Language/Tagalog/Grammar/Questions
Hi Tagalog learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn Tagalog grammar for questions. Asking questions is an essential part of communication, so this lesson will help you expand your Tagalog vocabulary and sentence structure.
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Tagalog Grammar → Verbs → Irregular Verbs, Tagalog Grammar: Regular Verbs, Plurals & Subject Verb Object.
Basic Types of Questions[edit | edit source]
In Tagalog, there are two basic types of questions: yes/no questions and wh- questions. Yes/no questions are questions that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." Wh- questions, on the other hand, require more information to provide a complete answer.
Yes/No Questions[edit | edit source]
To create yes/no questions in Tagalog, simply add "ba" at the end of a statement. The tone should go up when asking a question.
For example:
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Gutom ka na ba? | Goo-tom ka na ba? | Are you hungry? |
| Masaya ka ba? | Ma-sah-ya ka ba? | Are you happy? |
Notice that the word "ba" is added at the end of the sentence to indicate that it is a question. It is important to use the correct tone when asking a question. Otherwise, it might come across as a statement instead of a question.
Wh-Questions[edit | edit source]
To ask wh-questions in Tagalog, add the appropriate wh-word at the beginning of the sentence. The tone should also go up when asking a question.
For example:
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Saan ka pupunta? | Sa-an ka pu-pun-ta? | Where are you going? |
| Anong pangalan mo? | A-nong pang-alan mo? | What is your name? |
| Ilang taon ka na? | I-lang ta-on ka na? | How old are you? |
Notice that the wh-word is added at the beginning of the sentence to indicate that it is a wh-question. The appropriate wh-word should be used depending on the question being asked.
Question Words[edit | edit source]
Tagalog has several question words to ask wh-questions. Here are some examples:
| Tagalog | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ano | A-no | What |
| Saan | Sa-an | Where |
| Kailan | Kai-lan | When |
| Bakit | Ba-kit | Why |
| Paano | Pa-a-no | How |
Use these question words in combination with different verbs and sentence structures to form questions in Tagalog.
Examples in Context[edit | edit source]
To better understand how questions are formed in Tagalog, here is a dialogue between two people asking and answering questions:
- Person 1: Kumain ka na ba? (Have you eaten?)
- Person 2: Hindi pa. (Not yet.)
- Person 1: Ano ang paborito mong pagkain? (What is your favorite food?)
- Person 2: Adobo. (Adobo.)
- Person 1: Kailan ka uuwi? (When will you go home?)
- Person 2: Bukas. (Tomorrow.)
- Person 1: Paano magluto ng adobo? (How to cook adobo?)
- Person 2: Lutuin sa suka at toyo. (Cook it with vinegar and soy sauce.)
Important Notes[edit | edit source]
- Use the appropriate tone when asking questions. The tone should go up at the end of the sentence to indicate it is a question.
- Add "ba" at the end of a sentence to make it a yes/no question.
- Use the appropriate wh-word to ask wh-questions.
- Practice asking and answering questions to improve your Tagalog communication skills.
To improve your Tagalog Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Tagalog Questions 1 - Tagalog Language SEASite
- Free Tagalog Language Quiz - Test Your Language
- Beginning Tagalog 1 Grammar Archives - Tagalog Language SEASite
Videos[edit | edit source]
Learn Tagalog Question Words || How to Ask Questions in Filipino ...[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Pronouns
- Adjectives
- Conditional Mood
- Give your Opinion
- Future Tense
- Negation
- Nouns
- Plurals
- How to Use Be