Learn Tagalog 06

Tagalog linkers na/-ng

In this video, we’ll have a look at the Tagalog linkers na and -ng.

The linkers na and -ng are used to connect certain words that belong together.

Examples in English would be friendly person, big dog, dog that jumped, box that fell and so on.

The ending -ng is attached to words that end in vowels. For example:

malaki – means big
aso – means dog
malaking aso – means big dog

As you can see, the linker -ng is connected to malaki.

-ng is also used when the first word ends in /n/. In that case, one /n/ is dropped. For example:

mayaman – means rich
turista – means tourist
mayamang turista – means rich tourist

Na, on the other hand, is used after words that end in consonants, except /n/. For example:

mabait – means kind, good or friendly
tao – means person
So mabait na tao – means kind person

Na and -ng can also be understood as that, which or who.

So you can say malaking asobig dog
Or, asong malakidog that’s big

The first option sounds more natural in conversation.

When used to mean that, which or who, na can also come after vowels or /n/.

Again, aso – means dog
tumalon – means jumped
so asong tumalon – means dog that jumped
and aso na tumalon also means dog that jumped

Both are fine.

I’d like to point out that na is not always a linker! It has several uses.

The most common other use is to mean now (unlike before). For example:

OK na. – means It’s OK now. Na is not a linker here.

In the next video, we’ll practice using na and -ng.

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