Looper

I understand that many of us are born in a place where they speak a slightly different language - a dialect. But if today, we had the option to make the future generations speak only one language - no more other dialects - would you approve of it? Provided that all other dialects will be written on books/dictionaries so they would be treasured and not forever lost. Do you think we might be able to easily achieve peace in our country, if everyone easily understood one another? Or do you think it's more important that people from different islands has to speak different languages/dialects? Personally, I've always wished all Filipinos spoke the same language. It would encourage more people to travel to other places, it would be easier to make friends with other people. We would all feel more that we are the same and not divided.

Which do you use more often? Ho/Oho or Po/Opo? I used to use Ho and Oho, but one time I was talking to an old man, I was talking fast and he didn't realise I said "ho" since it's not as noticeable as "po". And he got mad and thought I wasn't respecting him. So since then I've only used Po and Opo. And apparently, ho/oho is indeed a less respectful version of po/opo. Personally, I wish our language didn't have those words. Because I believe that action speaks louder than words. I don't think it's necessary for us to keep repeating those words just to show we respect the adults, when we can just prove it with action.

For example, how do you say fifty in Filipino? Do you say Limampu or Singkwenta? How do YOU count? I think Filipinos started counting in Spanish was when they conquered our country many years ago. I'm sure there are people these days, especially kids, who thinks that Singkwenta is a Filipino word. It's not their fault though, since spanish numbers are very common. I haven't even heard of anyone ever call a 50php bill - "Limampung piso", nobody says "May limampung piso ka?" it's always "May singkwenta ka?" At least based on my experience. Honestly, I find it so hard to count in Filipino or Spanish. So I just count in English like 90% of the time. At my age, people would laugh if they found out that I'm not good with the numbers. Sometimes I even forget which is "Alas dos" or "Alas dose".

I think I actually made a suggestion to rename this subforum to Study Filipino instead of Study Tagalog. But they probably thought I was wrong. To be honest though, I'm not surprise or disappointed. I can't blame them. Even many Filipinos are not aware that our national language is called Filipino, so what more if you're from another country and is used to referring to Philippines national language as Tagalog. I think teaching Filipino in school is not very important, but at least teach the students here that our national language is Filipino and not Tagalog.

Hey there, I actually made a tutorial about Nang and Ng. It has been a year so it's been buried. But here's the link: http://linguaholic.com/topic/2660-nang-and-ng-advanced/ It has been awhile and I'm not sure if I have covered all the rules about it. But hopefully that was all. Learning how to use Nang is really hard. I admit that even I misuse them a lot. If ever you are confused with something else, you may let me know and I'll try my best to make a tutorial for it.

Do you know what are the most common misspelled Filipino words/phrases? I'm talking about those words that most of us think are correct, but actually are not. Let's exclude the intentional typos that people do to sound cute or something (ex: poh, akoh) Anyway, I can only think of these right now. Kila vs Kina - Kila is not a word. It's only Kina. Example: Manghihiram ako ng mga laruan kina Rick at Morty. Tiga vs Taga - Tiga is not a word. It's only Taga. Example: Taga-Valenzuela pala si Billy. Palang - It should be "Pa lang". Same goes with Parin, Nalang, Padin, etc.

I use these words incorrectly from time to time. And maybe you do too? Sometimes I just end up using either of the two without thinking. But before we all forget, here's the proper way: Raw, Rito, Rin, and Roon Raw, Rito, Rin, and Roon, are used if the last letter of the previous word ends with A, E, I, O, U, W, or Y. Example: Bumili raw tayo ng gatas. Malulusog ang mga kalabaw rito. Tatanda rin tayo balang araw. Mura ang gulay roon sa probinsya. Daw, Dito, Din, and Doon Daw, Dito, Din, and Doon, are used if the last letter of the previous word ends with a consonant except W and Y. Example: Uminom daw tayo ng gatas. Malulusog ang mga manok dito. Yayaman din tayo balang araw. Mura ang prutas doon sa probinsya. Note: If you are wondering, which do you you use if it's the first word of a sentence and it doesn't have a word before it? Do you use Dito/Doon or Rito/Roon? You have to use Dito/Doon and never Rito/Roon. Example: Dito mo lang mabibili yang dekorasyon na yan. Doon na tayo kumain sa bahay.

