Page 43 - Tagalog for Beginners: An Introduction to Filipino, the National Language of the Philippines

integrated into the Filipino language, for example, computer, say only mga
computer instead of “mga computers.”

IV. The Linker “at”
The linker at means “and.” It can be used to link words and clauses. We can say,
Maria at Pedro ang mga pangalan nila.

V. Particles
Din and Rin are enclictic particles. As we learned earlier, particles are “function
words.” Din and rin mean the same thing—“too” or “also.”

Din is used when the preceding word ends with a consonant, and rin is used
when the preceding word ends with a vowel. However, when the preceding word
ends with a syllable that has the letter r, din is used.
EXAMPLE : Marie din ang pangalan ko.

My name is also Marie.

This is probably because in the indigenous script called baybayin (see also
Appendix 3 on the history of the Filipino language), there is only one symbol for
the letters d and r. The rules on din and rin were formulated with the
standardization of the language by the Institute of Language.

VI. Pagbuo ng Pangungusap (Sentence construction)
Strictly speaking, there is no “verb to be” in Filipino. Let’s study the sentence:

EXAMPLE : Kaklase ko siya.
She is my classmate. (Literally, Classmate my she.)

Thus, to form a sentence we only need the “relationship word” (in this case,
“kaklase”), followed by the possessive pronoun ko, and then the nominative
third person pronoun siya.

Dayalogo (Dialogue): Paalam (Goodbye)

Read the dialogue below. After completing this chapter, practice this dialogue on
greetings and introductions using your own information.

GINANG CRUZ : O, sige. May klase pa ako.
Okay. I (still) have a class.

PEDRO : Sige po.
Okay/Goodbye.