Language/Tagalog/Grammar/Negation
Hi Tagalog learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about negation in Tagalog. Negation is the process of making a statement negative. It is an important part of Tagalog grammar and it is essential to understand how to use it correctly.
Negation in Tagalog is done by adding the particle hindi before the verb. For example:
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| hindi ako kumain | hin-dee ah-koh koo-mah-een | I did not eat |
| hindi siya naglaro | hin-dee see-yah nahg-lah-roh | He/She did not play |
| hindi sila nag-aral | hin-dee see-lah nahg-ah-rahl | They did not study |
| hindi ko alam | hin-dee koh ah-lahm | I do not know |
| hindi nila gusto | hin-dee nee-lah goos-toh | They do not like it |
The particle hindi can also be used to make a sentence negative. For example:
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| hindi ako makakain | hin-dee ah-koh mah-kah-keen | I cannot eat |
| hindi siya makakalaro | hin-dee see-yah mah-kah-kah-lah-roh | He/She cannot play |
| hindi sila makakapag-aral | hin-dee see-lah mah-kah-kah-pahg-ah-rahl | They cannot study |
| hindi ko malaman | hin-dee koh mah-lah-mahn | I cannot know |
| hindi nila maibigay | hin-dee nee-lah mah-ee-bee-gahy | They cannot give it |
It is also possible to make a sentence negative by using the particle walang. For example:
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| walang pagkain | wah-lahng pahg-keen | There is no food |
| walang laro | wah-lahng lah-roh | There is no game |
| walang aral | wah-lahng ah-rahl | There is no lesson |
| walang alam | wah-lahng ah-lahm | There is no knowledge |
| walang gusto | wah-lahng goos-toh | There is no liking |
It is also possible to make a sentence negative by using the particle wala. For example:
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| wala akong pagkain | wah-lah ah-kohng pahg-keen | I have no food |
| wala siyang laro | wah-lah see-yahng lah-roh | He/She has no game |
| wala silang aral | wah-lah see-lahng ah-rahl | They have no lesson |
| wala akong alam | wah-lah ah-kohng ah-lahm | I have no knowledge |
| wala nila gusto | wah-lah nee-lah goos-toh | They have no liking |
It is also possible to make a sentence negative by using the particle di. For example:
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| di ako kumain | dee ah-koh koo-mah-een | I did not eat |
| di siya naglaro | dee see-yah nahg-lah-roh | He/She did not play |
| di sila nag-aral | dee see-lah nahg-ah-rahl | They did not study |
| di ko alam | dee koh ah-lahm | I do not know |
| di nila gusto | dee nee-lah goos-toh | They do not like it |
It is also possible to make a sentence negative by using the particle hindi and the particle di together. For example:
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| hindi di ako kumain | hin-dee dee ah-koh koo-mah-een | I did not eat |
| hindi di siya naglaro | hin-dee dee see-yah nahg-lah-roh | He/She did not play |
| hindi di sila nag-aral | hin-dee dee see-lah nahg-ah-rahl | They did not study |
| hindi di ko alam | hin-dee dee koh ah-lahm | I do not know |
| hindi di nila gusto | hin-dee dee nee-lah goos-toh | They do not like it |
It is also possible to make a sentence negative by using the particle hindi and the particle wala together. For example:
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| hindi wala akong pagkain | hin-dee wah-lah ah-kohng pahg-keen | I have no food |
| hindi wala siyang laro | hin-dee wah-lah see-yahng lah-roh | He/She has no game |
| hindi wala silang aral | hin-dee wah-lah see-lahng ah-rahl | They have no lesson |
| hindi wala akong alam | hin-dee wah-lah ah-kohng ah-lahm | I have no knowledge |
| hindi wala nila gusto | hin-dee wah-lah nee-lah goos-toh | They have no liking |
It is also possible to make a sentence negative by using the particle di and the particle wala together. For example:
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| di wala akong pagkain | dee wah-lah ah-kohng pahg-keen | I have no food |
| di wala siyang laro | dee wah-lah see-yahng lah-roh | He/She has no game |
| di wala silang aral | dee wah-lah see-lahng ah-rahl | They have no lesson |
| di wala akong alam | dee wah-lah ah-kohng ah-lahm | I have no knowledge |
| di wala nila gusto | dee wah-lah nee-lah goos-toh | They have no liking |
It is also possible to make a sentence negative by using the particle hindi, the particle di and the particle wala together. For example:
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| hindi di wala akong pagkain | hin-dee dee wah-lah ah-kohng pahg-keen | I have no food |
| hindi di wala siyang laro | hin-dee dee wah-lah see-yahng lah-roh | He/She has no game |
| hindi di wala silang aral | hin-dee dee wah-lah see-lahng ah-rahl | They have no lesson |
| hindi di wala akong alam | hin-dee dee wah-lah ah-kohng ah-lahm | I have no knowledge |
| hindi di wala nila gusto | hin-dee dee wah-lah nee-lah goos-toh | They have no liking |
Now that you have learned about negation in Tagalog, it is time to practice. To improve your Tagalog Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