Module 8: Adjectives/Mga Pang-uri

written by Amy C. Peria and Precious Arao

Background

This presentation is prepared for high school students, but can be modified for college students.

In this lesson, students should be able to:
  • Define types of adjectives in Filipino (ma or simple adjectives)
  • Describe nouns using adjectives (upuan: malaki)
  • Use linkers to create an adjectival phrase in Filipino (malaking upuan)
  • Use 2 or more adjectives to create an adjectival phrase in Filipino (dilaw na malaking upuan)

Motivating Activity

This activity should help students first practice their colors and then introduce them to linkers (-ing, na, and -g)
Activity 1: Paboritong Kulay
Aske students: Ano pa ang paborito mong kulay?
Have them think on their own first. They may have favorite colors that are not on this list.
You may have to provide this fill-in the blank answer key to assist them: 
__________ ang paborito kong kulay.
 (color)     is my favorite color.
Then, have the students share their favorite color in Filipino with the person sitting next to them. You may also do a class survey to see which one is the class’ favorite color. You may do this using mentimeter.com or other online classroom surveys.
Activity 2: Paboritong Bagay
Ask students:
  • Ano naman ang paborito mong bagay? (What is your favorite thing?)
  • Anong kulay ito? (What is its color?

Have students think on their own first. Then help them with their sentence structure:
Example: 
  • Favorite thing - coffee = kape
  • What color? - Black = itim
  • Kape ang paborito kong bagay. Itim ang kape. 

For this activity, after the students figure out how to stay their favorite color in their own sentence, have students do a tag-speaking activity:
  • Say what your favorite thing is with the color in a Filipino sentence.
    • Kape ang paborito kong bagay. Itim ang kape.
  • Tag someone in class:
    • Ikaw ____, ano ang paborito mong bagay?  (You _____, what is your favorite thing?)

Processing Activity

Provide a lesson to the students about adjectives / mga pang-uri.
​
There are two types of adjectives in Filipino.
  • Ma-
    • Ma- + root word
      • ma + ganda = maganda (beautiful)
      • ma + laki = malaki (big/large)
      • ma + liit = maliit (small)
  • Simple
    • pangit (ugly0
    • bata (young)
    • duwag (coward)
Describing People
​Here are some adjectives describing people.​
  • bata - young
  • bobo - stupid (use sparingly)
  • duwag - coward
  • kuripot - stingy
  • salbahe - mischevious
  • guwapo - handsome
  • pangit - ugly
  • tamad - lazy
  • matanda - old
  • matalino - smart
  • matapang - brave
  • mabait - good; kind
  • maganda - beautiful
  • malakas - strong
  • mahina - weak
  • masipag - hardworking
  • mataba - fat
  • mayaman - rich
  • mahirap - poor
  • masaya - happy
  • malungkot - sad
  • matangkad - tall
Activity 3: Describing Self and Others
Review (or introduce) in the subject set pronouns (aka ANG pronouns) with the students.
Here is the chart for the complete set of Filipino pronouns. 
Filipino Pronoun and Markers
Then, have students describe 1) themselves, 2) a friend, and 3) a family member using the adjectives above. Each student should share out loud or with a partner. ​
For self:
__________ako.          Masaya ako.
   (adj)

__________   at    __________ ako.        Matapang at masipag ako.
   (adj)       and     (adj)

_________ ako pero _________ naman.    Malungkot ako pero mayaman naman.
    (adj)           but

For family and friends:

Description + Person
______ si [name]. / … ang __________ ko.    Masaya si Bob.
(adj)                             (relationship)      Maganda ang kaibigan ko.
                                                               Mayaman ang tito ko.

______  at   ______ PERSON / … ang ______ ko.    Matapang at masipag si Jane.
(adj)   and  (adj)

_________ PERSON pero _________ naman.        Malungkot ang tita ko pero 
(adj)                       but                                    mayaman naman.


After doing practice with adjectives describing people and the ANG pronouns, introduce adjectives for describing objects and linkers. 
Describing Objects
  • bago - new
  • luma - old
  • malaki - big
  • maliit - small
  • mataas - tall; high
  • mababa - short/low
  • mahaba - long
  • maiksi - short
  • mahal - expensive
  • mura - cheap
  • maluwang - wide/loose
  • makipot - narrow
  • masikip - tight
  • magaan - light

Linkers are used to connect words together. One of the many ways is to connect words that are adjectives + noun. In this case, the noun is an object.
  • na - adjective ends with a constant other than N.
    • ​mahal na lamesa (expensive table)
  • ​-ng - adjectives ending with a vowel.
    • ​Malaking upuan (big chair)
  • -g - adjectives ending with the letter N.
    • Magaang libro (light book)

After students have become familiar with the adjectives for people and objects, you may also introduce adjectives describing food and nature.
Describing Food
  • masarap - delicious
  • di- masarap - not delicious
  • malinamnam - savory
  • matabang - tasteless
  • mainit - hot
  • matamis - sweet
  • maasim - sour
  • maalat - salty
  • mapait - bitter
  • malamig - cold
Describing Nature
  • mabango - fragrant
  • mabaho - ill smelling
  • maulan - rainy
  • mahangin - windy
  • maitim - black/dark
  • maputi - white
  • malalim - deep
  • mababaw - shallow
  • malamig - cold
To practice these adjectives, you may do another drill with them similar to activity #4.

Examples: 
  • Masarap na adobo
  • Maasim na sinigang
  • Mababaw na dagat
  • Malamig na panahon (weather)


Activity 4: Practice Linkers
Connect the following adjectives with the object. Describe the photos.
Teacher note: include more photos for the students to describe – this is a practice drill.
masarap _____ ramen
green ___ dahon
malaki ___ puno
mataas ___ puno

matarik ___ daan
brown __ sign
puti ___ snow
malamig ___ panahon
berde ___ puno
malaki ___ elepante
kulay abo ___ elepante
itim ___ gulong
pula ___ gate
Two adjectives in an adjectival phrase:
Same rules apply with the linker. The order may be adjective + adjective + noun.
Examples:
  • limang malaking aso
  • Maliit na dilaw na libro
  • Malamig na masarap na kape

Activity #5: Describe the classroom
Have students look around the classroom and have them describe one thing using two adjectives. They will share out loud. Make sure students are using the correct linkers between each word

For example:
  • Malaking green na board
  • Sirang puting mesa

Culminating Activity

Show the following photos (feel free to add more on your own) and have students describe the photos based on what they see or what they know about the photos. First, they will think of their own adjectives + noun combination. Second, they will share it within a small group. In each of their small groups, they will gather all of the descriptions. Then, they will share with the class. With the class sharing, each group will have to go up to the board to write their description. They cannot write down descriptions that are similar to the other groups. Each group must share a description. If their description is already up on the board, the group will have to think of something else to share with the class.

Enrichment Activity

Activity 7: Bring Me
For the enrichment activity, you will play the Bring Me Something game. Here are a few ideas that can be done with the class:
  1. Asul na bolpen
  2. Maliit na eraser
  3. Pulang lapis
  4. Maluwang na sapatos
  5. Malaking berdeng payong
  6. Malamig na inumin
  7. Asul na pantalon
  8. Matamis na kendi
  9. Masipag na estudyante
  10. Pangit na drawing

​You may also ask for 1-2 student volunteers to help you with this game. They can come up with their own adjective + noun combination.