This section is intended to provide an understanding of how the Kapampangan Language is spoken from the perspective of an English-speaking person who wish to learn Kapampangan. When we speak and write, we use words to express our thoughts and ideas. The Kapampangan language has thousands of words. Following the standard grammatical structure in English of classifying words this grammar text is presented using the eight groups or classes of words known as Parts of Speech.

The Parts of Speech edit

The names of the Parts of Speech are: Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions, and Interjections. Here are the equivalent names in Kapampangan.

KAPAMPANGAN ENGLISH TAGALOG
Palagyu o Lagyu Noun Pangngalan
Panalili Pronoun Panghalip
Pandiwa Verb Pandiwa
Panguri Adjective Pang-uri
Panantabe Adverb Pang-abay
Panungkul Preposition Pang-ukol
Panyuglung Conjunction Pang-ugnay
Pambiglang Panamdam Interjection Pandamdam
Pananda Article Marker Pantukoy

Words are tools of communications. That is why each group has its special work to do. Nouns are the names of persons, places, and things. Pronouns take the place of nouns. Verbs are words that express action. Adjectives and adverbs help express the ideas that give color and more definite meanings to nouns, verbs, and other words. A preposition is a word used before another word to indicate how that word is being used. Conjunctions are joining or connecting words, and interjections are words that come between words that express different ideas. The most important fact to keep in mind when learning a new word is its function or use in a particular sentence. If you keep this in mind, you will easily learn the word and how it is used in relation with other words in sentences.

The first group or class of the Parts of Speech is the Noun - each group has its special work to do.

Kapampangan Grammar: NOUNS (Lagyu) edit

A Noun is a word used to name something. It is the word that tells what you are talking about. For example, there are names for persons, animals, places, and objects that can be pointed out and recognized. There are also names for substances, qualities, actions, and measures of time or quantity.

In Kapampangan, like English, nouns and other parts of speech have no gender.

Kinds of Nouns edit

There are several kinds of nouns depending on how they are used. Some kinds of nouns are common nouns, proper nouns.and collective nouns.

A common noun names any one of a class of persons, places, or things. An example of a common noun is the word 'tau' (person) and the word 'tau' can be used to refer to any person in the world.

However, when we want to refer to a particular person, we must use a special name. The name of a particular person might be 'Juan' or 'Pedro'. These particular names are called proper nouns. A proper noun is the name of a particular person, place, or thing.

A collective noun names a class or group: e.g. aguman, pibale-bale, balayan, kumite, at aliwa pa.

The following list includes examples of different kinds of nouns

tau (Persons) talaturu (teacher) Juan (John) kaluguran (friend)
animal (animals) asu (dog) pusa (cat) kabayu (horse)
lugal, karinan (Places) bale (house) Menila (Manila) palengke (market)
bage (Objects) luklukan (chair) litratu (picture) makanilya (typewriter)
kaniwan (Qualities) ganaka (kindness) tepangan (bravery, courage) leguan (Beauty)
pangimut (Actions) pulai (running) pamaglutu (cooking) pamamasa (reading)
aguman (association) pibale-bale (family) balayan (nation) kumite (committee)

Examples of Nouns used in Sentences (the words in bold letters are the nouns):

  1. Ing talaturung i Juan mayap yang kaluguran.
    (The teacher John is a good friend.)
  2. Ing asu, ing pusa, ampon ing kabayu mikakaluguran la.
    (The dog, the cat, and the horse are friends.)
  3. Ing kakung bale king Menila malapit ya king palengke.
    (My house in Manila is near the market.)