[Contents]ARTICLES.There are three classes:Definite:an(the)Indefinite:in(a)Personal:hiorsi(no equivalent in English).The definite article, as well as the indefinite, is used in Bisayan in the same manner as its equivalent in English. The definite article, however, is sometimes used before proper nouns, and it is very often used before the demonstrative and possessive pronouns. Examples:Nacánhianbatà(the boy or girl has come)Nacánhiinbatà(a boy or girl has come)AnDyos1macagagáhum(God is omnipotent)Aniní nga bucád(this flower)Anacon calò(my hat)The personal article is always used before the names of persons; it is also used before the personal pronouns, except the third persons. Examples.HiPedro(Peter)Hiacó(I)Hiicao(you)Instead ofhi, simay be used.2These articles do not change in gender. Examples:anamáy(the father),aniróy(the mother);hiJuan(John),hiMaría(Mary).The definite and indefinite articles change in the plural in the following way:[8]SINGULARPLURALanan mg̃a3inin mg̃aThe personal article does not change, in person or number, except in the third person plural where it takes the form of the third personal pronoun third person, plural number. Examples:Hiquitá(we)Hicamó(you, in plural)HiráPedro ng̃an hi Juan(Peter and John)DECLENSION.—Articles have two cases:nominativeandobjective.SINGULARPLURALNOMINATIVE:aninhi or sian mg̃ain mg̃ahirá or siráOBJECTIVE:han or sanhin or sinni, canhan mg̃a or san mg̃ahin mg̃a or sin mg̃anira, candaExamples:Anbatà nagbahásahansurát ni Pedro(the boy reads Peter’s letter).HiráCarlos ng̃anhiJuan naghátagcandaTomás ng̃anhiPedrohin mg̃abucád(Charles and John gave flowers to Thomas and Peter).The objective case covers all the different cases used in other languages after the nominative, that is to say, thegenitive, dative, accusativeandablativecases.RULES. 1. The Bisayan articles are used immediately before the words to which they refer.2. The definite article may be used without expressing the object to which it refers, having, in this case, the nature of a relative pronoun. Examples:Annagtótoon, nahabábaro(He, who studies, learns).An mg̃anagtututdò ha aton(They who teach us.)[9]3. The personal article is always necessary before the names of persons. It is not correct to say “Pedro nagsusurat”;hiis needed, and it must be: “hiPedro nagsusurat” (Peter is writing).EXCEPTIONS. 1. Between the definite article and the word to which it refers, other words may be placed, in some instances, as in this phrase:Aniní ng̃abaláy(this house), oranmaopay ng̃abatà(the good boy or girl).The regular order in constructing the last phrase is:an batàng̃a maopay.2. When the names of persons are in the vocative case, the personal article is not used. Thus we say:Mariano, cadí dao(Mariano, come, please).Pamatì, Juan(listen, John).3. In the objective case ofhi, canis used before the verb, andniafter the verb. Examples:AncanJuan guinsurát(what John wrote)An guinsurátniJuan(what John wrote)N.B.—The indefinite article, when needed at the beginning of the sentence, is replaced by the phrase “usa ng̃a” So, if we wish to say “a boy came yesterday,” we should not sayinbatà nacánhi cacolop; butusá ng̃abatà nacánhi cacolóp.This phraseusá ng̃ais not a perfect article, but it has the character of an adjective, even when used as an article. Therefore, both the indefiniteinand the phraseusá ng̃amay be used in the same sentence. So, we can say, changing the regular order of the last sentence:Nacánhi cacolópin usá ng̃abata(a boy came yesterday).
