Here's why:
* Tagalog doesn't have grammatical genders or articles: This means there's no need to distinguish between "a" chair and "the" chair, as there's just one word for "chair" (upuan).
* Focus on verbs and pronouns: Tagalog is a verb-final language. It places emphasis on verbs and pronouns, making the classification of nouns less central.
Instead of "common noun", Tagalog grammar focuses on:
* Types of nouns based on their function:
* Pangngalan (Noun): This encompasses all nouns.
* Pangngalang Pantangi (Proper Noun): This refers to specific names, like people, places, or organizations.
* Pangngalang Pambalana (Common Noun): This refers to general categories of things, like animals, objects, or concepts.
It's important to note:
* While Tagalog doesn't have a "common noun" in the English sense, the concept of general categories is still present.
* In practice, you'll often hear pangngalang pambalana used to describe general nouns.
Therefore, instead of thinking about "common noun" directly, consider the function and specificity of a noun in Tagalog to determine if it's a pangngalang pantangi (proper noun) or simply a pangngalan (noun).