Page 58 - Tagalog for Beginners: An Introduction to Filipino, the National Language of the Philippines

12. TANONG : May bag ka ba?
SAGOT : ___________________.

Gramatika (Grammar)

Study the information below to improve your Filipino grammar skills. In this
lesson, the focus of the grammar notes is to explain what may be confusing to you
at this point. The notes are based on actual questions typically raised in Filipino-

language learning classrooms.

I. May, Mayroon, Meron
“When do we use may, mayroon, and meron ?” This depends on the word order
we prefer, and the situation where we need to use the words.
We use may if we want the noun to follow may.

EXAMPLE : May libro ka ba?
Do you have a book (literally, Have book you ba?)

We use mayroon if we want the pronoun to follow the word mayroon.

EXAMPLE Mayroon ka bang libro? (long form “ Mayroon ka ba na
: libro?”)

Do you have a book? (Have you ba linker book?)

We use meron in conversational Filipino. The only difference here is in the
spelling where the word “mayroon” is spelled as it is spoken in everyday life.
Thus, in many creative texts, especially plays and film or television scripts,
meron is usually used. In formal written texts, such as critical essays, may or
mayroon would be used.

May, mayroon, and meron, however, mean exactly the same thing. In this
book, we will only be using may and mayroon, and not meron, to avoid
confusion.

II. Word Order in Questions (Ba and the pronoun when using May and Mayroon)
“How can I avoid being confused about the word order?” The word order
changes in questions using may and mayroon.

First, remember that the sentence always begins with either may or mayroon
(meron).