Learn Hardcore Filipino: Huwag kang mag-alala; darating ako agad.

Huwag = the prohibitive particle used for “don’t” (negates commands).
ka = “you” (2nd person singular, topic/ang-form pronoun).
-ng = linker that attaches to the preceding word; ka + -ng = kang.
mag-
- alala = the verb mag-alala “to worry” (actor-focus verb formed from the root alala).
darating = “will arrive/come” (contemplated/future aspect of the UM-verb from root dating).
ako = “I/me” (topic/ang-form pronoun).
agad = “immediately/right away.”

So: Huwag kang mag-alala; darating ako agad. = “Don’t worry; I will arrive right away.”

Why is it kang and not just ka (or ikaw)?

The linker -ng is required to connect ka to the following predicate, yielding kang: Huwag kang mag-alala. You’ll hear the casual Huwag ka mag-alala in speech, but the textbook form uses the linker. Ikaw isn’t used here; it typically appears at clause-start for emphasis (e.g., Ikaw ay…) or in structures like Ikaw ang…. Saying Huwag ikaw mag-alala sounds unidiomatic.

What does the linker -ng actually do here?

Tagalog uses linkers (-ng/na) to connect a modifier to the word it modifies. In Huwag kang mag-alala, the pronoun ka is linked to the predicate verb phrase mag-alala, making the whole clause flow naturally. Without the linker, it’s very colloquial; with it, it’s standard.

Can I add na to mean “anymore/now”? How do I write it?

Yes. Say Huwag ka nang mag-alala. Here na (“now/already”) combines with the linker -ng into nang. Nuance: “Don’t worry anymore/now, please stop worrying.”

What does mag- contribute in mag-alala? Is there a different verb for “remember”?

mag- + alala → mag-alala forms an actor-focus verb meaning “to worry.”
Don’t confuse it with maalala (“to remember, recall”). They share the root alala but mean different things.

Why is it darating and not dating? What are the other forms?

The root is dating (“arrive/come”). UM-verb aspect pattern:

Completed: dumating (“arrived”)
Incomplete/progressive: dumarating (“arriving/keeps arriving”)
Contemplated/future: darating (“will arrive”) Bare dating is a root/noun (“arrival”), not the future verb.

Why is the pronoun after the verb (darating ako) instead of before it?

Default Tagalog word order is predicate-first. So verb/adjective comes before the topic: Darating ako. You can front the pronoun for emphasis using ay inversion: Ako ay darating or the contraction Ako’y darating.

Where can I put agad? Are these all okay?

All are grammatical, with slight emphasis shifts:

Darating ako agad. (neutral)
Agad akong darating. (emphasizes immediacy)
Darating agad ako. (also fine in speech) You can also use the variant kaagad with the same meaning.

What’s the difference among agad, kaagad, and agad-agad? Is kagad okay?

agad and kaagad = “immediately/right away,” essentially interchangeable.
agad-agad = reduplicated for extra emphasis: “immediately, right this instant.”
kagad = colloquial/spoken; avoid in formal writing.

Is it okay to drop “you” and just say “Huwag mag-alala”?

Yes. Huwag mag-alala is a general “Don’t worry,” addressed to anyone. Huwag kang mag-alala explicitly targets “you (singular).”

How do I make the sentence polite or respectful?

Use po and the respectful kayo:

Huwag po kayong mag-alala; darating po ako agad. Here kayong is kayo + -ng (linker).

Is the semicolon necessary? Could I use a comma or period?

It’s stylistic. Both parts are independent clauses, so a semicolon or a period works:

Huwag kang mag-alala. Darating ako agad. A comma is common in informal writing, but a semicolon/period is cleaner.

Why is there a hyphen in mag-alala? Can I write magalala?

Use a hyphen when the affix ends in a consonant and the root starts with a vowel: mag- + alala → mag-alala. This is the standard orthography; texting may drop it, but formal writing keeps it.

Which “you” should I use: ka vs ikaw vs kayo?

ka = unstressed “you” used after the predicate (cannot start a sentence).
ikaw = stressed/emphatic “you,” often sentence-initial or before ay.
kayo = plural “you” or respectful singular “you.” In our sentence’s polite version, use kayo with the linker: kayong.

Any common mistakes to avoid with this sentence?

Don’t say Walang mag-alala to mean “Don’t worry” (it means “No one will worry”).
Don’t replace huwag with hindi in prohibitions; use huwag for “don’t.”
Avoid Huwag ikaw mag-alala; prefer Huwag kang mag-alala.

How else could I say the second clause (“I’ll be there soon/on my way”)?

Natural alternatives, depending on nuance:

Paparating na ako. = “I’m on my way/coming.”
Padating na ako. = “I’m en route/arriving soon.”
Papunta na ako. = “I’m on my way (heading there).” You can still add agad/kaagad for immediacy if the context fits.