1 Part of speech, core meaning, sentence position, and example sentences
- Part of speech
- Sentence-position guideline
In an ordinary clause, a conjugated tabang form begins the predicate and any clitic actor-pronoun follows right after it. Mo-tabang ko nimo karon.
I will help you now. - Example sentences
- Mo-tabang ko sa proyekto ugma. — I will help with the project tomorrow.
- Nag-tabang sila og limpyo sa barangay. — They are helping clean in the village.
- Gi-tabangan sa mga silingan ang biktima. — The victim was helped by the neighbors.
- Gi-tabangan – Verb, patient focus, past aspect
- sa – Genitive/agent marker
- mga silingan – Common noun “neighbors” (actor group)
- ang – Subject-marker particle
- biktima – Common noun (patient)
2 Principal verb derivations
| Form | Voice & aspect | Typical use in a clause | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| mag-tabang | Actor focus, habitual / future | Predicate head | habitually give help |
| mo-tabang | Actor focus, non-past / imperative | Predicate head | will help; “help!” |
| nag-tabang | Actor focus, progressive | Predicate head | is/was helping |
| mi-tabang / ni-tabang | Actor focus, completed past | Predicate head | helped |
| gi-tabangan | Patient focus, completed past | Predicate head | was helped by … |
| tabangan (-an) | Beneficiary / locative focus, future / imperative | Predicate head | help someone / help at a place |
| tabangi! (-i) | Beneficiary imperative | Stand-alone command | “Help him/her/them!” |
3 Common phrases (collocations)
- tabang sa trabaho — help at work
- tabang og luto — help with cooking
- mangayo og tabang — ask for help
- walay tabang — without help
- gi-tabangan sa Diyos — helped by God
4 Detailed usage notes
- Actor focus (mo-/nag-/ni-tabang) is the default when the helper matters most: Mo-tabang ko nimo.
- Patient focus (gi-tabangan) highlights who or what receives aid: Gi-tabangan ang biktima.
- Beneficiary focus (tabangan / tabangi) emphasises the person/place benefited: Tabangi siya, palihog.
- Noun use — tabang by itself means “help/assistance”: Salamat sa imong tabang.
- Reduplication — tabang-tabang can imply light or informal help: tabang-tabang lang ko nila “I just help them a bit.”
5 Common mistakes and things to watch out for
| Mistake | Issue | Correct form |
|---|---|---|
| Mo-tabang ako nimo. | Actor clitic misplaced. | Mo-tabang ko nimo. |
| Gi-tabang ko ang tawo. | With gi-, actor must be genitive (ni / sa). | Gi-tabangan ni ko ang tawo. |
| Tabangan ta siya! | Imperative needs the suffix -i for beneficiary focus. | Tabangi siya! |
6 Short everyday conversations
- A: Kinahanglan ka og tabang? — Do you need help?
B: Oo, mo-tabang ka naku? — Yes, will you help me? - A: Kinsa nag-tabang nimo sa proyekto? — Who is helping you with the project?
B: Nag-tabang si Carlo ug si May. — Carlo and May are helping. - A: Tabangi ko palihog pag-dala sa kahon. — Please help me carry the box.
B: Sige, mo-tabang ko karon mismo. — Sure, I’ll help right now. - A: Ngano wala ka ni-tabang sa pag-limpyo? — Why didn’t you help with the cleaning?
B: Pasensya, na-busy ko sa akong report. — Sorry, I was busy with my report. - A: Mag-tabang ta sa outreach ugma, ha? — Let’s help at the outreach tomorrow, okay?
B: Oo, andam ko mo-tabang. — Yes, I’m ready to help.
