Vocabulary
kailán
Show
when (question word)
Show
kapág
Show
when, while, during (non-past actions)
Show
kung
Show
if, when, while, during (non-past actions)
Show
*habang
Show
when, while, during
Show
*pag
Show
when, while, during (non-past actions)
Show
*These words are used for demonstration purposes only, and will not appear in any sample sentences.
Grammar
In this lesson we will cover “when” as a question word and as “during”. We will also talk a bit about “if”.
When as a Question Word: Kailan
Kailan is an interrogative, or question word, which is used to ask “when?”:
Kailan + Phrase? (Tag) = When Phrase? (Eng)
Ex: Kailan siya nag-aral?
Show
= When did she study?
Show
Ex: Kailan masaya si Jason?
Show
= When is Jason happy?
Show
Ex: Kailan ka natutulog?
Show
= When do you sleep?
Show
When as During
There are several words used for “when” as in “during”. We will discuss the most common ones. Here is a breakdown of how they are used:
nun past actions
kapag non-past actions
habang past and non-past actions
kung non-past actions
Nun
As mentioned before, nun is used for past actions:
Phrase + nung + phrase. (Tag) = Phrase during period. (Eng)
Note: Nung is just nun + linker. For past actions.
Ex: Gusto ni Joe ng pizza nung naglaro siya.
Show
= Joe wanted pizza when he played.
Show
Ex: Nasa Maynila siya nung bata pa siya.
Show
= She was in Manila when she was still young.
Show
Ex: Tinanong ako ni Maria nung ginawa niya ang adobo.
Show
= Maria asked me when she made the adobo.
Show
As used above, nung means “when”. Remember that nung + adv is used for past actions, and roughly means “last”, “in” or “on”.
Ex: Gusto ni Joe ng pizza nung Martes.
Show
= Joe wanted pizza last Tuesday.
Show
Ex: Pumunta si Jasmine sa Cebu nung 2001.
Show
= Jasmine went to Cebu in 2001.
Show
Ex: Kinuha nila ang mga mangga nung ikatlo ng Marso.
Show
= They got the mangoes on the 3rd of March.
Show
Kapag
Kapag has a less common short form pag, and is used with non-past actions.
Phrase + kapag + phrase. (Tag) = Phrase when phrase. (Eng)
Note: For non-past actions.
Ex: Kakain ako kapag nasa sasakyan ako.
Show
= I will eat when I am in the car.
Show
Ex: Binubuksan ba ni Maria ang pinto kapag nag-aaral siya?
Show
= Does Maria open the door when she studies?
Show
Ex: Maganda siya kapag natutulog siya.
Show
= She is pretty when she sleeps.
Show
Habang
Habang is used for both past and non-past actions.
Phrase + habang + phrase. (Tag) = Phrase when phrase. (Eng)
Ex: Kakain ako habang nasa sasakyan ako.
Show
= I will eat when I am in the car.
Show
Ex: Maganda siya habang natutulog siya.
Show
= She is pretty when she sleeps.
Show
Ex: Binigyan kita nito habang nasa Maynila siya.
Show
= I gave it to you when he was in Manila.
Show
Habang may seem easier because it works for all periods, and it is quite common. But nun is a more common for past actions and kapag is a more common for non-past actions, so we will not use habang any more in this book.
Kung as If
Kung is interchangeable with kapag, and they are both used for non-past actions. Both can also mean “if”, but it is more common to use kung as “if” and kapag as “during”, so that is how we will use them.
Phrase + kung + phrase. (Tag) = Phrase if phrase. (Eng)
Note: For non-past actions.
Ex: Kakain ako kung nasa sasakyan ako.
Show
= I will eat if I am in the car.
Show
Ex: Binubuksan ba ni Maria ang pinto kung mag-aaral siya?
Show
= Does Maria open the door if she were to study?
Show
Ex: Maganda siya kung natutulog siya.
Show
= She is pretty if she sleeps.
Show
Kung + Question Word
Sometimes we want to use a question word in a sentence, but the sentence is not a question. In these cases, put kung before the question word.
Phrase + kung + question word + phrase. (Tag) = Phrase question word phrase. (Eng)
Ex: Nagluto sila kung saan ako kumain ng pizza.
Show
= They cooked where I ate pizza.
Show
Ex: Makikita ni Joe kung sino ang guro.
Show
= Joe will see who the teacher is.
Show
Ex: Binibiro niya ako kung magkano ang mga mangga.
Show
= She is kidding me about how much the mangoes are.
Show
Phrase Order
As you will see later, nun, kapag and kung (if) are actually conjunctions, or words that join two phrases. Like in English, the phrases can optionally be reversed, with the conjunction in front:
Ex: Nung naglaro siya, gusto ni Joe ng pizza.
Show
= When he played, Joe wanted pizza.
Show
Ex: Kapag nasa sasakyan ako, kakain ako.
Show
= When I am in the car, I will eat.
Show
Ex: Kung natutulog siya, maganda siya.
Show
= If she sleeps, she is pretty.
Show
Sample sentences
Q1
When will you be able to tell her the truth?
Kailan mo masasabi sa kaniya ang totoo?
Q2
When Joshua looked for her, she was not on the bicycle.
Nung hinanap siya ni Joshua, wala siya sa bisikleta.
Q3
I will only drink the water if I eat the lechon.
Iinumin ko lang ang tubig kung kakainin ko ang lechon.
Q4
Angel is happy when she is answering the difficult questions.
Masaya si Angel kapag sinasagot niya ang mga mahihirap na tanong.
Q5
Maria is asking you how old you are.
Tinatanong ka ni Maria kung ilang taon ka na.
Q6
When did your wife cook the food?
Kailan niluto ng asawa mo ang pagkain?
Q7
If you are not kidding me, obey the president already.
Kung hindi mo ako binibiro, sundin mo na ang pangulo.
Q8
Yes. (resp.) The restroom was here in March, wasn't it? (resp.)
Opo. Nandito po ang CR nung Marso, di ba?
Q9
Where will you be when you call out to me at 11:30pm?
Nasaan ka kapag tatawagin mo ako nang alas-onse y medya ng gabi?
Q10
Diego said how much the chocolate was.
Nagsabi si Diego kung magkano ang tsokolate.
Drills - Lesson 34