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For the autodidact learner, the word "mag-isip" represents the infinitive and imperative form of the Tagalog verb meaning "to think." This fundamental cognitive verb encompasses mental processes including reflection, contemplation, planning, and reasoning. In Tagalog grammar, "mag-isip" belongs to the MAG- verb group, which are actor-focus verbs emphasizing the doer of the action. The verb undergoes various conjugations depending on aspect (tense): nag-iisip (present progressive - thinking), nag-isip (completed - thought), and mag-iisip (contemplated/future - will think).
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FAQ: What does "mag-isip" mean in Tagalog? "Mag-isip" is the Tagalog verb meaning "to think" in its infinitive form. It refers to the mental process of using one's cognitive abilities to form ideas, solutions, or plans, and to reflect or focus attention on something to make decisions.
Throughout this lesson's 30 examples, you will encounter "mag-isip" and its various conjugated forms in natural contexts, from simple statements about thinking to complex philosophical reflections. The verb appears in different positions within sentences, demonstrating Tagalog's flexible word order while maintaining the verb-initial preference common in Philippine languages.
This lesson serves as educational material for learning the Tagalog language, specifically focusing on one of the most essential cognitive verbs used in daily communication and intellectual discourse.
Key Takeaways: -
"Mag-isip" is an actor-focus MAG- verb meaning "to think" -
The verb changes form based on aspect: nag-isip (past), nag-iisip (present), mag-iisip (future) -
Object-focus forms include: iniisip (being thought of), inisip (was thought of), iisipin (will be thought of) -
The root word "isip" can combine with other affixes to create related meanings
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53.1 Nag-iisip PROG-think ako I ng MARK solusyon solution sa to problema problem
53.2 Mag-isip think-IMP ka you muna first bago before ka you kumilos ACT-move
53.3 Inisip PAST-think-OF niya he/she ang ANG lahat all ng GEN posibilidad possibility
53.4 Hindi not siya he/she nag-isip PAST-think nang ADV mabuti well
53.5 Mag-iisip FUT-think ba Q ang ANG bata child tungkol about dito this
53.6 Kailangan need kong I-LINK mag-isip INF-think ng GEN paraan way
53.7 Sino who ang ANG nag-iisip PROG-think ng GEN ideya idea na LINK iyan that
53.8 Iniisip PROG-think-OF ko I kung if paano how ito this gagawin FUT-do
53.9 Mahirap difficult mag-isip INF-think kapag when pagod tired ka you
53.10 Nag-isip PAST-think sila they ng GEN magandang beautiful-LINK plano plan
53.11 Bakit why hindi not mo you inisip PAST-think-OF ang ANG epekto effect
53.12 Palaging always nag-iisip PROG-think ang ANG guro teacher ng GEN bagong new-LINK estratehiya strategy
53.13 Iisipin FUT-think-OF natin we-INCL ang ANG kinabukasan future natin our-INCL
53.14 Wala none siyang he/she-LINK oras time para for mag-isip INF-think
53.15 Ang ANG mag-isip INF-think ay BE mahalagang important-LINK kasanayan skill
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53.1 Nag-iisip ako ng solusyon sa problema. "I am thinking of a solution to the problem."
53.2 Mag-isip ka muna bago ka kumilos. "Think first before you act."
53.3 Inisip niya ang lahat ng posibilidad. "He/she thought of all the possibilities."
53.4 Hindi siya nag-isip nang mabuti. "He/she didn't think well."
53.5 Mag-iisip ba ang bata tungkol dito? "Will the child think about this?"
53.6 Kailangan kong mag-isip ng paraan. "I need to think of a way."
53.7 Sino ang nag-iisip ng ideya na iyan? "Who is thinking of that idea?"
53.8 Iniisip ko kung paano ito gagawin. "I'm thinking about how to do this."
53.9 Mahirap mag-isip kapag pagod ka. "It's hard to think when you're tired."
53.10 Nag-isip sila ng magandang plano. "They thought of a good plan."
53.11 Bakit hindi mo inisip ang epekto? "Why didn't you think of the effect?"
53.12 Palaging nag-iisip ang guro ng bagong estratehiya. "The teacher is always thinking of new strategies."
53.13 Iisipin natin ang kinabukasan natin. "We will think about our future."
53.14 Wala siyang oras para mag-isip. "He/she has no time to think."
53.15 Ang mag-isip ay mahalagang kasanayan. "Thinking is an important skill."
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53.1 Nag-iisip ako ng solusyon sa problema.
