tingali

Cebuano Word: tingali

1 Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences

• Part of speech: adverb (probability / speculation)
• Core meaning: “maybe,” “perhaps,” “probably,” used to express moderate uncertainty or educated guess.

Example sentences

• Tingali mo-ulan karon hapon. — It might rain this afternoon.
• Busy tingali siya mao nga wa mo-reply. — She is probably busy, that is why she didn’t reply.
• Dili tingali lisod ang exam. — The exam is perhaps not difficult.

2 Learning Points for Cebuano Adverbs (focus on tingali)

1. Degree of certainty – softer than sigurado, stronger than pure guess; similar to English “probably.”
2. Placement – can open a clause (“Tingali mo-abot siya.”) or follow the verb/subject (“Mo-abot tingali siya.”).
3. Do not mix with contradictory certainty particles like gyud (“really”); the tones clash.
4. With negatives – dili tingali or tingali dili both work; choose based on which word you wish to stress.
5. Formality – acceptable in both spoken and written Cebuano; no slang connotation.

3 Common Collocations

• tingali pa – maybe still
• tingali dili – maybe not
• tingali lang – just maybe
• basin tingali – perhaps (adds extra doubt)
• siguro tingali – probably (reinforced)

4 Typical Sentence Position

• Sentence-initial (emphatic): “Tingali mogawas na ang resulta ugma.”
• Mid-sentence (neutral): “Mogawas tingali ang resulta ugma.”

5 Five Frequently Used Conversational Phrases

• “Tingali mo-saka ang presyo.” — The price might go up.
• “Tingali na-traffic siya.” — He is probably stuck in traffic.
• “Dili tingali ko makalugar karon.” — I may not have time now.
• “Tingali pa sila sa opisina.” — They are maybe still at the office.
• “Tingali sayo ta mag-meet ugma.” — Perhaps we should meet early tomorrow.

6 Five Everyday Conversation Exchanges

1. A: Mo-uban ba ka sa hike?
   B: Tingali, depende sa akong schedule.
   A: Will you join the hike?
   B: Maybe, depending on my schedule.
2. A: Mahuman ba nato ang report karong adlaw-a?
   B: Mahuman tingali kung mag-tinabangay ta.
   A: Can we finish the report today?
   B: Probably, if we help each other.
3. A: Asa kaha sila?
   B: Tingali naa pa silay meeting sa HR.
   A: Where could they be?
   B: They’re probably still in an HR meeting.
4. A: Init kaayo karon noh?
   B: Oo, tingali tungod sa habagat.
   A: It’s very hot today, isn’t it?
   B: Yes, maybe because of the southwest monsoon.
5. A: Makadawat ba ta og diskwento?
   B: Tingali kung daghan ta’g order.
   A: Can we get a discount?
   B: Maybe if we place a large order.

7 Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions

Q1. Mo-abot tingali si Ana karong gabii?
A. Mo-abot si Ana karong gabii tingali.
B. Tingali mo-abot si Ana karong gabii.
C. Si Ana tingali karong gabii mo-abot.

Q2. Dili tingali lisod ang eksam?
A. Lisod dili tingali ang eksam.
B. Dili lisod tingali ang eksam.
C. Tingali dili lisod ang eksam.

Q3. Asa tingali ta mokaon unya?
A. Unya asa ta tingali mokaon.
B. Asa ta tingali mokaon unya.
C. Mokaon asa tingali ta unya.

Q4. Makaya tingali nimo ang trabaho?
A. Nimo makaya tingali ang trabaho.
B. Makaya nimo tingali ang trabaho.
C. Ang trabaho tingali makaya nimo.

Q5. Tingali mahal ang bagong modelo?
A. Mahal tingali ang bagong modelo.
B. Ang bagong modelo tingali mahal.
C. Tingali ang bagong modelo mahal.

Answer Key

• Q1 – B Sentence-initial tingali before predicate gives natural speculative order.
• Q2 – C Putting tingali before adjective phrase keeps clear “maybe not difficult” meaning.
• Q3 – B Question word asa then subject, tingali mid-clause, verb last; others misplace particle.
• Q4 – B Verb makaya first, subject, tingali, object — standard placement after verb.
• Q5 – A Predicate adjective mahal follows tingali immediately; other choices split phrase.