bantay

Part of speech
- Verb: bantay — to watch over, guard, keep an eye on, look after
- Common noun: bantay — a guard, watchman, caretaker; the act of guarding
- Interjection (colloquial threat/warning): Bantay ka! — “Watch out!” / “You’ll be sorry!”
Core meaning
- In its verb sense, it means actively observing or protecting a person, place, or object.
- As a noun, it refers to the person or duty of guarding.
- The interjection expresses a warning, often playful among friends or stern from parents.
Example sentences
- Mo-bantay ko sa bata samtang nag-palit ka ug groceries.
  → I’ll watch the child while you buy groceries.
- Nag-bantay ang security guard sa pultahan 24/7.
  → The security guard is watching the gate 24/7.
- Gi-bantayan sa iro ang balay samtang wala ang tag-iya.
  → The dog guarded the house while the owner was away.
- Bantay ka kung di ka motuman!
  → Watch out if you don’t obey!

Form	Voice & aspect	Typical English gloss	Sample sentence
mag-bantay	Actor-focus, habitual / future	“will usually guard / watch”	Mag-bantay siya sa tindahan kada gabii.
mo-bantay	Actor-focus, non-past / imperative	“will guard; guard!”	Mo-bantay ta karon sa traffic, ha.
nag-bantay	Actor-focus, progressive	“is / was guarding”	Nag-bantay ko sa bag samtang nag-CR ka.
ni-bantay / mi-bantay	Actor-focus, completed past	“guarded / watched”	Ni-bantay sila sa uma kagabii.
gi-bantayan	Patient / locative focus, completed past	“was guarded / watched by …”	Gi-bantayan sa pulis ang evidence room.
bantayon (-on)	Patient-focus, future / imp.	“to be guarded / guard it”	Bantayon nato ang entrance inig event.
bantayan / bantayi (-an / -i)	Beneficiary / locative	“to guard for / watch at”	Bantayi ko palihog sa laptop.

Care-giving vs. security – bantay covers professional guarding (security, police) and informal care (watching kids, pets, belongings).
Threat interjection – Bantay ka! conveys warning; tone decides if it’s joking or serious.
Polite offers – Ako’y mag-bantay politely volunteers to watch something.
Clitic pronoun order – In actor-focus forms, clitic pronoun (ko, ta, siya) follows the verb immediately.
Suffix nuance – -an / -i emphasises who/what benefits: bantayi ang bag (“watch the bag”).

Mistake	Why wrong	Correct form
Mo-bantay ako sa door.	Clitic out of place.	Mo-bantay ko sa door.
Gi-bantay ko ang bata.	gi- needs genitive actor.	Gi-bantayan ni ko ang bata.
Bantayon ta siya!	Beneficiary command needs bantayi.	Bantayi siya!
Nag-bantay sa bag	Missing subject.	Nag-bantay ang* kuya sa bag.*

“Bantayi ko’g usa ka minuto.” — “Watch me / my stuff for a minute.”
“Naay bantay sa gate?” — “Is there a guard at the gate?”
“Bantay ka gyud ha!” — “You better watch out!”
“Mag-bantay ta sa oras.” — “Let’s keep an eye on the time.”
“Ni-bantay ko sa iyang plantsa hangtod mapalong.” — “I watched her iron until it was turned off.”

A: Pwede nimo bantayan ang akong bag? — Can you watch my bag?
B: Sige, ako bahala. — Sure, I’ll take care of it.
A: Kinsa’y mag-bantay sa tindahan kung lunch break na? — Who will watch the shop at lunch?
B: Ako lang sa, humanon ra nako ang kuenta. — I will; I’ll just finish the tally.
A: Nag-bantay pa ba ang guard sa gate? — Is the guard still at the gate?
B: Oo, 24 hours ilang duty. — Yes, they’re on 24-hour duty.
A: Bantayi ang timer ha, basin maluto-an ang itlog. — Watch the timer, the eggs might overcook.
B: Ayaw kabalaka, akong gi-set na. — Don’t worry, I’ve already set it.
A: Bantay ka kung di ka mouli sa oras! — You’d better be home on time!
B: Oo Ma, promise, mouli ko dayon. — Yes Mom, I promise I’ll come home right away.