Learn Hardcore Filipino: Magluto tayo ng masarap na hapunan sa Linggo. - Let us cook a delicious dinner on Sunday.

With tayo, Magluto functions as a hortative imperative: it’s a suggestion meaning “let’s (do X).” In Tagalog, the mag- verb family marks actor focus and contrasts by aspect:

Completed: nagluto
Progressive: nagluluto
Contemplated/future: magluluto
Base/imperative/hortative: magluto

So if you want to state a plan (not a suggestion), you’d typically use the contemplated form: Magluluto tayo …

Why is it tayo and not kami?

Tagalog distinguishes inclusive and exclusive “we”:

tayo = we (including the person spoken to)
kami = we (excluding the person spoken to)

Because it’s an invitation/suggestion to the listener, tayo is used. Magluto kami … would mean “We (but not you) will cook …”

What is the role of ng before masarap na hapunan?

ng marks the non-topic direct object in actor-focus clauses. Here it introduces what is being cooked: ng masarap na hapunan. Note:

ng (object/genitive marker) is different from nang (adverbial linker meaning “when/as/so that,” and also used before adverbs of manner and to indicate degree).
In actor-focus sentences, the object is usually marked by ng, not ang.

Why is it masarap na hapunan and not just masarap hapunan?

Tagalog uses a linker between modifiers (like adjectives) and the nouns they modify. The linker is either -ng or na:

If the first word ends in a vowel, add -ng: maganda + -ng → magandang bahay
If it ends in n, drop the n and add -ng: mabuti(n) + -ng → mabuting tao
If it ends in any other consonant, use na: masarap + na → masarap na hapunan

Is the na in masarap na hapunan the same na that means “already/now”?

No. Here na is only the linker. The particle na meaning “already/now” is a separate enclitic that would appear after the first element of the clause, e.g., Magluto na tayo … (“Let’s cook now/already …”). In your sentence, the na sits inside the noun phrase as a linker.

Does sa Linggo mean “this Sunday” or “next Sunday”?

Often, sa Linggo is understood as “on (the upcoming) Sunday,” but it can be context-dependent. To be precise:

Ngayong Linggo = this Sunday
Sa darating na Linggo = this coming Sunday
Sa susunod na Linggo = next Sunday (the one after the coming Sunday)
Noong Linggo = last Sunday
Tuwing Linggo = on Sundays (habitually)

Note: Linggo (capital L) = Sunday; linggo (lowercase) = week. In casual writing, capitalization isn’t always observed, so phrases like sa susunod na linggo usually mean “next week.”

Can I move the time phrase to the start?

Yes, fronting time expressions is common for emphasis:

Sa Linggo, magluto tayo ng masarap na hapunan.
More formal: Sa Linggo ay magluluto tayo ng masarap na hapunan. Word order is flexible; moving sa Linggo forward emphasizes the time.

How do I say the same idea as a plan or statement rather than a suggestion?

Use the contemplated aspect:

Magluluto tayo ng masarap na hapunan sa Linggo. (We will cook … on Sunday.) This sounds like a plan rather than an invitation.

How would I make the dinner (not the doer) the focus?

Switch to object focus with the -in form and change the pronoun accordingly:

Lutuin natin ang masarap na hapunan sa Linggo. Here, the dinner (ang masarap na hapunan) is the topic, and natin is the genitive “our/we (including you)” actor pronoun required by object-focus verbs.

Why is it tayo in actor focus but natin in object focus?

Tagalog pronouns come in sets. In actor-focus clauses, the actor takes the nominative set, so you use tayo. In object-focus clauses (like with lutuin), the actor switches to the genitive set, so you use natin. Compare:

Actor focus: Magluto tayo ng hapunan.
Object focus: Lutuin natin ang hapunan.

If I want to be polite, where do I put po?

Place po after the first clitic/word of the clause or after the fronted element:

Magluto po tayo ng masarap na hapunan sa Linggo.
Sa Linggo po, magluto tayo ng masarap na hapunan.
If urging gently: Magluto na po tayo …

What’s the difference between magluto and maghapunan?

magluto = to cook
maghapunan = to have/eat dinner So, if you just want to suggest having dinner (not necessarily cooking), say: Maghapunan tayo sa Linggo. If the idea is preparing the meal, Magluto tayo ng hapunan … is the right choice.

Is hapunan countable? How would I talk about multiple dishes?

Hapunan is the meal “dinner,” typically treated as a single event. To talk about dishes, use ulam or putahe:

Magluto tayo ng mga masasarap na ulam sa Linggo.
Magluto tayo ng mga masasarap na putahe sa Linggo.

Could I say para sa hapunan instead of ng hapunan?

Yes, but it changes the nuance:

ng hapunan marks the object (“cook dinner”).
para sa hapunan means “for dinner” (purpose), e.g., Magluto tayo ng adobo para sa hapunan sa Linggo. (“Let’s cook adobo for dinner on Sunday.”)