dako

1. Part of Speech, Core Meaning, and Basic Usage

• Part of speech: adjective
• Meaning: “big,” “large,” “great” (physical size or figurative importance).
• Typical use:
  • Predicate: Ang isda dako. – “The fish is big.”
  • Attributive with linker: dakong isda or dako nga isda – “a big fish.”

2. Linking Endings and Derivational Morphology (expanded)

Linkers (how “dako” attaches to the noun it describes)

• -ng – used when the next word starts with a consonant.
  • dakong balay – “big house.”
• nga – used when the next word starts with a vowel or when extra clarity or emphasis is desired.
  • dako nga isla – “big island.”

Degree markers and intensifiers

• mas dako – comparative, “bigger.”
• pinakadako – superlative, “biggest.”
• dako kaayo / dako gyud – intensified, “very big” / “truly big.”
• dako-dako – reduplicated, “fairly big” or “moderately big.”

Exclamatory and abstract forms

• Kadako nimo! – exclamatory, “How big you are!” (ka- + dako with pronoun).
• kadak-an – abstract noun, “magnitude” or “largeness.”
• pagkadako – state noun, “the condition of being big.”

Verb derivatives

• modako / nidako / nagdako – intransitive “to grow or become big” (future, past, present-progressive).
• padak-a (imperative) / padak-on (future patient-focus) – causative “make bigger” or “enlarge.”

Master these pieces and you can slide from description (dakong balay), to comparison (mas dako), to action (padak-on).

3. Typical Sentence Positions

1. Predicate after the subject: Ang bata dako. – “The child is big.”
2. Modifier before a noun with linker: dakong siyudad – “big city.”
3. Complement after emphatic mao expressions: Mao ni ang dako nga problema. – “This is the big problem.”

4. Common Collocations

• dakong problema – major problem
• dakong pasalamat – deep gratitude
• dakong gasto – high expense
• mas dako ang tsansa – greater chance
• dakong oportunidad – big opportunity

5. Detailed Usage Notes

“Dako” handles literal size (dako nga lingkoranan “large chair”), maturity (dako na ka “you’re grown-up”), amount (dako ang bayad “the fee is large”), and importance (dakong papel “a big role”). Before a noun it must carry a linker; after a noun it stands as a predicate. Comparative and superlative follow the regular mas / pinaka- pattern, and intensifiers like kaayo strengthen it.

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Leaving out the linker before a noun (✗ dako balay → ✓ dakong balay).
• Placing mas after the adjective (✗ dako mas → ✓ mas dako).
• Separating pinaka from the adjective (✗ pinaka dako → ✓ pinakadako).
• Writing reduplication without the hyphen (✗ dakodako → ✓ dako-dako).
• Confusing dako (adjective) with unrelated obsolete verb forms spelled the same.

7. Five Everyday Conversational Phrases (with translations)

1. Dako kaayo akong pasalamat nimo. – I am very grateful to you.
2. Ayaw kabalaka, dili ni dakoʼg gasto. – Don’t worry; this won’t cost much.
3. Mas dako ang tsansa kung magkahiusa ta. – We have a better chance if we unite.
4. Kadako sa imong tabang—salamat! – Your help is huge—thank you!
5. Pinakadako gyud ni nga proyekto sa barangay. – This is truly the biggest project in the village.

8. Five Short Conversation Exchanges

1. Q: Dako ba ng imong bag? – Is your bag big?
   A: Oo, dakong bag ni kay daghan kog libro. – Yes, it’s big because I have many books.
2. Q: Ngano mas dako ang bayad karon? – Why is the fee higher today?
   A: Mas dako kay peak season man. – It’s higher because it’s peak season.
3. Q: Asa ang pinakadako nga mall dinhi? – Where is the biggest mall here?
   A: Ang pinakadako nga mall naa sa sentro sa siyudad. – The biggest mall is in the city center.
4. Q: Unsay dako nimong plano karong semana? – What’s your big plan this week?
   A: Dako kaayo akong plano nga bisitahon ang pamilya. – My big plan is to visit my family.
5. Q: Dako ba ang kwarto sa imong apartment? – Is the room in your apartment spacious?
   A: Dako-dako ra pero hapsay. – It’s fairly big and tidy.

9. Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions

Q1. Dako ba ang imong problema karon?
A. Oo, dako kaayo ang akong problema.
B. Oo, problema ang dako kaayo akong.
C. Oo, dako problema kaayo akong ang.

Q2. Asa ang mas dako, ang bag o ang kahon?
A. Mas dako ang bag kaysa kahon.
B. Bag kaysa kahon ang mas dako.
C. Mas dako kaysa bag ang kahon.

Q3. Pinakadako ba kini nga kendi imong nakita?
A. Oo, pinakadako kini nga kendi akong nakita.
B. Oo, kini pinakadako nga nakita akong kendi.
C. Oo, nakita kini akong nga pinakadako kendi.

Q4. Ngano nga dako kaayo ang imong pasalamat?
A. Dako kaayo ang akong pasalamat tungod sa tabang nimo.
B. Ang akong pasalamat dako kaayo tungod sa nimo tabang.
C. Tungod sa tabang nimo pasalamat dako kaayo akong ang.

Q5. Kinsa ang adunay dako-dako nga balay sa barangay?
A. Si Mang Jun adunay dako-dako nga balay.
B. Adunay si Mang Jun nga dako-dako balay.
C. Balay dako-dako adunay si Mang Jun.

Answer Key with Brief Explanations

• Q1 – A is correct. It follows the normal Predicate–Subject order; B and C scramble the order.
• Q2 – A is correct. It keeps the pattern “Mas dako ang X kaysa Y”; the others misplace elements.
• Q3 – A is correct. It places pinakadako before the demonstrative and keeps the clause clear; B and C misorder words.
• Q4 – A is correct. Predicate first, then the causal clause; B and C mis-order ang phrases.
• Q5 – A is correct. “Adunay + subject + description” is intact; B and C break that sequence.