1. Find the English root of the verb.

2. Find its Tagalog equivalent.

3. Decide which focus (actor or object) in Tagalog you want to use.

4. In using either actor- or object-focus form of the verb in a Tagalog sentence, always

remember this basic word order in Tagalog: Verb + Subject + (Adjective) Object



5. Examples:

The following are examples of actor- and object-focus sentences. The verb is KAIN, conjugated

in completed, incompleted, and contemplated forms, respectively.

Actor Focus



Kumain ako ng tinapay kaninang umaga.

Kumakain ako ng tinapay ngayon.

Kakain ako ng tinapay bukas.

Object Focus



Kinain ko ang tinapay kaninang umaga.

Kinakain ko ang tinapay ngayon.

Kakainin ko ang tinapay bukas.







6. The examples provided in the tables below are the most common Tagalog verbs

used by Tagalog speakers. There are verbs that have both -UM- and MAG-

actor-focus forms, and several object-focus forms (I-, -IN- or -AN).