53.2 Mag-isip ka muna bago ka kumilos.
53.3 Inisip niya ang lahat ng posibilidad.
53.4 Hindi siya nag-isip nang mabuti.
53.5 Mag-iisip ba ang bata tungkol dito?
53.6 Kailangan kong mag-isip ng paraan.
53.7 Sino ang nag-iisip ng ideya na iyan?
53.8 Iniisip ko kung paano ito gagawin.
53.9 Mahirap mag-isip kapag pagod ka.
53.10 Nag-isip sila ng magandang plano.
53.11 Bakit hindi mo inisip ang epekto?
53.12 Palaging nag-iisip ang guro ng bagong estratehiya.
53.13 Iisipin natin ang kinabukasan natin.
53.14 Wala siyang oras para mag-isip.
53.15 Ang mag-isip ay mahalagang kasanayan.
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These are the grammar rules for "mag-isip" and thinking verbs in Tagalog.
MAG- Verb Conjugation Pattern: The verb "mag-isip" follows the standard MAG- verb conjugation pattern, which is one of the most common verb patterns in Tagalog. MAG- verbs are actor-focus verbs, meaning they emphasize the doer of the action rather than the object being acted upon.
Aspect Formation: -
Infinitive/Imperative: mag-isip (to think/think!) -
Contemplated (Future): mag-iisip (will think) - formed by MAG + reduplicated first syllable + root -
Progressive (Present): nag-iisip (is thinking) - formed by NAG + reduplicated first syllable + root -
Completed (Past): nag-isip (thought) - formed by NAG + root
Object-Focus Forms: When the focus shifts to what is being thought about, the verb uses different affixes: -
isipin - imperative object focus (think of it!) -
iisipin - future object focus (will think of it) -
iniisip - present object focus (is thinking of it) -
inisip - past object focus (thought of it)
Common Mistakes: -
Confusing "nag-isip" (completed action) with "nag-iisip" (ongoing action) -
Forgetting to reduplicate the first syllable in future and present forms -
Using actor-focus forms when object-focus is required -
Incorrect placement of pronouns and particles
Word Order Flexibility: While Tagalog prefers verb-initial sentences, word order can vary for emphasis. The verb "mag-isip" can appear in different positions, though verb-first remains most natural.
Linking and Marking: -
"ng" marks the object of thinking (genitive marker) -
"ang" marks the topic or subject (nominative marker) -
"tungkol sa" or "ukol sa" mean "about" when discussing what someone is thinking about
Related Forms: -
mag-isip-isip - to think repeatedly or ponder deeply -
pag-isipan - to think about something carefully -
kaisipan - thought, idea (noun form) -
mapag-isip - thoughtful (adjective) -
palaisipan - puzzle, riddle (something to think about)
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In Filipino culture, the concept of "mag-isip" extends beyond mere cognitive processing to encompass careful deliberation and consideration of consequences, particularly regarding how one's actions affect family and community relationships.
Formal vs. Informal Usage: In formal contexts, speakers often use "mag-isip" with respectful pronouns (po/opo) and particles. For example, "Mag-isip po kayo" (Please think about it) shows respect to elders or authority figures. In casual conversation among peers, the simpler "Mag-isip ka" suffices.
Cultural Expressions: The phrase "Mag-isip ka muna" (Think first) reflects the Filipino value of careful consideration before action, especially in matters affecting others. This aligns with the cultural emphasis on maintaining harmony and avoiding conflict through thoughtful behavior.
Regional Variations: While "mag-isip" is universally understood throughout the Philippines, some regions may prefer alternative expressions. In some Visayan areas, speakers might code-switch between Tagalog "mag-isip" and local equivalents. The verb remains consistent in Metro Manila and Tagalog-speaking provinces.
Idiomatic Uses: -
"Mag-isip ng malalim" (think deeply) - used for profound contemplation -
"Hindi nag-iisip" (not thinking) - implies carelessness or thoughtlessness -
"Puro ka lang mag-isip" (you only think) - criticism for overthinking without action -
"Nag-iisip ng masama" (thinking of bad things) - harboring ill thoughts
Politeness and Register: The imperative "Mag-isip ka!" can sound harsh. Filipinos often soften it with "muna" (first) or "naman" (particle for softening), as in "Mag-isip ka muna" or "Mag-isip ka naman," making the command less direct and more culturally appropriate.
False Friends with English: While "think" and "mag-isip" are generally equivalent, English speakers should note that Tagalog distinguishes between thinking as an actor (mag-isip) and thinking about something specific (isipin), a distinction not always clear in English usage.
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From Jose Rizal's "Noli Me Tangere" (1887), Chapter 7, translated to Tagalog by Pascual H. Poblete:
"Nag-iisip si Ibarra ng mga pagbabagong gagawin niya sa kanyang bayan. Matagal na niyang inisip ang pagtatayo ng paaralan para sa mga bata. Hindi niya malilimutan ang mga salita ng kanyang ama tungkol sa edukasyon. Kailangan ng mga Pilipino na mag-isip nang malalim upang makamit ang tunay na kalayaan. Sa pag-iisip at pag-aaral nakasalalay ang kinabukasan ng bansa."
