kanunay

Cebuano word: “kanunay”
– an adverb meaning “always / continually / constantly”

1. Part of speech, meaning, and example sentences

• Part of speech: adverb of frequency / time
• Meaning: indicates that an action or state happens all the time or without stopping.
• Synonyms: permi (“always”), pirme (“always”), pirmehón (formal “continually”).

Example sentences

1. Nag-study siya kanunay para sa eksamen. – “She always studies for the exam.”
2. Gisultihan ko nimo kanunay nga mag-amping. – “I always told you to be careful.”
3. Uwanón kanunay ang bukid sa ting-tugnaw. – “The mountain is always rainy in winter.”
4. Siya kanunay nga malipayon bisan og busy. – “He is always happy even when busy.”
5. Ang balita sa radyo nag-update kanunay sa kahimtang sa panahon. – “The radio news continually updates the weather situation.”

2. Points to remember when learning Cebuano frequency adverbs

• Placement: kanunay usually sits right before the main verb or after the subject (Si Pedro kanunay nag-trabaho sa gabii).
• Emphasis: Putting it at the start of the clause adds emphasis: Kanunay, kinahanglan ka mag-tuon.
• Interchangeable with permi or pirme, but kanunay sounds slightly more formal.
• Negation rule: wala kanunay (“not always”) is acceptable, but native speakers often prefer dili permi.
• Combined with aspect markers: kanunay giyud (“always indeed”), kanunay jud (colloquial).

3. Common collocations

• kanunay ko – I always …
• kanunay siyang – he/she always …
• kanunay nga + adjective/verb – constantly …
• permi ug kanunay – always and always (emphatic)
• kanunay giyud – truly always

4. Typical position in a sentence

1. After subject (most natural): Si Ana kanunay nag-basa sa library.
2. Before subject for emphasis: Kanunay nag-basa si Ana sa library.
3. Rarely sentence-final: Nag-basa si Ana sa library kanunay. (used for contrast)

5. Five handy conversational phrases

• Kanunay ka ba nag-exercise sa buntag? – “Do you always exercise in the morning?”
• Dili ko kanunay makadungog sa balita. – “I do not always hear the news.”
• Kanunay giyud ko mag-dala ug payong. – “I always carry an umbrella.”
• Pasensya, kanunay ko na-late karon nga semana. – “Sorry, I have been late all the time this week.”
• Salamat sa imong kanunay nga tabang. – “Thank you for your constant help.”

6. Five short dialogue exchanges

1. A: Kanunay ba ka mag-kape pagkamata?
   B: Oo, kanunay ko mag-kape inig buntag.
   – “A: Do you always drink coffee upon waking? B: Yes, I always do in the morning.”
2. A: Ngano man nga kanunay ka malipayón?
   B: Kay nag-pasalamat ko kanunay sa gagmay’ng butang.
   – “A: Why are you always cheerful? B: Because I am always thankful for small things.”
3. A: Kanunay ba mulangoy ang imong anak?
   B: Dili, permi ra kung weekend.
   – “A: Does your child swim all the time? B: No, only on weekends.”
4. A: Giunsa nimo pag-memorize?
   B: Nag-praktis ko kanunay matag gabii.
   – “A: How did you memorize it? B: I practiced constantly every night.”
5. A: Kanunay bang traffic sa siyudad?
   B: Oo, labi na kon rush hour.
   – “A: Is it always traffic-heavy in the city? B: Yes, especially during rush hour.”

7. Multiple-choice dialogue questions

(Each question is followed by three answer choices that all include kanunay. One sentence per item is correct; its letter is different each time.)

Q1. Asa ka kanunay molingkod sa klase?
A. Molingkod ko kanunay sa unahan.
B. Kanunay molingkod ko sa unahan.
C. Sa unahan molingkod kanunay ko.

Q2. Unsa’y kanunay nimo ginakaon sa pani-udto?
A. Ginakaon nimo kanunay ug isda ako.
B. Kanunay ginakaon nako isda sa pani-udto.
C. Ginakaon nako kanunay isda sa pani-udto.

Q3. Kinsa kanunay nimo ka-istorya sa phone?
A. Kanunay nako ka-istorya sa phone akong mama.
B. Akong mama kanunay nako ka-istorya sa phone.
C. Ka-istorya kanunay sa phone nako akong mama.

Q4. Ganahan ba ka kanunay molarga?
A. Ganahan ko molarga kanunay.
B. Molarga ganahan ko kanunay.
C. Kanunay ganahan ko molarga.

Q5. Na-late ba siya kanunay sa trabaho?
A. Siya kanunay na-late sa trabaho.
B. Kanunay siya na-late sa trabaho.
C. Na-late sa trabaho siya kanunay.

Answer key and brief explanations

• Q1 – A Correct order: verb molingkod → subject ko → adverb kanunay → place phrase.
• Q2 – C Verb phrase first, actor after, object, then adverb; options A/B mis-order actor and adverb.
• Q3 – B Subject (akong mama) precedes predicate with adverb; choices A/C break subject–verb linkage.
• Q4 – C Adverb first for emphasis, then subject + predicate; A/B place adverb awkwardly.
• Q5 – B Adverb kanunay right after subject is the usual neutral position; A/C are less natural.