1. Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences
- Part of Speech: numeral (cardinal)
- Meaning: “syento singkwenta” = one hundred fifty (150)
Example sentences
- Naay syento singkwenta ka tawo sa salo-salo. — There are one hundred fifty people at the gathering.
- Mopalit ko ug syento singkwenta ka itlog. — I will buy one hundred fifty eggs.
- Ang bayad kay syento singkwenta pesos. — The fee is one hundred fifty pesos.
2. Number Origin
- Spanish-based compound: syento (100) + singkwenta (50).
- Native Bisaya equivalent: gatos ug kalim-an (used rarely in very formal contexts).
3. Cebuano- vs Spanish-Based Numbers
- Native series (e.g., gatos ug kalim-an = 150) appears in formal counting and folklore.
- Spanish series (syento singkwenta, syento singkwenta uno …) dominates in prices, dates, page numbers, time references, and everyday speech.
- Do not mix systems inside a single number (✓ syento singkwenta, ✗ gatos ug singkwenta).
4. Detailed Usage Notes
- Formal spelling syento singkwenta; casual speech sometimes siento singkwenta.
- When counting nouns, add the classifier ka: syento singkwenta ka piraso.
- For humorous clock talk: alas otso ug syento singkwenta (8:150 → 10:30).
- Can stand alone as a brief reply about cost or quantity: “Syento singkwenta.”
5. Five Common Pitfalls
- Writing the pure-Spanish form ciento cincuenta in Cebuano texts.
- Mixing native and Spanish roots in one number (gatos ug singkwenta ✗).
- Stress error (correct syén-to sing-kwén-ta).
- Dropping ka before nouns (syento singkwenta libro ✗ → syento singkwenta ka libro ✓).
- Forgetting the unit in prices (syento singkwenta ✗ → syento singkwenta pesos ✓).
6. Common Collocations
- syento singkwenta pesos — 150 pesos
- syento singkwenta ka minuto — 150 minutes
- syento singkwenta anyos — 150 years old (hyperbolic)
- syento singkwenta ka adlaw — 150 days
- syento singkwenta ka piraso — 150 pieces
7. Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Misspelling it as ciento singkwenta or siento singkwenta in formal writing.
- Adding mga before the numeral (mga syento singkwenta ka …).
- Forgetting ug in playful time expressions (alas nuwebe syento singkwenta ✗).
- Saying syento singkwenta singko for 155 instead of syento singkwenta singko.
- Using plain numerals in formal prose without words (150 ka minuto) only.
8. Five Frequent Conversational Phrases
- Syento singkwenta tanan. — The total is one hundred fifty.
- Na-late ko ug syento singkwenta ka minuto. — I was 150 minutes late.
- Syento singkwenta ra gyod! — Make it just 150!
- Syento singkwenta ang akong target. — My target is 150.
- Quota kay syento singkwenta ka buok. — The quota is 150 pieces.
9. Five Everyday Conversation Exchanges
- A: Pila ang pamasahe? — How much is the fare?
B: Syento singkwenta pesos ra. — Only 150 pesos. - A: Tag-pila ning mansanas? — How much are these apples?
B: Syento singkwenta pesos ang kilo. — 150 pesos per kilo. - A: Unsa kadugay ang klase? — How long is the class?
B: Mga syento singkwenta ka minuto. — About 150 minutes. - A: Pila kabuok bisita? — How many guests?
B: Naay syento singkwenta ka bisita. — There are 150 guests. - A: Unsang oras nagsugod ang salida? — What time did the show start?
B: Alas siyete ug syento singkwenta (joke). — At 7:150 (meaning 9:30, humorously).
10. Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions
Q1. Pila ang imong allowance? — How much is your allowance?
A. Pesos allowance syento singkwenta akong.
B. Allowance akong syento singkwenta pesos.
C. Syento singkwenta pesos akong allowance.
Q2. Pila ka adlaw ang seminar? — How many days is the seminar?
A. Syento singkwenta ka adlaw.
B. Syento singkwenta adlaw ka.
C. Ka adlaw syento singkwenta.
Q3. Unsa kadugay ang biyahe? — How long is the trip?
A. Ka minuto syento singkwenta ang biyahe.
B. Ang biyahe syento singkwenta ka minuto ang.
C. Syento singkwenta ka minuto ang biyahe.
Q4. Pila kabuok estudyante sa klase? — How many students are in the class?
A. Estudyante syento singkwenta ka naa.
B. Syento singkwenta ka estudyante naa.
C. Naa syento singkwenta ka estudyante ka.
Q5. Unsang oras ka miabot? — What time did you arrive?
A. Ko miabot syento singkwenta ug alas dos.
B. Miabot ko syento singkwenta alas dos ug.
C. Alas dos ug syento singkwenta ko miabot.
Answer Key
- Q1 – C — Correct order: numeral + pesos + “akong allowance”.
- Q2 – A — Standard counting pattern: numeral + ka + noun.
- Q3 – C — Proper sequence: numeral + ka + minutes + topic noun.
- Q4 – B — Numeral phrase stands before existential naa.
- Q5 – C — Cebuano time format “Alas [hour] ug [minutes]”.