What are markers? And
Why are they Important

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Tagalog markers function in much the same way as articles in
English.
These words come before nouns or noun phrases to indicate their roles in a sentence.
They may mark nouns as subject, object, location, direction, etc.
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Si Ben/ni Ben
Sina Ben at Mila/nina Ben at Mila
Ang bata/ng bata
Ang mga Bata/ng mga bata
Sa Chicago

 A marker tells you something about the noun that follows it.
 In Tagalog, markers tell you something about what role the word plays in the sentence.
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Kumain si Ben.
Kinain ni Ben ang mansanas.

1. Focus words - the markers that identify these words are called ANG markers.
2 . Relational words - the markers that identify these words are called NG markers.
3 . Locative (direction or location) words the markers that identify these words are called SA markers.
*Note that a single word can be in any one of the categories depending on how the speaker wants to use it in the sentence or depending on the affix of the verbs.

ANG marks a word as the focus of the sentence except for nouns that are the names of people (like Bob, Sarah, etc.).
Abogado ang babae.
Masaya ang piknik.
Nasa mesa ang kape.

2. ANG is a noun definitizer (i.e.
, it functions like the definite article the , as opposed to a or an , in English), especially in sentences using pseudoverbs.

The following examples illustrate the contrast between definite and indefinite noun phrases.
 I like mangoes. I like the mangoes
 Gusto ko ng mangga. Gusto ang mangga

The markers SI and SINA are used to indicate that the name of a person is the focus of the sentence.
ANG is not used with personal names like Bob,
Mary, Jose, Rita, etc.
If the name is the focus of the sentence, used si/sina

 Si Ben ang tatay ko.
 Sina Mila at Ben ang mga kaibigan ko.
 Pumunta si Mila sa Klase.
 Kumain sina Mila at Ben ng adobo at pansit.

 Noun is not the focus of the sentence
 Ng is for inanimate nouns
 Ni is for animate nouns
 No exact translation in English
 Marks the direct object in the sentence in an actor focus sentence
 Indicate possession

 Kinain ni Ben ang mansanas sa mesa.
 Binasa ng lalake ang libro.
 Nagluto si Ben ng pizza.
 Naglinis siya ng bahay.

The possessor noun comes after the noun possessed. Or in other words, the noun before NI/nina is the noun that is possessed or owned. The noun after NI/nina is the possessor or owner.
Ito ang bahay ni ate Rhoda. This is ate
Rhoda’s house.
Si Ben ang kapatid ni Mila. Ben is Mila’s sibling.