Cebuano Word: lamang
1 Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences
- Part of speech: Adverb (limitation / exclusivity); also intensifier in formal style
- Core meaning: “only,” “just,” “merely,” limiting the scope of a statement
- Usa lamang ka tiket ang nabilin. — Only one ticket is left.
- Ako lamang ang mo-adto didto. — I alone will go there.
- Magpahulay ta og usa ka minuto lamang. — Let us rest for just one minute.
2 Tips When Learning Adverbs like lamang
- Function = limiter: It narrows amount, person, time.
- Placement: Usually follows the word or phrase it limits, though clause-initial use is poetic.
- Colloquial twin: lang is the everyday reduction; lamang sounds more formal or emphatic.
- Negation partner: dili lamang = “not only,” often precedes kundili pa (“but also”).
- Avoid overuse: Reserve it for clear emphasis; piling multiple limiters (lang lamang) is redundant.
3 Common Collocations
- usa lamang — only one
- karon lamang — just now
- ikaw lamang — only you
- dili lamang — not only
- hangtod karon lamang — only until now
4 Typical Sentence Position
- Post-word (neutral): Si Maria lamang ang ni-daug.
- Clause-initial (emphatic): Lamang ang kamatuoran ang atong gikinahanglan.
5 Five Conversational Phrases
- Ikaw lamang ang akong gisaligan. — I trust only you.
- Usa ka minuto lamang, palihug. — Just one minute, please.
- Dili lamang kuwarta ang importante. — Money is not the only important thing.
- Mo-pirma ko kung usa ra ka kopya lamang. — I will sign if there is only one copy.
- Hangyo ko nga tan-aw-on nimo kini karon lamang. — I ask that you look at this right now only.
6 Five Simple Everyday Conversation Exchanges
- A: Pila ka tawo ang mo-uban?
B: Duha lamang kami. Only the two of us. - A: Gi-unsa nimo pag-palit ani?
B: Gasto ko og usa ka libo lamang. I spent only one thousand. - A: Makapahuwam ko nimo ug libro?
B: Oo, apan usa ka semana lamang. Yes, but only for a week. - A: Naa kay gipangayo?
B: Tubig lamang, salamat. Just water, thank you. - A: Nagsugod na ang klase?
B: Bag-o lamang— pwede pa ka mosulod. It just started—you can still enter.
7 Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions
Q1. Kinsa’y mo-present sa report?
A. Lamang si Josh mo-present sa report.
B. Si Josh lamang ang mo-present sa report.
C. Mo-present si Josh sa report lamang ang.
Q2. Kanus-a ta mo-lakaw?
A. Mo-lakaw lamang ta ugma buntag.
B. Ugma buntag ta mo-lakaw lamang.
C. Lamang ugma buntag ta mo-lakaw.
Q3. Unsa’y imong gipalit?
A. Gipalit ko tsokolate lamang.
B. Lamang gipalit ko tsokolate.
C. Tsokolate ko gipalit lamang.
Q4. Asa ra ka mo-puyo?
A. Mo-puyo ko sa siyudad lamang.
B. Lamang sa siyudad mo-puyo ko.
C. Sa siyudad lamang ko mo-puyo.
Q5. Pwede ba ko mo-hulam duha ka libro?
A. Pwede duha lamang ka libro.
B. Lamang duha ka libro pwede.
C. Duha ka libro pwede lamang.
Answer Key & Brief Explanations
- Q1 – B Subject Si Josh followed immediately by limiter lamang before verb; clear emphasis.
- Q2 – A Verb + limiter lamang + subject + time phrase — natural sequence for commitment.
- Q3 – C Object first, verb second, limiter lamang last; tidy declarative answer.
- Q4 – C Place phrase + verb + subject with lamang just after place; sounds fluent.
- Q5 – A Predicate “allowed” then amount + lamang to limit quantity.
