When do I use "malaki" vs "malaking" in Tagalog?

[beetnat]

I know that they both mean "big," but I was wondering if there are cases where we should specifically use one or the other, or if they can just be used interchangeably. Thanks in advance!

[leosmith]

malaking = malaki + the linker
The linker is na, but it is often morphed to ng and attached to the word when it ends in a vowel. The linker is essentially a relative pronoun (that, who, etc). Whether or not a linker is used depends on the structure of the sentence. You need the linker any time you put an adjective next to a noun.
Ex: Malaki ang bahay. = The house is big. Linker not needed because malaki is not next to bahay.
Ex: Malaking bahay yun. = That's a big house. Linker needed because malaki is next to bahay.
You can flip the order to noun-adj if you want, but you still need a linker.
bahay na malaki = house that is big (the relative pronoun in English (that) is more obvious when you use this order). Na does not morph because bahay does not end in a vowel
malaking bahay = big house. Na morphs to ng and attaches to malaki
magandang babae
mahal na sasakyan
etc.