Time adverbs: kahapon, ngayon, bukas, kanina, mamaya

A1 — Pang-abay

Time adverbs: kahapon, ngayon, bukas, kanina, mamaya

Can use time adverbs to place events in time

Examples

Kahapon pumunta kami sa mall. — Yesterday we went to the mall.
Mamaya kakain tayo. — We'll eat later.
Laging mainit sa Pilipinas. — It's always hot in the Philippines.

AdverbsA1

Time adverbs: kahapon, ngayon, bukas, kanina, mamaya

Learning Goal

Can use time adverbs to place events in time

Exam Skills:ListeningReadingWritingSpeaking

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Kahapon pumunta kami sa mall.

Yesterday we went to the mall.

Mamaya kakain tayo.

We'll eat later.

Laging mainit sa Pilipinas.

It's always hot in the Philippines.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Because Tagalog verbs show aspect rather than tense, time words do a lot of the work English gives to tenses:

kahapon = yesterday	ngayon = today, now
bukas = tomorrow	kanina = earlier today
mamaya = later today	kagabi = last night
palagi / lagi = always, all the time	minsan = sometimes, once

Two words English doesn't have

Kanina and mamaya slice the same day: kanina is earlier today, mamaya is later today. Kanina pa kita hinihintay! - I've been waiting for you for ages (since earlier)! And mamaya na - "later" - is the classic Filipino way to put something off.

Matching the verb

Kahapon, kanina, kagabi + completed: Kumain kami ng lechon kagabi. - We had lechon last night.
Bukas, mamaya + contemplated: Pupunta kami sa Tagaytay bukas. - We're going to Tagaytay tomorrow.
Palagi, minsan + incompleted: Minsan, naglalakad ako papuntang opisina. - Sometimes I walk to the office.

Ngayon combines with parts of the day: ngayong gabi (tonight), ngayong umaga (this morning). Time words usually open or close the sentence.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Ignoring kanina and mamaya. English speakers: English says "earlier" and "later" for any day; Tagalog has kanina (earlier today) and mamaya (later today). Match the verb to the time word: kahapon with the completed form, bukas with the contemplated form.

Common Error Patterns

Error with Time adverbs: kahapon, ngayon, bukas, kanina, mamaya

Review the rules for Mga Pang-abay ng Panahon

Kahapon pumunta kami sa mall.

Yesterday we went to the mall.

Kahapon = yesterday. Pumunta = went. Kami = we (exclusive).

Mamaya kakain tayo.

We'll eat later.

Mamaya = later today. Kakain = will eat (contemplated). Tayo = we (inclusive).

Laging mainit sa Pilipinas.

It's always hot in the Philippines.

Laging = always. Mainit = hot. Sa Pilipinas = in the Philippines.

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Frequently asked questions

When do you use Time adverbs: kahapon, ngayon, bukas, kanina, mamaya?: Because Tagalog verbs show aspect rather than tense, time words do a lot of the work English gives to tenses:
How do you form Time adverbs: kahapon, ngayon, bukas, kanina, mamaya?: Kanina and mamaya slice the same day: kanina is earlier today, mamaya is later today. Kanina pa kita hinihintay! - I've been waiting for you for ages (since earlier)! And mamaya na - "later" - is the classic Filipino way to put something off. Ngayon combines with parts of the day: ngayong gabi (tonight), ngayong umaga (this morning). Time words usually open or close the sentence.
What are common mistakes with Time adverbs: kahapon, ngayon, bukas, kanina, mamaya?: Ignoring kanina and mamaya. English speakers: English says "earlier" and "later" for any day; Tagalog has kanina (earlier today) and mamaya (later today). Match the verb to the time word: kahapon with the completed form, bukas with the contemplated form.

Because Tagalog verbs show aspect rather than tense, time words do a lot of the work English gives to tenses:

kahapon = yesterday	ngayon = today, now
bukas = tomorrow	kanina = earlier today
mamaya = later today	kagabi = last night
palagi / lagi = always, all the time	minsan = sometimes, once

Two words English doesn't have

Matching the verb

Kahapon, kanina, kagabi + completed: Kumain kami ng lechon kagabi. - We had lechon last night.
Bukas, mamaya + contemplated: Pupunta kami sa Tagaytay bukas. - We're going to Tagaytay tomorrow.
Palagi, minsan + incompleted: Minsan, naglalakad ako papuntang opisina. - Sometimes I walk to the office.

Ngayon combines with parts of the day: ngayong gabi (tonight), ngayong umaga (this morning). Time words usually open or close the sentence.

Frequently asked questions

When do you use Time adverbs: kahapon, ngayon, bukas, kanina, mamaya?

Because Tagalog verbs show aspect rather than tense, time words do a lot of the work English gives to tenses:

How do you form Time adverbs: kahapon, ngayon, bukas, kanina, mamaya?

Kanina and mamaya slice the same day: kanina is earlier today, mamaya is later today. Kanina pa kita hinihintay! - I've been waiting for you for ages (since earlier)! And mamaya na - "later" - is the classic Filipino way to put something off. Ngayon combines with parts of the day: ngayong gabi (tonight), ngayong umaga (this morning). Time words usually open or close the sentence.

What are common mistakes with Time adverbs: kahapon, ngayon, bukas, kanina, mamaya?

Ignoring kanina and mamaya. English speakers: English says "earlier" and "later" for any day; Tagalog has kanina (earlier today) and mamaya (later today). Match the verb to the time word: kahapon with the completed form, bukas with the contemplated form.