One of the most common questions I get from students learning Filipino is about two tiny but tricky words: ng and nang. They sound exactly the same when you say them, but they are spelled differently and have completely different jobs in a sentence.

Even many native speakers get these two mixed up in writing! But don’t worry. Once you learn a few simple rules, telling them apart becomes much easier.

In this guide, I’ll break down the difference in a simple, straight-to-the-point way.

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Quick Answer: When to Use Ng vs. Nang

If you’re in a hurry, here’s the answer in a nutshell:

• Use Ng to show possession (like “of” or ‘s) and to mark the direct object of a sentence (it answers the question “what?”).
• Use Nang as an adverb to describe how an action is done (it answers the question “how?”), to mean “when,” or to connect repeated words.

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When to use ng

Let’s start with the more common of the two. Think of ng as a word that connects nouns or points to the object of an action. It generally has two main uses.

1. To show possession or connection (like “of”)

Ng is used to show that something belongs to someone or something. It functions like the English word “of” or an apostrophe-s (‘s). It answers the question “Kanino?” (Whose?) or “Ano?” (Of what?).

2. To mark the direct object of a verb

Ng also points to the direct object in a sentence. The direct object is the noun that receives the action of the verb. A simple way to find it is to ask “What?” after the verb.

• Question: You bought what?
• Answer: ng tinapay (bread).

• Question: She ate what?
• Answer: ng mangga (a mango).

When to use nang

Now for the other one. Nang is a bit more versatile. It’s often used as an adverb or a conjunction. Here are its main uses.

1. To describe how an action is done (as an adverb)

Nang is used to connect a verb to an adverb that describes it. It answers the question “Paano?” (How?).

• Question: How did he run?
• Answer: nang mabilis (quickly).

• Question: How did the child cry?
• Answer: nang malakas (loudly).

2. To mean “when”

Nang can also be used as a conjunction that means “when” or “at the time that.”

3. To link repeated words

When a word (usually a verb) is repeated to show intensity or continuation, nang is used to connect them.

4. To mean “so that” or “in order to”

Nang can link a cause to its effect, similar to “so that.”

Here, the first nang answers “how” to study (nang mabuti - well), and the second nang means “so that” you will pass.

A simple trick to tell them apart

Feeling a little overwhelmed? Don’t be! Here is the simplest trick that works most of the time. Just ask these questions:

1. Does the word answer “Ano?” (What?) or “Kanino?” (Whose?)

• If yes, use ng.
• Example: Kumain ng ano? -> Kumain ng isda. (Ate what? -> Ate fish.)

2. Does the word answer “Paano?” (How?) or “Kailan?” (When?)

• If yes, use nang.
• Example: Tumakbo paano? -> Tumakbo nang mabilis. (Ran how? -> Ran quickly.)

As for regional variations, the rules for ng and nang are standard across all Tagalog-speaking regions in the Philippines. This is one of those grammar rules that doesn’t change, so you can confidently apply it wherever you go!

Final thoughts

Mastering ng and nang is a huge step in making your written Filipino look polished and correct. It might seem confusing at first, but with practice, it will become second nature.

My advice? Start noticing these words when you read Filipino articles, books, or social media posts. Try writing your own sentences using the rules above. The more you use them, the more natural it will feel.