Tagalog Grammar: ANG Pronouns

In Tagalog grammar, the ANG group of pronouns refers to personal pronouns used as the subject of a sentence. These pronouns appear in ang-marked phrases and indicate who is performing the action. They answer the question “Who?” in a sentence.

Example Sentences

– Dentista ako. (I’m a dentist.)

– Ako ang nagbukas ng bintana. (I was the one who opened the window.)

– Estudyante ka. (You’re a student.)

– Naligo ka ba? (Did you take a shower?)

– Ikaw ang magwalis ng sahig. (You sweep the floor.)

– Ikaw ba ang naglaba kanina? (Were you the one who did the laundry earlier?)

– Magbe-bake kami ng cake. [We (just us, not you) are going to bake a cake.]

– Nagkita kami sa mall kahapon. [We (just us, excluding you) met at the mall yesterday.]

– Maghugas tayo ng kamay. [Let us (you and I) wash our hands.]

– Manood tayo ng sine bukas. [Let’s (you and I and others) watch a movie tomorrow.]

– Kailan kayo uuwi? (When are you guys going home?)

– Kayo ang maghuhat ng mesa. (You guys carry the table.) 

– Kayo po ba si Mr. Liu? (Sir, are you Mr. Liu?) 

– Hindi pa sila kumakain. (They haven’t eaten yet.)

– Dumating sila kagabi. (They arrived last night.)

– Sino po sila? (Who are you, Sir/Ma’am?) 

Key Grammar Points

1. IKAW vs. KA – both mean “you” in Tagalog, but their placement in a sentence follows different rules.

  – Ikaw is always used at the beginning a sentence; commonly followed by a definite predicate (like ang + noun phrase); can stand alone as a short answer; never placed at the end of the sentence.

  e.g. Ikaw ang maghugas ng plato. (You’re the one who’s gonna wash the dishes.)

Ikaw ang tinawag kanina. (You’re the one they called earlier.)

Sino ang hinahanap niya? Ikaw.  (Who is he looking for? You.)

– Ikaw is also used with the connector “ay” in a sentence where the order is topic-predicate.

  e.g. Ikaw ay maganda. (You are pretty.) 

→ not: Maganda ikaw. (unnatural)

 – Ka is typically placed after the predicate (verb, adjective, or adverb); sounds natural in descriptive or verbal sentences; cannot stand alone; never used to start a sentence.

  e.g. Pagod ka na ba? (Are you tired already?)

Masipag ka. (You’re hardworking.)

      → not: Ka masipag.

2.Tayo vs. Kami – Inclusive vs. Exclusive “We” – in English, the pronoun “we” has only one form. But in Tagalog, there are two kinds of “we” depending on whether the person you are talking to is included or not.

  – Use tayo when the speaker and the listener are both included in the action or situation.

  e.g. Tayo ang maglilinis ng silid-aralan. [We (including you) will clean the classroom.]

Bibili tayo ng pizza mamaya. [We’re (including you) buying pizza later.]

Note: If you say tayo, you’re inviting or including the person you’re talking to.

– Use kami when the speaker is included but the listener is excluded from the action.

  e.g. Pupunta kami sa mall bukas. [We (but not you) are going to the mall tomorrow.] 

Kinausap kami ng may-ari ng bahay. [The landlord talk to us (excluding you).] 

Note: If you say kami, you’re making it clear that the listener is not part of the group.

3. Polite “you” in Tagalog – In Tagalog, respect is shown through pronoun choice. Instead of using ikaw/ka (singular you), speakers often use kayo or sila when addressing someone older, of higher status, or someone they want to show respect to.

  – In polite speech, kayo is used to address one person respectfully. This is common when speaking to elders, teachers, bosses, or strangers.

  e.g. Kumusta po kayo? (How are you, Sir/Ma’am?)

          Kayo po ba ang titser namin? (Are you our teacher?)

          Kayo na po ang bahala. (It’s up to you, Sir/Ma’am.)

– Sila literally means they, but it’s also used as an even higher form of respect when talking about one person. It’s less common in everyday conversation today, but you may still hear it in very formal or traditional settings. It is often used for respected community leaders, priests, or elderly people or strangers.

  e.g. Sino po sila? (Who are you, Sir/Ma’am?) 

Tagalog ANG Group of Pronouns | Complete Filipino Grammar Lesson

Watch this video to learn all about the Tagalog ANG Group of Pronouns and how they are used in everyday Filipino sentences. This lesson clearly explains the difference between ako, ikaw, siya, tayo, kami, and sila so you can master Tagalog grammar step by step. With natural sentence examples and English translations, you’ll understand how to properly use ANG pronouns in conversations. 

Tagalog Pronouns: AKO vs KO | Filipino Grammar Explained

Watch this video to understand the difference between the Tagalog pronouns ako and ko and how to use them correctly in Filipino grammar. This lesson breaks down when to say ako as a subject pronoun and when to use ko to show possession or action. With clear Tagalog sentence examples and English translations, you’ll see exactly how native speakers use ako versus ko in daily conversations.