Language/Tagalog/Grammar/Past-and-Present-Tenses

Tagalog → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Past and Present Tenses

Welcome to our lesson on Tagalog Grammar: Past and Present Tenses! Understanding how to use tenses correctly is crucial for effective communication in any language, including Tagalog. Tenses help us convey when an action takes place—whether it’s in the past, present, or future—and thus, they play a significant role in storytelling, sharing experiences, and daily conversations.

In Tagalog, the structure of tenses can be quite different from English, which is why this lesson is designed specifically for complete beginners. We will break down the present and past tenses in a simple and engaging manner, providing you with plenty of examples and practice exercises to solidify your understanding.

In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:

• Introduction to Present and Past Tenses

• Structure of Present Tense

• Structure of Past Tense

• Detailed Examples

• Practice Exercises

Let’s dive in!

Introduction to Present and Past Tenses

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of present and past tenses, let’s understand their importance in Tagalog.

• Present Tense: This tense is used to describe actions that are happening right now or habitual actions. For example, "I eat" or "He runs."

• Past Tense: This tense describes actions that have already happened. For instance, "I ate" or "She ran."

In Tagalog, the verbs change forms to convey these tenses, allowing us to express time more fluidly.

Structure of Present Tense

The present tense in Tagalog is often formed by using the root verb and adding certain affixes that indicate the action is ongoing or habitual.

Here are the common forms:

• Infinitive Form: The base form of the verb.

• Present Progressive: The action is currently happening.

• Habitual Form: The action occurs regularly.

Let’s look at some examples in the table below:

Tagalog	Pronunciation	English
kumakain	/ku.ma.ka.in/	eating (right now)
nag-aaral	/na.g a.a.ral/	studying (right now)
umiinom	/u.mi.i.nom/	drinking (right now)
naglalaro	/na.gla.la.ro/	playing (right now)
natutulog	/na.tu.tu.log/	sleeping (right now)

In these examples, you can see how the verbs change to indicate that the action is happening in the present.

Structure of Past Tense

In Tagalog, the past tense is typically formed by changing the root verb using specific affixes that indicate the action has already occurred.

Here are the common forms:

• Completed Action: Indicates that the action is finished.

• Recent Action: A completed action that happened recently.

Here’s how these look in practice:

Tagalog	Pronunciation	English
kumain	/ku.ma.in/	ate
nag-aral	/na.g a.a.ral/	studied
uminom	/u.mi.nom/	drank
naglaro	/na.gla.ro/	played
natulog	/na.tu.log/	slept

These examples illustrate how the verbs change to reflect that the action has been completed.

Detailed Examples

Now that we have established the basic structures of the present and past tenses, let’s delve deeper with more examples.

Present Tense Examples

1. Kumakain ako ng saging.

I am eating a banana.

2. Naglalaro ang mga bata sa labas.

The children are playing outside.

3. Uminom siya ng tubig.

He/She is drinking water.

4. Nagtatrabaho ako sa opisina.

I am working in the office.

5. Nag-aaral sila ng Tagalog.

They are studying Tagalog.

6. Tumatakbo ako tuwing umaga.

I run every morning.

7. Natutulog ang pusa.

The cat is sleeping.

8. Kumakanta siya ng awit.

He/She is singing a song.

9. Nagbabasa ako ng libro.

I am reading a book.

10. Nagluluto si Maria ng pagkain.

Maria is cooking food.

Past Tense Examples

1. Kumain ako ng saging kahapon.

I ate a banana yesterday.

2. Naglalaro ang mga bata sa labas kanina.

The children played outside earlier.

3. Uminom siya ng tubig noong umaga.

He/She drank water this morning.

4. Nagtatrabaho ako sa opisina noong nakaraang taon.

I worked in the office last year.

5. Nag-aral sila ng Tagalog noong nakaraang buwan.

They studied Tagalog last month.

6. Tumatakbo ako noong isang taon.

I ran last year.

7. Natutulog ang pusa kanina.

The cat slept earlier.

8. Kumanta siya ng awit noong nakaraang linggo.

He/She sang a song last week.

9. Nagbasa ako ng libro kahapon.

I read a book yesterday.

10. Nagluto si Maria ng pagkain noong isang linggo.

Maria cooked food last week.

Practice Exercises

Now that you have a solid understanding of the present and past tenses, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are some exercises designed to help you practice what you’ve learned.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in either the present or past tense.

1. Ako ______ (kumain) ng saging.

2. Siya ______ (naglalaro) sa labas.

3. Kami ______ (uminom) ng tubig noong nakaraang linggo.

4. Ang mga bata ______ (nag-aaral) sa paaralan.

5. Siya ______ (natulog) ng maaga kahapon.

Solutions

1. kumain

2. naglalaro

3. uminom

4. nag-aaral

5. natulog

Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following sentences from English to Tagalog.

