Did you know that there are only four types of pronouns in Tagalog? Two of those are called nominative and possessive. So, how are nominative and possessive pronouns used?
But before we get into that, let’s define pronouns.
Pronouns, or Panghalip, are words that are used as a substitute for a noun or a noun phrase in a sentence. It refers to either a noun that has already been mentioned or to a noun that does not need to be named specifically.
Pronouns can be used to refer to a person, animal, or thing, preventing repetition and redundancy. By substituting specific nouns with pronouns, speakers can streamline their speech and writing, enhancing clarity, coherence, and conciseness in their communication.
Now that we’ve established what Tagalog pronouns are, what are nominative and possessive pronouns? Let’s discuss.
Nominative
Nominative pronouns can be further categorized based on the subject’s plurality.
1. Singular
- Ako → I, me, myself
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Ako si Daniel. |
My name is Daniel. |
- Ikaw → you, yourself
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Ikaw ang sasama sa akin mamaya. |
You are going with me later. |
- Ka → you, yourself
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Nasaan ka? |
Where are you? |
- Siya → he/she, it, them (singular), him, her, himself, herself
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Siya ang aking kapatid. |
→ He/She is my sibling. |
2. Plural
- Sila → they, them, themselves
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Sila ang sasama sa grupo natin. |
He/She is my sibling. |
- Kami → we, us, ourselves (exclusive)
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Pupunta kami sa Cebu. |
We are going to Cebu. |
- Tayo → we, us, ourselves (inclusive)
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Saan tayo pupunta bukas? |
Where are we going tomorrow? |
- Kayo → you (plural), you all, yourselves
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Kumusta po kayo. |
How are you (all)? |
Nominative pronouns are used to denote the subject of a sentence.
Example:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Masaya ako. |
I am happy. |
|
Magbebenta sila ng pagkain. |
They will sell food. |
It also replaces the usage of “ang” as the subject marker.
Example:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Mabilis ang mga katrabaho ko. → Mabilis sila. |
My coworkers are fast. → They are fast. |
|
Malamig ang tubig ko. → Malamig siya. |
My water is cold. → It’s cold. |
Possessive
Possessive pronouns can also be further categorized based on the subject’s plurality.
1. Singular
- Ko → my
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Iyan ang plato ko. |
That is my plate. |
- Mo → your
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Ito ang pasalubong mo. |
This is your gift. |
- Niya → his/her, its, their (singular)
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Binili niya ang baso. |
She bought the cup. |
2. Plural
- Nila → their, theirs
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Binigay nila sa amin itong pagkain. |
They gave us this food. |
- Namin → our, ours (exclusive)
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Gawa namin ito. |
This is our work. |
- Natin → our, ours (inclusive)
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Pagkain natin ito. |
This food is ours. |
- Ninyo → your, yours (plural), you all
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Nasaan ang kotse ninyo? |
Where is your car? |
Possessive pronouns are used to indicate possession or ownership of the subject or the object. These are usually used after the subject or object of the sentence.
Example:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Ito ang bahay namin. |
This is our house. |
|
Matangkad ang kuya ko. |
My brother is tall. |
Your Next Step
Pronouns serve as indispensable tools for effective communication in Tagalog, allowing speakers to express themselves with clarity, precision, and efficiency. Mastering nominative and possessive pronouns can help enhance the learner’s language skills, navigate social interactions, and engage with Filipino culture and identity with confidence and fluency.
Whether you’re navigating personal relationships, engaging in everyday conversation, or exploring the depths of Tagalog literature and culture, a solid understanding of Tagalog pronouns is sure to serve you well on your language-learning journey.
If you want a more in-depth discussion on nominative and possessive pronouns, you might want to consider Turong Wika.
Turong Wika is an app that focuses on teaching conversational Tagalog, starting from basic word forms to sentence structure. After your lessons, you can test your knowledge using the Practice feature. Practice contains different interactive quizzes to choose from. Just click on the topic you want and choose how many items to answer from five to 25.
Get the hang of using Tagalog pronouns. Scan the code below and download the app now!
Get the hang of using Tagalog pronouns. Click on the button below and download the app now!
