bisan pa

Cebuano Word Focus: bisan pa

1. Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences

• Part of speech: Conjunction / discourse marker (concessive, emphatic)
• Core meaning: “even so,” “despite that,” “nevertheless.” It intensifies the idea that something happens or remains true in spite of a strong obstacle.

Example sentences

1. Bisan pa sa ulan, mi-padayon sila sa lakaw. – “Even with the rain, they continued the trip.”
2. Nag-padayon siya sa pag-tuon, bisan pa sa kakapoy. – “She kept studying, despite being tired.”
3. Bisan pa nga mahal, gipalit niya ang tiket. – “Even though it was expensive, he bought the ticket.”

2. Points to Remember When Learning bisan pa

1. Extra emphasis: It is stronger than plain bisan; use it when the contrast is striking.
2. Pa + noun / clause: Common patterns are bisan pa sa + noun phrase, or bisan pa nga + clause.
3. Flexible position: The bisan pa clause may lead or follow the main clause; insert a comma if it comes first.
4. No stacking with other contrastives: Do not add pero or apan immediately after bisan pa.
5. Register: Neutral-formal; frequent in speeches, essays, and polite conversation.

3. Common Collocations

• bisan pa sa tanan – “despite everything”
• bisan pa niana – “even so / nevertheless”
• bisan pa ug – “even if” (with verb clause)
• bisan pa sa kalisod – “despite the hardship”
• bisan pa man – emphatic discourse tag (“still, though”)

4. Typical Position in a Sentence

• Leading concessive clause: Bisan pa sa kakapoy, nag-padayon siya.
• Trailing concessive clause: Nag-padayon siya, bisan pa sa kakapoy.
  In both cases, bisan pa always starts its own clause or modifying phrase.

5. Five Conversational Phrases

1. Mag-laag ta, bisan pa sa kakapoy. – “Let’s go out, even though we’re tired.”
2. Mupadayon ko, bisan pa sa kahadlok. – “I will continue, despite the fear.”
3. Bisan pa sa mahal, paliton gihapon nako. – “Even though it’s pricey, I’ll still buy it.”
4. Dili ko mo-surrender, bisan pa sa kalisod. – “I won’t give up, despite the hardship.”
5. Bisan pa niana, salamat gihapon. – “Nevertheless, thank you anyway.”

6. Five Simple Conversation Exchanges Using bisan pa

1. A: Moadto ka sa klase ugma?
   B: Oo, bisan pa nga bakasyon unta.
   – “Are you going to class tomorrow?” / “Yes, even though it’s supposed to be a holiday.”
2. A: Nag-ka-problema ka sa signal?
   B: Oo, apan magpadayon ko bisan pa niana.
   – “Are you having signal problems?” / “Yes, but I’ll continue nonetheless.”
3. A: Layo ba ang tindahan?
   B: Layo, bisan pa mag-lakaw ra ko.
   – “Is the store far?” / “Yes, but I’ll just walk anyway.”
4. A: Gigutom ka na?
   B: Gamay, pero mag-hulat ko bisan pa sa dugay.
   – “Are you hungry already?” / “A little, but I’ll wait even if it’s late.”
5. A: Nindot ba ang salida?
   B: Dili kaayo, apan humanon gihapon nako bisan pa sa kapoy.
   – “Is the movie good?” / “Not really, but I’ll finish it despite being tired.”

7. Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions

Q1. Moadto ka gihapon, bisan pa nga ulan-ulan?
A. Moadto gihapon ako ulan-ulan bisan pa.
B. Moadto gihapon ko bisan pa nga ulan-ulan.
C. Bisan pa ulan-ulan gihapon moadto ko nga.

Q2. Mag-tuon ka ba karon, bisan pa sa kakapoy?
A. Mag-tuon karon kakapoy bisan pa sa ko.
B. Kakapoy sa bisan pa karon mag-tuon ko.
C. Mag-tuon ko karon, bisan pa sa kakapoy.

Q3. Mupalit ka gihapon, bisan pa sa mahal?
A. Bisan pa sa mahal mupalit gihapon ko.
B. Mupalit gihapon ko, bisan pa sa mahal.
C. Sa mahal gihapon ko bisan pa mupalit.

Q4. Mag-padayon ba ang dula, bisan pa ug kusog ang hangin?
A. Mag-padayon ang dula bisan pa ug kusog ang hangin.
B. Bisan pa ug kusog ang hangin, mag-padayon ang dula.
C. Ang dula hangin kusog ug bisan pa mag-padayon.

Q5. Mosmile ka gihapon, bisan pa sa kapait sa balita?
A. Bisan pa sa kapait sa balita, mosmile gihapon ko.
B. Kapait sa balita mosmile gihapon ko bisan pa sa.
C. Mosmile gihapon ko kapait sa balita bisan pa sa.

Answer Key & Simple Explanations

• Q1 – B: Correct order: main statement first, then bisan pa clause.
• Q2 – C: Declarative clause followed by concessive reason.
• Q3 – B: Statement comes first; bisan pa introduces the high-price contrast.
• Q4 – A: Proper sequence with bisan pa ug kusog ang hangin as trailing clause.
• Q5 – A: Leading concessive clause, then main statement; others scramble elements.