For comparatives, we use the words mas (more) before the adjective and kaysa (than) between the two people/objects being compared. In the sentence patterns below, note the use of the object marker kay (used when comparing people), and the preposition sa (used after kaysa with pronouns or when comparing objects). Kaysa can be omitted in conversational Tagalog.
| kay | object marker used before names or proper nouns |
| kaysa kay Sarah | than Sarah |
| sa | preposition used to mean in, an, on, etc. |
| kaysa sa kaibigan ko | than my friend |
| kaysa sa iyo | than you |
Ralph is taller than Sarah.
Mas matangkad si Ralph kaysa kay Sarah.
Mas matangkad si Ralph kay Sarah.
I am taller than you.
Mas matangkad ako kaysa sa iyo.
Mas matangkad ako sa iyo.
For superlatives, attach the affix pinaka- to the adjective. Note that you can change the word order. However, pronouns must come immediately after the adjective.
My elder sister is the most hard-working in the family.
Pinakamasipag ang ate ko sa pamilya.
Pinakamasipag sa pamilya ang ate ko.
I am the youngest in the family.
Pinakabata ako sa pamilya ko.
Family Picture
Ralph is showing Sarah a picture of his family.
SARAH : Sino ito? Who is this?
RALPH : Kapatid ko ito. Mas bata siya sa akin pero mas matangkad. This is my brother. He is younger but he is taller.
SARAH : Sino ang pinakamatangkad? Who is the tallest?
RALPH : Ang tatay ko. My father.
SARAH : Sino ang pinakamaganda? Who is the prettiest?
RALPH : Pinakamaganda ang nanay ko sa pamilya. My mother is the prettiest.
GRAMMAR
Pronouns
Let us review/study pronouns using this chart.
Personal pronouns chart
| Subject pronouns | Object pronouns | Possessive adjectives | Possessive pronouns |
| ako I | akin me | ko, akin my | akin mine |
| ikaw, ka you | iyo you | mo, iyo your | iyo yours |
| siya he/she | kanya her/him | niya, kanya his/her | kanya his/hers |
| kami(exclusive) wetayo(inclusive) we(means we + you) | amin(exclusive) usatin(inclusive) us(means us + you) | amin, namin(inclusive) ouratin, natin(exclusive)our (means our + your) | amin(inclusive) oursatin(exclusive)ours (meansours + yours) |
| kayo you(plural) | inyo you(plural) | inyo, ninyo yourplural) | ninyo yours(plural) |
| sila they | kanila them | nila, kanila their | kanila theirs |
1. Sometimes two pronouns can be used to mean the same thing. An example is ko and akin, both of which mean my. However, in the case of akin, you need the linker na, to link it to the noun or subject.
| nanay ko | my mother (literally, mother my) |
| Siya ang nanay ko. | She + ang + mother + my. She is my mother. |
| aking (contraction of akin + na) | my |
| aking nanay | my mother |
| Siya ang aking nanay. | She + ang + my + mother. She is my mother. |
2. A characteristic of the Tagalog language that is difficult for learners to grasp is the flexibility of meaning. Among the pronouns, for example, akin can mean me, my, and mine.
| Mas matangkad siya kaysa sa akin. | Taller + he/she + than + me.He/she is taller than me. |
| Matangkad ang aking tatay. | Tall + ang + my + father. My father is tall. |
| Akin ito. | Mine + this. This is mine. |
QUESTION AND ANSWER PRACTICE
Answer these questions and talk about your family. Or, use your imagination and talk about a fictitious family.
1. Question: Sino ang pinakamatangkad sa pamilya mo?
Answer: Pinakamatangkad si __________________ sa pamilya ko.
2. Question: Sino ang mas bata, si ___________ o si ________________?
Answer: ____________________________________________________.
3. Question: Sino ang pinakamabait?
Answer: ____________________________________________________.
4. Question: ____________________________________________________?
Answer: Mas matalino si ____________ kaysa kay ______________.
5. Question: ____________________________________________________?
Answer: Mas masungit ang pusa ko kaysa sa aso ko.
SUMMING UP
Let us try to sum up what you have learned
