Page 121 - Tagalog for Beginners: An Introduction to Filipino, the National Language of the Philippines

Gramatika

Study the information below to improve your Filipino grammar skills.
I. Gamit ng “ay ” at “ang ”
Many learners ask: “What is the difference between using ay and ang in
sentences? When do we know what to use?” Consider the following sentences:
Ang itim na pusa ay nasa bakuran. The black cat is in the yard.

This sentence answers the question “Nasaan ang itim na pusa?” (Where is
the black cat?)
Ang itim na pusa ang nasa bakuran. (It is the black cat that is in the

yard.)
(This answers the question “Aling pusa ang nasa bakuran?” Which cat is in the
yard?)
Thus, when deciding whether to use ay or ang, think of the following:
A. What question is being asked?

B. What would you like to emphasize?
If you want to emphasize that it is the black cat (not the white cat or the yellow
cat) that is in the yard, use ang.
If not, using ay is fine. Also, you can reverse the word order and say: Nasa
bakuran ang itim na pusa.

II. Words that Express Location
In the vocabulary list, you studied the following words:

Nandito/Narito/Dito/Rito Here
Nandiyan/Nariyan/Diyan/Riyan There
Nandoon/Naroon/Doon/Roon Over There

There are no differences in meaning between the choices nandito and narito,
nandiyan and nariyan, nandoon and naroon, as well as dito and rito, diyan and
riyan, doon and roon.
As explained earlier, use nandito/narito, nandiyan/nariyan and nandoon/
naroon to answer nasaan questions. Use dito/rito, diyan/riyan, and doon/roon
for saan questions.

EXAMPLES : Nandito ang nanay ko.
My mother is here. (literally, Here marker mother my.)

Nakatira ako dito.