In this series of posts, I’ll be posting about some declarative statements that can be used when talking about one’s self in a conversations or during self-introductions.

1. Have/Has Statement

This is a declarative statement that expresses the state of having or possessing a thing or a trait. In spoken Tagalog, it’s generally all right to use these two interchangeably. It becomes stricter in written Tagalog (especially for non-formal writings) to use the correct one in a sentence.

May

When using it for written text, “may” is used if it is followed by a noun, verb, and adjective, or generally longer words.

May ___ ako…
Examples:

  • May pusa kami sa bahay. (Literal: We have a cat at home.)
  • May pagkamayabang si Lea. (Literal: Lea is a bit boastful.)

Mayroon

(often pronounced and written as “Meron”)

“Meron” (spelled as how it is pronounced colloquially or when using casual language) or “Mayroon” (the correct spelling used for written texts and when using less casual language) is used if it is followed by short words or what we call mga kataga in Filipino like na, ba, and pronouns.

Mayroon akong…
Examples:

  • Mayroon akong alagang pusa. (Literal: I have a pet cat.)
    “ako” is a pronoun
  • Mayroon na kong sariling kuwarto. (Literal: I already have my own room.)
    “na” is a kataga that implies the action, behavior, or event already happened/achieved

2) Expressing Likes and Desires

Expressing something that you already like as a declarative sentence and expressing something that you like or want to do as an intention (not yet done) is often expressed as “gusto” in Tagalog. It can both mean like and want.

  • Gusto ko / ko(ng)
    Usually followed by a pronoun or an action word, to express desire to do something or express fondness/liking for a certain hobby. If the action word is in contemplative aspect, then it might be expressing desire to do something. If the action word is in imperfect aspect that implies it is regularly being done, then it might be expressing fondness or liking for a hobby or an activity.

    Examples:
    • Hanga ako sa pamumuno ni Lea. Gusto ko siya maging kaibigan. (Trans: I admire Lea’s leadership. I want her to be my friend.)
      • “siya” is a pronoun referring to Lea
    • Gusto kong kumain ng Jollibee Chickenjoy. (Trans: I want to eat Jollibee Chickenjoy.)
    • Gusto kong makita mag-perform nang live ang Blackpink. (Literal: I want to see Blackpink perform live.)
      • Both the action words “kumain” (to eat) and “makita” (to see/watch) are in contemplative aspect, therefore the speakers express desire to do those activities.
    • Gusto kong namamasyal sa probinsya tuwing bakasyon. (Trans: I like visiting and going around the province every time I stay for a vacation.)
      • The action word “namamasyal” (to visit and stroll — visiting and strolling) is in imperfect aspect, meaning that it is still being done, in the process of being completed, or is regularly happening (“tuwing” (every time…)). When translated to english, it becomes a noun in function.
  • Gusto kong maging…
    This phrase literally means, “I want to become…” and it can be followed by a noun with or without a modifier.
    Examples:
    • Gusto kong maging matagumpay na negosyante. (Trans: I want to become a successful entrepreneur.)
      • “negosyante” means entrepreneur, which is a noun and modified by the adjective “matagumpay” which means successful
    • Gusto kong maging oncologist, ‘pag nakatapos na ko ng pag-aaral. (Literal: I want to become an oncologist when I finish my studies.)
      • oncologist is a noun that is specific to people
  • Gusto kong magkaroon ng…
    This is the combination of has/have and expressing like statements. It translates to “I want to have…”
    Examples:
    • Gusto kong magkaroon ng bag na Chanel. (Trans: I want to have a Chanel bag.)
    • Gusto kong magkaroon ng maraming pera! (Trans: I want to have lots of money!)
    Note: In actual conversations, sometimes “magkaroon” is dropped and simply use the “Gusto kong…” or “Gusto ko ng…” since both phrases expresses for things or events that are still yet to happen or will happen in the future, which is also being implied in “Gusto kong magkaroon…” sentences. Example: both sentences above can also be stated as “Gusto ko ng bag na Chanel,” and “Gusto ko ng maraming pera!” Although the desire to possess both things are not explicitly stated, the speaker’s meaning is left to be interpreted based on the context of conversation.
  • Gusto ko si ____ / ng ______
    Usually followed by nouns. “Si” is followed by proper pronouns especially if a name of a person, while “ng” is usually followed by common or abstract nouns.
    Examples:
    • Gusto ko si Ben dahil hindi siya nagsasabi ng mga birong sexist. (Literal: I like Ben because he doesn’t tell sexist jokes.)
      • “Ben” is a name of a person. “Si” becomes a marker for a proper noun.
    • Gusto ko ng sariling bahay para magkaroon na ko ng privacy. (Literal: I want my own house for me to have privacy.)
      • “Bahay” is a common noun or object meaning house, while the word “sarili” is a modifer that means my own or mine.

