Tagalog - Ang, Si, and Ni | Luzvimindan Project
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Generally the Tagalog words Ang, si and ni are articles. Ang translates to the English words the, a, or an. While si and ni are personal markers.
Ang can function as an article or as an aid to modifiers.
As article
FORM : Ang + thing
Like the case with absolute and ergative pronouns, the only difference is the focus but it can change the meaning to an enormous extent. So be careful.
Kinuha means taken or took. Sentence 1 is translated that way because Si indicates that Agapito is the focus of the sentence.
1. Kinain si Junjun, ~ Junjun was eaten.
2. Kinain ni Junjun. ~ Junjun ate it.
Introduction
Generally the Tagalog words Ang, si and ni are articles. Ang translates to the English words the, a, or an. While si and ni are personal markers.
Ang
Ang can function as an article or as an aid to modifiers.
As article
FORM : Ang + thing
Usage:
Ang aso. ~ The dog.
Si and ni are personal markers meaning they need a name to function. It is always used together with people's name or animal that's been given a name. The only exception is when you're calling someone by their name. The only difference between Si and Ni is that like Tagalog pronouns is about the focus. Like in English you cannot combine
Ang bahay na puti. ~ The house that's white.
As Modifier
FORM : thing + ang + thing
FORM : Absolute pronoun + ang + thing
Ang can act as an aid to modifier
Maganda ang umaga. ~ The day is beautiful.
Mataba ang babae. ~ The lady is fat.
Ngayong gabi ako ang sundalo mo. ~ Tonight I am your soldier.
Contracted Ang
FORM : thing ending in vowel attached with "ng" + thing
FORM : thing ending in vowel attached with "ng" + thing
Often contractions of ang are used in Tagalog. This is especially true when the preceding words end with a vowel and ang will be reduced to "ng" and be attached to the preceding word. The result will be the preceeding word that ang was attached to will modify the succeeding word next to ang.
Magandang umaga. ~ Good morning. Note: It is a contraction of Maganda ang umaga which is literally the day is beautiful.
Ang kwento ng lumang aklat ni lolo. ~ The story of my grandfather's old book.
Under the microscope
Contracting ang with something turns it to a possessive.
Contracting ang with something turns it to a possessive.
Matalino ang bata. ~ The kid is intelligent.
Matalinong bata. ~ Intelligent kid.
Akin ang mundo. ~ The world is mine.
Aking mundo. ~ My world.
Akin ang mundo. ~ The world is mine.
Aking mundo. ~ My world.
Si and Ni
Si and ni are personal markers meaning they need a name to function. It is always used together with people's name or animal that's been given a name. The only exception is when you're calling someone by their name. The only difference between Si and Ni is that like Tagalog pronouns is about the focus. Like in English you cannot combine
Use Si when the content of your sentence is just a name.
Si Rodrigo. ~ Rodrigo.
Si Gon. ~ Gon.
Dineklara ni Duterte ang martial law. ~ Martial law was declared by Duterte.
Dineklara ni Duterte ang martial law. ~ Martial law was declared by Duterte.
Under The Microscope
Like the case with absolute and ergative pronouns, the only difference is the focus but it can change the meaning to an enormous extent. So be careful.
1. Kinuha si Agapito. ~ Agapito was taken.
2. Kinuha ni Agapito. ~ Agapito took (it).
Kinuha means taken or took. Sentence 1 is translated that way because Si indicates that Agapito is the focus of the sentence.
1. Kinain si Junjun, ~ Junjun was eaten.
2. Kinain ni Junjun. ~ Junjun ate it.
Kinain means ate or eaten. Like in the previous example, Si indicates that Junjun is the focus while Ni indicates that Junjun wasn't the focus.
Summary
- Ang is roughly the Tagalog equivalent of The, A, An, or Is.
- Si and Ni are personal markers.