Adjectives in Tagalog

 An adjective describes a noun

Adjectives are words like beautiful, awesome and any other word that gives some information about the thing, the place, the person, the idea or the animal described by a noun.

In Tagalog there are adjectives that are formed by a root word+an affix (like maganda=beautiful) and adjectives that don't require an affix (like bobo=stupid).

Here is a list of affixes that are used to form compound adjectives

1 ma- having a certain quality

Example: maganda=beautiful

2. maka- having a certain inclination

Example: makalaman=fleshly

3. maka- having a certain ability

Example: makadurug-puso=having the ability to break one's heart

4. mala- being like

Example: malasibuyas=like an onion

5. mapag- having a certain habit

Example: mapagbiro=having the habit to joke

6. mapang~ mapan~ mapam~ one who does on a regular basis the thing described by the root word

Example: mapang-away= one who regularly engages in a quarrel

7. pala- one who is constantly doing the thing described by the root word

Example: palaisip=always thinking

8. pang-~ pan-~ pam- instrumental

Example: pampatibay=encouraging

9.-an~ han one who possesses the quality described by the root word to a large extent

Example: duguan=inclined to a large extent toward bloodshed

10. in- like the thing described by the root word

Example: sinampalok=like a tamarind

11. in/-hin one who easily catches the thing described by the root word

Example: lagnatin=one who easily catches the flu

12. ma- -in/-hin one who possesses the quality described by the root word to a large extent

Example: maawain=full of mercy