Learn Hardcore Filipino: Isara mo ang pinto kung masyadong malakas ang hangin. - Close the door if the wind is too strong.

The root verb is sara (“to close”). By adding the prefix i‑ and the suffix ‑a, you form an object‑focus imperative. In Tagalog, this construction directs someone to cause something (the object) to undergo the action—in this case, “close it.”

Why is there a mo after isara?

Mo is the second‑person singular genitive pronoun (“your/you”). In an object‑focus verb like isara, the doer of the action (you) is marked by mo. So isara mo literally means “you close (it).”

Why do we say ang pinto instead of ng pinto or sa pinto?

In object‑focus sentences, the thing being acted upon (the pivot) is marked by ang. Here “the door” is the focus of the command, so it takes ang pinto. Ng would mark a non‑focus object and sa would mark a beneficiary or location.

What role does kung play in kung masyadong malakas ang hangin?

Kung means “if” and introduces a conditional clause. It sets the condition under which you should close the door: “if the wind is too strong.”

How do I break down masyadong malakas ang hangin?

– Masyadong = “too” or “excessively.”
– Malakas = “strong.”
– Hangin = “wind.”
– Ang before hangin marks it as the subject/pivot of this descriptive clause.
Put together: “the wind is too strong.”

Can I put the if clause first, like “Kung masyadong malakas ang hangin, isara mo ang pinto”?

Yes. Tagalog allows the conditional clause to come before or after the main clause without changing the meaning. Both orders are natural.

Is there a shorter or more colloquial way to say if?

Yes. You can use pag (a contraction of kapag), e.g. Pag masyadong malakas ang hangin, isara mo ang pinto. It’s less formal than kung but very common in speech.

What about using magsara instead of isara? Would “Magsara ka ng pinto” work?

“Magsara ka ng pinto” uses the actor‑focus imperative magsara, marking you (ang ikaw) as the topic and the door as ng pinto (a non‑pivot object). Native speakers typically prefer isara mo ang pinto for a direct command about closing something.

I’ve also heard sarahan mo ang pinto. Is that the same as isara mo?

Yes, sarahan adds the suffix ‑han but stays object‑focus. Sometimes it sounds more emphatic or colloquial (“go ahead and close it well”), but the basic meaning—“close the door”—remains unchanged.

Can I add na for urgency, as in Isara mo na ang pinto?

Absolutely. Adding na here means “now” or “already,” making the command more urgent: “Close the door now if the wind is too strong.”