The ma- family of adjectives
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| maganda | beautiful · good |
| mabuti | good · well |
| malaki | big |
| maliit | small |
| mahal | expensive · dear |
| mura | cheap |
| masarap | delicious |
| mainit | hot |
| malamig | cold |
| mabilis | fast |
| mabagal | slow |
Not every adjective carries ma- (bago 'new', pula 'red', tama 'correct'), but the pattern is so common that hearing ma- is a strong hint you're hearing an adjective.
Predicate adjectives vs. modifiers — where the linker lives
As a predicate, the adjective stands alone first: Masaya kami. As a modifier attached to a noun, it needs the linker: -ng attached after a vowel, -g attached after n, and na as a separate word after other consonants. The linker glues adjective and noun in either order — magandang bahay or bahay na maganda, 'a beautiful house'.
| Tagalog | English | Linker used |
|---|---|---|
| magandang umaga | good morning | -ng after vowel |
| malaking bahay | a big house | -ng after vowel |
| bahay na malaki | a big house | na after other consonants |
| masarap na pagkain | delicious food | na after other consonants |
| ilang araw | several days | -g after n (ilan + -g) |
| batang mabait | a kind child | -ng after vowel (bata + -ng) |
The linker beyond adjectives
The same na/-ng glues clauses too: Alam kong mabuti ka 'I know that you are good' — kong is ko + ng. It also turns phrases into modifiers: taong mabait 'a kind person'. You'll meet it constantly; recognize it, don't fear it.
Comparison — mas and pinaka-
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| mas mahal | more expensive |
| mas mabilis kaysa sa jeepney | faster than the jeepney |
| pinakamaganda | the most beautiful |
| pinakamura | the cheapest |
| kasingganda mo | as beautiful as you |
mas + adjective = comparative; kaysa sa introduces 'than'. pinaka- prefix = superlative. kasing- + root = 'as ... as'.
Mini practice
Q1. magandang umaga uses which linker?
- na
- -ng after a vowel
- ay
- sa
Answer: -ng after a vowel
Q2. 'A big house' can be said as:
- bahay malaki
- malaki na bahay or bahay na malaki
- malaking bahay or bahay na malaki
- bahay ng malaki
Answer: malaking bahay or bahay na malaki
Q3. masasarap vs pinakamasarap — the second means:
- very delicious
- the most delicious
- not delicious
- slightly delicious
Answer: the most delicious
Q4. The linker na/-ng:
- only links adjectives to nouns
- glues adjectives, clauses, and phrases together
- marks past tense
- is a politeness word
Answer: glues adjectives, clauses, and phrases together
Q5. mas mahal kaysa sa jeepney means:
- cheaper than the jeepney
- more expensive than the jeepney
- as expensive as the jeepney
- the jeepney is expensive
Answer: more expensive than the jeepney
