Language/Tagalog/Grammar/Pronouns
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Hi Tagalog learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be discussing one of the most important parts of Tagalog grammar - Pronouns. As you may know, pronouns are a type of word that take the place of a noun in a sentence. Using pronouns correctly is essential for clear and effective communication in any language.
To navigate through this lesson, please use the table of contents below:
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 Have & 0 to A1 Course.
What are pronouns?
Pronouns are words that replace nouns in sentences. They are often used to avoid repeating the same noun multiple times, thereby making sentences shorter and more concise. In Tagalog, several types of pronouns exist, such as personal pronouns, possessive pronouns, and demonstrative pronouns.
Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns are used to refer to people or things. In Tagalog, these pronouns have different forms depending on whether the noun being referred to is singular or plural.
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ako | ah-KOH | I/me |
| Ikaw | ee-KAW | You |
| Siya | see-YAH | He/She |
| Kami | KAH-mee | We/us |
| Kayo | KAH-yoh | You (plural) |
| Sila | SEE-lah | They/them (plural) |
Here is an example dialogue using personal pronouns:
- Person 1: Ako ay nagugutom. (I am hungry.)
- Person 2: Ako rin. Gusto mo ba magkain na tayo? (Me too. Do you want to eat now?)
- Person 1: Oo, kain na tayo. (Yes, let's eat.)
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are used to indicate ownership or possession. They can replace nouns and specify to whom or what something belongs. In Tagalog, possessive pronouns also have different forms depending on the plurality of the noun they replace.
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Akin | ah-KIN | Mine |
| Iyo/Ninyo | ee-YOH/nee-NYOH | Yours (singular/plural) |
| Kanya | KAH-nyah | His/hers/its |
| Amin | ah-MIN | Ours |
| Inyo | ee-NYOH | Yours (plural) |
| Kanila | kah-NEE-lah | Theirs (plural) |
Here is an example dialogue using possessive pronouns:
- Person 1: Akin ang libro na ito. (This book is mine.)
- Person 2: Ah, akala ko iyo iyon. (Ah, I thought that was yours.)
- Person 1: Talaga? Salamat! (Really? Thank you!)
Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns are used to point out or indicate specific nouns in a sentence. In Tagalog, these pronouns don't change based on plurality, contrary to what was previously stated.
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ito | ee-TOH | This |
| Iyan | ee-YAHN | That (near the listener) |
| Iyon | ee-YOHN | That (far from both speaker and listener) |
Here is an example dialogue using demonstrative pronouns:
- Person 1: Ito ang bahay ko. (This is my house.)
- Person 2: Maganda ito. (This is beautiful.)
- Person 1: Salamat. At iyan, ano iyon? (Thank you. And that, what is that?)
- Person 2: Iyon ay isang puno. (That is a tree.)
Comparison to English Pronouns
Tagalog and English pronouns differ in several ways. For example, English has gender-specific pronouns like "he" and "she," whereas Tagalog generally uses gender-neutral pronouns like "siya." Moreover, while English has possessive adjectives like "my," "your," "his," "her," "its," "our," and "their" to indicate possession without using the word "of," Tagalog also has possessive pronouns that serve a similar purpose.
Quiz
Quiz Questions on Tagalog Pronouns
1. What is the Tagalog pronoun for "I/me"? 2. How do you say "you" (singular) in Tagalog? 3. Translate "He is a teacher" into Tagalog. 4. What is the Tagalog word for "we/us"? 5. How do you express "you" (plural) in Tagalog? 6. Translate "They are students" into Tagalog. 7. What is the Tagalog possessive pronoun for "mine"? 8. How do you say "yours" (singular) in Tagalog? 9. Translate "This book is ours" into Tagalog. 10. What is the Tagalog demonstrative pronoun for "this"? 11. How would you say "That is beautiful" in Tagalog, referring to something near the listener? 12. Translate "What is that?" (referring to something far from both speaker and listener) into Tagalog. 13. How do you say "his/hers" in Tagalog? 14. Translate "Their house is big" into Tagalog.
Answers to Tagalog Pronouns Quiz
1. Ako 2. Ikaw 3. Siya ay isang guro. 4. Kami/Kita (exclusive/inclusive) 5. Kayo 6. Sila ay mga estudyante. 7. Akin 8. Iyo 9. Ang libro na ito ay amin. 10. Ito 11. Maganda iyan. 12. Ano iyon? 13. Kanya 14. Malaki ang bahay nila.
To improve your Tagalog Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Sources
- Tagalog Pronouns: SA Pronouns - Tagalog Language SEASite
- Tagalog Sa Personal Pronouns
- Tagalog grammar - Wikipedia
➡ 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. 😎
Videos
NG Group - TAGALOG PRONOUNS | Filipino Pronouns - YouTube
ANG Group - TAGALOG PRONOUNS | Filipino Pronouns - YouTube
Other Lessons
- Conditional Mood
- Give your Opinion
- Nouns
- Negation
- Plurals
- Questions
- Adjectives
- Future Tense
- How to Use Be
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