Grammar


Simple Expansions of the Basic Sentence

Expansion by Modification

Noun Modification

Adjectives serve as single-word modifiers of nouns. They may occur before or after the noun. This modification is made clear not only by the juxtaposition of the adjective and noun, but also by the linking of the two words using the linker na / -ng. The linker -ng is attached to the first word if it ends in a vowel, or the linker -g is attached if it ends in -n. The linker na occurs when the word before it ends in a consonant.

adjective + linker + noun noun + linker + adjective
lumang libro librong luma
paling na linya kalang bago
mabait na bata gulong na malambot
sapin na makapal supot na malaki

Phrases may be used to modify nouns. Like single-word modifiers, phrase modifiers may occur before or after the noun modified. As well, the modifier and the noun are linked by some form of the nasal linker depending on the last sound of the first word (see previous section for the rule). Locative, possessive, benefactive, and informational phrases are some of the kinds of phrases that may be used as noun modifiers.

Phrase Modifier + Noun
Phrase Modifier Noun
locative ang nasa kusinang bisita
possessive ang kay Pedrong libro
benefactive ang para sa batang libro
informational ang tungkol kay Fe na libro
Noun + Phrase Modifier
Noun Phrase Modifier
locative ang bisitang nasa kusina
possessive ang libro* ni Pedro
benefactive ang librong para sa bata
informational ang librong tungkol kay Fe

*Note the absence of the linker before the possessor phrase ni Pedro.

Naka- is an adjective prefix which can be followed by nouns (limited to things or accessories that can be worn or put on) and by verb roots.

ang babaing nakaluksa
  • the woman (who is) in mourning
ang babaing naka-asul
  • the woman (who is) in blue

Taga-, a prefix that occurs before nouns, also occurs before verb roots to mean one whose occupation, work, or duty is the one expressed by the verb.

ang sundalong tagalinis ng baril
  • linis 'clean'

Verbs can be used as the basis of a modification structure after nouns.

Ang batang umiiyak...
  • The child (who is) crying...

Modification structures involving adjective and phrase modifiers can be given a complex structure analysis where the modifiers represent an embedded sentence. Verbal construction modifiers as embedded sentences are discussed in some detail in a later section.

Verbal Modification

Except for adverbs indicating time or duration of time, verbal modification is marked by the occurrence of the linker na / -ng between the modifier and the verb or by the adverbial marker nang when the modifier follows the verb

A limited number of combinations of ma- and a base word are used to modify the verb. They function like adverbs of manner. The verbs occurring after these adjectives are in the infinitive form (i.e., uninflected for aspect).

ma- modifier linker infinitive verb subject
Madalas (na) magsimba si Lolita.
Marunong (na) magtrabaho si Dante.
Madali -ng matuto si Tarcila.

The linker na in this construction is often dropped, but not that linker -ng.

Verbal forms may modify verbs; both the verbal modifier and the modified verb usually have the same focus. These verbal modifiers are often in the incompleted aspect form.

Verbal Modifier Verb
Umiiyak na umalis si Susan. Susan left crying.
Humihikbing natulog si Juliet. Juliet slept sobbing.
Noun + Phrase Modifier
Noun Phrase Modifier
locative ang bisitang nasa kusina
possessive ang libro* ni Pedro
benefactive ang librong para sa bata
informational ang librong tungkol kay Fe

*Note the absence of the linker before the possessor phrase ni Pedro.

Modifiers of verbs may be intensified by reduplication or by the addition of adverbial intensifiers to the modifier.

(+ ubod) Tumakbo siya nang ubod nang bilis. He ran very fast.
(+ napaka-) Tumawa siya nang napakalakas. He laughed very loudly.
(+ base reduplication and linker) Nagbihis siya nang magandang-maganda. She dressed very beautifully.
(+ pagka and base reduplication) Umiyak siya nang pagkalakas-lakas. He cried very loudly.

Taga-, a prefix that occurs before nouns, also occurs before verb roots to mean one whose occupation, work, or duty is the one expressed by the verb.

ang sundalong tagalinis ng baril
  • linis 'clean'

Verbs can be used as the basis of a modification structure after nouns.

Ang batang umiiyak...
  • The child (who is) crying...

Modification structures involving adjective and phrase modifiers can be given a complex structure analysis where the modifiers represent an embedded sentence. Verbal construction modifiers as embedded sentences are discussed in some detail in a later section.

Modifying the Single-Word Modifier

Persons, things, and actions may be compared in terms of degrees of equality, superiority, or inferiority. These degrees of comparison are indicated by comparative markers.

Comparative Markers
Equality magkasing-, kasing-
Non-Equality mas, sa/kaysa (sa), (kaysa) kay
Superlative pinaka-

To express the same degree of equality in nouns or verbs being compared, the adjective root is prefixed by magkasing- or kasing-.

  • Magkasingtaas si Karla at si Frank (sina Karla at Frank).
  • Magkasingbilis silang tumakbo sa kusina.
  • Magkasingbagsik ang mga aso natin.

With kasing- as the comparative marker, the two nouns compared have different markers. The noun that functions as the standard is marked with ng; the noun that is being compared to the standard is marked by the subject marker ang.

  • Kasinggaling ng Presidente ang senador.
  • Kasingbagal ni Nena si Lily.
  • Kasingbilis tumakbo ni Ben si Carl.
  • Kasinglapad ng ngiti ni Amado ang kanyang noo.

When the quality in one noun being compared is more than the quality in the other, the phrase markers kaysa kay or kaysa sa occurs before the personal or non-personal noun being compared. The adjective is marked by mas, lalo, or higit na.

  • Mas malakas si Jaime kaysa kay Johnny.
  • Lalong matibay ang Volks kaysa kay Fiat.
  • Higit na mabagal tumakbo ang kalesa kaysa karetela.

Mas is more common; higit is on the formal side. Kay or sa may be omitted, leaving behind kaysa.

The superlative degree of the adjective is expressed by the affix pinaka- prefixed to the ma- adjectives or to the adjective roots that do not need the ma- affix.

maganda pinakamaganda
popular pinakapopular
The superlative adjective usually occurs before the modified noun.
  • Pinakamagandang artista siya.
  • Pinakamagaling na titser si Lydia.
But, to emphasize the modified noun, the order is reversed.
  • Artista siyang pinakamaganda.
  • Titser na pinakamagaling si Rhonda.

To express high intensity of the quality, the adjective roots are preceded by the following:

Adjective Intensifiers
sukdulan nang sukdulan nang ganda
ubod nang ubod nang ganda
napaka- napakaganda

The high intensity of the quality is also expressed when the adjectives are repeated, the two being joined by a linker.

  • magaling na magaling
  • magandang-maganda