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"?)

Mga panghalip (Pronouns)

Pronouns such as "he", "she" and "it" replace nouns in sentences. Panghalip is the Tagalog/Filipino term for it.

More on them here:

• Wikibooks: Panghalip
• filipinosubject.blogspot.com: Panghalip
• germanlipa.de: Pangngalan at Panghalip

These resources are in Filipino and require a more-than-basic understanding of the language.

Mga pandiwa (verbs)

I'm trying to find more online resources for very specific aspects of Filipino grammar. Try these if you need help with verbs:

• Tagalog Wikibooks: Pandiwa
• filipinosubject.blogspot.com: Pandiwa (verb)

These resources are in Filipino and require a more-than-basic understanding of the language.

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!
  

Tagalog/Filipino grammar

As a Tagalog myself, I take the language for granted and am not as nitpicky with grammar when I use it. It becomes important eventually to learn more about it in a serious, academic way -- if you want to be able to write flawless Filipino formally.

If you missed some important lessons or would just like to refresh your memory, here are a few Tagalog grammar resources online:

• Tagalog grammar Wikipedia entry - Click on "discussion" as well, to see the kind of questions that came up about the topic.
• Tagalog Grammar site at seasite.niu.edu - The lessons here are in English, and assumes that you are familiar with English grammar.

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.