Nag-iisip PROG-think si MARK Ibarra Ibarra ng GEN mga PL pagbabagong change-LINK gagawin FUT-do niya he sa in kanyang his bayan town. Matagal long na already niyang he-LINK inisip PAST-think-OF ang ANG pagtatayo building ng GEN paaralan school para for sa MARK mga PL bata child. Hindi not niya he malilimutan FUT-forget ang ANG mga PL salita word ng GEN kanyang his ama father tungkol about sa MARK edukasyon education. Kailangan need ng GEN mga PL Pilipino Filipino na COMP mag-isip INF-think nang ADV malalim deep upang so-that makamit achieve ang ANG tunay true na LINK kalayaan freedom. Sa in pag-iisip GER-think at and pag-aaral GER-study nakasalalay depends ang ANG kinabukasan future ng GEN bansa country.
"Nag-iisip si Ibarra ng mga pagbabagong gagawin niya sa kanyang bayan. Matagal na niyang inisip ang pagtatayo ng paaralan para sa mga bata. Hindi niya malilimutan ang mga salita ng kanyang ama tungkol sa edukasyon. Kailangan ng mga Pilipino na mag-isip nang malalim upang makamit ang tunay na kalayaan. Sa pag-iisip at pag-aaral nakasalalay ang kinabukasan ng bansa."
"Ibarra is thinking of the changes he will make in his town. He has long thought about building a school for the children. He cannot forget his father's words about education. Filipinos need to think deeply in order to achieve true freedom. The future of the country depends on thinking and learning."
Nag-iisip si Ibarra ng mga pagbabagong gagawin niya sa kanyang bayan. Matagal na niyang inisip ang pagtatayo ng paaralan para sa mga bata. Hindi niya malilimutan ang mga salita ng kanyang ama tungkol sa edukasyon. Kailangan ng mga Pilipino na mag-isip nang malalim upang makamit ang tunay na kalayaan. Sa pag-iisip at pag-aaral nakasalalay ang kinabukasan ng bansa.
This passage demonstrates multiple forms of "mag-isip" and related thinking concepts. "Nag-iisip" shows progressive aspect for Ibarra's ongoing contemplation. "Inisip" uses object-focus past form, emphasizing what was thought about (the school). "Mag-isip nang malalim" combines the infinitive with an adverbial phrase meaning "deeply." The gerund form "pag-iisip" functions as a noun meaning "thinking" or "the act of thinking." The passage illustrates how thinking relates to Filipino aspirations for education and freedom, central themes in Rizal's novel about social reform during the Spanish colonial period.
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53.16 Nag-iisip PROG-think ang ANG pamahalaan government ng GEN bagong new polisiya policy para for sa MARK edukasyon education
53.17 Matagal long nang already iniisip PROG-think-OF ng GEN mga PL eksperto expert ang ANG problemang problem-LINK ito this
53.18 Ayon according sa to ulat report nag-isip PAST-think sila they ng GEN tatlong three solusyon solution
53.19 Kailangang must mag-isip INF-think ang ANG publiko public tungkol about sa MARK isyung issue-LINK ito this
53.20 Hindi not pa yet nag-iisip PROG-think ang ANG kongreso congress ng GEN budget budget para for dito this
53.21 Iisipin FUT-think-OF ng GEN presidente president ang ANG lahat all ng GEN aspeto aspect bago before pumirma sign
53.22 Maraming many nag-iisip PROG-think na COMP mali wrong ang ANG desisyon decision
53.23 Dapat should mag-isip INF-think muna first ang ANG mga PL magulang parent bago before magreklamo complain
53.24 Inisip PAST-think-OF ba Q nila they ang ANG kahalagahan importance nito this-GEN
53.25 Patuloy continue na LINK nag-iisip PROG-think ang ANG komite committee ng GEN mas more mabuting good-LINK plano plan
53.26 Walang no nag-isip PAST-think na COMP mangyayari FUT-happen ito this
53.27 Sino who ang ANG nag-iisip PROG-think para for sa MARK mga PL mahihirap poor
53.28 Mag-iisip FUT-think ang ANG senado senate ng GEN paraan way upang to masolusyunan solve ito this
53.29 Mahirap difficult mag-isip INF-think ng GEN tamang correct-LINK sagot answer sa to krisis crisis
53.30 Lahat all ay BE nag-iisip PROG-think kung if tama correct ba Q ang ANG ginawa PAST-do
53.16 Nag-iisip ang pamahalaan ng bagong polisiya para sa edukasyon. "The government is thinking of a new policy for education."
