Tagalog Grammar - Modifiers

Modifiers

Tagalog word categories are fluid and a word can take the role of both an adverb and an adjective depending on the word it modifies.

Adjectives modify nouns by the linker na. However, if na follows a word ending in a vowel or glottal stop or the letter n, then it becomes suffixed to that word as -ng. The adjective can either come before or come after the word it modifies.

Adverbs modify verbs by following the verb and being marked by nang. Optionally, they may precede the verb with the linkers na or -ng. Like adjectives above the end of the word determines whether the linker is na or -ng.

The word mabilís (fast) is used as an example below:

Mabilís ang kabayo.
"The horse is fast." Ang mabilís na kabayo.
Ang kabayong mabilís.
"The fast horse." Mabilís na tumatakbó ang kabayo.
Tumatakbó ang kabayo nang mabilís.
"The horse runs fast." Mabilís na tumakbó ang kabayo.
Tumakbó ang kabayo nang mabilís.
"The horse ran fast."

But note also: Mabilís tumakbó ang kabayo. "Horse runs fast."

Modifiers can be a stand-alone rootword or the rootword can be affixed: basâ (wet), buháy (alive), patáy (dead), hinóg (ripe), pangit (ugly), pulá (red), putî (white), and itím (black). The most common modifier prefix is ma-: matandâ (old), mataás (high), maliít (little), malakí (big), mabahò (smelly), masaráp (delicious), malakás (strong), and mapulá (reddish).

Other affixes denote different meanings. For example pinaká- is the superlative; pinakamalakás (strongest). Another is nakasalamín (bespectacled, wearing glasses).