Module 18: Past and Present Tense Verbs (UM, MAG-, MA-)

written by Amy C. Peria & Precious Arao

Background

This teaching module on past and present verbs is designed for high school students. However, it can be modified to teach college/university students. There are multiple ways in which we can express an action. In module 16, students learn how to conjugate UM and MAG verbs in past tense. This module will incorporate that lesson and also teach students how to conjugate the UM and MAG verbs in present tense, and MA- verbs in past and present tense. The activity in this lesson will help the students learn how to write and speak in Tagalog about their daily activities.

Motivating Activity

A Day in Your Life
  1.  Students write down their schedule in a day. Encourage them to write in Tagalog as much as possible. Taglish is welcome. This activity will be used later in the culminating activity and will be written out in Tagalog.  For example:

Processing Activity (-um- Verbs)

In module 16, students learned how to conjugate verbs in past tense using UM. This lesson incorporates that and will teach them how to conjugate UM verbs in present tense.
1. Review conjugation of UM verbs in past tense with the students.
​To form the past tense of an UM verb, place the UM between the first consonant and the first vowel:
2. Show students how to conjugate UM verbs in present tense.

To form the present tense of an UM verb, follow these steps:​

 A.  Repeat the first syllable of the root word. This step is actually how you form the verb in future tense.​
Bili (buy)
 Kain (eat)
Tayo (stand)
→
→
​→
Bibili (will buy)
​Kakain (will eat)
​Tatayo (will stand)​
 B.  Place UM between the first consonant and first vowel in order to form the present tense of an UM verb.
Bibili
Kakain
Tatayo
→
→
​→
Bumibili (buying)
​Kumakain (eating)
​Tumatayo (standing)
Picture
3. Students practice the UM verb conjugation in the past and present tenses. Having them practice the past tense conjugation again will reinforce their knowledge of the past tense form. These are the same words as module 16.
​

Processing Activity (mag- Verbs)

In module 16, students learned how to conjugate verbs in past tense using MAG- verbs. This lesson incorporates that and will teach them how to conjugate MAG- verbs in present tense.
1. Review conjugation of MAG- verbs in past tense with the students: nag- + root word.
MAG- verbs are also actor-focused verbs, which means the subject is the actor. Make sure to use a dash if the root word begins with a vowel. No need to use a dash if the root word begins with a consonant.
2. Show students how to conjugate MAG- verbs in present tense.
To form the present tense of a MAG verb, follow these steps:

A.  Repeat the first syllable of the root word.
Aral (study)
Laro (play)
Usap (talk)
​→
→
​→
Aaral
Lalaro
Uusap
B.  Insert NAG- in front.
Aaral
Lalaro
Uusap
​→
→
​→
Nagaaral
Naglalaro
Naguusap
MAG- verbs can also be used with activities said in English, such as playing sports or playing an instrument, and most words are adapted to be spelled in Tagalog.

Instead of saying “playing [instrument/sports]”, you can simply use MAG- + instrument/sports in past or present tense, and it will mean the same thing. The word for playing is naglalaro (root word: laro = play). It is still ok to say, “naglalaro ng basketbol,” but it is common to simply say nag-babasketbol.

For example:

​Basketbol (basketball)
​Gitara (guitar)
Piano
​
​→
→
​→
Past Tense
​Nag-basketbol
Nag-gitara
Nag-piano
​
​→
→
​→
Present Tense
Nag-babasketbol
Nag-gigitara
Nag-pipiano
Picture
3. Students practice the MAG verb conjugation in the past and present tenses.  Having them practice the past tense conjugation again will reinforce their knowledge of the past tense form. These are the same words as module 16.

Processing Activity (ma- Verbs)

1. Teach students how to conjugate MA verbs in past and present tense.

PAST TENSE
To form the past tense using MA- verbs, use NA- + root word. For example:
tulog (sleep)
nood (watch)
ligo (bath)
​→
→
​→
Natulog (slept)
Nanood (watched)
Naligo (took a bath)
PRESENT TENSE
To form the present tense using MA- verbs: take its past tense form, then repeat the first sylLable of the root word.
Root Word
tulog (sleep)
nood (watch)
ligo (bath)​
​
​→
→
​→
Past Tense
Natulog (slept)
Nanood (watched)
Naligo (took a bath)

​→
→
​→
Present Tense
Natutulog (sleeping)
Nanonood (watching)
Naliligo (taking a bath)
Picture
  2. ​Have students practice the conjugation of MA verbs in past and present tense.
​      These are the suggested root words.
-UM-, MAG-, AND MA- VERBS SENTENCE FORMATION
Explain to students how to create a sentence using the UM, MAG, and MA verbs.
UM, MAG, and MA verbs are all actor-focused verbs, which means the actor is the subject. 
In order to create a natural sentence, this sentence order is highly recommended:

Culminating Activity

​Creating Sentences
Picture
Using the students’ schedule from the motivating activity, have students write their schedule using UM, MAG, and NAG- in past and present form.

​Some useful terms to introduce to the students:
For example:

Enrichment Activity

  1. For further practice, have students write at least three complete sentences using their schedule in either the past form or present form of the verbs.
For example:
Sa alas sais ng umaga, gumigising ako. Mula 8:20 ng umaga hanggang alas dos ng hapon, nag-aaral ako sa eskuwela. Tapos, gumagawa ako ng homework sa alas siyete ng gabi at natutulog na ng alas diyes ng gabi.

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