Learn Hardcore Filipino: Mas mahaba ang paglalakbay kapag sobrang trapiko. - The journey is longer when the traffic is too heavy.

Mas marks a comparative (more/-er). It goes before an adjective or adverb: mas mahaba (longer), mas maganda (more beautiful), mas mabilis (faster). For the superlative, use pinaka- (e.g., pinakamahaba = longest). You can add a “than” phrase with kaysa (sa): Mas mahaba ang paglalakbay kaysa sa dati.

Should I use mahaba or matagal for time?

Use matagal for duration/time and mahaba for physical length. Because the sentence is about duration, many speakers prefer: Mas matagal ang biyahe kapag mabigat ang trapiko. That said, you will also hear humahaba ang biyahe used idiomatically for time.

Why is ang before paglalakbay?

Ang marks the topic/pivot (often the grammatical subject) in Tagalog. Predicate-first word order is common, so the descriptive part comes first: Mas mahaba (predicate) + ang paglalakbay (topic/pivot). Literally: “More long the travel.”

Can I say Mas mahaba ng paglalakbay?

No. Ng is not used to mark the subject; ang does that. Use ang: Mas mahaba ang paglalakbay. You do use ng to express the amount of difference: Mas mahaba ng 10 minuto ang paglalakbay.

How do I add the “than” part explicitly?

Use kaysa (sa) or simply sa in many cases:

Mas matagal ang biyahe kapag mabigat ang trapiko kaysa kapag maluwag ang kalsada.
Mas mahaba ang biyahe ngayon kaysa sa dati.

What’s the difference between kapag and kung?

Kapag = when/whenever (real, time-based condition): Kapag sobrang trapiko, mas matagal ang biyahe.
Kung = if (hypothetical/conditional): Kung sobrang trapiko, mas matagal ang biyahe. They can overlap in casual speech, but this is the safe distinction.

Can the kapag clause come first?

Yes. Both are fine:

Mas mahaba ang paglalakbay kapag sobrang trapiko.
Kapag sobrang trapiko, mas mahaba ang paglalakbay. When kapag-clause comes first, a comma is normally used.

What does paglalakbay literally mean and how is it formed?

Root: lakbay (to travel). pag- is a nominalizer; reduplication (la-) marks the action noun: pag + la + lakbay → paglalakbay = “the act of traveling / travel / journey.”

When should I use paglalakbay vs biyahe?

Paglalakbay: more general/formal/abstract “travel, journey.”
Biyahe: everyday “trip/ride/commute.” In daily speech most would say: Mas matagal ang biyahe kapag mabigat ang trapiko.

Is sobrang trapiko grammatical, and what does sobrang do?

Yes. Sobrang (from sobra + linker -ng) intensifies a following noun/adjective: sobrang trapiko (very/heavy/excessive traffic), sobrang tagal (very long). Alternatives: mabigat ang trapiko, matindi ang trapiko, grabe ang trapiko (colloquial).

Is trapiko the same as trapik, and can I say matrapik?

Trapiko is the standard form; trapik is a very common colloquial shortening.
Matrapik is colloquial (built with the prefix ma-); you’ll hear it in speech: Matrapik sa EDSA ngayon. In careful/standard style, prefer: Mabigat ang trapiko.

What’s the difference between mas mahaba and sobrang mahaba?

Mas mahaba = comparative “longer (than something).”
Sobrang mahaba = “very/too long” (no explicit comparison). Use mas when you’re comparing; sobrang when you’re just intensifying.

Why is there no word for “is”?

Tagalog doesn’t need a copula in equational sentences. Predicate-first order conveys “X is Y”: Mas mahaba ang paglalakbay = “The trip is longer.” You can use ay in formal/inverted style: Ang paglalakbay ay mas mahaba…

How can I say this more politely?

Add po after the first word or after the predicate: Mas matagal po ang biyahe kapag mabigat ang trapiko. or Kapag mabigat ang trapiko, mas matagal po ang biyahe.

How can I say “gets longer” with a verb?

Use tumatagal (for time) or humahaba (lit. gets longer; also used for time):

Tumatagal ang biyahe kapag mabigat ang trapiko.
Humahaba ang biyahe kapag mabigat ang trapiko.

Do I need may in kapag (may) sobrang trapiko?

It’s optional. Kapag sobrang trapiko is natural and idiomatic. You can say Kapag may sobrang trapiko, but most would prefer Kapag mabigat ang trapiko or simply Kapag sobrang trapik in casual speech.

How do linkers -ng and na work here (as in sobrang trapiko)?

Tagalog links modifiers with -ng/na:

If the first word ends in a vowel, use -ng: sobra
- -ng → sobrang trapiko.
If it ends in a consonant (except n), use na: grabe → grabe na trapiko (though you’d usually say grabe ang trapiko).
If it ends in n, drop n and add -g (not used in this sentence but good to know): maganda
- -ng → magandang tanawin; magasin
  - -g → magasig? (illustrative pattern).

How do I pronounce paglalakbay and trapiko?

paglalakbay: pag-la-lak-BAY (stress on the final syllable “bay”).
trapiko: tra-PI-ko (stress typically on “pi”).