Cebuano Word Focus: busa
1. Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences
- Part of speech: Conjunction (causal/resultative)
- Meaning: “therefore / so / hence.” It introduces a clause that states the logical result of what precedes it.
- Example sentences
- Uwanon karon buntag, busa nagdala koʼg payong. – “It’s rainy this morning, so I brought an umbrella.”
- Gikapoy siya sa trabaho, busa nangaon lang siyag dali. – “He was tired from work, so he just ate quickly.”
- Hutdon nato ang report karon, busa mag-overtime ta. – “Let’s finish the report today, therefore we’ll work overtime.”
2. Points to Keep in Mind When Learning busa
- It always signals a result, not a purpose.
- The clause before busa gives a reason; the busa-clause gives the conclusion.
- You may begin a sentence with Busa after a full stop for emphasis.
- Do not combine busa with another connector like kay or aron in the same clause.
- More formal than mao nang; use busa in speeches, essays, or structured arguments.
3. Common Collocations
- … busa kinahanglan … – “… so it is necessary …”
- … busa nagdesisyon … – “… therefore (someone) decided …”
- tungod niana, busa … – “because of that, therefore …”
- gamay ra ang oras, busa … – “time is short, so …”
- taas ang presyo, busa … – “the price is high, hence …”
4. Typical Position in a Sentence
Most often: Cause clause + busa + result clause
Init kaayo ang adlaw, busa nag-aircon sila sa opisina.
If starting a new sentence, begin with Busa:
Guba ang kalsada kagabi. Busa na-traffic tang tanan.
5. Five Conversational Phrases
- Hapit na ang deadline, busa dali ta. – “The deadline is near, so let’s hurry.”
- Wala koy cash, busa card akong bayad. – “I have no cash, so I’ll pay by card.”
- Nag-brownout, busa wala tay Wi-Fi. – “There’s a power outage, so we have no Wi-Fi.”
- Dag-om ang langit, busa basin mouwan. – “The sky is dark, so it might rain.”
- Na-ay sale, busa daghan ang namalit. – “There’s a sale, so many people shopped.”
6. Five Short Dialogues Using busa
- A: Nanlimpyo ka’s balay karon?
B: Oo. Bisita man mi ugma, busa naningkamot ko karon. - A: Ngano nag-mask ka gihapon?
B: Daghan gihapoy sip-on sa opisina, busa nag-amping ko. - A: Ganahan ka mokaon og gawas?
B: Sige, gutom na ko, busa mangita tag dali nga resto. - A: Late ka naka-abut.
B: Trapik kaayo ang dalan, busa nalangan ko. - A: Gi-off nimo ang aircon?
B: Oo, tugnaw na man, busa gi-pahunong nako.
(Translations: 1B “Visitors are coming tomorrow, so I’m working hard today.” 2B “There are still people with colds at the office, so I’m being careful.” etc.)
7. Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions
Q1. Na-ulahi ka sa klase, busa nabalaka ba ka?
A. Nabaka nabalaka klase sa ka na-ulahi busa.
B. Nabalaka ko kay na-ulahi ko sa klase busa.
C. Nabalaka ko busa na-ulahi ko sa klase.
Q2. Uwanon ang panahon, busa mag-dala ka payong?
A. Uwanon ang panahon busa mag-dala ko payong.
B. Busa uwanon payong mag-dala ko ang panahon.
C. Payong ko mag-dala busa uwanon ang panahon.
Q3. Gam-ay nalang ang budget, busa mo-cancel ba ka sa trip?
A. Mo-cancel ko sa trip busa gam-ay nalang ang budget.
B. Gam-ay nalang ang budget busa mo-cancel ko sa trip.
C. Trip sa cancel ko gam-ay busa nalang ang budget.
Q4. Init kaayo karon, busa mag-ice cream ba ta?
A. Mag-ice cream ta busa init kaayo karon.
B. Init kaayo karon busa mag-ice cream ta.
C. Ice cream busa ta mag-init kaayo karon.
Q5. Daghan ang trabaho, busa mag-overtime ba ka?
A. Daghan ang trabaho busa mag-overtime ko.
B. Busa daghan mag-overtime trabaho ko ang.
C. Mag-overtime ko trabaho busa daghan ang.
Answer Key (with brief explanations)
- Q1 – C – Correct order: feeling first (nabalaka ko), then reason clause with busa.
- Q2 – A – Starts with given cause, follows with busa result clause; others scramble words.
- Q3 – B – Presents shortage of budget, then decision to cancel; matches cause-result flow.
- Q4 – B – States heat first, then busa suggestion; A reverses logic; C jumbles.
- Q5 – A – Cause “Daghan ang trabaho” leads, busa clause gives overtime decision; other choices mis-order elements.
