Demonstratives: 'ito', 'iyan', and 'iyon'

01

The Three-Way System

• ito — this: near me, the speaker
• iyan — that: near you, the listener
• iyon — that: far from both of us

• Ito ang computer ko.

  This is my computer. (in my hands)

• Ano 'yan? 'Yan ay isang lumang radyo.

  What is that? That is an old radio. (over by you)

• Ito ay isang pinto, at iyan ay isang bintana.

  This is a door, and that is a window.

The choice depends on where the object is relative to the two of you — not on how far away it is in absolute terms.

02

Spoken Contractions

In speech iyan and iyon are almost always shortened, and they are written that way too in informal text.

• iyan → 'yan
• iyon → 'yon or yun
• iyong → 'yung or yung

• Wag mong kainin yan! Baboy yan!

  Don't eat that! That's pork!

• Magandang ideya. Gawin natin yan.

  Good idea. Let's do that.

That last shortening is worth watching for: yung turns up constantly in casual speech where the written language would use ang or iyong.

03

They Have Case Forms Too

Like every noun-like word in Tagalog, demonstratives come in a three-way case set.

• ang-form: ito, iyan, iyon
• ng-form: nito, niyan, niyon
• sa-form: dito, diyan, doon

• Ang kulay nito ay dilaw.

  Its colour is yellow. (ng-form: "of this")

• Pumunta ka dito.

  Come here. (sa-form)

04

Used With a Noun

A demonstrative can also modify a noun, and then the linker is required — usually attached to the noun, with the demonstrative following.

• Ang babaeng iyon ay naglalakad kasama ang kanyang aso.

  That woman is walking with her dog.

• Ang lalaking iyon ay tumatakbo.

  That man is running.

• Luma na ang librong ito.

  This book is old.

The demonstrative may also come first — itong libro — with the same meaning.

05

'ito' Meaning "It"

Very often ito simply points back to something just mentioned, where English would use "it".

• Ito ay nakakapawi ng uhaw.

  It is refreshing.

• Nagbabasa kami ng libro. Ito ay kawili-wili.

  We are reading a book. It is interesting.

• Hindi nila ito nakikita, pero naririnig nila ito.

  They don't see it, but they hear it.