | makikita (will be visible) |
Examples:
- Matutulog ang sanggol. → The toddler will sleep.
- Mahuhuli ang kriminal. → The criminal will be caught.
- Magugutom ang bisita sa gabi. → The visitors will get hungry at night.
- Makikita ang Bulkang Mayon sa Albay. → The Mt. Mayon will be visible in Albay.
Conclusion
Here is a cheat sheet for you to summarize this chapter. This is basically the “mag” without the “g”.
| Root word | Base form (Infinitive/Imperative) | Past Tense | Present Tense | Future Tense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ma— | na- | na(…)— | ma(…)— | |
| tulog | matulog | natulog | natutulog | matutulog |
| aliw | maaliw | naaliw | naaaliw | maaaliw |
NOTE: (…) represents the 1st syllable of the root word
Now, you probably have built a good conjugation pattern with “mag” and “ma” affixes. In the next chapter, we will shift things up. “Mag” and “ma” affixes are prefixes, but the next set of verbs are infixes. We will discuss about “Um” verbs.