Grammar Rule/Pattern | Definition | Example |
Anaa or Naa + 'y + noun
Pattern : I, II, III | there is, have
there was, had | I have a pencil. Naa ako'y lapis.
There is a pencil. Naa'y lapis. |
Aduna or Duna + 'y + noun
Pattern : I, II, III | there is, have
there was, had | He has a pencil. Duna ka'y lapis.
There is a pencil. Duna'y lapis. |
Kinsa + 3rd Class (plural) + ang... | Which of you (plural)
Who among you (plural) | Which of them has the pencil?
Kinsa sa ila ang naa'y lapis |
Riding Verbs:
Mag+vehicle+pronoun/noun+paingon... | | We will ride a bus going to Cagayan.
Magbus kami paingon sa Cagayan. |
Locative Words:
Nia | Here | Your parents are here.
Nia ang imong mga ginikanan. |
Locative Words:
Naa | There (near) | They are in the States.
Tua sila sa Esteyts. |
Locative Words:
Tua | There (far) | Your keys are on the table.
Naa sa lamesa ang imong mga yabi. |
If there are 2 verbs in a sentence:
1st Verb = Main Verb
2nd Verb = Gerund (needs pag prefix) | | |
Bag-o lang
always takes the past form of the verb | "just" recently completed action | They just arrived.
Bag-o lang sila niabot. |
Naa + 3rd class + 1st Class | There is presence, existence or location of a specific object. | The pencil is with her.
Naa sa iya ang lapis. |
Ka-number linker
Links the number to the item | | 5 pencils
Lima ka mga lapis |
Kanus-a
Anus-a | When | When is the party?
Kanus-a ang parti? |
Kaayo | Very, so, extremely | This is very delicious.
Lami kini kaayo. |
Nga linker or ligature
following consonant - nga
following vowels - ng
following n - g | | Beautiful girl - Gwapa nga babae
Gwapang babae |
Pagka +Adj +2nd Class | Adjective Intensifier
"How" | How beautiful she is!
Pagkagwapa niya |
Ka +Adj +2nd Class | Adjective Intensifier
"How" | How hard the lesson is!
Kalisud sa leksyon! |
Adj +a + 2nd Class | Adjective Intensifier
"How" | How short that child is!
Mubo a nianang bata! |
Unsa + 'y + LANGUAGE + sa + word | Use to elicit words or phrases in a Language | What is 'pencil' in Cebuano?
Unsa'y Sibuhano sa pencil? |
Unsa + sa + LANGUAGE + ang + word | Use to elicit words or phrases in a Language | What is 'pencil' is Cebuano?
Unsa sa Sibuhano ang pencil? |
Object Focus:
II, I, III
Gi- , -on , -a | | I bought the pencil for her.
Gipalit nako ang lapis para sa iya. |
Hain
full word | which/where | Which is your house?
Hain ang imong balay? |
Morag + full word + particles + pronoun/noun... | Seems like / looks like | She seems right.
Morag saktu siya. |
Tagpila + ang + noun | How much is each | How much each are the pencils?
Tagpila ang lapis? |
Actor Focus:
ni/nag + verb + I + actor + II + obj + III + bdl
mo/mag + verb + I + actor + II + obj + III + bdl
r/pag + verb + I + actor + II + obj + III + bdl | Actor focus refers to the relationship that exists between the verb and the topic of the sentence. | We will buy bread for her at the bakery.
Mopalit ko og pan para sa iya sa bakery. |
Wala + future (mo/mag)
Wala + past (ni/nag | To negate past/present | She didn't come to the party.
Wala siya nianhi sa parti. |
Dili + future (mo/mag) | To negate future | The teacher will not teach today.
Dili motudlo ang maestra karong adlawa. |
Gusto:
I, II ; II, II ; II, I
Person - I, III ; II, I | Want like | She loves chocolate. Gusto siya og tsokolet.
He likes her. Gusto niya siya. |
Pila + 1st class + object | How much | How much is the apple?
Pila ang mansanas? |
Pila + ka +object | How many | How many apples?
Pila ka mansanas? |
Ngano, Ngano man, Nganong
(NOT FULL WORD!) | Why? | Why will they borrow our car?
Nganong hulamon nila ang atong awto? |
Comparison:
Mas + Adj + 1st Class + Kay (sa) + 3rd Class | | She is taller than her.
Mas taas siya kay sa iya. |
Negate Comparison:
Dili +(kini) + mas+ adj + kay (sa) + 3rd Class | | She is not taller than her.
Dili siya mass taas kay sa iya. |
Kang Kinsa | Whose, to whom, for whom | Whose is this?
Kang kinsa kini? |
Kang Kinsa w/ Verb | | Who will they buy it from?
Kang kinsa sila mopalit niana? |
Ig-unsa + 2nd class + 1st class | How is (2nd class) related to (1st class)?
What is (1st class) to (2nd class)? | How is he related to them?
Ig-unsa nila siya? |
Asa | Where | Where is she?
Asa siya? |
Asa + verb | | Where will they buy?
Asa sila mopalit? |
Kinsa | Who | Who are you?
Kinsa ka? |
Kinsa + verb | | Who taught the children?
Kinsa ang nagtudlo sa mga bata? |
Unsa+ng+time+a
Unsang orasa/ tuiga/ bulana | What time/ year/month | What time will we go to school?
Unsang orasa kita moadto sa eskwelahan? |
Kumusta +pronoun/noun | How - asking for the state or condition of something or someone | How is she?
Kumusta siya? |
Emphasis w/ verbs
Pronoun/noun + ang + verb.... | | I will be the one to buy bread.
Ako ang mopalit og pan. |
Adverb + nga + future form of verb
(Kanunay, Permi, Sigi, Pwede, Gusto, Kinahanglang, Usahay, Panagsa, Makamao, Mahimo) | | |
Equational Sentence
Adj + noun | We always begin the sentence with the descriptive word. Then the noun or pronoun follows. | He is tall.
Taas siya. |
Negator with equational sentence.
Dili + pronoun/noun + adjective | | He is not tall.
Dili siya taas. |
Wala + 'y + noun | Don't have/ doesn't have | I don't have a pencil.
Wala ako'y lapis. |