balita

Cebuano Word: “balita”

1. Part of Speech, Meaning, Usage, and Example Sentences

Part of speech – Noun (“news, report, piece of information”); root for several verb forms (e.g., mobalita “to report”).

Meaning – Any item of news or information that is reported, broadcast, or passed from person to person.

Usage overview –

• As a noun, it follows the article ang / usa ka / mga or a possessive (akong balita).
• As a verb root, it combines with affixes: mobalita (will report), ibalita (to report something), gibalita (was reported).

Example sentences

• Nakadungog ka na ba sa balita? – Have you already heard the news?
• Gibalita sa radyo ang bagyong umaabot. – The approaching typhoon was reported on the radio.
• Maayo ang balita sa ekonomiya karong tuiga. – The economic news is good this year.
• Walay balita gikan sa ospital kagabii. – There was no news from the hospital last night.
• Mobalita ko unya sa grupo. – I will report to the group later.

2. Singular & Plural Forms

• Singular: balita
• Plural: mga balita

3. Where to Use the Word in a Sentence

• Subject (after predicate): Importante kaayo ang balita karon buntag.
• Object: Gidawat nila ang balita nga malampuson ang proyekto.
• Prepositional phrase: Nagsalig sila sa balita gikan sa opisyal nga pahayag.

4. Common Collocations

• bag-ong balita – new news / latest report
• maayong balita – good news
• dautan nga balita – bad news
• balita sa radyo / telebisyon – radio / television news
• balita sa siyudad – city news

5. Detailed Usage Notes

• Everyday speech: balita most often means “news” about family, work, or local events.
• Media context: used for news bulletins: Balita sa Alas Dose (“Noon News”).
• Verb forms:
  • mobalita – to give a news report (future/volitional)
  • gibalita – was reported
  • ibalita – to report something (imperative/intent)
• Polite requests: Palihog ibalita ko kung naa kay update. (“Please let me know if you have an update.”)

6. Common Mistakes to Watch For

• English-style subject-first order: Ang balita maayo instead of the neutral Maayo ang balita.
• Using balita (noun) when a verb is needed: Balita ko unya ✗ → Mobalita ko unya ✓
• Redundant plural marker: mga mga balita ✗

7. Five Frequently Used Conversational Phrases

1. Unsa’y pinakabag-ong balita? – What’s the latest news?
2. Maayo kaayo ang balita! – That’s very good news!
3. Walay balita pa. – No news yet.
4. Paminaw sa balita sa radyo. – Listen to the news on the radio.
5. Ibalita ko dayon kung naay problema. – Inform me immediately if there is a problem.

8. Five Everyday Conversation Exchanges

1. Q: Nakadungog ba ka sa balita sa bagyo? – Did you hear the storm news?
   A: Oo, nakadungog ko sa balita kagabii. – Yes, I heard the news last night.
2. Q: Gibalita ba sa TV ang aksidente? – Was the accident reported on TV?
   A: Oo, gibalita kini sa alas siyete nga balita. – Yes, it was on the 7 p.m. news.
3. Q: Maayo ba ang balita bahin sa ekonomiya? – Is the economic news good?
   A: Maayo kaayo ang balita karon. – The news is very good now.
4. Q: Mobalita ba sila sa resulta karong buntag? – Will they report the results this morning?
   A: Oo, mobalita sila human sa miting. – Yes, they will report after the meeting.
5. Q: Walay ba balita gikan sa ospital? – Is there no news from the hospital?
   A: Walay balita pa, naghulat pa ta. – No news yet, we are still waiting.

9. Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions

Q1. Nakadungog ba ka sa balita karon buntag?
A. Nakadungog ko sa balita karon buntag.
B. Ko nakadungog sa balita karon buntag.
C. Sa balita karon buntag nakadungog ko.

Q2. Gipakita ba sa telebisyon ang balita kagabii?
A. Sa telebisyon gipakita ang balita kagabii.
B. Ang balita gipakita sa telebisyon kagabii.
C. Gipakita sa telebisyon ang balita kagabii.

Q3. Maayo ba ang balita para sa pamilya?
A. Maayo ang balita para sa pamilya.
B. Ang balita maayo para sa pamilya.
C. Para sa pamilya maayo ang balita.

Q4. Gibasa ba nimo ang balita sa pahayagan?
A. Ang balita gibasa nimo sa pahayagan.
B. Gibasa nimo ang balita sa pahayagan.
C. Nimo gibasa sa pahayagan ang balita.

Q5. Ibalita ba sa estasyon ang bag-ong isyu karon gabii?
A. Sa estasyon ibalita ang bag-ong isyu karon gabii.
B. Ang bag-ong isyu ibalita sa estasyon karon gabii.
C. Ibalita sa estasyon karon gabii ang bag-ong isyu.

Answer Key

1. Correct: A.
   • Why correct: Verb Nakadungog comes first; subject ko follows; object phrase last.
   • Why B wrong: Starts with subject. Why C wrong: Front-loads prepositional phrase.
2. Correct: C.
   • Why correct: Verb Gipakita first, prepositional phrase next, object last.
   • Why A wrong: Begins with prepositional phrase. Why B wrong: Begins with object.
3. Correct: A.
   • Why correct: Predicate adjective Maayo leads, followed by noun phrase.
   • Why B wrong: Starts with noun phrase. Why C wrong: Prepositional phrase first.
4. Correct: B.
   • Why correct: Verb Gibasa first, agent nimo second, object phrase last.
   • Why A wrong: Object phrase begins the clause. Why C wrong: Agent appears before verb.
5. Correct: C.
   • Why correct: Verb Ibalita heads the sentence, then location, then object.
   • Why A wrong: Starts with location. Why B wrong: Starts with object phrase.