[Contents]ARTICLES.There are three classes:Definite:an(the)Indefinite:in(a)Personal:hiorsi(no equivalent in English).The definite article, as well as the indefinite, is used in Bisayan in the same manner as its equivalent in English. The definite article, however, is sometimes used before proper nouns, and it is very often used before the demonstrative and possessive pronouns. Examples:Nacánhianbatà(the boy or girl has come)Nacánhiinbatà(a boy or girl has come)AnDyos1macagagáhum(God is omnipotent)Aniní nga bucád(this flower)Anacon calò(my hat)The personal article is always used before the names of persons; it is also used before the personal pronouns, except the third persons. Examples.HiPedro(Peter)Hiacó(I)Hiicao(you)Instead ofhi, simay be used.2These articles do not change in gender. Examples:anamáy(the father),aniróy(the mother);hiJuan(John),hiMaría(Mary).The definite and indefinite articles change in the plural in the following way:[8]SINGULARPLURALanan mg̃a3inin mg̃aThe personal article does not change, in person or number, except in the third person plural where it takes the form of the third personal pronoun third person, plural number. Examples:Hiquitá(we)Hicamó(you, in plural)HiráPedro ng̃an hi Juan(Peter and John)DECLENSION.—Articles have two cases:nominativeandobjective.SINGULARPLURALNOMINATIVE:aninhi or sian mg̃ain mg̃ahirá or siráOBJECTIVE:han or sanhin or sinni, canhan mg̃a or san mg̃ahin mg̃a or sin mg̃anira, candaExamples:Anbatà nagbahásahansurát ni Pedro(the boy reads Peter’s letter).HiráCarlos ng̃anhiJuan naghátagcandaTomás ng̃anhiPedrohin mg̃abucád(Charles and John gave flowers to Thomas and Peter).The objective case covers all the different cases used in other languages after the nominative, that is to say, thegenitive, dative, accusativeandablativecases.RULES. 1. The Bisayan articles are used immediately before the words to which they refer.2. The definite article may be used without expressing the object to which it refers, having, in this case, the nature of a relative pronoun. Examples:Annagtótoon, nahabábaro(He, who studies, learns).An mg̃anagtututdò ha aton(They who teach us.)[9]3. The personal article is always necessary before the names of persons. It is not correct to say “Pedro nagsusurat”;hiis needed, and it must be: “hiPedro nagsusurat” (Peter is writing).EXCEPTIONS. 1. Between the definite article and the word to which it refers, other words may be placed, in some instances, as in this phrase:Aniní ng̃abaláy(this house), oranmaopay ng̃abatà(the good boy or girl).The regular order in constructing the last phrase is:an batàng̃a maopay.2. When the names of persons are in the vocative case, the personal article is not used. Thus we say:Mariano, cadí dao(Mariano, come, please).Pamatì, Juan(listen, John).3. In the objective case ofhi, canis used before the verb, andniafter the verb. Examples:AncanJuan guinsurát(what John wrote)An guinsurátniJuan(what John wrote)N.B.—The indefinite article, when needed at the beginning of the sentence, is replaced by the phrase “usa ng̃a” So, if we wish to say “a boy came yesterday,” we should not sayinbatà nacánhi cacolop; butusá ng̃abatà nacánhi cacolóp.This phraseusá ng̃ais not a perfect article, but it has the character of an adjective, even when used as an article. Therefore, both the indefiniteinand the phraseusá ng̃amay be used in the same sentence. So, we can say, changing the regular order of the last sentence:Nacánhi cacolópin usá ng̃abata(a boy came yesterday).
[Contents]ARTICLES.There are three classes:Definite:an(the)Indefinite:in(a)Personal:hiorsi(no equivalent in English).The definite article, as well as the indefinite, is used in Bisayan in the same manner as its equivalent in English. The definite article, however, is sometimes used before proper nouns, and it is very often used before the demonstrative and possessive pronouns. Examples:Nacánhianbatà(the boy or girl has come)Nacánhiinbatà(a boy or girl has come)AnDyos1macagagáhum(God is omnipotent)Aniní nga bucád(this flower)Anacon calò(my hat)The personal article is always used before the names of persons; it is also used before the personal pronouns, except the third persons. Examples.HiPedro(Peter)Hiacó(I)Hiicao(you)Instead ofhi, simay be used.2These articles do not change in gender. Examples:anamáy(the father),aniróy(the mother);hiJuan(John),hiMaría(Mary).The definite and indefinite articles change in the plural in the following way:[8]SINGULARPLURALanan mg̃a3inin mg̃aThe personal article does not change, in person or number, except in the third person plural where it takes the form of the third personal pronoun third person, plural number. Examples:Hiquitá(we)Hicamó(you, in plural)HiráPedro ng̃an hi Juan(Peter and John)DECLENSION.