CEBUANO LESSON #57 How to Say “I Can” in Cebuano | The Prefix “Maka” Explained

2022/6/17

Want to talk about what you’re capable of doing in Cebuano? This video will teach you how to use the versatile prefix

“maka” to express your abilities and possibilities. Learn phrases like

“Makabiyahe na ko…” (I can already travel…) and understand how “maka” can describe inherent qualities, as in “Makabibihag jud ang imong kagwapa” (Your beauty is captivating). This is a key lesson for anyone looking to expand their Cebuano vocabulary and grammar.

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VOCABULARY

Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.

BIYAHE

  • part of speech: noun or verb
  • meaning: as a noun: trip, journey; as a verb: to travel
  • when to use it: when referring to the act of traveling or a specific journey from one place to another.
  • example sentences:
    • nalingaw ko sa atong biyahe sa miaging semana. (i enjoyed our trip last week.)
    • mobiyahe mi paingon sa boracay ugma. (we will travel to boracay tomorrow.)

NA

  • part of speech: adverb / particle
  • meaning: now; already; anymore (in negative statements)
  • when to use it: it is used to indicate a change of state, signifying that an action has already begun or been completed. it is the opposite of “pa” (still/yet). it can also be used in commands to add a sense of immediacy.
  • example sentences:
    • niabot na ang bus. (the bus has already arrived.)
    • kaon na ta. (let’s eat now.)

KO (AKO)

  • part of speech: pronoun
  • meaning: i; me; my
  • when to use it: when referring to oneself (the speaker). “ko” is the short form that usually follows a verb or a noun (to show possession). “ako” is the long form used for emphasis or when the pronoun stands as the subject at the beginning of a sentence.
  • example sentences:
    • mikaon ko og pamahaw. (i ate breakfast.)
    • ako ang maghugas sa mga plato. (i will be the one to wash the dishes.)

DIHA

  • part of speech: adverb of place
  • meaning: there (near the listener)
  • when to use it: when you are referring to a location that is near the person you are talking to, but not near you.
  • example sentences:
    • unsa nang gikuptan nimo diha? (what is that you are holding there?)
    • palihug ibutang ang baso diha sa lamesa tupad nimo. (please put the glass there on the table next to you.)

SA

  • part of speech: preposition / case marker
  • meaning: in; on; at; to; of; ‘s (possessive)
  • when to use it: it is a multi-purpose word used to indicate a relationship, such as location (at/in/on the house), time (on monday), possession (the dog’s toy), or direction (to the store).
  • example sentences:
    • naa siya sa eskwelahan. (he/she is at the school.)
    • kana ang balay sa akong amigo. (that is the house of my friend.)

ANHA

  • part of speech: verb
  • meaning: to go there (near the listener)
  • when to use it: when describing the action of going to the location of the person you are talking to. it is the verb of motion that corresponds to the place “diha”.
  • example sentences:
    • moanha ko sa inyong balay ugma. (i will go there to your house tomorrow.)
    • ayaw usa anha kay gubot pa ang balay. (don’t go there yet because the house is still a mess.)

INIG-DISYEMBRE

  • part of speech: adverbial phrase
  • meaning: come december; when it is december
  • when to use it: it is used to refer to the future point in time that is the month of december. the prefix “inig-” indicates a specific future time when an action will take place.
  • example sentences:
    • manguli mi sa probinsya inig-disyembre. (we will go home to the province come december.)
    • daghan ang mga selebrasyon inig-disyembre. (there are many celebrations in december.)

SULOD

  • part of speech: noun or verb
  • meaning: as a noun: inside; as a verb: to enter, to go inside
  • when to use it: when referring to the interior of a place or an object. it is also used for the action of entering or going into something.
  • example sentences:
    • unsa ang anaa sa sulod sa kahon? (what is inside the box?)
    • ayaw sulod sa kwarto kay natulog ang bata. (don’t enter the room because the baby is sleeping.)

ANG MGA LANGYAW

  • part of speech: noun phrase
  • meaning: the foreigners
  • when to use it: when referring to multiple foreigners as a specific, definite group. “ang” is a case marker for the topic, “mga” makes the noun plural, and “langyaw” means foreigner.
  • example sentences:
    • nalingaw ang mga langyaw sa pista. (the foreigners enjoyed the festival.)
    • diin man gikan ang mga langyaw? (where are the foreigners from?)

DIRI

  • part of speech: adverb of place
  • meaning: here (near the speaker)
  • when to use it: when you are referring to a location that is near you, the speaker. it is a common variant of “dinhi”.
  • example sentences:

JUD (GYUD)

  • part of speech: adverb / particle
  • meaning: really; truly; indeed; definitely
  • when to use it: it is used to add emphasis to a statement, expressing certainty, conviction, or affirmation. it highlights that something is a fact or is sure to happen. “gyud” is a common alternative spelling.
  • example sentences:

KAGWAPA

  • part of speech: interjection / exclamatory phrase
  • meaning: how beautiful!; so beautiful!
  • when to use it: it is an exclamation used to express strong admiration for the beauty of a female. the “ka-” prefix intensifies the root word “gwapa” (beautiful).
  • example sentences:
    • kagwapa ba nimo karon! (you are so beautiful today!)
    • kagwapa sa iyang anak nga babaye. (how beautiful his daughter is.)

