Language/Tagalog/Grammar/Negation

Tagalog Grammar - Negation

Hi Tagalog learners! 😊

In this lesson, we will focus on negation in Tagalog. Negation refers to the use of words or constructions to express negation, denial, or refusal. In Tagalog, negation is expressed through the use of negative words and particles, as well as the use of the negative verb.

Negation is an important aspect of Tagalog grammar, and understanding how to use it properly can greatly improve your communication skills in Tagalog. So, let's dive in!

Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Tagalog Grammar → Verbs → Irregular Verbs, Verbs, How to Use Be & Subject Verb Object.

The Basics of Negation

In Tagalog, negation is expressed through the use of negative words and particles, as well as the use of the negative verb. The most common negative word in Tagalog is "hindi" which means "no" or "not."

Here are some examples:

Tagalog	Pronunciation	English
Hindi	(hin-dee)	No

The negative particle "ayaw" is also frequently used in Tagalog. It means "do not" or "does not want to."

Examples:

Tagalog	Pronunciation	English
Ayaw	(ah-yow)	Do not/Does not want to

Using the Negative Verb

In Tagalog, the negative verb is formed by adding the negative particle "di" or "hindi" before the root verb. This negates the meaning of the verb.

For example, the verb "kumain" means "to eat" in Tagalog. To create the negative form of the verb, you would add "di" or "hindi" before it, resulting in "hindi kumain" which means "did not eat."

Here are some examples:

Tagalog	Pronunciation	English
Hindi kumain	(hin-dee koo-main)	Did not eat
Hindi sumasakay	(hin-dee soo-ma-za-kay)	Not riding/getting on

You can also use the negative particle "di" or "hindi" with "nag" to negate a completed verb.

For example, the verb "nagluto" means "cooked" in Tagalog. To create the negative form, you would add "di" or "hindi" before it, resulting in "hindi nagluto" which means "did not cook."

Here are some examples:

Tagalog	Pronunciation	English
Hindi nagluto	(hin-dee nag-loo-to)	Did not cook
Hindi nag-aral	(hin-dee nag-a-ral)	Did not study/learned

Negation with Adverbs and Adjectives

In Tagalog, negation can also be expressed through the use of negative adverbs and adjectives. These words are used to negate the meaning of other words.

Here are some common negative adverbs and adjectives in Tagalog:

Tagalog	Pronunciation	English
Walang	(wa-lang)	None/Without
Wala	(wa-la)	None/Without
Hindi	(hin-dee)	No/Not

For example, to say "There is no rice," you can use the adjective "walang" before the noun "bigas" which means "rice." This results in the phrase "walang bigas."

Examples:

Tagalog	Pronunciation	English
Walang bigas	(wa-lang bee-gas)	No rice
Hindi maganda	(hin-dee ma-gan-da)	Not beautiful

Practice Dialogue

Person 1: Hindi ako kumain ng kanin. (I did not eat rice.) Person 2: Ayaw mo ba ng kanin? (Don't you like rice?) Person 1: Hindi, walang kanin sa bahay. (No, there is no rice at home.)

More Resources

To improve your Tagalog Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Tagalog Negation - Tagalog Language SEASite
• Tagalog Negation: The Negator HINDI - Tagalog Language SEASite

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Other Lessons

• Future Tense
• Give your Opinion
• Conditional Mood
• Adjectives
• Plurals
• How to Use Be
• How to Use Have
• Questions
• Nouns