English-Bisaya Grammar Part 1

English-Bisaya Grammar.

by Various.

PREFACE

In presenting this English-Bisaya Grammar I do not pretend to be considered an author, my only aspiration is to be useful to my American brethren in the priesthood, in order that they in turn, may be so to the Bisaya people. The priest for the Bisaya people must be one who will devote all his attention to them, live among them, study their ways, their character, their tendencies, and therefore, the study of their dialect is absolutely necessary to him, since they, for the most part, do not know how to speak either Spanish or English. In preparing this compilation I have used every effort to do it as well as possible, but I am only a pupil in both the English and Bisaya languages, and I believe, the work is not as perfect as would be desired, but I indulge a hope that the kindness of my readers will excuse my faults.

FIRST LESSON.

OF THE ARTICLE.

1.a The article in the Bisaya dialect is divided into determinate and indeterminate and of the proper names.

2.a The determinate article is ang for singular, and ang mga or sa mga according to the cases for plural.

3.a The indeterminate article is usa, one for the singular; and uban, pila or mapila, some for the plural.

4.a The article of the proper names is si for both masculine and feminine.

Declension of the Articles.

DEFINITE ARTICLE.

SINGULAR.

N. The dog. Ang iro.

G. Of the dog. Sa iro.

D. To the dog. Sa iro.

Ac. The dog. Sa iro.

Vc. Oh dog. Sa iro.

Abl. With the dog. Sa iro.

PLURAL.

N. The dogs. Ang mga iro.

G. Of the dogs. Sa mga iro.

D. To the dogs. Sa mga iro.

Ac. The dogs. Sa mga iro.

Vc. Oh dogs. Sa mga iro.

Abl. With the dogs. Sa mga iro.

INDEFINITE ARTICLE.

SINGULAR

A letter. Usa ca sulat.

A dog. Usa ca iro.

One and another Ang usa ug ang usa

PLURAL.

Some wish, while others do not--ang uban bu-ut, ang uban dili--Some of the trees, which are there--Pipila sa mga cahuy diha.

The Article of the Proper Names

SINGULAR.

N. Peter. Si Pedro.

G. Of Peter. Ni Pedro.

D. To Peter. Can Pedro.

Ac. Peter. Can Pedro.

Vc. Peter. Oy Pedro.

Abl. With Peter. Can Pedro.

Remark l.a The article of the proper names is used also to point out a person and his companions, as:

N. Joseph and his friends. Sila si Jose.

G. Of Joseph and of his friends. ila ni Jose.

2.a This article serves also to express kindness or love: as.--My Mother, Si nanay.--My father, Si tatay.--The female child, Si inday--The parish Priest, Si amoy--My eldest sister, Si manang.

3.a The English compounded words, wooden, golden etc. change the affix en into nga, as:--The wooden cross, Ang cruz nga cahoy--The golden ring, Ang singsing nga bulauan.

4.a When we point out the destination of a thing, it is employed the article sa--Thus: The water vat, Ang tadyao sa tubig.--The bottle of wine, Ang botella sa vino.

5.a When it refers to the property of any one, it is as follows.--John's hat, Ang calo ni Juan.