Language/Tagalog/Grammar/Past-and-Present-Tenses
As a Tagalog teacher for 20 years, I have taught many students who struggle with the past and present tenses. These tenses are fundamental to understanding Tagalog properly, so in this lesson, I will teach you how to distinguish between the past and present tenses, and how to construct sentences using these tenses.
Understanding Past and Present Tenses
The past and present tenses are used differently in English and Tagalog. In English, past tense verbs generally end in "-ed". However, in Tagalog, the past tense of verbs do not change their form. Instead, different words or markers are used to indicate the tense.
Let's take the Tagalog verb "gawa" (to do). The present tense is "gumagawa" and the past tense is "ginawa". Notice the difference? The present tense, "gumagawa", has the prefix "gu-", while the past tense, "ginawa", has the prefix "gi-". This prefix is added to the base word to indicate the tense.
To form the past tense for a verb in Tagalog, use the following markers before the base word:
- "nag-" for verbs beginning with a vowel or the letters "l" or "r".
- "nag-" or "nagka-" for verbs beginning with "k", "g", "ng", "h", "y", or "w".
- "nag-" or "nag-ka" for verbs beginning with "b", "d", "p", "t", or "s".
Let's use the verb "luto" (to cook) as an example:
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Nagluto ako | nag-'lu-to A-ko | I cooked/ I am cooking |
As you can see from the example above, the past tense marker "nag-" is used before the base word "luto". The word "ako" means "I". Therefore, the sentence means "I cooked" or "I am cooking".
Sentence Construction
To construct Tagalog sentences using the past and present tenses, follow the basic sentence structure of subject-verb-object.
Here are some examples:
- Present Tense
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Kumakain ako | ku-ma-'ka-in A-ko | I am eating |
- Past Tense
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Kinaing ko ang kanin | ki-na-'ing ko ang ka-nin | I ate the rice |
In Tagalog, the tense markers are usually placed before the base word, as shown in the examples above. The subject is placed before the verb and the object is placed after the verb.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One common mistake made by non-native speakers is to add the English "-ed" suffix to a Tagalog verb to indicate the past tense. Another mistake is to use the present tense marker for past tense verbs.
To avoid these mistakes, it's important to understand the correct use of tense markers in Tagalog. Practice constructing sentences using the examples above and try to make your own sentences in Tagalog.
Conclusion
In this lesson, you've learned how to distinguish between the past and present tenses in Tagalog and how to construct sentences using these tenses. Remember to use the correct tense markers before the base word to indicate the tense properly. Keep practicing to improve your Tagalog skills!