3) Talking about your interests

Often times, to talk about one’s interest in Tagalog is to express one’s fondness of that interest. “Mahilig” and “Paborito” are words that express one’s state of liking or being fond of their object of interest. These words are used for objects or actions, not people.

  • Hilig ko ang ___ / Hilig kong ___
    “Hilig” is a noun word, that means inclination to liking or being interested in something, usually a hobby.
    Example:
    • Hilig ko ang pagkain ng iba’t ibang klaseng kakanin. (Literal: My interest is eating different kinds of kakanin.)
    • Hilig kong uminom ng kape lalo na sa tanghaling tapat. (Literal: I am inclined to drinking coffee especially on hot afternoons.)
  • Mahilig ako/sa ___
    “Mahilig” becomes an adjective form of the non word “mahilig,” that means being inclined to or interested in something.
  • Paborito kong/ ko ang ___
    “Paborito” is the Tagalog translation of favorite.

4) Expressing dislikes

Filipinos are not direct/confrontational speakers. Like other Asians, we do not always directly express what we mean and have to rely on social cues and cultural context to fully understand what we mean. This especially applies to expressing negative expressions or topics, especially if spoken between or among peple who you are not close to. In my observation, this is so not to give an impression of speaking ill about others or to avoid hurting the feelings of the person you’re speaking to or other people who might hear the conversation.

  • Hindi ko [masyado / gaano] gusto ang/na
  • Ayaw kong
  • Hindi ako mahilig

5) Expressing wishes/hopes

These are statements that express one’s desires to attain or wishes, and things that one would like to see, experience, or to happen in the future.

  • Sana [action]… (I wish/hope that…)
  • Hiling ko na…

Vocabulary words:

  • panaginip –
  • pangarap –
  • layunin –
  • ambisyon –

6) Expressing strong or extreme feelings / Using superlatives

These are the common words or expressions that can be added to a statement to express intense feeling about a certain topic.

  • Sobra[ng]
  • Grabe
  • As in
  • Super
  • Napaka-
  • Ubod ng…
  • Saksakan ng…
  • Nuknukan ng…

7) Stating comparisons or preferences

Sometimes, when already engaged in a conversation with someone and

  • Mas (More) …
    Used when comparing two objects, animals, or people, and one is more preferred / ahead in terms of the quality/characteristic being compared.
    Example:
    Mas gusto kong matulog kaysa umalis ng bahay.
    Mas gusto ko ito. (context-based)
    Mas gusto ko sa South Korea. (context-based)
  • Pareho (Both)
    Used when stating preference for both (only two given) options. Often used before the objective pronoun.
    Example:
    Pareho kong gusto mag-alaga ng aso at pusa.
    Pareho naming ayaw ng mint chocolate ice cream.
  • Pinaka-
    It is a prefix to be added to an adjective to indicate the most preferred object, animal, or person when comparing three or more. May also be used as a stand alone word before a word that is not an adjective.
    Example:
    Pinakapaborito kong anime ang Naruto.
    Pinakaayaw ko ang mga taong nagpopost ng mga isyu nila sa social media.

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