Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To connect a number to a noun in Filipino, use the ligature 'na' or its suffix form '-ng' to bridge them.
- Use 'na' if the number ends in a consonant: 'tatlong' (three) + 'aso' (dog) = 'tatlong aso'.
- Use '-ng' if the number ends in a vowel: 'dalawa' (two) + 'na' + 'bata' (child) = 'dalawang bata'.
- Numbers 1-10 are the most common; always attach the ligature before the noun.
Numeral-Noun Linkage Table
| Number | Ending | Ligature | Combined Form |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Isa
|
Vowel
|
-ng
|
Isang
|
|
Dalawa
|
Vowel
|
-ng
|
Dalawang
|
|
Tatlo
|
Vowel
|
-ng
|
Tatlong
|
|
Apat
|
Consonant
|
na
|
Apat na
|
|
Lima
|
Vowel
|
-ng
|
Limang
|
|
Anim
|
Consonant
|
na
|
Anim na
|
Meanings
The ligature 'na' (or '-ng') acts as a grammatical glue that connects a modifier (the number) to the noun it describes.
Cardinal Counting
Used when specifying the quantity of a noun.
“Isa na pusa”
“Dalawang saging”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Number + Ligature + Noun
|
Tatlong aso
|
|
Negative
|
Wala + Ligature + Number + Noun
|
Walang tatlong aso
|
|
Question
|
Ilan + Ligature + Noun
|
Ilang aso?
|
|
Quantity
|
Number + Ligature + Noun
|
Limang mansanas
|
|
Time
|
Number + Ligature + Time Unit
|
Dalawang oras
|
|
Money
|
Number + Ligature + Currency
|
Sampung piso
|
正式程度
Mayroon akong dalawang aso. (Casual conversation)
May dalawang aso ako. (Casual conversation)
Dalawa aso ko. (Casual conversation)
Dalawang doggo. (Casual conversation)
Ligature Logic
Vowel End
- Lima Five
Consonant End
- Apat Four
按水平分级的例句
Mayroon akong tatlong aso.
I have three dogs.
Bumili ako ng dalawang mansanas.
I bought two apples.
Kailangan ko ng anim na lapis.
I need six pencils.
Sampu na bata ang narito.
Ten children are here.
Nakakita ako ng limang ibon sa puno.
I saw five birds in the tree.
Bigyan mo ako ng apat na tinapay.
Give me four pieces of bread.
May walong upuan sa silid.
There are eight chairs in the room.
Pito na kotse ang dumaan.
Seven cars passed by.
Kailangan natin ng siyam na pirasong papel.
We need nine pieces of paper.
Tatlong beses na siyang tumawag.
He has called three times already.
Dalawang oras ang biyahe.
The trip is two hours long.
Anim na buwan na ang nakalipas.
Six months have passed.
Ang tatlong pangunahing dahilan ay ito.
The three main reasons are these.
Limang libong piso ang halaga nito.
It costs five thousand pesos.
Apat na magkakaibigan ang nagbakasyon.
Four friends went on vacation.
Walong oras na trabaho ang kailangan.
Eight hours of work is required.
Tatlong dekada na ang nakalipas mula noon.
Three decades have passed since then.
Siyam na magkakaibang opinyon ang lumabas.
Nine different opinions emerged.
Dalawang libong taon na ang kasaysayan nito.
It has two thousand years of history.
Anim na mahahalagang punto ang tinalakay.
Six important points were discussed.
Tatlong daang sundalo ang nagmartsa.
Three hundred soldiers marched.
Limang libong ektarya ang lupain.
The land covers five thousand hectares.
Apat na magkakaibang wika ang ginagamit.
Four different languages are used.
Siyam na buwan na pagbubuntis ang natapos.
Nine months of pregnancy have concluded.
容易混淆
Learners think 'na' is only for numbers.
常见错误
Lima bata
Limang bata
Apat-ng bata
Apat na bata
Isa na bata
Isang bata
Tatlo na aso
Tatlong aso
Anim-ng pusa
Anim na pusa
Dalawa bata
Dalawang bata
Sampu-ng piso
Sampung piso
Walo na oras
Walong oras
Siyam-ng tao
Siyam na tao
Pito na beses
Pitong beses
句型
Mayroon akong ___ ___.
Real World Usage
Dalawang kape.
Bili 3 na mansanas.
May tatlong taon na karanasan.
Dalawang ticket.
Limang burger.
Magkano ang apat na saging?
Listen for the -ng
Don't skip it
Practice with food
Be polite
Smart Tips
Always check the last letter of the number.
Contract the -ng.
Don't hyphenate.
Use 'na' as a safe bet.
发音
Ligature flow
The '-ng' should be pronounced as part of the number, not as a separate syllable.
Statement
May dalawang aso. ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
记住它
记忆技巧
Vowels are clingy, they grab the 'ng'. Consonants are shy, they keep 'na' free.
视觉联想
Imagine a bridge (the ligature) connecting a number block to a noun block. If the number block is round (vowel), it has a hook (-ng) to grab the bridge. If it is square (consonant), it needs a separate plank (na) to cross.
Rhyme
Vowel ends in ng, consonant needs na, counting in Filipino is easy, ha!
Story
I went to the store. I saw 'Lima' (5) who was round and grabbed an '-ng'. Then I saw 'Apat' (4) who was square and needed a 'na' to walk. Together they bought fruits.
Word Web
挑战
Count 5 items in your room right now using the correct ligature.
文化笔记
In the Philippines, using the correct ligature is seen as a sign of respect for the language.
The 'na' ligature is a common feature in Malayo-Polynesian languages.
对话开场白
Ilan ang kapatid mo?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
Mayroon akong ___ (3) aso.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Lima bata
Order 2 coffees
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Ilan? B: ___ (5) saging.
Isa na pusa -> ___
Do you use 'na' for vowel-ending numbers?
Score: /8
练习题
8 exercisesMayroon akong ___ (3) aso.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Lima bata
Order 2 coffees
Match
A: Ilan? B: ___ (5) saging.
Isa na pusa -> ___
Do you use 'na' for vowel-ending numbers?
Score: /8
常见问题 (8)
It's a ligature that connects words.
No, it sounds unnatural.
No, Filipino is gender-neutral.
Same rule applies.
Yes, it is.
Count items daily.
It's used in all registers.
Just use 'na' as a backup.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
dos gatos
Filipino is gender-neutral.
deux chats
Filipino uses particles.
drei Hunde
Filipino is agglutinative.
san-biki no inu
Filipino doesn't use counters.
thalathat kilab
Filipino is simpler.
san ge gou
Filipino ligatures are phonological.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Connected Grammar
Adjective Ligatures
SimilarSame ligature rule.
Basic Numbers
PrerequisiteNeed to know numbers.
Pluralization
Builds OnCounting leads to plurals.
Sentence Structure
Builds OnContext for numbers.