1. I am eating a banana.

2. They played outside.

3. He drank water this morning.

4. I am working in the office.

5. Maria is cooking food.

Solutions

1. Kumakain ako ng saging.

2. Naglaro sila sa labas.

3. Uminom siya ng tubig noong umaga.

4. Nagtatrabaho ako sa opisina.

5. Nagluluto si Maria ng pagkain.

Exercise 3: Verb Conjugation

Conjugate the following verbs in both the present and past tenses.

1. Mag-aral (to study)

2. Tumakbo (to run)

3. Kumanta (to sing)

Solutions

1. Present: nag-aaral | Past: nag-aral

2. Present: tumatakbo | Past: tumakbo

3. Present: kumakanta | Past: kumanta

Exercise 4: Create Sentences

Create sentences using the verbs provided in both present and past tenses.

1. Matulog (to sleep)

2. Tumakbo (to run)

3. Uminom (to drink)

Solutions

1. Present: Natutulog ako. | Past: Natulog ako.

2. Present: Tumatakbo ako. | Past: Tumakbo ako.

3. Present: Uminom siya. | Past: Uminom siya.

Exercise 5: Choose the Correct Tense

Choose the correct tense (present or past) to complete the sentences.

1. Ang pusa ______ (natutulog/natulog) sa sofa.

2. Siya ______ (naglalaro/naglalaro) ng basketball.

3. Kami ______ (uminom/uminom) ng kape kahapon.

4. Ako ______ (kumakain/kumain) ng hapunan.

5. Sila ______ (nag-aaral/nag-aral) ng mga leksyon.

Solutions

1. natutulog

2. naglalaro

3. uminom

4. kumakain

5. nag-aaral

Exercise 6: Matching Exercise

Match the English sentences with their correct Tagalog translations.

1. I am reading a book.

2. They are playing outside.

3. She drank water yesterday.

4. We are studying Tagalog.

5. The cat is sleeping.

Solutions

1. Nagbabasa ako ng libro.

2. Naglalaro sila sa labas.

3. Uminom siya ng tubig kahapon.

4. Nag-aaral kami ng Tagalog.

5. Natutulog ang pusa.

Exercise 7: Fill in the Correct Verb

Fill in the blanks with the correct verb form in present or past tense.

1. Kanina, ______ (naglalaro) ang mga bata.

2. Ngayon, ______ (kumakain) ako ng saging.

3. Noong nakaraang taon, ______ (nagtatrabaho) ako sa opisina.

4. Kahapon, ______ (uminom) sila ng tubig.

5. Tuwing umaga, ______ (tumakbo) ako.

Solutions

1. naglaro

2. kumakain

3. nagtatrabaho

4. uminom

5. tumatakbo

Exercise 8: Sentence Correction

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.

1. Nag-aaral siya ng Tagalog kahapon.

2. Kumakain ako ng lunch ngayon.

3. Uminom sila ng tubig kanina.

4. Naglalaro kami sa labas kahapon.

5. Natutulog ang aso noong umaga.

Solutions

1. Nag-aaral siya ng Tagalog ngayon.

2. Kumakain ako ng lunch.

3. Uminom sila ng tubig.

4. Naglalaro kami sa labas ngayon.

5. Natutulog ang aso kanina.

Exercise 9: Short Answer Questions

Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. Ano ang kinakain mo ngayon?

2. Saan sila naglalaro?

3. Anong inumin ang natapos mo kahapon?

4. Ano ang ginagawa mo sa bahay?

5. Kailan ka natulog?

Solutions

1. Kumakain ako ng saging ngayon.

2. Naglalaro sila sa labas.

3. Uminom ako ng tubig kahapon.

4. Nagtatrabaho ako sa bahay.

5. Natulog ako ng maaga.

Exercise 10: Role Play

Pair up with a partner and role-play a conversation using the present and past tenses. One person can ask questions about daily activities, and the other can respond using the structures learned in this lesson.

Example Conversation

• A: Ano ang ginagawa mo ngayon?

• B: Kumakain ako ng saging.

• A: Ano ang kinakain mo kahapon?

• B: Kumain ako ng mangga kahapon.

In this exercise, you can practice both the present and past tenses in a friendly and natural manner.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have now learned the basics of the Tagalog past and present tenses. Mastering these tenses is essential for building a solid foundation in the language. Remember, practice is key, so don’t hesitate to revisit these exercises and examples until you feel confident.

Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be on your way to conversing in Tagalog like a pro!

Table of Contents - Tagalog Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings and Farewells
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Days and Months
• Telling Time

  ---

Asking Questions

• Question Words
• Yes/No Questions

  ---

Everyday Activities

• Daily Routine
• Hobbies and Interests

  ---

Present Tense

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Past Tense

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Future Tense

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs

  ---

Shopping and Services

• Shopping Vocabulary
• Banking and Postal Services

  ---

Filipino Customs and Traditions

• Festivals and Celebrations
• Family and Social Life

Sources

• How to Conjugate Filipino and Tagalog Verbs: Types and Tenses ...

Other Lessons

• Nouns
• 0 to A1 Course
• Pronouns
• Adjectives
• Basic Pronouns
• Basic Sentence Structure
• How to Use Be
• Regular Verbs
• Conditional Mood
• Modal Verbs