Question: Hi, Is there a lesson somewhere explaining conjugation

Well, in Tagalog there aren't really conjugations like you might be used to in another language.Tagalog uses a system of affixes; prefixes, infixes (things added to the middle of the word), and suffixes.It is a highly complex thing to teach, and I don't see a lesson here on Tagalog.com for it. What I recommend is that you get yourself a grammar book; namely, "Essential Tagalog Grammar" by Fiona De Vos. In there, you will find rules on how to create verbs from root words.Mag is a complex prefix used in nouns, adjectives, and verbs (it's not always a verb).However, in terms of verbs, it can be used to express these things about a root word:
1. to do [root word]; focus on doer of the action
2. to take up occupation as [root word]; focus on doer
3. to use or wear [root word]; focus on doer
4. to perform a reciprocal action in relation to [root word]; focus on doer
5. to be [root word]; no focus
6. *to do [root word] repeatedly; focus on doer
7. **to perform a reciprocal action involving >=3 doers in relation to [root word]; focus on doer
8. **to do [root word] occasionally; focus on doer
9. ***to do [root word] together (with someone else); focus on doer* This affix requires syllable repetition (first syllable of root word repeated), see the example.
** This affix requires double syllable repetition (first two syllables of root word repeated), see the example.
*** This affix requires the "mag" prefix and the "an" suffix.1. luto - cooking/cuisine
- Rule: mag + root
- Tagalog: magluto (basic), nagluto (completed), nagluluto (uncompleted/wip), magluluto (unstarted)
- English: to cook (basic), cooked (completed), cooking (uncompleted/wip), will cook (unstarted)2. doktor - doctor
- Rule: mag + root
- Tagalog: magdoktor (basic), nagdoktor (completed), nagdodoktor (uncompleted/wip), magdodoktor (unstarted)
- English: to become a doctor (basic), became a doctor (completed), becoming a doctor (uncompleted/wip), will become a doctor (unstarted)3. Tagalog - Tagalog
- Rule: mag + root
- Tagalog: mag-Tagalog (basic), nag-Tagalog (completed), nagta-Tagalog (uncompleted/wip), magta-Tagalog (unstarted)
- English: to speak Tagalog (basic), spoke Tagalog (completed), speaking Tagalog (uncompleted/wip), will speak Tagalog (unstarted)4. kita - seeing
- Rule: mag + root
- Tagalog: magkita (basic), nagkita (completed), nagkikita (uncompleted/wip), magkikita (unstarted)
- English: to see each other (basic), saw each other (completed), seeing each other (uncompleted/wip), will see each other (unstarted)5. Pasko - Christmas
- Rule: mag + root
- Tagalog: mag-Pasko (basic), nag-Pasko (completed), nagpa-Pasko (uncompleted/wip), magpa-Pasko (unstarted)
- English: to be Christmas (basic), was Christmas (completed), is Christmas (uncompleted/wip), will be Christmas (unstarted).6. sigaw - shout
- Rule: mag + first syllable of root + root
- Tagalog: magsisigaw (basic), nagsisigaw (completed), nagsisisigaw (uncompleted/wip), magsisisigaw (unstarted)
- English: to shout repeatedly (basic), shouted repeatedly (completed), shouting repeatedly (uncompleted/wip), will shout repeatedly (unstarted)7. usap - talking
- Rule: mag + [sometimes dash] + first two syllables of root + dash + root
- Tagalog: mag-usap-usap (basic), nag-usap-usap (completed), nag-uusap-usap (uncompleted/wip), mag-uusap-usap (unstarted)
- English: to talk to each other (basic), talked to each other (completed), talking to each other (uncompleted/wip), will talk to each other (unstarted)8. isip - mind
- Rule: mag + [sometimes dash] + first two syllables of root + dash + root
- Tagalog: mag-isip-isip (basic), nag-isip-isip (completed), nag-iisip-isip (uncompleted/wip), mag-iisip-isip (unstarted)
- English: to think a little (basic), thought a little (completed), thinking a little (uncompleted/wip), will think a little (unstarted)9. sulat - letter/writing
- Rule: mag + root + an
- Tagalog: magsulatan (basic), nagsulatan (completed), nagsusulatan (uncompleted/wip), magsusulatan (unstarted)
- English: to write each other (basic), wrote each other (completed), writing each other (uncompleted/wip), will write each other (unstarted)There are many more affixes, and like I said mag is used in nouns and adjectives as well.You can find the grammar book I'm referencing on this page of this site: www.tagalog.com/reso urces/However, thankfully, the online version is free. I do much prefer the book version and I implore you to buy it both to support the creators but also because it gives a much better learning experience in my opinion.However, I digress, the link is here:
learningtagalog.com/ grammar/verbs/verb_a ffixes.htmlScroll down to mag-1. In this post I walked you through mag-1 through mag-...-an.