—Articles have two cases:nominativeandobjective.SINGULARPLURALNOMINATIVE:aninhi or sian mg̃ain mg̃ahirá or siráOBJECTIVE:han or sanhin or sinni, canhan mg̃a or san mg̃ahin mg̃a or sin mg̃anira, candaExamples:Anbatà nagbahásahansurát ni Pedro(the boy reads Peter’s letter).HiráCarlos ng̃anhiJuan naghátagcandaTomás ng̃anhiPedrohin mg̃abucád(Charles and John gave flowers to Thomas and Peter).The objective case covers all the different cases used in other languages after the nominative, that is to say, thegenitive, dative, accusativeandablativecases.RULES. 1. The Bisayan articles are used immediately before the words to which they refer.2. The definite article may be used without expressing the object to which it refers, having, in this case, the nature of a relative pronoun. Examples:Annagtótoon, nahabábaro(He, who studies, learns).An mg̃anagtututdò ha aton(They who teach us.)[9]3. The personal article is always necessary before the names of persons. It is not correct to say “Pedro nagsusurat”;hiis needed, and it must be: “hiPedro nagsusurat” (Peter is writing).EXCEPTIONS. 1. Between the definite article and the word to which it refers, other words may be placed, in some instances, as in this phrase:Aniní ng̃abaláy(this house), oranmaopay ng̃abatà(the good boy or girl).The regular order in constructing the last phrase is:an batàng̃a maopay.2. When the names of persons are in the vocative case, the personal article is not used. Thus we say:Mariano, cadí dao(Mariano, come, please).Pamatì, Juan(listen, John).3. In the objective case ofhi, canis used before the verb, andniafter the verb. Examples:AncanJuan guinsurát(what John wrote)An guinsurátniJuan(what John wrote)N.B.—The indefinite article, when needed at the beginning of the sentence, is replaced by the phrase “usa ng̃a” So, if we wish to say “a boy came yesterday,” we should not sayinbatà nacánhi cacolop; butusá ng̃abatà nacánhi cacolóp.This phraseusá ng̃ais not a perfect article, but it has the character of an adjective, even when used as an article. Therefore, both the indefiniteinand the phraseusá ng̃amay be used in the same sentence. So, we can say, changing the regular order of the last sentence:Nacánhi cacolópin usá ng̃abata(a boy came yesterday).
[Contents]ARTICLES.There are three classes:Definite:an(the)Indefinite:in(a)Personal:hiorsi(no equivalent in English).The definite article, as well as the indefinite, is used in Bisayan in the same manner as its equivalent in English. The definite article, however, is sometimes used before proper nouns, and it is very often used before the demonstrative and possessive pronouns. Examples:Nacánhianbatà(the boy or girl has come)Nacánhiinbatà(a boy or girl has come)AnDyos1macagagáhum(God is omnipotent)Aniní nga bucád(this flower)Anacon calò(my hat)The personal article is always used before the names of persons; it is also used before the personal pronouns, except the third persons. Examples.HiPedro(Peter)Hiacó(I)Hiicao(you)Instead ofhi, simay be used.2These articles do not change in gender. Examples:anamáy(the father),aniróy(the mother);hiJuan(John),hiMaría(Mary).The definite and indefinite articles change in the plural in the following way:[8]SINGULARPLURALanan mg̃a3inin mg̃aThe personal article does not change, in person or number, except in the third person plural where it takes the form of the third personal pronoun third person, plural number. Examples:Hiquitá(we)Hicamó(you, in plural)HiráPedro ng̃an hi Juan(Peter and John)DECLENSION.—Articles have two cases:nominativeandobjective.SINGULARPLURALNOMINATIVE:aninhi or sian mg̃ain mg̃ahirá or siráOBJECTIVE:han or sanhin or sinni, canhan mg̃a or san mg̃ahin mg̃a or sin mg̃anira, candaExamples:Anbatà nagbahásahansurát ni Pedro(the boy reads Peter’s letter).HiráCarlos ng̃anhiJuan naghátagcandaTomás ng̃anhiPedrohin mg̃abucád(Charles and John gave flowers to Thomas and Peter).The objective case covers all the different cases used in other languages after the nominative, that is to say, thegenitive, dative, accusativeandablativecases.RULES. 1. The Bisayan articles are used immediately before the words to which they refer.2. The definite article may be used without expressing the object to which it refers, having, in this case, the nature of a relative pronoun. Examples:Annagtótoon, nahabábaro(He, who studies, learns).An mg̃anagtututdò ha aton(They who teach us.)[9]3. The personal article is always necessary before the names of persons. It is not correct to say “Pedro nagsusurat”;hiis needed, and it must be: “hiPedro nagsusurat” (Peter is writing).EXCEPTIONS. 