syete syentos

1. Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences

• Part of speech: numeral (cardinal)
• Meaning: “syete syentos” = seven hundred (700)
• Example sentences
  • Naay syete syentos ka tawo sa convention hall. — There are seven hundred people in the convention hall.
  • Mipalit sila ug syete syentos ka itlog para sa bakery. — They bought seven hundred eggs for the bakery.
  • Ang kantidad kay syete syentos pesos. — The amount is seven hundred pesos.

2. Number Origin

• Spanish-based (borrowed from Spanish setecientos).
• Formal native Bisaya equivalent: pito ka gatos.

3. Cebuano- vs Spanish-Based Numbers

• Native series (pito ka gatos = 700) appears in very formal, poetic, or rural speech.
• Spanish series (syete syentos, syete syentos uno, …) is the default for money, dates, page numbers, casual counting, and media.
• Keep one system per number; do not mix parts (✓ syete syentos kinyentos = 750, ✗ pito ka gatos ug singkwenta).

4. Detailed Usage Notes

• Standard spelling: syete syentos; casual speech may shorten to syet’ syentos.
• Always add the classifier ka when a noun follows: syete syentos ka libro (700 books).
• In humorous “clock” talk: alas nueve ug syete syentos (9 : 700 — an obvious joke).
• Can stand alone when stating a total or price: “Syete syentos.”

5. Five Common Pitfalls

1. Writing the pure-Spanish spelling setecientos in Cebuano text.
2. Mixing native and Spanish forms (pito ka gatos ug bente ✗).
3. Misplaced stress (correct syé-te syén-tos).
4. Dropping ka before counted nouns (syete syentos saging ✗ → syete syentos ka saging ✓).
5. Forgetting to name the unit with prices (syete syentos ✗ → syete syentos pesos ✓).

6. Common Collocations

• syete syentos pesos — 700 pesos
• syete syentos ka minuto — 700 minutes
• syete syentos ka adlaw — 700 days
• syete syentos anyos — 700 years old (hyperbole)
• syete syentos ka piraso — 700 pieces

7. Common Mistakes to Watch For

• Misspelling (siete syentos, syete syentus).
• Adding mga before the numeral (mga syete syentos ka …).
• Using only digits in formal prose (700 ka …) without the word form.
• Forgetting ug in playful time jokes (alas otso syete syentos ✗).
• Saying syentos syete for 700 (needs the hundreds prefix).

8. Five Frequent Conversational Phrases

• Syete syentos tanan. — The total is 700.
• Na-late ko ug syete syentos ka minuto. — I was 700 minutes late.
• Syete syentos ra gyod! — Make it just 700!
• Syete syentos ang budget. — The budget is 700.
• Quota kay syete syentos ka buok. — The quota is 700 pieces.

9. Five Everyday Conversation Exchanges

1. A: Pila ang pamasahe? — How much is the fare?
   B: Syete syentos pesos ra. — Only 700 pesos.
2. A: Tag-pila ning mansanas? — How much are these apples?
   B: Syete syentos pesos ang kilo. — 700 pesos per kilo.
3. A: Unsa kadugay ang lecture? — How long is the lecture?
   B: Mga syete syentos ka minuto. — About 700 minutes.
4. A: Pila kabuok bisita? — How many guests?
   B: Naay syete syentos ka bisita. — There are 700 guests.
5. A: Unsang oras nagsugod ang show? — What time did the show start?
   B: Alas siyete ug syete syentos (joking). — At 7 : 700 (clearly a joke).

10. Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions

Q1. Pila ang imong allowance? — How much is your allowance?
A. Allowance akong syete syentos pesos.
B. Syete syentos pesos akong allowance.
C. Pesos allowance syete syentos akong.

Q2. Pila ka adlaw ang training? — How many days is the training?
A. Syete syentos ka adlaw.
B. Syete syentos adlaw ka.
C. Ka adlaw syete syentos.

Q3. Unsa kadugay ang biyahe? — How long is the trip?
A. Ang biyahe syete syentos ka minuto ang.
B. Ka minuto syete syentos ang biyahe.
C. Syete syentos ka minuto ang biyahe.

Q4. Pila kabuok estudyante sa klase? — How many students are in the class?
A. Syete syentos ka estudyante naa.
B. Estudyante syete syentos ka naa.
C. Naa syete syentos ka estudyante ka.

Q5. Unsang oras ka miabot? — What time did you arrive?
A. Miabot ko syete syentos alas dos ug.
B. Ko miabot syete syentos ug alas dos.
C. Alas dos ug syete syentos ko miabot.

Answer Key

• Q1 – B — Correct order: numeral + pesos + “akong allowance.”
• Q2 – A — Proper counting pattern: numeral + ka + noun.
• Q3 – C — Sequence: numeral + ka + minutes + topic noun.
• Q4 – A — Numeral phrase precedes existential naa.
• Q5 – C — Cebuano time format “Alas [hour] ug [minutes].”