53.17 Matagal nang iniisip ng mga eksperto ang problemang ito. "Experts have been thinking about this problem for a long time."
53.18 Ayon sa ulat, nag-isip sila ng tatlong solusyon. "According to the report, they thought of three solutions."
53.19 Kailangang mag-isip ang publiko tungkol sa isyung ito. "The public needs to think about this issue."
53.20 Hindi pa nag-iisip ang kongreso ng budget para dito. "Congress is not yet thinking of a budget for this."
53.21 Iisipin ng presidente ang lahat ng aspeto bago pumirma. "The president will think of all aspects before signing."
53.22 Maraming nag-iisip na mali ang desisyon. "Many are thinking that the decision is wrong."
53.23 Dapat mag-isip muna ang mga magulang bago magreklamo. "Parents should think first before complaining."
53.24 Inisip ba nila ang kahalagahan nito? "Did they think of its importance?"
53.25 Patuloy na nag-iisip ang komite ng mas mabuting plano. "The committee continues thinking of a better plan."
53.26 Walang nag-isip na mangyayari ito. "No one thought this would happen."
53.27 Sino ang nag-iisip para sa mga mahihirap? "Who is thinking for the poor?"
53.28 Mag-iisip ang senado ng paraan upang masolusyunan ito. "The senate will think of a way to solve this."
53.29 Mahirap mag-isip ng tamang sagot sa krisis. "It's hard to think of the right answer to the crisis."
53.30 Lahat ay nag-iisip kung tama ba ang ginawa. "Everyone is thinking whether what was done was right."
53.16 Nag-iisip ang pamahalaan ng bagong polisiya para sa edukasyon.
53.17 Matagal nang iniisip ng mga eksperto ang problemang ito.
53.18 Ayon sa ulat, nag-isip sila ng tatlong solusyon.
53.19 Kailangang mag-isip ang publiko tungkol sa isyung ito.
53.20 Hindi pa nag-iisip ang kongreso ng budget para dito.
53.21 Iisipin ng presidente ang lahat ng aspeto bago pumirma.
53.22 Maraming nag-iisip na mali ang desisyon.
53.23 Dapat mag-isip muna ang mga magulang bago magreklamo.
53.24 Inisip ba nila ang kahalagahan nito?
53.25 Patuloy na nag-iisip ang komite ng mas mabuting plano.
53.26 Walang nag-isip na mangyayari ito.
53.27 Sino ang nag-iisip para sa mga mahihirap?
53.28 Mag-iisip ang senado ng paraan upang masolusyunan ito.
53.29 Mahirap mag-isip ng tamang sagot sa krisis.
53.30 Lahat ay nag-iisip kung tama ba ang ginawa.
The news report genre demonstrates formal register usage of "mag-isip" in public discourse contexts. Government entities (pamahalaan, kongreso, senado, presidente) frequently appear as actors performing the thinking action, reflecting how political and social issues require deliberation. The progressive aspect "nag-iisip" dominates to indicate ongoing consideration of issues. Object-focus forms like "iniisip" and "iisipin" emphasize what is being considered rather than who is considering. Question particles "ba" appear in rhetorical questions typical of news commentary. The connector "upang" (in order to) links thinking with purpose, while "bago" (before) establishes temporal sequences common in policy discussions. Modal markers like "dapat" (should) and "kailangan" (must/need) express obligation to think carefully about public matters.
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Tagalog uses the Latin alphabet with 28 letters, including the Spanish ñ and the ng digraph treated as a single letter. The language has relatively consistent pronunciation rules.
Vowels: -
a as in "father" [a] -
e as in "bet" [ɛ] -
i as in "machine" [i] -
o as in "or" [o] -
u as in "rule" [u]
Key Consonants for "mag-isip": -
g is always hard as in "go" [g] -
ng represents a single sound [ŋ] as in English "sing" -
s is always voiceless as in "see" [s] -
p is unaspirated [p]
Stress Patterns: Tagalog stress is phonemic and can change meaning. In "mag-isip": -
mag-ISIP (primary stress on second syllable of root) -
nag-iISIP (stress remains on root, not reduplication) -
Different stress: ISip (thought/mind as noun) vs. iSIP (think - root form)
Syllabification: -
mag-i-sip (3 syllables) -
nag-i-i-sip (4 syllables) -
i-ni-i-sip (4 syllables)
Common Spelling Patterns: The reduplication in present and future forms (nag-iisip, mag-iisip) involves repeating the first CV (consonant-vowel) pattern of the root. For vowel-initial roots like "isip," only the vowel is repeated, creating "i-isip."
Sound Changes: No significant sound changes occur in "mag-isip" conjugations, maintaining consistent pronunciation across all forms.
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