For me it would be word Embarrassing. Sometimes I just really forget if it's double R and single S, or single R or double S, or both doubles. The second one would be occasion. I keep thinking it's single c and double s. Since double s seems more common, like passion, mission, and discussion. The third one would be aggressive. I usually type it with one g.

(1) Lose and Loose Lose is the opposite of win. Loose is the opposite of tight. (2) Weird not Wierd You probably have heard of the rule "i before e except after c". Well, the word "Weird" is so weird that it doesn't follow that rule. (3) Their, They're, There Their is used to show possession. (Their house is so big.) They're is a contraction for they + are. (They are very mysterious.) There has many usages. If their and they're sounds wrong, then there is most likely the word you're looking for. (Look over there! There is a UFO hovering above their house!) (4) Your and You're Your refers to your own possession. (Your pet mouse ate my clothes again.) You're is a contraction of you + are. (You are going to pay for the damages.) (5) It's and Its It's is a contraction of it + is. (It's not alright to climb the Empire State Building and swat at planes.) Its refers to a thing's possession. (That thing is dangerous. Its black fur looks cozy though.) (6) Definitely not Definately It definitely doesn't have an A in it. (7) Effect and Affect Affect is a verb. Effect is a noun. Just keep this in mind, if the word can end with -s, -ed, -ing. Then it's definitely the A one (Affect). (8) Weather and Whether Weather describes the atmosphere, usually of our own planet - Earth. Whether is used when there is a choice between alternatives. Just think of it this way, if you can spell the word Earth using its letter, then that word is the one that describes the Earth's atmosphere. (9) A lot not alot You don't say abundle, abunch, or alittle. So don't say alot. (10) Then and Than Then is used to describe time. (I logged out then went to bed.) Than is used for comparison. (I'm lazier than my cat.)

It seems that even Filipinos get confused with this two. Even I have to remind myself of these rules. Most of the time people just use "Ng", but that's actually wrong. I hope this quick tutorial will help a little. Nang (1) Used when you're repeating a verb. (to emphasize a repetition of an action) Example: Tumawa nang tumawa (kept laughing) Magbasa nang Magbasa (keep reading) (2) Used when a verb is to be followed by an adverb or another verb. Example: Tumawa nang malakas (laughed loudly) Magbasa nang tahimik (read quietly) Mag-ipon ka nang makabili ka (save up so you can buy) (3) Used as a combination of na + ang, na + ng, or na + na. Example: Mahirap na ang magkasakit => Mahirap nang magkasakit Sila ay nagsama na ng tuluyan => Sila ay nagsama nang tuluyan Tumigil ka na na mag-inom => Tumigil ka nang mag-inom Ng (1) Used when a verb is followed by a noun. Example: Sumulat ng tula (wrote a poem) Magbasa ng libro (read a book) (2) Used when a verb is followed by an adjective. Example: Sumulat ng nakakalungkot na tula (wrote a depressing poem) Magbasa ng makapal na libro (read a thick book) (3) Used when a verb is followed by a number. Example: Bumili ng anim na damit (bought six clothes) Magtanim ng isang dosenang binhi (plant a dozen of seeds)

Verbs in Filipino is indeed confusing. But I'll try my best to teach you. Past Tense If the verb begins with a vowel, you have to add 'um' as its prefix. If the verb begins with a consonant, you have to add 'um' after the first letter. Example: Inom (drink), will become: Uminom (drank) Kain (eat), will become: Kumain (ate) Future Tense You're probably wondering why I'm showing Future Tense first before Present Tense, but you'll understand why. Repeat the first syllable of the verb. Example: Inom, will become: iinom (will drink) Kain, will become: kakain (will eat) Present Tense If the verb begins with a vowel, you have to add 'um' to the beginning of the future tense of the verb. If the verb beings with a consonant, you have to add 'um' after the first letter of the future tense of the verb. Example: Inom: Future Tense of inom is iinom: So present tense would be umiinom (drinking) Kain: Future Tense of kain is kakain: So present tense would be kumakain (eating) That's the basics, there are actually more to learn such as adding nag- and mag-. But even I am not familiar with what exactly the rule is.

I am so happy I found this site, it's very useful and it has an amazing community. I just noticed something in the other languages category - the subforum Tagalog. The national language of Philippines is actually called Filipino. It was called Tagalog long ago, that's why many still think it's called Tagalog. It was changed to Filipino in 1987 if I'm not mistaken. PS. Yes, Filipino can refer to two things: the residents of the Philippines, and the national language.