Talking about Past
Events
Using the Completed Aspect of Verbs
Click on a category, and study each grammar point.
In the completed aspect, the -um is affixed before the first vowel of the root. The affix mag- becomes nag- and is affixed before the first syllable of the root. Similarly, the ma- affix becomes na- and is affixed before the first syllable of the root.
example:
Click on the green button to listen to the
sentence.
Kumain siya.
Nagaral ako sa
laybrari.
Natulog sila sa otel.
The completed aspect of verbs is used to indicate an action that has started and has been completed or finished. This aspect is used when you describe past activities. Oftentimes, a phrase or word that indicates past time is used.
Verb |
Actor (focus) |
Location |
Time Expression |
Kumain |
siya |
|
kanina |
Nag-aral |
ako |
sa laybrari |
kagabi |
Natulog |
sila |
sa otel |
noong Sabado |
example:
Click on the green button to listen to the
sentence.
Kumain siya kanina.
Nag-aral ako sa
laybrari kagabi.
Natulog sila sa otel noong
Sabado.
Aspect in Tagalog is indicated by means of verbal inflection that includes adding the affixes na- to the root of ma verbs and nag- to the root of mag verbs and -um to the root of -um verbs.