This tutorial on Tagalog language is suited for beginners. Specifically this is a lesson on Ligatures or Particles "na" and "at". In this episode, the student will be able to construct simple Tagalog phrases.

What Are Ligatures?

Ligatures are words that have no precise meaning. Ligatures are also known as particles. These are essential on crafting phrases or sentences because it helps express the precise thoughts or ideas of the speaker.

Na usually connects an adjective with a noun. 

Examples: 

1. Mataás na gusalì (tall building)
2. Gusalì na mataás (either the noun or the adjective may be mentioned first; tall building)
3. Asúl na kwarto (blue room)
4. Kwarto na asúl (blue room)
5. Malinis na kwarto (clean room)
6. Maliít na kwarto (small room)

When the word before “na” ends with a vowel, eliminate the “na” but apply the suffix “ng” (or “g”)

Ng (or g) is used as a suffix to avoid  saying the ligature “na”

Examples: 

1. Gusaling mataás (suffix “ng” or “g” is used to avoid  saying the ligature “na”; tall building)
2. Kwartong asúl (blue room)
3. Madumíng kwarto (dirty room)
4. Kwartong madumí (dirty room)
5. Malakíng kwarto (big room)

How To Enumerate Related Concepts Or Ideas?

The ligature “at” is a connector which means “and”.

Examples:

1. Batà at matandâ (young and old)
2. Kamatis, bawang at luya (tomato, garlic and ginger)
3. Matangkád at makisig (tall and fit)
4. Matamís, malutóng at sariwà (sweet, crunchy and fresh)
5. Pitumpû at dalawá (seventy and two)

Contraction: Use ’t (apostrophe t) when the word before “at” ends with a vowel.

Examples: 

1. Bata’t matandâ (young and old)
2. Pitumpu’t dalawá (seventy and two)
3. Ako’t ikáw (you and I)
4. Mayama’t mahirap (rich and poor)
5. Kahoy, bakal at yero (wood, steel and corrugated sheet)