An Explanation of Some Tagalog Grammar Terms

[Darthymerej]

I have a question what is the Difference of this word/Phrase Nag punta and Pumunta Root word is Punta..

[wiretapperjoe]

A Tagalog verb aspect corresponds to several English verb tenses, which you're probably aware of. Thus,

Perfect = Past Perfect, Past, Present Perfect, Future Perfect

Imperfect = Past Perfect Progressive, Past Progressive, Present Progressive, Present, Future Progressive, Future Perfect Progressive

Contemplative = Future

E.g. I will have printed the report by the time you request it. =

Nakapag-print na ako ng report by the time na mag-request ka.

Hope this helps.

[MagicMaximo]

Thanks. I really appreciate your very informative input.

[getreallanguage]

@wiretapperjoe What about the Present Perfect Progressive? Would that also fall under the Imperfect?

[wiretapperjoe]

Hey there Bud!

I'm impressed by you having interest in our language. Kekekeke. Here are some things I wanna say about your tut vid.

Back in the early 90's, when I was in grade school, there were three Tagalog tenses: Past, Present, and Future. When I got to high school, the word tense was changed to "aspect" and the three aspects were called Perfect, Imperfect, and Contemplative (or volitional).

This change in grammar terms reflects the fact that there is really no tense in Tagalog. (cont)..

[MrRathbun]

@wiretapperjoe Hi friend...In that you are correct, Tagalog (aka Filipino) grammar is not tense dependent but aspect/context dependent. The word changes depending on the aspect/context it is being used and not necessarily defined by time.

[rachelmier]

but really, tagalog is not an easy dialect to learn.

truth be said, filipinos from non-tagalog speaking regions in the phils speak better english than we do tagalog ; (

the agreed national language is called pilipino

which is, as much as possible, supposedly a fusion of the many philippine dialects.

it turns out though that this pilipino language is mostly still just tagalog dialect. hence the difficulty even for us.

[rachelmier]

hi bud,

i'm filipino too. particularly cebuano.

but the way they teach us tagalog in schools here

is not the same way your book is teaching you.

we use the same terms "past", "present" and "future" for the tenses like the way we're taught the english language.

we also use the words "nouns", "pronouns", "verbs", "adverbs", etc.

maybe your book is an instructional to teach tagalog to non-english speakers.

[MagicMaximo]

Thanks for sharing. I appreciate it.

[zencat]

Definitely a tough nut to crack, but I'm not giving up! Probably won't be fluent prior to complete immersion, tho. When the asawa gets here I'm going to tell her to speak nothing but Tagalog for the first month when we're at home...

[welshdragon2008]

Bud

you sound very like u have a very sore throat in this tut.

late nights learning all those important tenses and such?

great tut anyway!

[MagicMaximo]

Thanks. Yeah I just returned from my long motorcycle trip (See "In the Wind")

[ummtdawg]

hahahah i have that book.... i filipino too, pero marunong ako ng kaunting magtagalog lang....its so hard to learn!!!! my lolo wanted me to be so danm americanised, now i gatta learn all late in my life, and its just....gahh soo hard.... how long have u been studying tagalog mr.budbrown? how long did it take for you to learn? cuz it sure seems like its taking me a really really long time to pick up!!!!

[MagicMaximo]

Thanks for the comments. I started learning Tagalog when I first married my Filipina wife in 1972..still learning. She speaks Tagalog fluently but can't explain anything. I'm always asking " Can I say this? Does this sound right?" I've gotta figure things out by myself. It can be very frustrating. I feel your pain!

[ummtdawg]

you have been learning it for THAT long and your still not fluent? (no offense)....but if you ahve been studying for that long and STILL arent fluent, how wil i become fluent by the time i ahve to go visit my family next year? will i ever get it? if you cant how can i? that kinda skares me....and doesnt give me much hope, but ill still keep trying!!!!

[ummtdawg]

"MagicMaximo has replied to your comment on An Explanation of Some Tagalog Grammar Terms:

Who says I'm not fluent? I feel very comfortable speaking Tagalog. I don't spend every day studying Tagalog, I also speak Spanish, Vietnamese and several other languages (see" .... oh im sorri!!!! i thought u said you still werent fluent in it....can you maybe give me tips to help learn faster? what learning methods did u use to learn this language? its sooo hard for me!!!!

[miriellourraineaque]

.,.,heheeheh.,.,

.,.,its really confusing and frustrating.,.,

.,.,even though im a filipino.,.,

,.its hard for me to study tagalog ,.,

,.,we use tagalog everyday.,.,

,.,but its still making me sick.,.,

,.,heheheh.,.,

,..that book .,.,,

,.,i think i have one.,.,

[babaenijudas]

well actually just try learning it by practice. try to talk to other filipinos. if you try to learn in by grammar books, you'll bleed to death. one of the hardest subjects in school is advanced filipino grammar. trust me. and i'm pure filipino, living in the philippines.

[zencat]

I don't think English grammar rules are that much different, in that regard! I still have trouble making sense of terms like 'past participle", and English is my native language! Funny youtube name- girls are traitors?

[babaenijudas]

babae ni judas- tagalog for la mujer de judas, my fave soap opera hehehe! try to find it in youtube. it's scary!

[zencat]

Wow, so u speak Spanish as well- bravo!