Question: Resource for learning prefixes?

I have the same struggle. Something I’m finding helpful so far is TDC’s “Verb Acquistion” flash cards.
They provide you with a small set of verbs (affixes are mixed up within a set).
After you do the set with the root word and aspects, then the next 7 sets are practice fill-in-the-blank sentences wherein you have to decide on the proper verb (including proper affix) and the correct aspect.
It is helpful because it’s not just memorizing the verbs but practicing them.
Hope that helps!www.tagalog.com/flas hcards/verb_conjugat ions.php

@GinoongCrook Mhh ... this is a very complex topic ... what a pity, so few people are commenting on it ... Prefixes are a very important part of Tagalog language ! Verbs are formed not only by conjugation (or inflexion), they are also often modified by affixes most of all prefixes. There is an abundance of prefixes ... the list is sheerly endless ... some are used heavily others show up just once in a while ... So far I have found no grammar book, that really covers that topic in detail ... And I dont think there is a list of general rules ... and this is so, because most probably there are no general rules ! Most grammar books mention a few basic facts only. E.g. prefixes are conjugated, in contrast to european languages: maka, naka, nakaka, makaka ... But there is much more. As an example let's take the prefix PAG ... it can be used to form the gerund of a verb: pagkain, pagkanta - eating, singing or pagbabasa, pagsusulat - reading, writing Sounds great ... doesn't it ? But did you notice, that there is something tricky about it ?... Why do some verbs duplicate the first sylable(pagbabasa), while others do not (pagkain).Very simple: MAG-verbs duplicate, UM-verbs do not ... so far I did not find ANY grammar book, that would really deal with that topic in detail ... And by the waypag-ibig - loveis just a "noun-maker" and does NOT form a gerund. Things are not so easy, obviously ... The above rules are far from being complete. This is just an example of some rules that apply to prefixes. I dont think there is a complete list of rules .... and most probably if there was a list, I suppose it would be endless. So I think, the best way to deal with prefixes is, to start with a small set and find out, how these prefixes are used in every day conversation by trial and error. Like a child, that starts learning the language. Maybe the best way to do so, is to have a sweet and patient pinay girl friend ... Most probably it will take a long time until a foreigner catches up the spirit of using prefixes in Tagalog language ... I hope I did not bother you with my thoughts on Tagalog prefixes ... otherwise just ignore me ...

Thank you for your reply, was very helpful and nice to see I’m not alone in my struggles to learn

Hello! In my experience, Jose Villa Panganiban's Tagalog-English Dictionary has been a very helpful resource section in understanding prefixes and utilizing them based on context. Alternatively, you could use the Affix Analysis tool in the Dictionary section of TDC to pick apart the prefixes used on a particular word e.g. mangako (mang + pangako).

@Jimmy329
About this:
Very simple: MAG-verbs duplicate, UM-verbs do not ... so far I did not find ANY grammar book, that would really deal with that topic in detail ...That may be true but just to let you know that "pagkakain" and "pagkakanta" are word forms that do exist in the language. PAGKAKAIN natin manood tayo ng TV. = After eating let's watch TV. (Pagkakain here is the contraction of pagkatapos kumain.) Nagalit siya sa akin dahil sa hindi ko sinasadyang PAGKAKAKAIN (yes, 3 "ka") ng chocolate na hindi ko alam na sa kaniya pala. = He got mad at me because of my unintentionally EATING/HAVING EATEN the chocolate that I did not know belonged to him.Ikaw ang susunod PAGKAKANTA niya. = You're next after he finished SINGING. (Also a contraction of pagkatapos kumanta.) Mas gusto ko ang PAGKAKAKANTA (ka x 3) mo ng awit/kanta na iyon kaysa dun sa original version. = I like your SINGING of/WAY OF SINGING that song more than that of the original version.

Thanks for the addendumm ... this also confirms what I wanted to point out: a complete discussion of "prefixes" is not very helpful, when you start learning Tagalog. Presenting it all in "one blow" would leave the Tagalog beginner most probably totally confused ! Some topics may be learnt from a grammar book ... and others not. And to my taste prefixes is a topic, that should not be presented as ONE chapter !I have tried to make up a list of all available prefixes for my personal use ... it starts getting complicated very early, as e.g. some prefixes apply to nouns, others to verbs and others to adjectives and some to all three of them ... having totally different meanings sometimes! Some prefixes may collide with non-prefixes, some verb prefixes are conjugated while others are not, etc. etc. If you go into detail, then prefixes become one of the most complicated matters in phil grammar at a very early stage ... So I think, a beginner should try to get familiar with just a couple of common prefixes, trying to get the "spirit" of them ... increasing the knowledge step by step. Attempting to learn the complete picture right away from a single source, will probably end up in frustration.

@Jimmy329I totally agree with you. Affixes can be unwieldy. For example, the prefix “ma” is commonly used to form adjectives, but it is also a verb prefix – “maganda” is an adjective while “magandahan” is a verb. A prefix may also take different meanings depending on the root word it goes with. For example, “ipa” is commonly taken to mean “to ask someone to do something”.“IPAtawag mo kay George ang nurse.” means “ASK George to call the nurse”. But, “IPAgamit mo kay George ang kutsilyo” means “ALLOW George to use the knife.” So I would advise learners to just understand the meanings the affixes give to verbs as they are encountered. They should instead focus on learning root words because even with a wrong affix if the appropriate root word is used they will still most likely be understood by Filipinos.