1. Between the definite article and the word to which it refers, other words may be placed, in some instances, as in this phrase:Aniní ng̃abaláy(this house), oranmaopay ng̃abatà(the good boy or girl).The regular order in constructing the last phrase is:an batàng̃a maopay.2. When the names of persons are in the vocative case, the personal article is not used. Thus we say:Mariano, cadí dao(Mariano, come, please).Pamatì, Juan(listen, John).3. In the objective case ofhi, canis used before the verb, andniafter the verb. Examples:AncanJuan guinsurát(what John wrote)An guinsurátniJuan(what John wrote)N.B.—The indefinite article, when needed at the beginning of the sentence, is replaced by the phrase “usa ng̃a” So, if we wish to say “a boy came yesterday,” we should not sayinbatà nacánhi cacolop; butusá ng̃abatà nacánhi cacolóp.This phraseusá ng̃ais not a perfect article, but it has the character of an adjective, even when used as an article. Therefore, both the indefiniteinand the phraseusá ng̃amay be used in the same sentence. So, we can say, changing the regular order of the last sentence:Nacánhi cacolópin usá ng̃abata(a boy came yesterday).
[Contents]ARTICLES.There are three classes:Definite:an(the)Indefinite:in(a)Personal:hiorsi(no equivalent in English).The definite article, as well as the indefinite, is used in Bisayan in the same manner as its equivalent in English. The definite article, however, is sometimes used before proper nouns, and it is very often used before the demonstrative and possessive pronouns. Examples:Nacánhianbatà(the boy or girl has come)Nacánhiinbatà(a boy or girl has come)AnDyos1macagagáhum(God is omnipotent)Aniní nga bucád(this flower)Anacon calò(my hat)The personal article is always used before the names of persons; it is also used before the personal pronouns, except the third persons. Examples.HiPedro(Peter)Hiacó(I)Hiicao(you)Instead ofhi, simay be used.2These articles do not change in gender. Examples:anamáy(the father),aniróy(the mother);hiJuan(John),hiMaría(Mary).The definite and indefinite articles change in the plural in the following way:[8]SINGULARPLURALanan mg̃a3inin mg̃aThe personal article does not change, in person or number, except in the third person plural where it takes the form of the third personal pronoun third person, plural number. Examples:Hiquitá(we)Hicamó(you, in plural)HiráPedro ng̃an hi Juan(Peter and John)DECLENSION.—Articles have two cases:nominativeandobjective.SINGULARPLURALNOMINATIVE:aninhi or sian mg̃ain mg̃ahirá or siráOBJECTIVE:han or sanhin or sinni, canhan mg̃a or san mg̃ahin mg̃a or sin mg̃anira, candaExamples:Anbatà nagbahásahansurát ni Pedro(the boy reads Peter’s letter).HiráCarlos ng̃anhiJuan naghátagcandaTomás ng̃anhiPedrohin mg̃abucád(Charles and John gave flowers to Thomas and Peter).The objective case covers all the different cases used in other languages after the nominative, that is to say, thegenitive, dative, accusativeandablativecases.RULES. 1. The Bisayan articles are used immediately before the words to which they refer.2. The definite article may be used without expressing the object to which it refers, having, in this case, the nature of a relative pronoun. Examples:Annagtótoon, nahabábaro(He, who studies, learns).An mg̃anagtututdò ha aton(They who teach us.)[9]3. The personal article is always necessary before the names of persons. It is not correct to say “Pedro nagsusurat”;hiis needed, and it must be: “hiPedro nagsusurat” (Peter is writing).EXCEPTIONS. 1. Between the definite article and the word to which it refers, other words may be placed, in some instances, as in this phrase:Aniní ng̃abaláy(this house), oranmaopay ng̃abatà(the good boy or girl).The regular order in constructing the last phrase is:an batàng̃a maopay.2. When the names of persons are in the vocative case, the personal article is not used. Thus we say:Mariano, cadí dao(Mariano, come, please).Pamatì, Juan(listen, John).3. In the objective case ofhi, canis used before the verb, andniafter the verb. Examples:AncanJuan guinsurát(what John wrote)An guinsurátniJuan(what John wrote)N.B.—The indefinite article, when needed at the beginning of the sentence, is replaced by the phrase “usa ng̃a” So, if we wish to say “a boy came yesterday,” we should not sayinbatà nacánhi cacolop; butusá ng̃abatà nacánhi cacolóp.This phraseusá ng̃ais not a perfect article, but it has the character of an adjective, even when used as an article. Therefore, both the indefiniteinand the phraseusá ng̃amay be used in the same sentence. So, we can say, changing the regular order of the last sentence:Nacánhi cacolópin usá ng̃abata(a boy came yesterday).
