unsaon

Cebuano word: unsaon

1 Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences

• Part of speech: interrogative adverb / auxiliary (asks about how to perform an action that is not yet done)
• Meaning: how to do …; what should be done in order to …

Everyday example sentences

• • Unsaon nako pag-adto sa airport? – How do I get to the airport?
• • Unsaon ta pag-sulbad ani? – How should we solve this?
• • Unsaon nimo pag-luto sa lechon? – How do you cook lechon?

2 Learning Tips for Interrogatives like unsaon

• Use unsaon for future or hypothetical actions; use giunsa for completed ones.
• Place unsaon at the very start of the clause.
• Follow with the doer (often ko, nimo, siya, nato, nila).
• A pag- infinitive usually comes right after the doer: unsaon nimo pag- + verb …
• Optional man softens the tone: Unsaon man nako …?

3 Common Collocations with unsaon

• unsaon nako/ka/siya …? – “how should I/you/he …?”
• unsaon man …? – neutral “so how do/should …?”
• unsaon diay …? – mildly surprised “how on earth do we …?”
• unsaon kaha …? – speculative “I wonder how to …?”

4 Typical Sentence Position

Unsaon + [doer] + pag- + [verb root] + ( complements ) ?

Example: Unsaon nimo pag-kuha sa permiso? – How will you get the permit?

5 Five Handy Conversational Phrases

1. Unsaon man nato ni? – So how should we handle this?
2. Unsaon nako pag-bayad online? – How do I pay online?
3. Unsaon kaha ko pag-pasaylo niya? – I wonder how I can get his forgiveness.
4. Unsaon pag-dali-dali? – How do we hurry this up?
5. Unsaon nimo pag-ingon ana? – How do you do that?

6 Five Short Conversation Exchanges

1. A: Unsaon ko pag-kuha og tiket?
   B: I-download ang app ug palit didto.
   A: How do I get a ticket? / B: Download the app and buy there.
2. A: Unsaon nimo pag-praktis sa Cebuano?
   B: Nag-isturya ko sa akong mga classmate adlaw-adlaw.
   A: How do you practise Cebuano? / B: I talk with my classmates every day.
3. A: Unsaon ta pag-likay sa trapik?
   B: Mas maayo mo-biyahe ta sayo sa buntag.
   A: How can we avoid traffic? / B: Better leave early in the morning.
4. A: Unsaon mo pag-sugod sa proyekto?
   B: Mag-meeting una mi para sa plano.
   A: How will you start the project? / B: We’ll have a planning meeting first.
5. A: Unsaon nila pag-kuha sa visa?
   B: Kinahanglan sila mo-apply sa embahada.
   A: How will they get the visa? / B: They need to apply at the embassy.

7 Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions

Q1. She wants to open a bank account.
A. Unsaon niya pag-abli ug account sa bangko?
B. Unsaon pag-abli niya ug account sa bangko?
C. Unsaon ug account sa bangko pag-abli niya?

Q2. I must back up my files.
A. Unsaon nako pag-backup sa akong mga file?
B. Unsaon sa akong mga file pag-backup nako?
C. Unsaon pag-backup nako sa akong mga file?

Q3. They plan to reduce expenses.
A. Unsaon nila pag-pahinay sa gasto?
B. Unsaon pag-pahinay nila sa gasto?
C. Unsaon sa gasto nila pag-pahinay?

Q4. We need to contact customer service.
A. Unsaon namo pag-kontak ang customer service?
B. Unsaon ang customer service pag-kontak namo?
C. Unsaon pag-kontak namo ang customer service?

Q5. He hopes to learn to drive.
A. Unsaon niya pag-kat-on sa pagmaneho?
B. Unsaon pag-kat-on niya sa pagmaneho?
C. Unsaon sa pagmaneho niya pag-kat-on?

Answer Key

• Q1: A – Correct order is unsaon + doer + pag-verb + object / place.
• Q2: A – Begins with unsaon, then doer nako, then pag-backup, then object.
• Q3: A – Keeps doer immediately after unsaon before the pag- verb phrase.
• Q4: A – Standard pattern unsaon + doer + pag-verb + object.
• Q5: A – Follows unsaon + doer + pag- + verb root + object.

The correct sentence always places unsaon first, followed by the doer, then the pag- infinitive phrase; options B and C scramble this order.