Isara ang bintana kung umuulan nang malakas.

Close the window if it is raining heavily.

Breakdown of Isara ang bintana kung umuulan nang malakas.

• kung: if
• bintana: the window
• isara: to close
• umuulan: to rain

Questions & Answers about Isara ang bintana kung umuulan nang malakas.

How is the command Isara constructed from the root sara?

Sara means “close.” Adding the prefix i‑ creates a transitive (causative) verb, so isara means “to close (something).” In Tagalog, the imperative (command) form uses this object-focus verb directly: isara = “(You) close it!”

Why does the sentence not include a pronoun like mo? How do we know who is being addressed?

Tagalog often omits subject pronouns when they’re clear from context. In commands, the listener is assumed to be “you.” If you want to emphasize or clarify “you,” you can add mo (singular) or ninyo (plural):
• Isara mo ang bintana. (“You close the window.”)
• Isara ninyong lahat ang bintana. (“All of you, close the window.”)

What is the function of ang in ang bintana?

Ang is the subject/topic marker. It flags bintana (“window”) as the focus of the verb. It also corresponds roughly to the English article “the” when talking about a specific window. So ang bintana = “the window.”

What does umuulan mean and how is it formed from the root ulan?

• Ulan is the noun “rain.”
• The affix um inserted in ulan gives umulan (“to rain”), an actor-focus verb.
• For the present or progressive aspect (“is raining”), Tagalog reduplicates the first CV of the root. So u
  • ulan → u-ulan, combined with um → umuulan (“is raining”).

What is the role of kung in this sentence? Can we use kapag instead?

Kung means “if” and introduces a hypothetical or general condition. Kapag means “when” for events that definitely or habitually happen once the condition is met. Because heavy rain is a recurring situation, kapag is often more natural. Both are correct here:
• Isara ang bintana kung umuulan nang malakas.
• Kapag umuulan nang malakas, isara ang bintana.

What’s the difference between nang and ng, and why is nang used before malakas?

• Nang (double n) links a verb with an adverb or joins clauses. Here, nang malakas means “heavily/strongly.”
• Ng (single n) is a genitive or object marker for non-subject nouns.
  Remember: use nang for adverbs and conjunctions, ng for noun links.

Can I rearrange the two clauses in the sentence?

Yes—Tagalog has flexible word order. You can start with the conditional clause or end with it. Both versions carry the same meaning:
• Isara ang bintana kung umuulan nang malakas.
• Kapag umuulan nang malakas, isara ang bintana.

Are there other ways to say “raining heavily” in Tagalog?

Yes. Common alternatives include:

• malakas ang ulan (“the rain is strong/heavy”)
• bumubuhos ang ulan (“the rain is pouring”)
• matindi ang ulan (“the rain is intense”)