Still Remember Pang-Uri and Pandiwa? This Free Filipino Book Can Help Tutor Your Child

On Monday, September 16, 2019, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino announced that the Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa, a widely-used resource for students studying the Filipino language, is now available as a PDF file you can download for free! (Click here to get your free digital copy.)

Written by Lope K. Santos, Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa was published by the Surian ng Wikang Filipino (Commission on the Filipino Language) in 1939. It eventually became the official textbook for teaching and studying the national language of the Philippines, reports Inquirer.net.

The book discusses all aspects of the Filipino language — how words are formed, the proper use of punctuations, and the different elements of speech, such as nouns (pangngalan), pronouns (panghalip), and verbs (pandiwa). It is a great resource not only for students but also for parents who want to help their kids polish their Filipino speaking and reading skills.

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Ano ang pang-uri?

Take pang-uri, which is discussed at length in the book, as an example. Known in English as adjective, pang-uri is an element of speech used to describe the appearance, form, and number of a noun.

The first type of adjectives tackled is payak, which refers to adjectives that do not have affixes (panlapi), such as prefixes (unlapi), infixes (gitlapi), and suffixes (hulapi). Examples of this are “mangmang,” “dakila,” and “pangit.”

Another type of pang-uri is makauri. These adjectives make use of affixes which can help change the word’s meaning and influence how it is to be used in a sentence.

For example, the prefix “maka-“ can be used in two different ways: It can be added to a noun or adjective to convey a sense of adherence or preference (e.g. “makatao,” “makabayan,” “makasimbahan”). Or it can be added to a compound word to describe the possibility of something happening (e.g. “maka-basag-pinggan,” “makadurog-puso”).

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The prefix “ma-” and suffixes “-in” and “-hin,” when added to a word, can create a new word, which conveys a certain kind of attitude or habit. Examples are “mahiyain,” “masunurin,” and “mainipin.”

Aside from how affixes change the meanings of words, Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa also discusses adjectives that refer to the number or amount of a noun, which include pang-uring pang-isa (e.g. “dalagang mahinhin,” “matamis na mangga,” “mabungang kahoy”), pang-uring pandalawa (e.g. “magkapatid,” “magkasama,” “kasintaas”), and pang-uring pangmarami (e.g. “malalawak.” “maiingay,” “magkakapatid”). The chapter then continues to discuss many other different types of adjectives which are used to describe sequence, comparison, and more.

Kids become better at speaking and reading in English when they know their native language first. This widely-used book is a resource you can use to start studying Filipino with your child at home!

In a time when most kids are taught English first and foremost at home, it can be a bit tricky to bring them up to be more fluent in their native language. Click here for some tips on how to teach your child to speak in Filipino fluently.

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