Learn Hardcore Filipino: Maaga tayong aalis dahil may trapiko sa kalsada. - We will leave early because there is traffic on the road.

The -ng is the linker that connects a word to the next word it modifies. Here, tayo (we, inclusive) is linked to aalis (will leave), forming tayong aalis = “we who will leave.” If you don’t link them, it sounds incomplete in this structure. Same pattern: kaming aalis, akong aalis, siyang aalis.

What’s the difference between tayo and kami here?

Tayo is inclusive “we” (includes the listener). Kami is exclusive “we” (excludes the listener). So:

Maaga tayong aalis = We (including you) will leave early.
Maaga kaming aalis = We (not including you) will leave early.

Why is the word order Maaga tayong aalis? Could I say Aalis tayo nang maaga?

Tagalog is often predicate-first. Maaga (early) is placed first as the predicate, and tayong aalis is the subject/topic. You can also say Aalis tayo nang maaga, which is very natural; it slightly emphasizes the action of leaving rather than the earliness.

Do I need nang before maaga?

Use nang when the adjective/adverb follows the verb: Aalis tayo nang maaga. If you front the time/manner word as the predicate, you don’t use nang: Maaga tayong aalis. Both are correct; the position determines whether nang appears.

What verb form is aalis, and why isn’t there um- as in umalis?

The verb is from the -um- family with root alis.

Completed: umalis (left)
Incomplete/Progressive: umaalis (is leaving)
Contemplated/Future: aalis (will leave) In the future form for -um- verbs, um disappears and the first syllable is reduplicated (for vowel-initial roots, you see the double vowel: a-a-lis).

Can I just say alis tayo?

As a neutral future statement, no—use aalis tayo. But as a casual imperative/suggestion, Alis na tayo! (“Let’s go now!”) is common. For a planned future, stick with aalis.

What’s the difference between aalis, iiwan/iiwanan, and lisanin?

aalis (AF): to depart/leave (no direct object). Example: Aalis tayo.
iiwan/iiwanan (OF/DF): to leave someone/something behind. Example: Iiwan ko ang bag.
lisanin (OF, formal/literary): to leave/abandon a place. Example: Lisanin natin ang lugar. Use aalis for “we will depart.”

Why is it dahil may trapiko and not dahil sa trapiko?

Both work, with a slight difference:

dahil may trapiko = “because there is traffic” (uses existential may).
dahil sa trapiko = “because of (the) traffic” (uses dahil sa
- noun phrase). Choose whichever fits your style; both are natural here.

What’s the difference among may, meron, and mayroon?

All express existence/possession. Before a noun like trapiko, may is the most common: may trapiko. mayroon/meron are variants often used when followed by a pronoun or for emphasis: mayroon akong oras / meron akong oras. In your sentence, may is the simplest choice.

Is trapiko the only correct word? I hear trapik too.

You’ll hear both. trapiko is widely used; trapik is a very common colloquial shortening. In formal writing, you might prefer trapiko, but everyday speech uses either.

Why add sa kalsada? Isn’t traffic obviously on the road?

It’s optional but helpful. May trapiko is already clear; sa kalsada specifies the location or sounds more natural if you’re contrasting with traffic elsewhere (e.g., in the airways, on the expressway vs. side streets). You could drop it if context is obvious.

Can I say sa daan or sa kalye instead of sa kalsada?

Yes:

sa daan = on the road/way (very common)
sa kalsada = on the street/road
sa kalye = on the street (Spanish loan) All are acceptable; nuances are minimal and often regional.

Can I use kasi instead of dahil?

Yes, but register and placement differ:

dahil is more neutral/formal and introduces a clause: Aalis tayo nang maaga dahil may trapiko.
kasi is more conversational and usually follows the main clause: Aalis tayo nang maaga kasi may trapiko. Fronting kasi is less common in careful speech.

Can I move the because-clause to the front?

Yes: Dahil may trapiko sa kalsada, maaga tayong aalis. Use a comma after the fronted clause. This order emphasizes the reason first.

How does the linker -ng/na work in general?

If the first word ends in a vowel, attach -ng: tayo → tayong aalis.
If it ends in a consonant other than n, use separate na: maaga na alis (but more idiomatic is to nominalize: maagang pag-alis).
If it ends in n, drop the n and add -ng: ilan → ilang araw. It links modifiers to heads or ties closely related words.

How do I say “earlier/earliest/very early”?

Comparative: mas maaga (earlier) — Aalis tayo nang mas maaga.
Superlative: pinakamaaga (earliest) — Ito ang pinakamaagang alis.
Intensifier: napakaaga / sobrang aga (very early) — Napakaaga nating aalis.

Any pronunciation tips for key words?

maaga: three syllables, with a clear break between the two a’s: ma-a-ga. Many speakers stress the middle syllable.
aalis: a-a-LIS; stress on the last syllable.
trapiko: tra-PI-ko; stress on PI.
kalsada: kal-SA-da; stress on SA.

Can I say maagang aalis tayo?

Not as a verb phrase. Maagang is the linked form used to modify a noun, not a finite verb. Use:

Aalis tayo nang maaga (verb + adverb), or
Maagang pag-alis (early departure; noun phrase with nominalization pag-alis).

How do I turn this into a suggestion like “Let’s leave early because there’s traffic”?

Use an imperative/suggestive tone:

Umalis tayo nang maaga; may trapiko sa kalsada.
Add na for urgency: Umalis na tayo nang maaga dahil may trapiko.
Very casual: Tara, alis na tayo nang maaga—trapik sa daan.