Tagalog/Nouns and markers

< Tagalog

This lesson will teach you about the usage of nouns and markers in Tagalog.

Aralín (Lesson)Edit

Mga pangungusap at pangmarka (Nouns and markers)Edit

While Tagalog nouns are not inflected, they are usually preceded by case markers. There are three types of case markers: absolutive (nominative), ergative (genitive), and oblique.

Unlike English and Spanish which are nominative-accusative languages, Tagalog is considered to be either an ergative-absolutive language, or a language with an Austronesian alignment. It's a common misconception that Tagalog is frequently spoken in the passive voice.



Oblique markers are similar to prepositions in English. It marks things such as location and direction.

Furthermore, noun markers are divided into two classes: one for names of people (personal) and the second for everything else (common).

Below is a chart of case markers. mga (pronounced [maŋa]) marks the plural. The word ng (pronounced [naŋ])

  Absolutive Ergative Oblique
Common singular ang ng sa
Common plural ang mga ng mga sa mga
Personal singular si ni kay
Personal plural sina nina kina


Dumating ang lalaki.
"The man arrived."

Nakita ni Juan si Maria.
"John saw Maria."

Pupunta sina Elena at Roberto sa bahay ni Miguel.
"Elena and Roberto will go to Miguel's house."

Nasaan ang mga libro?
"Where are the books?"

Kay Tatay ang susi.
"Father has the keys"

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