In learning Tagalog grammar, one of the key components to master is the proper usage of verbs in the past tense, which is a bit different from English. Tagalog verbs are inflected for time by changing the form of the verb. An aspect marker, such as ‘ng’ or ‘um’, is often used to indicate the verb’s past tense. Here we will look at past tense usage in Tagalog, which is referred to as “Nag” or “Nagsi” for many actions.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with the correct past tense verb form.
2. Siya *nagtrabaho* (worked) sa opisina kahapon.
3. Kami *naglaro* (played) ng basketball kahapon.
4. Ikaw *nagsulat* (wrote) ng liham kanina.
5. Sila *nagbasa* (read) ng libro kahapon.
6. *Naglibot* (roamed) kami sa mall kahapon.
7. *Naglakad* (walked) ako papuntang school kanina.
8. *Nagbihis* (dressed) siya ng maayos kahapon.
9. *Nagtanghali* (lunched) kami sa restaurant kahapon.
10. Ikaw ba *nagdrive* (drove) papuntang work kanina?
11. Sila *nagcelebrate* (celebrated) ng birthday ng kapatid ko kahapon.
12. *Naglinis* (cleaned) ako ng bahay kanina.
13. Siya *nagbihis* (changed) ng damit kanina.
14. *Naglaba* (washed) ako ng damit kahapon.
15. *Nag-aral* (studied) siya ng leksyon kanina.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blank with the correct past tense verb form.
2. Siya *nagbukas* (opened) ng pinto kahapon.
3. Kami *naggawa* (did) ng project kanina.
4. Ikaw *nagbili* (bought) ng groceries kanina.
5. Sila *nagsimba* (went church) kahapon.
6. *Nagsalita* (spoke) kami sa meeting kanina.
7. *Nagmadali* (hurried) ako papuntang airport.
8. *Nagdasal* (prayed) siya kanina.
9. *Nag-almusal* (breakfast) kami sa canteen kanina.
10. Ikaw *nagpaalam* (said goodbye) bago umalis.
11. Sila *nagtayo* (built) ng bahay kahapon.
12. *Nagtanim* (planted) ako ng puno kanina.
13. Siya *nagdamit* (wore) ng formal attire kahapon.
14. *Nagpakitang-gilas* (done their best) kami sa basketball game.
15. *Nagbakasyon* (vacationed) siya sa province kanina.
