kusgan

1 Part of speech, core meaning, usage, and example sentences

Part of speech: adjective
Core meaning: “strong,” “powerful,” “physically fit,” and by extension “robust” or “forceful.”

Example sentences

• Kusgan kaayo si Tito sa pagbuhat og kahoy. – Uncle is very strong at wood-work.
• Kusgan ang hangin kagabii, daghang dahon ang nahulog. – The wind was strong last night; many leaves fell.
• Kusgan nga koneksyon sa internet ang among gipili. – We chose a strong internet connection.
• Mas kusgan siya karon kay pirmi na siya nag-ehersisyo. – He is stronger now because he exercises regularly.

2 Linkers and derivational forms

• Linkers
  • -ng before a consonant → kusga-ng lawas – strong body.
  • nga before a vowel / clarity → kusgan nga hangin – strong wind.
• Comparative / superlative
  • mas kusgan – stronger.
  • pinakusgan – strongest.
• Reduplication & intensity
  • kusgan-kusgan – rather strong.
  • kusgan kaayo / kusgan gyud – very strong.
• Exclamation & abstract noun
  • Kakusgan oy! – Such strength!
  • kakusgan – strength, power.
• Verb-like forms
  • mukusgan / nikusgan / nagkusgan – to become strong.
  • pakusga! / pakusgon – to strengthen something or someone.

3 Where to use it in a sentence

1. Predicate adjective: Ang kalayo kusgan. – The fire is strong.
2. Modifier with linker: kusgan nga kalayo.
3. After emphasis: Mao ni ang kusgan nga argumento. – This is the strong argument.

4 Common collocations

• kusgan nga lawas – strong body
• kusgan nga hangin – strong wind
• kusgan nga signal – strong signal
• kusgan nga personalidad – forceful personality
• kusgan-kusgan nga timplada – somewhat strong flavor

5 Detailed usage notes

“Kusgan” describes physical might (kusgan nga kamot – strong hand) and the intensity of forces (kusgan nga ulan – heavy rain). It can also apply to character (kusgan nga determinasyon – strong determination).
Add -ng / nga when the adjective stands before a noun; omit it when it follows as predicate.
Comparatives (mas kusgan) and superlatives (pinakusgan) follow normal patterns, while reduplication (kusgan-kusgan) softens the judgment. Verb forms like nikusgan indicate growth of strength.

6 Common mistakes

• Missing linker: ✗ kusgan tawo → ✓ kusgan nga tawo.
• Writing kusgan mas instead of mas kusgan.
• Splitting pinaka away: ✗ pinaka kusgan → ✓ pinakusgan.
• Using kusgan when you mean “loud” (use kusog for volume).
• Dropping the hyphen in reduplication: ✗ kusgankusgan → ✓ kusgan-kusgan.

7 Five conversational phrases

1. Kakusgan nimo mopasan ug sako! – You’re so strong at carrying sacks!
2. Mas kusgan ka kung regular ka mag-weights. – You’ll be stronger if you lift weights regularly.
3. Pinakusgan gyud ni nga bagyo sukad tuig 2019. – This is the strongest storm since 2019.
4. Kusgan-kusgan ra ang kape, sakto ra sa tugnaw. – The coffee is fairly strong, just right for the cold.
5. Pakusga ang signal sa wifi kay nag-lag ang video. – Strengthen the wifi signal; the video is lagging.

8 Five everyday exchanges

1. Q: Kusgan ba ang imong amahan bisan tigulang na? – Is your father still strong even if he’s old?
   A: Oo, kusgan kaayo kay sige gihapon siya’g trabaho sa uma. – Yes, very strong because he still works in the field.
2. Q: Ngano mas kusgan man imong tindog sa debate? – Why is your stand stronger in the debate?
   A: Mas kusgan kay daghan kog ebidensiya. – Stronger because I have a lot of evidence.
3. Q: Asa ang pinakusgan nga signal sa balay? – Where is the strongest signal in the house?
   A: Sa kusina pinakusgan kay duol sa router. – The kitchen is strongest because it’s near the router.
4. Q: Kusgan-kusgan pa ba imong tuhod human sa hiking? – Are your knees still fairly strong after the hike?
   A: Oo, dili pa man sakit, kusgan-kusgan pa. – Yes, they’re not sore; still fairly strong.
5. Q: Unsaon nato pagpaku­sgon ang community ties? – How do we strengthen community ties?
   A: Maghimo ta’g lingaw-lingaw ug kooperatiba. – Let’s hold gatherings and form a cooperative.

9 Multiple-choice dialogue questions

Q1. Kusgan ba ang imong bukton?
A. Bukton kusgan kaayo ang akong.
B. Kusgan kaayo ang akong bukton.
C. Kusgan bukton kaayo ang akong.

Q2. Asa ang mas kusgan, ang hangin o ang ulan?
A. Mas kusgan hangin kaysa ulan ang.
B. Ulan kaysa hangin ang mas kusgan.
C. Mas kusgan ang hangin kaysa ulan.

Q3. Pinakusgan ba kini nga atleta sa team?
A. Kini pinakusgan atleta sa team.
B. Atleta kini pinakusgan sa team.
C. Pinakusgan kini nga atleta sa team.

Q4. Ngano kusgan ra imong tingog karon?
A. Kusgan ra akong tingog kay nag-practice ko huwag shagit.
B. Tingog kusgan ra akong kay nag-practice ko.
C. Nag-practice ko tingog kusgan ra ako kay.

Q5. Kinsa’y naay kusgan-kusgan nga ideya alang sa proyekto?
A. Si Jona naay kusgan-kusgan nga ideya.
B. Naay si Jona kusgan-kusgan ideya.
C. Ideya kusgan-kusgan naay si Jona.

Answer key with explanations

• Q1 – B Correct because the adjective phrase kusgan kaayo naturally precedes the subject ang akong bukton. A & C misplace noun and adjective.
• Q2 – C Standard comparative: “Mas kusgan ang X kaysa Y.” Choices A & B distort the comparative order.
• Q3 – C Pinakusgan immediately before kini and linked to atleta with nga. Sentences A & B scramble demonstrative or noun order.
• Q4 – A Predicate then cause clause flows clearly. B & C jumble subject-predicate elements.
• Q5 – A Follows the pattern “naay + subject + description.” B & C break that structure or omit the linker.