I hope the TE will still read this thread ... but maybe it will be of interest to other people as well: In Tagalog we have only three tenses (completed, uncompleted and contemplated), which correspond more or less to the English basic tenses (past, present, future). This is why some gurus claim, that Tagalog grammar is much more easy than English grammar.In fact this is NOT the case. In Tagalog the concept of tense is replaced by the concept of aspect. We have a powerful set of affixes that can modify verbs ... and we have the concept of focus, which replaces active and passive voice, but on a much wider base than in English ! So to my taste Tagalog verb grammar is much MORE complex than in English. Prefixes can also serve as an adjective maker (ganda - maganda), as a verb maker (mag-tagalog) or simply as a modifier.Affixes can be prefixes, infixes or suffixes. The TE wants to know about prefixes, so let's talk about that. To my knowledge there exists no grammar book, that deals with that topic in general. So I have tried to make up a list of prefixes myself (which is still far from being complete and maybe even far from being correct). Here it is to your descretion: i- I-verbs (OF)
ipag- OF, ipinag-, ipanag-, ipag-ka- same as
(kaklase - of the same class, class mate)
ka-, kaka- + future + lang - recent past
(kaluluto lang, kakaluto lang)
kasing- kasinglaki (of same bigness, as big as)ma- adjective maker, MA-verbs (AF)
mag- to do, MAG-verbs (AF)
magpa-
maka- to be able to
(makabasa, AF nakabása, nakákabasa, makákabasa)
makaka- (makaintindí, AF, nakaintindí, nakákaintindi, makákaintindi)
mapa- mapa+root
(OF, napa, napapa, mapapa)na-
nag-
naka- to wear s.th. (nakaazul)
nakaka- (cf. makaka)
nagpa-
nagpapa-
nagkaka-
napa, napapa
nakikipag-
ni- IN-verbs (OF) (lutuin - niluto)pa-
pag- for ...
pang-
paki- used to ask s.o. t perform the action
associated with the root as a request or favor
OF, pinaki+root, pinakiki+root, pakiki+root
pinaka- superlativetaga- doing something on a regular basis (tagaluto = a cook)
fromum- UM-verbs (AF) (ulan - umulan)Not all affixes may be applied to any root. But quite a lot ... e.g. luto: iluto
ipagluto
magluto, nagluto
maluto, naluto
magpaluto
makapagluto
pagluto
tagaluto This is a first try of a non-native speaker to deal with that topic in general. But at least it already contains more than 30 prefixes .... although my explanations may be far from being correct in all cases. I have gathered a lot of examples too ... but this would bust this thread ... I would be really very much interested in getting your feedback on my (humble) attempt to cover the matter ... Have a great day everybody
Jimmy

I love all the good knowledge being shared on this thread. Thanks Jimmy for adding to it. With regard to affixes, the book Essential Tagalog Grammar, by Fiona de Vos, along with the website which has what I assume is a good portion of its essential content, learningtagalog.com, seems to me to cover this topic fairly decently. I have found it very helpful and frequently reference it. Here’s the link to the detailed table of contents:
learningtagalog.com/ grammar/detailed_con tents.htmlIn addition to a fairly exhaustive list of verb affixes, it also has a detailed list of noun affixes and adjective affixes.

@jeffkrauss great resource thank you! have a good day! God bless youtu.be/t1BWSOVNm4A

I have @jeffkrauss This is a great one indeed! Can also be bought in book version.

yes, this book can be bought ... and so I agree, recommending this grammar book besides using her free online grammar ! Fiona de Vos has really done a great job ... and I also can recommend her (free) YouTube lessons ... she is really a BIG help for those who try to master Tagalog ... good presentation, clear prononciation, great expertise ... Her online grammar contains a splendid overview of Tagalog affixes ! The best I have ever seen. And it reveals the major flaw of my (stupid) attempt to deal with that matter .... I should not split up affixes into prefixes, infixes and suffixes (as some may be ambiguous - like UMinom and kUMain) ... a much better approach is, to split the list into noun affixes, verb affixes and adjective affixes, as Fiona de Vos has done ! They maybe be ambigous too, but usually they are designated to different meanings and functions !I am also especially impressed about the complete list of "enclitic particals" in her online grammar... Fiona de Vos has really done a thorough investigation on Tagalog grammar ... so her online grammar is simply GREAT ! Thanks for sharing that link! Kind regards
Jimmy

@Jimmy329 Just to clarify:In your list of "n" affixes, only "na-" (narito), "naka-" (naka-itim) and "-in/-hin" (lakarin/takbuhin) begin with "n". The rest are actually "m" affixes. The "m" changes to "n" in their past and present tense conjugation.

I’m learning Tagalog and I LOVE this website. It’s a constant reference. I also use the books published “Salitang Pinoy” byThelma Cleto-Salumbides. Totally awesome grammar books that explains prefixes.salitangpinoy.yolasi te.com/contact-us.ph p

WOW. I somehow missed all of the notifications for this thread. Thank you so much, everyone for contributing to this discussion, sharing your insights and resources!We have such an incredible community on this website. Feeling blessed to be here with you all 🙌