ARTICLES.
There are three classes:Definite:an(the)Indefinite:in(a)Personal:hiorsi(no equivalent in English).The definite article, as well as the indefinite, is used in Bisayan in the same manner as its equivalent in English. The definite article, however, is sometimes used before proper nouns, and it is very often used before the demonstrative and possessive pronouns. Examples:Nacánhianbatà(the boy or girl has come)Nacánhiinbatà(a boy or girl has come)AnDyos1macagagáhum(God is omnipotent)Aniní nga bucád(this flower)Anacon calò(my hat)The personal article is always used before the names of persons; it is also used before the personal pronouns, except the third persons. Examples.HiPedro(Peter)Hiacó(I)Hiicao(you)Instead ofhi, simay be used.2These articles do not change in gender. Examples:anamáy(the father),aniróy(the mother);hiJuan(John),hiMaría(Mary).The definite and indefinite articles change in the plural in the following way:[8]SINGULARPLURALanan mg̃a3inin mg̃aThe personal article does not change, in person or number, except in the third person plural where it takes the form of the third personal pronoun third person, plural number. Examples:Hiquitá(we)Hicamó(you, in plural)HiráPedro ng̃an hi Juan(Peter and John)DECLENSION.—Articles have two cases:nominativeandobjective.SINGULARPLURALNOMINATIVE:aninhi or sian mg̃ain mg̃ahirá or siráOBJECTIVE:han or sanhin or sinni, canhan mg̃a or san mg̃ahin mg̃a or sin mg̃anira, candaExamples:Anbatà nagbahásahansurát ni Pedro(the boy reads Peter’s letter).HiráCarlos ng̃anhiJuan naghátagcandaTomás ng̃anhiPedrohin mg̃abucád(Charles and John gave flowers to Thomas and Peter).The objective case covers all the different cases used in other languages after the nominative, that is to say, thegenitive, dative, accusativeandablativecases.RULES. 1. The Bisayan articles are used immediately before the words to which they refer.2. The definite article may be used without expressing the object to which it refers, having, in this case, the nature of a relative pronoun. Examples:Annagtótoon, nahabábaro(He, who studies, learns).An mg̃anagtututdò ha aton(They who teach us.)[9]3. The personal article is always necessary before the names of persons. It is not correct to say “Pedro nagsusurat”;hiis needed, and it must be: “hiPedro nagsusurat” (Peter is writing).EXCEPTIONS. 1. Between the definite article and the word to which it refers, other words may be placed, in some instances, as in this phrase:Aniní ng̃abaláy(this house), oranmaopay ng̃abatà(the good boy or girl).The regular order in constructing the last phrase is:an batàng̃a maopay.2. When the names of persons are in the vocative case, the personal article is not used. Thus we say:Mariano, cadí dao(Mariano, come, please).Pamatì, Juan(listen, John).3. In the objective case ofhi, canis used before the verb, andniafter the verb. Examples:AncanJuan guinsurát(what John wrote)An guinsurátniJuan(what John wrote)N.B.—The indefinite article, when needed at the beginning of the sentence, is replaced by the phrase “usa ng̃a” So, if we wish to say “a boy came yesterday,” we should not sayinbatà nacánhi cacolop; butusá ng̃abatà nacánhi cacolóp.This phraseusá ng̃ais not a perfect article, but it has the character of an adjective, even when used as an article. Therefore, both the indefiniteinand the phraseusá ng̃amay be used in the same sentence. So, we can say, changing the regular order of the last sentence:Nacánhi cacolópin usá ng̃abata(a boy came yesterday).