BASA

  • part of speech: adjective or verb
  • meaning: 1. (as an adjective, pronounced with stress on the first syllable) wet. 2. (as a verb, pronounced with stress on the second syllable) to read.
  • when to use it: the meaning depends on pronunciation and context. it is used to describe something that is wet, or to refer to the action of reading.
  • example sentences:
    • basa ang akong sinina tungod sa ulan. (my clothes are wet because of the rain.)
    • ganahan si mama mobasa og mga libro. (my mother likes to read books.)

BISAG

  • part of speech: conjunction
  • meaning: even if; although; despite; even
  • when to use it: it is used to introduce a condition that does not prevent the main part of the sentence from being true. it is also used in phrases like “bisag kinsa” (whoever/anyone) and “bisag unsa” (whatever/anything).
  • example sentences:
    • moadto gihapon ko bisag mag-ulan. (i will still go even if it rains.)
    • bisag unsa iyang kan-on, dili jud siya motambok. (whatever she eats, she never gets fat.)

MODAGAN

  • part of speech: verb
  • meaning: will run
  • when to use it: when you are expressing the future action of running.
  • example sentences:
    • modagan ko sa lumba ugma. (i will run in the race tomorrow.)
    • kusog kaayo siya modagan. (he/she runs very fast.)

PA

  • part of speech: adverb / particle
  • meaning: still; yet; more; else
  • when to use it: it is used to indicate that an action is still ongoing or hasn’t happened yet (the opposite of “na,” which means “already”). it is also used to signify addition, like asking for “more” of something or asking “who else?”.
  • example sentences:
    • nagtrabaho pa siya. (he/she is still working.)
    • gusto ko og usa pa ka ice cream. (i want one more ice cream.)

Flashcards

DIALOGUE PRACTICE

Leah is talking to her boyfriend.

Cebuano

BF: Hi, love. Ah, makabibihag jud ang imong kagwapa.

Leah: Love, nakabasa ka sa balita?

BF: O. Makabiyahe na ko diha sa Pilipinas.

Leah: O love. makasulod na ang mga langyaw diri. Makaanhi ka karon tuiga?

BF: Makaanha ko inig-Disyembre.

Leah: Inig-pasko?

BF: Sekreto hahaha. Surprisahon ra unya tika.

Leah: Pagsure love ba! Sugaton tika sa irport.

BF: Lagi! Dili ko magsaba nimo.

Leah: Pahibaw-a ko love oi. Kinahanglan makagikan ko og sayo padulong sa irport.

BF: Okay ra love. Ayaw kabalaka.

Leah: Ikaw gud!

Leah: Love, asa diay ka? Saba lagi.

BF: Naa ko sa sakyanan karon. Unya, niuwan lang og kalit. Moadto ko sa supermarket.

Leah: Kusuga bitaw sa ulan. Makabasa man bisag modagan pa ka.

BF: Lagi love. Magpaabot ra ko diri mohinay ang uwan.

Leah: Amping ka love.

English

BF: Hi, love. Wow. Your beauty is captivating.

Leah: Love, have you read the news?

BF: Yes. I can already travel in the Philippines.

Leah: Yes love. Foreigners can already enter here. Will you be here this year?

BF: I can come on December.

Leah: Christmas?

BF: Secret hahaha. I will surprise you.

Leah: Are you sure, love? I will meet you at the airport.

BF: Yeah! I won’t tell you.

Leah: Let me know, love. I have to leave earlier going to the airport.

BF: It’s okay, love. Don’t worry.

Leah: It’s up to you!

Leah: Love, where are you? It’s noisy.

BF: I’m in the car then it rained so hard. I will go to the supermarket.

Leah: The sound of the rain is too loud. It can make you wet even when you run.

BF: Yes love. I will just wait here for the rain to subside.

Leah:Take care love

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LESSON

  1. The prefix ”maka” indicates potentially of something in the following forms:
    The verb is in the future tense, expressing the capability of one’s ability to do something.

    For example:
    Makabiyahe na ko diha sa Pilipinas.
    I can (already) travel (there) in the Philippines.
  2. When prefixed to root word that starts with “li” and “bi” in the first syllable, and if this syllable is reduplicated, the transformation denotes inherent quality.
    For example:
    Makabibihag jud ang imong kagwapa.
    Your beauty is captivating.
  3. That the object in the statement can cause to happen what is indicated by the root word
    For example:
    Makabasa man bisag modagan pa ka.
    It can make you wet even if you run.

COMPREHENSION QUIZ

  1. How do we say ‘captivating’ in Cebuano?
    a. maayo
    b. gwapa
    c. makabibihag
    d. makaanha
  2. Can we use the prefix ‘maka’ in the future tense?
    a. yes
    b. no
    c. maybe
    d. none of the above
  3. What does the expression ‘ayaw kabalaka’ mean?
    a. No problem
    b. Nothing
    c. Don’t answer me
    d. Don’t worry
  4. How do we say ‘makabiyahe’ in Cebuano?
    a. can enter
    b. can go
    c. can come
    d. can travel
  5. ”Makaanha ko pagniaging Disyembre.” Is the sentence correct?
    a. yes
    b. no
    c. maybe
    d. none of the above

EXERCISE

Arrange the words to make sentences.

  1. man / ka / modagan / makabasa / pa / bisag
  2. diha / na / makabiyahe / Pilipinas / ko / sa
  3. ang / kagwapa / jud / imong / makabibihag
  4. langyaw / makasulod / diri / ang / na / mga
  5. inig-Disyembre / ko / makaanha

REVIEW

Directions: Let’s use the prefix ”maka” you’ve learned during the lesson and make some sentences.
For example:
Makatudlo ako kaniya (I can teach him)

  1. –
  2. –
  3. –
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