Cebuano Word: nganong
1 . Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences
- Part of Speech: interrogative adverb (asks for a reason)
- Meaning: why; for what reason
Everyday example sentences
- • Nganong nag-ulan man karon? – Why is it raining now?
- • Nganong wala ka ni-adto sa miting? – Why didn’t you go to the meeting?
- • Nganong nag-tuon ka sa gabii? – Why are you studying at night?
2 . Learning Tips for Cebuano Interrogatives
- Put most interrogatives (asa, kanus-a, kinsa, nganong) at the very start of the clause.
- Add the particle man after the interrogative for a neutral tone: Nganong man…?
- Voice rises slightly at the end of the sentence to signal a question.
- In casual speech the final ? is often marked only by intonation; in writing never omit the question mark.
- Do not confuse nganong (“why”) with unsaon (“how to do something”).
3 . Common Collocations with nganong
- nganong man …? – neutral, polite “why…?”
- nganong dili …? – “why not…?”
- nganong kaha …? – speculative “I wonder why…?”
- nganong usab …? – “why also / again…?”
4 . Typical Sentence Position
nganong nearly always opens the clause:
Nganong (interrogative) + [subject / focus] + [verb phrase] + (optional man) + … ?
5 . Five Conversational Phrases with nganong
- Nganong man? – Why (so)?
- Nganong dili ka mokuyog? – Why don’t you come along?
- Nganong kaha siya na-late? – I wonder why he was late.
- Nganong ingon ana? – Why is it like that?
- Nganong nag-hilom ka? – Why are you so quiet?
6 . Five Short Conversation Exchanges
- A: Nganong wala ka mi-text?
B: Pasayloa ko; na-hurot ang akong load.
A: Why didn’t you text? / B: Sorry; I ran out of credit. - A: Nganong nag-dali ka?
B: Na-ay meeting sa alas nuwebe.
A: Why are you in a hurry? / B: There’s a meeting at nine. - A: Nganong mo-biyahe ka ugma?
B: Bisitaon nako ang akong pamilya.
A: Why will you travel tomorrow? / B: I’ll visit my family. - A: Nganong nag-hilak si Mia?
B: Na-wala niya ang iyang dul-aanan.
A: Why is Mia crying? / B: She lost her toy. - A: Nganong gusto ka mag-tuon og Cebuano?
B: Kay nindot ko makigsulti sa mga lokal.
A: Why do you want to study Cebuano? / B: Because I’d like to speak with locals.
7 . Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions
(Format: Declarative statement → choose the interrogative reply with correct word order.
All answer choices contain nganong. One is correct; two deliberately scrambled.)
Q1. I skipped breakfast this morning.
A. Nganong giskip nimo ang pamahaw?
B. Nganong ang giskip pamahaw nimo?
C. Nganong nimo giskip ang pamahaw?
Q2. She left the party early.
A. Nganong siya mi-biya sa party sayo?
B. Nganong mi-biya siya sa party sayo?
C. Nganong sa party mi-biya siya sayo?
Q3. They cancelled the meeting.
A. Nganong gi-kansela nila ang miting?
B. Nganong nila gi-kansela ang miting?
C. Nganong ang miting gi-kansela nila?
Q4. The store is closed today.
A. Nganong sirado karon ang tindahan?
B. Nganong karon sirado ang tindahan?
C. Nganong ang tindahan karon sirado?
Q5. I am studying late tonight.
A. Nganong mag-tuon ko gabii ug ulihi?
B. Nganong gabii mag-tuon ko ug ulihi?
C. Nganong ko mag-tuon gabii ug ulihi?
Answer Key
- Q1: A. Word order is “nganong + verb + subject + object.”
- Q2: B. Correct sequence: “nganong + verb + subject + rest of clause.”
- Q3: A. Verb “gi-kansela” follows nganong, then subject “nila,” then object.
- Q4: A. Interrogative clause starts with nganong, then predicate “sirado,” then time “karon,” then subject.
- Q5: B. Maintains standard order: nganong + verb phrase + subject.
