Filipino Mang- Verbs

Filipino, or Tagalog, mang-verbs are actor-focus verbs that describe repetition, professional acts, entertainments, harmful acts, temporary change, actions that targets multiple objects, and so on.

• Nangangailangan kami ng tulong ninyo. (We need your help.)
• Namigay sila ng regalo. (They gave off presents.)
• Mamalengke ka sa palengke. (You go to the market.)

The mang-verb formation rule is mostly the same as the general verb's conjugation rules, namely, "m"-starting infinitive, "n"-starting perfect, repetition of the first syllable of the root for the progressive and prospective.

All are well except for the Filipino "-ng" rule. The prefix "mang-" ends with "ng", and when a root that starts with the letter "b", "ng" will be altered to "m" and "b" must be taken off. Namely, the "-ng" rule states that "ngb" combination must be replaced with "m".

The mang-verb formation rule states the followings.

• If the root starts with "b" or "p", "ng" must be replaced with "m" and the "b" or "p" must be taken off.
• If the root starts with "d", "l" or "r", "ng" must be replaced with "n".
• If the root starts with "s" or "t", "ng" must be replaced with "n" and the "s" or "t" must be taken off.
• If the root starts with "b" or "p", "ng" must be replaced with "m" and the "b" or "p" must be taken off.
• If the root starts with "k", the "k" must be taken off.
• If the root starts with a vowel, a hyphen may be placed between the prefix and the root.

The following Java applet shows a list of roots and their mang-verbs in infinitive, perfect, progressive, and prospective aspects. Select any of the root word and the four forms of its mang-verb will appear below.