Matarik ang dalisdis.

Because Filipino very often puts the predicate first.

In Matarik ang dalisdis, matarik is the descriptive part, and ang dalisdis is the thing being talked about. A very literal structure is:

• Matarik = steep
• ang dalisdis = the slope / the slope in question

So the sentence pattern is basically:

• [description] + [topic]

This word order is very normal in Filipino.

Not exactly. Ang is often translated as the in simple examples, but its real job is grammatical: it marks the topic or subject-like noun phrase of the sentence.

So in Matarik ang dalisdis, ang marks dalisdis as the thing the sentence is about.

A helpful beginner understanding is:

• ang often looks like the
• but it is better to think of it as a marker, not a direct one-word equivalent of English the

That is why you should not assume ang = the in every sentence.

Because Filipino often does not need a copula like English is in simple descriptive sentences.

English says:

• The slope is steep.

Filipino can simply say:

• Matarik ang dalisdis.

That is a complete sentence. The idea of is is understood from the structure.

This is very common with adjectives and other predicate expressions in Filipino.

Yes. Ang dalisdis ay matarik is also correct.

Both mean the same thing, but the style is a little different:

• Matarik ang dalisdis = very natural, common, straightforward
• Ang dalisdis ay matarik = also correct, often a bit more formal, careful, or written-sounding

So as a learner, it is good to recognize both patterns.

This is a very important difference.

• Matarik ang dalisdis = a full sentence = The slope is steep
• matarik na dalisdis = a noun phrase = a steep slope / the steep slope

Why the na?

When an adjective directly modifies a noun in Filipino, it usually uses a linker:

• matarik na dalisdis = steep slope

But when the adjective is the predicate of the sentence, you do not use that linker:

• Matarik ang dalisdis.

So:

• predicate adjective → no na
• adjective directly attached to noun → use na or -ng, depending on the word

It is a complete sentence.

Even though it looks short to an English speaker, it already has everything needed in Filipino:

• a predicate: matarik
• a marked topic: ang dalisdis

So this is not just a word group. It is a normal, finished statement.

Normally, no. In standard Filipino, you would usually keep ang here.

• Matarik ang dalisdis. = correct
• Matarik dalisdis. = not the normal standard sentence pattern

Without ang, the sentence sounds incomplete or ungrammatical in ordinary usage.

No. Filipino adjectives do not change the way English adjectives sometimes do, and they do not agree with nouns for gender.

So matarik stays matarik.

Examples:

• Matarik ang dalisdis. = The slope is steep.
• Matarik ang mga dalisdis. = The slopes are steep.

The adjective stays the same. To show plural, you usually change the noun phrase, for example by adding mga.

A simple learner-friendly pronunciation is:

• matarik → ma-ta-rik
• dalisdis → da-lis-dis

A few helpful notes:

• Each vowel is usually pronounced clearly.
• The r is usually a light tap, not a heavy English r.
• Filipino spelling is fairly phonetic, so words are often pronounced close to how they are written.

If you want a rough English-style guide, it is something like:

• ma-ta-rik
• da-lis-dis

But it is best to keep the vowels short and clear.

Yes, dalisdis is a normal word for a slope, incline, or slanted surface.

It can refer to things like:

• a hillside
• the side of a road
• an embankment
• a sloping piece of land

In context, English might translate it as slope, incline, or sometimes grade, depending on the situation.

Most commonly, matarik describes something physically steep, such as:

• a road
• a hill
• stairs
• a slope

So Matarik ang dalisdis is a very literal, physical description.

In some contexts, speakers may use matarik more broadly, but for learners, the safest and most common use is for something physically steep.