The outline: focus · everything else · place
| Marker | Core role | Example phrase |
|---|---|---|
| ang | the focus — the noun the sentence is 'about' | ang panadero (the baker) |
| ng | non-focus roles: object, possessor, or non-focus actor | ng tinapay (of bread · bread) |
| sa | place, direction, recipient, time | sa palengke (at/to the market) |
ng is pronounced 'nang'. The personal-name versions are si / ni / kay.
ang — the sentence's focus
ang marks the noun the sentence centers on — its focus. It often stands near the start of the predicate, but it can sit further in: Binili ng nanay ko ang isda. 'My mother bought the fish' puts the actor first. The verb form tells you what the ang-marked noun's role is — the two work as a pair.
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| Kumain ang bata. | The child ate. |
| Pula ang rosas. | The rose is red. |
| Nasa bahay ang susi. | The key is at home. |
| Masarap ang adobo. | The adobo is delicious. |
ng — object, possessor, non-focus actor
ng covers the non-focus roles: the thing acted on, the owner after a noun, and — importantly — the actor when it isn't the focus (object-focus verbs, next article).
| Tagalog | Role of ng | English |
|---|---|---|
| Gumagawa ang panadero ng tinapay. | object of making | The baker makes bread. |
| Binili ng nanay ko ang isda. | non-focus actor | My mother bought the fish. |
| ang bahay ng doktor | possessor | the doctor's house |
| Sinulat ng estudyante ang liham. | non-focus actor | The student wrote the letter. |
sa — place, direction, recipient, time
| Tagalog | Role of sa | English |
|---|---|---|
| Pumunta siya sa palengke. | direction | She went to the market. |
| Nakatira kami sa Manila. | location | We live in Manila. |
| Binigay ko sa kanya ang regalo. | recipient | I gave her the gift. |
| Bukas sa umaga. | time | Tomorrow morning. |
si/ni/kay for names · mga for plurals
Personal names take their own marker set — si (focus), ni (non-focus), kay (sa-roles) — and plurals of those are sina / nina / kina. For ordinary nouns, mga [mangá] before the noun makes it plural; the marker stays the same.
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| Kumain si Maria. | Maria ate. |
| Binili ni Maria ang isda. | Maria bought the fish. |
| Binigay ko kay Maria ang regalo. | I gave Maria the gift. |
| Kumain ang mga bata. | The children ate. |
| ang mga kaibigan ko | my friends |
Mini practice
Q1. ang marks:
- every noun
- the focus of the sentence
- only places
- verbs
Answer: the focus of the sentence
Q2. In 'Binili ng nanay ko ang isda', 'ng nanay ko' is:
- the object
- the non-focus actor
- the place
- a plural
Answer: the non-focus actor
Q3. sa covers:
- only possession
- place, direction, recipient, time
- the topic
- past tense
Answer: place, direction, recipient, time
Q4. The marker for a personal name as focus is:
- ang
- si
- ni
- mga
Answer: si
Q5. 'The children ate' is:
- Kumain ang bata
- Kumain mga bata ang
- Kumain ang mga bata
- Ang mga kumain bata
Answer: Kumain ang mga bata
