What does "magkatugma" mean?

Back from a long break to post some questions sent in through the Need Help? page.

Anonymous asked:

If synonyms are 'magkasingkahulugan', antonyms are 'magkasalungat', what are magkatugma?

I answered:

Wow, that's a head-scratcher.

I would say "magkatugma" are words that rhyme, but it doesn't follow that they're homonyms. "Magkatugma" doesn't imply that the word is spelled the same way, only that certain syllables sound similar.

This seems to be a popular question online. I hope someone posts an official answer too.

OK, so this answer doesn't necessarily make it easy for students who need the correct answer right now but I suggest that you step back and focus on what you can learn, not what'll score you points with your teacher. Filipino/Tagalog and English grammar are similar in some ways but different in others. It's possible that you won't find an exact counterpart in English for a particular word or grammar rule. (For example: what is "kilig"?)

Practicing English

Much of what we learn in Philippine high schools is already in English... but that doesn't mean we don't need to practice anymore. Practicing helps build our vocabulary, and can be done a few minutes a day if you have a computer or a portable music player like an iPod.

• English as a Second Language podcast
• Better @ English: 2-minute English - http://www.betteratenglish.com/category/listening/2-minute-english/

Prepositions: On my mind or in my mind?

Prepositions tell you the relationship the object has to the rest of the sentence.

The necklace is on the table, in the jewelry box, under the pillow, so on and so forth. Prepositions are short words that we take for granted (I interchange them more often than I care to admit), but it's important to get them right because they affect what the sentence is trying to say.

• Englishclub.com: English preposition rule - A simple site for English as second language learners.
• The Writing Centre, University of Ottawa: What is a Preposition?
• Betterenglish.com: Preposition quiz!
  

Entrance Exam Cram: Basic English

Even if you feel comfortable enough about basic English (you've been studying it since elementary school, how hard can it be right?), you'll need to brush up on it again for entrance exam season.

My instinct for studying for exams was to tackle the subjects I have the most trouble with -- science and math, for example. That's a good plan, but don't forget to refresh yourself on the basics. It's your chance now to find out if you need to be corrected, and that's better than finding out on exam day.

• Big Dog's Grammar: A bare bones guide to English
• University of Calgary: Grammar Tutorials
• English Grammar Exercises - There's a lot of material here and it's been designed for ESL (English as a second language) learners. If some of these quizzes are too basic for you, still look at tests such as "Parts of Speech" or "Prepositions."

College entrance exam review

By now, most Philippine high school students would be on summer vacation. Some of them are coming back in a few weeks for summer school, incoming seniors probably for college entrance exam review in their own schools or tutorial centers.

Even before they start cramming stuff in your brains, you can prepare at your own pace by checking out online reviewers. You can test yourself through the ACT Test Practice Questions page (scroll to the bottom of the page for the links to test questions) -- at least in math, English, and some reading comprehension. These were developed for US students, but at least you can figure out from here what topics give you trouble, and attack them once you start your review.

Spell it, say it, define it, use it in a sentence

Some people know how every English word is pronounced or spelled. (Or claim to know, at least.) I don't. And for those words I always have trouble with, I usually go to Answers.com.

An Answers.com entry about a word contains more than its definition. Just today I looked up how "tiara" is pronounced, and now I know that, as well as its Latin and Greek source words, its translations in a dozen languages, and even how a tiara made.

Now, I could go to a regular online dictionary for what I needed, but I think I learn more when I read all those extra bits.

Grammar Girl

Everyone needs help with grammar. English is just that complicated! You might be in the honor roll or can write a decent "formal theme composition", sure -- but don't think that there's nothing else you need to know.

Grammar Girl offers short podcasts on grammar topics like how to use hyphens, "between versus among" and other sources of confusion. If you're at an internet cafe right now and don't have an mp3 player handy, you can read transcripts of the grammar tips instead.