Learn Hardcore Filipino: Magdala ka muna ng laruan para sa pusa bago tayo umalis. - Bring a toy for the cat first before we leave.

Magdala comes from the root dala (carry/bring).
With the mag- actor-focus prefix, magdala means “to bring/carry (something).”
In this sentence it functions as an imperative/request addressed to the listener.

Common aspect forms:

Completed (perfective): nagdala (brought)
Progressive (imperfective): nagdadala (is/was bringing)
Contemplated (future): magdadala (will bring)
Base/imperative: magdala (bring)

Why is it magdala ka and not dalhin mo?

They are two different voices and affect how the object is marked:

Actor-focus: Magdala ka ng laruan…
Focus is on the doer (you). The thing is typically indefinite and marked with ng.
Object-focus: Dalhin mo ang laruan…
Focus is on the specific thing being brought. The thing is definite and marked with ang (or ’yung in casual speech).

Use magdala if you mean “bring a toy (any toy).”
Use dalhin if you mean “bring the toy (a specific one).”

What does muna add, and where does it go?

Muna means “first/for now/before anything else,” and it softens the command, making it more like “please do this first.”
It’s a second-position particle: it comes right after the first word or phrase of the clause. Personal pronouns like ka typically come before other particles.
Natural placement: Magdala ka muna…
Unnatural: ✗ Magdala muna ka…

What exactly does ng mark in ng laruan, and how is it different from nang?

ng here marks an indefinite direct object: ng laruan = “a toy.”
ng can also mark possessors with common nouns (e.g., laruan ng pusa = the cat’s toy).
nang is a different word used for adverbial linking (e.g., umalis nang maaga = left early) or as a substitute for na
- linker in some cases.
  In this sentence, only ng is correct.

How do I say “toys” or make the toy specific?

Plural, indefinite: ng mga laruan (bring some toys)
With a number: ng isang laruan (one toy), ng dalawang laruan (two toys)
Specific/to make it “the toy”: switch to object-focus: Dalhin mo ang laruan… or casual Dalhin mo ’yung laruan…
You can also topicalize: ’Yung laruan para sa pusa, dalhin mo muna.

Why is it para sa pusa and not para kay pusa?

Use para sa with common nouns: para sa pusa (for the cat).
Use para kay with personal names and certain titles: para kay Maria (for Maria).
With pronouns: para sa kanya (for him/her).

Could I say laruan ng pusa instead of laruan para sa pusa?

They’re related but not identical:

laruan para sa pusa = a toy intended for the cat (beneficiary)
laruan ng pusa = the cat’s toy (possession/association) In your sentence, para sa pusa emphasizes purpose/beneficiary; ng pusa would imply it’s the toy that belongs to the cat.

Does laruan always mean “toy”? Can it also mean “playground”?

Laruan usually means “toy” (a plaything).
The common modern word for “playground” is palalaruan.
Some older or regional usage may use laruan for a play area, but in standard contemporary usage, laruan = toy.

Why is it bago tayo umalis and not bago tayo aalis?

After bago (before), Tagalog commonly uses the base/perfective form of the verb to refer to a future event relative to the main clause: bago tayo umalis (before we leave).
You may hear bago tayo aalis, but bago tayo umalis is the more natural and widespread pattern.

What does tayo convey here, and how would it change with kami?

tayo = we (inclusive: you + I + possibly others). It means the listener is included in the leaving.
kami = we (exclusive: not you).
So:
bago tayo umalis = before we (including you) leave
bago kami umalis = before we (not including you) leave

Can I drop ka or tayo?

Dropping ka is fine in an imperative when context is clear: Magdala muna ng laruan…
You can front the time clause and omit the actor there too: Bago umalis, magdala ka muna… (Before leaving, bring a toy first…)
However, keeping tayo or kami is often clearer about who’s leaving.

How do I make the request more polite or softer?

Add po (respect marker): Magdala ka po muna ng laruan…
Use paki- (please):
- Pakidala mo po muna ang laruan para sa pusa bago tayo umalis. (object-focus, specific toy)
- To express “bring something to someone,” use the dative verb dalhan: Pakidalhan mo po muna ang pusa ng laruan bago tayo umalis.

How do I say it to multiple people (you all)?

Use kayo:

Magdala muna kayo ng laruan para sa pusa bago tayo umalis. (you all bring a toy; we’re all leaving)
If the group is leaving without the speaker:
Magdala muna kayo ng laruan para sa pusa bago kayo umalis.

Can I move parts around? What word orders are natural?

Yes, Tagalog allows flexible order for focus or flow:

Bago tayo umalis, magdala ka muna ng laruan para sa pusa.
Para sa pusa, magdala ka muna ng laruan bago tayo umalis. (topicalizes the beneficiary)
’Yung laruan para sa pusa, dalhin mo muna bago tayo umalis. (switches to object-focus to highlight a specific toy)

Keep particles like muna in second position within their clause.

Where do other particles like po, pa, na, rin/din, ba go with muna?

They cluster in the second position. A natural order is: pronoun first, then other particles. Examples:

Magdala ka muna po ng laruan…
Magdala ka pa muna ng laruan… (bring additionally, first)
Magdala ka muna rin ng laruan… (also bring)
Magdala ka muna ba ng laruan…? (Are you going to bring one first…?)
Pronoun ka typically comes before particles like muna, pa, po, rin/din, ba.

Does magdala mean “bring” or “take”?

Tagalog doesn’t enforce the same bring/take distinction as English. Magdala (and dalhin) mean to carry/bring something to a destination or along with you, regardless of direction relative to the speaker. Context clarifies whether it’s toward or away. For taking a person somewhere, you often use ihatid (to escort/drop off).

Can I nominalize “leave” instead: “before our leaving”?

Yes:

Bago ang pag-alis natin, magdala ka muna ng laruan para sa pusa.
This uses pag- nominalization (pag-alis = the act of leaving).
Inclusive/exclusive still matters: pag-alis natin vs pag-alis namin.

What’s the difference between muna and una?

muna = “for now/first/before anything else” (a particle that softens or sequences actions)
una = “first” as an ordinal adjective/noun (the first item/person/time).
You can combine them: Sa una, magdala ka muna… but in your sentence muna is the natural choice.

How do I specify it’s for “our cat”?

Add a possessor after pusa:

Inclusive: para sa pusa natin (our cat, including the listener)
Exclusive: para sa pusa namin (our cat, not including the listener)
With a name: para kay Whiskers (proper name uses kay).

What common mistakes should I watch out for with this sentence?

Using para kay pusa with a common noun (should be para sa pusa).
Misplacing muna (keep it in second position: Magdala ka muna…).
Writing nang laruan instead of ng laruan.
Mixing inclusive/exclusive pronouns unintentionally (tayo vs kami).
Using object-focus dalhin while keeping an indefinite object marker (ng)—if it’s dalhin, the object should be definite (ang/’yung).