There are three classes:
Definite:an(the)Indefinite:in(a)Personal:hiorsi(no equivalent in English).
The definite article, as well as the indefinite, is used in Bisayan in the same manner as its equivalent in English. The definite article, however, is sometimes used before proper nouns, and it is very often used before the demonstrative and possessive pronouns. Examples:
Nacánhianbatà(the boy or girl has come)Nacánhiinbatà(a boy or girl has come)AnDyos1macagagáhum(God is omnipotent)Aniní nga bucád(this flower)Anacon calò(my hat)
The personal article is always used before the names of persons; it is also used before the personal pronouns, except the third persons. Examples.
HiPedro(Peter)Hiacó(I)Hiicao(you)
Instead ofhi, simay be used.2
These articles do not change in gender. Examples:anamáy(the father),aniróy(the mother);hiJuan(John),hiMaría(Mary).
The definite and indefinite articles change in the plural in the following way:[8]
SINGULARPLURALanan mg̃a3inin mg̃a
The personal article does not change, in person or number, except in the third person plural where it takes the form of the third personal pronoun third person, plural number. Examples:
Hiquitá(we)Hicamó(you, in plural)HiráPedro ng̃an hi Juan(Peter and John)
DECLENSION.—Articles have two cases:nominativeandobjective.SINGULARPLURALNOMINATIVE:aninhi or sian mg̃ain mg̃ahirá or siráOBJECTIVE:han or sanhin or sinni, canhan mg̃a or san mg̃ahin mg̃a or sin mg̃anira, candaExamples:Anbatà nagbahásahansurát ni Pedro(the boy reads Peter’s letter).HiráCarlos ng̃anhiJuan naghátagcandaTomás ng̃anhiPedrohin mg̃abucád(Charles and John gave flowers to Thomas and Peter).The objective case covers all the different cases used in other languages after the nominative, that is to say, thegenitive, dative, accusativeandablativecases.RULES. 1. The Bisayan articles are used immediately before the words to which they refer.2. The definite article may be used without expressing the object to which it refers, having, in this case, the nature of a relative pronoun. Examples:Annagtótoon, nahabábaro(He, who studies, learns).An mg̃anagtututdò ha aton(They who teach us.)[9]3. The personal article is always necessary before the names of persons. It is not correct to say “Pedro nagsusurat”;hiis needed, and it must be: “hiPedro nagsusurat” (Peter is writing).EXCEPTIONS. 1. Between the definite article and the word to which it refers, other words may be placed, in some instances, as in this phrase:Aniní ng̃abaláy(this house), oranmaopay ng̃abatà(the good boy or girl).The regular order in constructing the last phrase is:an batàng̃a maopay.2. When the names of persons are in the vocative case, the personal article is not used. Thus we say:Mariano, cadí dao(Mariano, come, please).Pamatì, Juan(listen, John).3. In the objective case ofhi, canis used before the verb, andniafter the verb. Examples:AncanJuan guinsurát(what John wrote)An guinsurátniJuan(what John wrote)N.B.—The indefinite article, when needed at the beginning of the sentence, is replaced by the phrase “usa ng̃a” So, if we wish to say “a boy came yesterday,” we should not sayinbatà nacánhi cacolop; butusá ng̃abatà nacánhi cacolóp.This phraseusá ng̃ais not a perfect article, but it has the character of an adjective, even when used as an article. Therefore, both the indefiniteinand the phraseusá ng̃amay be used in the same sentence. So, we can say, changing the regular order of the last sentence:Nacánhi cacolópin usá ng̃abata(a boy came yesterday).
