mga

Plural Marker

Level 1

Mga (pronounced ma-ngá) is the primary way to make nouns plural in Filipino. It is a separate word placed before the noun.

How It Works

The particle mga is one of the most frequent words in Filipino. It serves two main purposes:

  • Pluralization: It is placed before a common noun to indicate plurality. For example, bata (child) becomes mga bata (children). It is also used to pluralize demonstratives, such as ang mga ito (these).
  • Approximation: When placed before numbers, dates, or time, it means 'around' or 'approximately.' For example, mga alas-tres means 'around three o'clock.'

Key Rules:
1. Placement and Linkers: It comes before the noun or the adjective modifying the noun. If an adjective is used, the standard linker rules apply to connect the adjective and noun (e.g., mga malalaking bahay - large houses).
2. Exact vs. Approximate Counts: Omit mga for exact counts (e.g., limang mansanas - five apples). Only include it if you mean 'about' or 'roughly' (e.g., mga limang mansanas - about five apples).
3. Adjective Agreement: When pluralizing nouns with 'ma-' adjectives, the adjective itself usually undergoes reduplication (e.g., mga magagandang bulaklak - beautiful flowers).
4. Names: Do not use mga for people's names. Instead, use the sina marker (e.g., sina Maria means 'Maria and others').

Examples (4)

  1. Naglalaro ang mga bata sa labas.

    The children are playing outside.

    Word by Word: Playing [focus marker] [plural] child at outside.

    Here, 'mga' pluralizes 'bata' (child) to mean 'children'.

  2. May mga aklat ako sa bag.

    I have some books in the bag.

    Word by Word: There-is [plural] book I in bag.

    Using 'mga' indicates that there is more than one book.

  3. Dumating siya noong mga alas-singko.

    He arrived around five o'clock.

    Word by Word: Arrived he/she during [approx.] at-five.

    In this context, 'mga' functions as an approximator meaning 'around' or 'about'.

  4. Ang mga mansanas ay matamis.

    The apples are sweet.

    Word by Word: The [plural] apple [inversion marker] sweet.

    Placing 'mga' before 'mansanas' makes the subject plural.

Common Mistakes

  • 'Mga' before a number means 'about'.

    Different MeaningMayroon akong mga tatlong aso.
    Mayroon akong tatlong aso.

    'Mayroon akong mga tatlong aso' is a good sentence meaning 'I have about three dogs'. If you have exactly three dogs, leave out 'mga'.

  • Using 'mga' for a group of people identified by name.

    mga Juan at Pedro
    sina Juan at Pedro

    For names, you must use the personal plural marker sina instead of the common plural marker 'mga'.

  • Using 'na' instead of the linker '-ng' after the adjective.

    mga malaki na bahay
    mga malalaking bahay

    The adjective needs the linker -ng: 'malaking'. With 'mga', the first syllable is often repeated too ('malalaking'), but 'na' after 'malaki' is wrong here.

How It Connects

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mgaLevel 1Plural Marker

Learn This First

To understand how to pluralize nouns in Filipino, you first need to be familiar with the basic phrase markers (ang, ng, sa) and personal name markers (si, ni, kay), as 'mga' functions by modifying these markers or the nouns they introduce.

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