Epistemic modality in Tagalog is realized through words functioning as adverbials. These words, when used as modals, are typically linked to the clause that they modalize through the Tagalog linker "-ng" or "na". An example of a Spanish-derived epistemic modal used for expressing high degree of probability is "sigurado + -ng" (from Sp. "seguro" + "-ado"), with the meaning of "surely" or "certainly", and is considered as a synonym of Tagalog "tiyak", "sigurado" is derived from "asegurado", "assured". The word "siguro" (from Sp. "seguro") is an epistemic modal marking moderate degree of probability, with the meaning of "maybe", "probably" or "perhaps". The word "siguro" is also identified by the linguist Ekaterina Baklanova as a Spanish-derived discourse marker in Tagalog, thus contrasting the claims of other scholars such as Patrick Steinkrüger that none of the numerous discourse markers in Tagalog are of Spanish origin. Similarly to Tagalog, the word "siguro" is also considered as an adverbial clitic in Cebuano and in Masbateño. "Posible + -ng" (from Sp. "posible"), which can be translated to English as "possibly", is a Tagalog epistemic modal marking low degree of probability. Examples of Spanish-derived Tagalog epistemic modals marking excessive degree of intensity include "masyado + -ng" (from Sp. "demasiado") and "sobra + -ng" (from Sp. "sobra") while "medyo" (from Sp. "medio") marks moderate degree of intensity.