DECLENSION.—Articles have two cases:nominativeandobjective.SINGULARPLURALNOMINATIVE:aninhi or sian mg̃ain mg̃ahirá or siráOBJECTIVE:han or sanhin or sinni, canhan mg̃a or san mg̃ahin mg̃a or sin mg̃anira, candaExamples:Anbatà nagbahásahansurát ni Pedro(the boy reads Peter’s letter).HiráCarlos ng̃anhiJuan naghátagcandaTomás ng̃anhiPedrohin mg̃abucád(Charles and John gave flowers to Thomas and Peter).The objective case covers all the different cases used in other languages after the nominative, that is to say, thegenitive, dative, accusativeandablativecases.RULES. 1. The Bisayan articles are used immediately before the words to which they refer.2. The definite article may be used without expressing the object to which it refers, having, in this case, the nature of a relative pronoun. Examples:Annagtótoon, nahabábaro(He, who studies, learns).An mg̃anagtututdò ha aton(They who teach us.)[9]3. The personal article is always necessary before the names of persons. It is not correct to say “Pedro nagsusurat”;hiis needed, and it must be: “hiPedro nagsusurat” (Peter is writing).EXCEPTIONS. 1. Between the definite article and the word to which it refers, other words may be placed, in some instances, as in this phrase:Aniní ng̃abaláy(this house), oranmaopay ng̃abatà(the good boy or girl).The regular order in constructing the last phrase is:an batàng̃a maopay.2. When the names of persons are in the vocative case, the personal article is not used. Thus we say:Mariano, cadí dao(Mariano, come, please).Pamatì, Juan(listen, John).3. In the objective case ofhi, canis used before the verb, andniafter the verb. Examples:AncanJuan guinsurát(what John wrote)An guinsurátniJuan(what John wrote)N.B.—The indefinite article, when needed at the beginning of the sentence, is replaced by the phrase “usa ng̃a” So, if we wish to say “a boy came yesterday,” we should not sayinbatà nacánhi cacolop; butusá ng̃abatà nacánhi cacolóp.This phraseusá ng̃ais not a perfect article, but it has the character of an adjective, even when used as an article. Therefore, both the indefiniteinand the phraseusá ng̃amay be used in the same sentence. So, we can say, changing the regular order of the last sentence:Nacánhi cacolópin usá ng̃abata(a boy came yesterday).
DECLENSION.—Articles have two cases:nominativeandobjective.
SINGULARPLURALNOMINATIVE:aninhi or sian mg̃ain mg̃ahirá or siráOBJECTIVE:han or sanhin or sinni, canhan mg̃a or san mg̃ahin mg̃a or sin mg̃anira, canda
Examples:
Anbatà nagbahásahansurát ni Pedro(the boy reads Peter’s letter).HiráCarlos ng̃anhiJuan naghátagcandaTomás ng̃anhiPedrohin mg̃abucád(Charles and John gave flowers to Thomas and Peter).
The objective case covers all the different cases used in other languages after the nominative, that is to say, thegenitive, dative, accusativeandablativecases.
RULES. 1. The Bisayan articles are used immediately before the words to which they refer.
2. The definite article may be used without expressing the object to which it refers, having, in this case, the nature of a relative pronoun. Examples:
Annagtótoon, nahabábaro(He, who studies, learns).An mg̃anagtututdò ha aton(They who teach us.)
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3. The personal article is always necessary before the names of persons. It is not correct to say “Pedro nagsusurat”;hiis needed, and it must be: “hiPedro nagsusurat” (Peter is writing).
EXCEPTIONS. 1. Between the definite article and the word to which it refers, other words may be placed, in some instances, as in this phrase:
Aniní ng̃abaláy(this house), oranmaopay ng̃abatà(the good boy or girl).
The regular order in constructing the last phrase is:
an batàng̃a maopay.
2. When the names of persons are in the vocative case, the personal article is not used. Thus we say:
Mariano, cadí dao(Mariano, come, please).Pamatì, Juan(listen, John).
3. In the objective case ofhi, canis used before the verb, andniafter the verb. Examples:
AncanJuan guinsurát(what John wrote)An guinsurátniJuan(what John wrote)
N.B.—The indefinite article, when needed at the beginning of the sentence, is replaced by the phrase “usa ng̃a” So, if we wish to say “a boy came yesterday,” we should not say
inbatà nacánhi cacolop; butusá ng̃abatà nacánhi cacolóp.
This phraseusá ng̃ais not a perfect article, but it has the character of an adjective, even when used as an article. Therefore, both the indefiniteinand the phraseusá ng̃amay be used in the same sentence. So, we can say, changing the regular order of the last sentence:
Nacánhi cacolópin usá ng̃abata(a boy came yesterday).