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    How to Describe and Build Sentences in Tagalog: Adjectives & Word Order Explained

    August 5, 2025

    Want to describe things in Tagalog? Whether you're talking about people, places, or feelings, knowing adjectives and basic sentence structure helps you express yourself clearly. This guide combines essential vocabulary and simple grammar tips to get you started.

    Common Tagalog Adjectives

    Here are everyday adjectives you'll hear and use often:

    • maganda – beautiful
    • gwapo – handsome
    • maliit – small
    • malaki – big
    • mainit – hot
    • malamig – cold
    • masaya – happy
    • malungkot – sad
    • mabait – kind
    • masarap – delicious

    ✅ Tip: Most adjectives stay the same form—you don't need to change endings for gender or number like in other languages.

    Basic Word Order in Tagalog

    Unlike English (which follows Subject-Verb-Object), Tagalog often puts the predicate (description or action) before the subject:

    Example:

    • Maganda si Ana. – Ana is beautiful.
    • Masarap ang pagkain. – The food is delicious.

    Notice how the adjective comes first?

    ✅ Pattern: Predicate + subject

    You can also reverse the order for emphasis, but the standard form is predicate-first.

    Making Sentences with Adjectives

    Start with this formula:

    Formula:

    [Adjective] + si/ang + [person/thing]

    Examples:

    • Mabait si Kuya. – My older brother is kind.
    • Malamig ang tubig. – The water is cold.
    • Masaya ang bata. – The child is happy.

    ✅ Tip: Use si for names; ang for objects/things.

    Expanding with "May" (There is/has)

    You can also describe possession or existence:

    • May aso kami. – We have a dog.
    • May problema siya. – He/she has a problem.
    • May pagkain sa mesa. – There's food on the table.

    Sample Mini-Dialogue

    Ana: Mainit ngayon!

    Ben: Oo, pero malamig sa Baguio.

    ✅ Tip: Adjectives are great for small talk—weather, food, feelings.

    Quick Practice Routine

    • ✅ Say 5 things around you using "Maganda ang…" or "Maliit ang…"
    • ✅ Listen to adjective sentences and copy pronunciation
    • ✅ Try switching "si" and "ang" to practice subject markers

    Final Thoughts

    Mastering adjectives and sentence patterns builds a solid foundation for expressing opinions, describing surroundings, and chatting naturally.

    Explore Lessons 11 & 13 on tagalearn.com for interactive flashcards, audio, and guided practice.

    Magsimula na tayo! 🇵🇭 (Let's get started!)