Some other things:
There are NO verb tenses. At all. Tagalog has an aspect system. It is like tenses, but not really. You have the completed aspect, uncompleted aspect, and unstarted aspect. There are also recently completed aspect and intensive recently completed aspect but ignore those for now.Another big thing is FOCUS. The focus of a verb is going to decide the form of the verb and also what pronouns and other words you can use after it.ALL of these in this post are focused on the doer.
Verbs can focus on the doer, the object, a direction, a location, the beneficiary, an instrument, or a cause/reference of an action.Because these are all focused on the doer, you'd use "ang" pronouns - ako, ka/ikaw, siya, kami, tayo, kayo, sila - and not "ng" pronouns - ko, mo, niya, namin, natin, ninyo/niyo, nila - nor "sa" pronouns.A quick example of what I mean by that is that you'd say this (ref example 1):
Magluluto ako - I will cook
Magluluto ka - You will cook
Nagluluto siya - He is cooking
Nagluluto kami - We (excluding you) are cooking
Nagluto tayo - We (including you) cooked
Nagluto sila - They cookedI won't do them all, but you would NOT say:
Magluluto ko. There is no doer here, so the verb does not work.Just don't make the mistake of adding a doer and also using "ko".
Nagluluto ang pizza ko - The pizza is cooking me.
vs
Nagluluto ako ng pizza - I am cooking the pizza. Happy travels.

@simpleauthority Thank-you for your explanation and references. My head is spinning now so I think I will go and have a cup of tea and lie down. :-)

@Meggs It will be okay! Take it slow Learn the basic affixes like a few of the mag, the um, the in. Learn others as you go because you'll find they let you make bigger more descriptive/colorful words.Don't need to digest them all at once.As we say in Tagalog, kaya mo! (You can do it!)

The Fixs scare me.

You'll have to get a grammar book (they're <$20 in Amazon).Tagalog conjugations are very different from European conjugations, so expect hair-splitting concepts

@Meggs I feel the exact same way. Just keep at it, keep reading sentences that use the verbs and eventually you'll start to see the logic in it all.These links were sent to me and it helped a lot. Give them a read and your head will not hurt so much!www.seasite.niu.edu/ Tagalog/Grammar%20Ac tivities/Grammar%202 /Verbal%20Focusowlcation.com/humani ties/Filipino-Verbs- and-Tenses

@Nick Thank you Nick

So against my better judgment, I will provide the simplest "crib sheet" ever. Too lacking in "appropriate nuance" for some perhaps, but very helpful when you are just trying to connect with simple conversation.For example, Ayos - root for arranging or putting in orderFor actor focus affixes....UM ayos...think of the "ING" as in "its just Happening."
So here "IS arranging"
Neutral action... "the arranging" The actor doing the action without strong focus on or intention of the actor.MAG ayos think of DO. I do. You do. Coco does. Deliberate obvious action by actor.
So here, "Coco arranges"Here the action is direct and apparent by the Actor. This is NOT the default style for Filipinos. Too direct and strong. Nag is generally acceptable for the completed form of the verb. But for ongoing present and future forms, nag 2x / mag 2x, the mag with the double double often sounds pangit to Filipino ears and is often disfavored. Unless there is good reason for MAG..default to UM.MA ayos think "BEING done" or "can BE done" passive action of the actor without attention.
So the room "is BEING arranged"UM - happenING neutral action MAG - DO deliberate action MA - passive action or capability of BEING accomplishedThen for object focus...ayos IN moving the action from the actor to the object.
So here "arrange something"and let's pretend ayos AN...moving the action from the actor to something FOR SOMEBODY
So here "arrange Coco's hair"POOF....Tapus na! Easiest Ever. Now there is no silver bullet. You cannot urge this "GLOSS" in your Doctoral Grammar seminar (or maybe even here ). But until you find any guidance more direct than this...you will free yourself for better conversations and stronger connections with natives. I reached this "default mode" after long inquiring conversations with dozens of Personal Assistant Copywriters over the past year. If it helps use it, if not subtle enough - lose it.Enjoy!