sumala sa
According to
Sumala sa is the standard Cebuano way to say 'according to.' It is used to cite news, laws, books, or people in formal contexts.
How It Works
Sumala sa is a versatile prepositional phrase essential for both formal and conversational Cebuano. It serves two primary functions:
1. Citing Sources or Standards: It introduces the origin of information or a guideline. Unlike matod pa, which mostly cites what someone said, sumala sa can refer to documents, media, or observations.
- Sumala sa balaod... (According to the law...)
- Sumala sa balita... (According to the news...)
2. Expressing Contingency ('It Depends'): A core function of sumala is to express that something is dependent on a condition or someone's choice. In this context, it is often followed by kon (if).
- Sumala nimo. (It's up to you.)
- Sumala sa panahon... (It depends on the weather...)
Grammar Note: When following sumala with a personal name, you must use the marker ni instead of sa. This is a strict grammatical rule for proper nouns. In casual speech, you may hear the phrase shortened to suma' (with a glottal stop), as in 'Suma' pa nimo...' (According to what you said...).
Examples (5)
- Sumala sa balita, adunay kusog nga ulan ugma.
According to the news, there will be heavy rain tomorrow.
Word by Word: According to the news, there-is strong [ligature] rain tomorrow.
Here, 'sumala sa' introduces a non-human source of information (the news).
- Kinahanglan kitang molihok sumala sa mga lagda sa eskwelahan.
We must act in accordance with the school rules.
Word by Word: Need we [inclusive] act according to the [plural] rule of school.
In this context, 'sumala sa' indicates following a standard or set of rules.
- Sumala ni Dr. Abad, kinahanglan ka mopahulay og maayo.
According to Dr. Abad, you need to rest well.
Word by Word: According to [personal marker] Dr. Abad, need you act-rest [object marker] good.
When citing a specific person by name, the marker 'ni' is grammatically required.
- Sumala nimo kon asa ta mangaon karong gabhiona.
It is up to you where we will eat tonight.
Word by Word: According-to you if where we [inclusive] eat this night.
This demonstrates the 'it depends' or 'it is up to' usage of the phrase.
- Sumala sa panahon kon madayon ba ang atong biyahe.
It depends on the weather if our trip will push through.
Word by Word: According-to the weather if push-through [question particle] the our trip.
Here, 'sumala sa' expresses contingency, similar to 'it depends on'.
Common Mistakes
Using 'sa' instead of 'ni' for personal names.
Sumala sa Juan, nindot ang salida.Sumala ni Juan, nindot ang salida.Just like the personal name markers, you must use 'ni' when 'sumala' is followed by a specific person's name, regardless of formality.
How It Connects
Learn This First
'Sumala sa' is a compound prepositional phrase used to cite sources. It relies on the oblique marker 'sa' to connect the root 'sumala' (according) to a common noun, and requires knowledge of personal markers if the source is a specific person.
- sama saLike / Same as
Understanding 'sama sa' (like/same as) provides a conceptual foundation for how 'sa' is used with comparative or citing roots to link to a noun.
Level 2 - si / ni / kangPersonal Name Markers
If the source being cited is a person, the learner needs to understand how personal name markers (like 'kang') interact with oblique constructions.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- matod pa niAs Said by
A synonym used specifically for reported speech (what someone said), whereas 'sumala sa' is broader.
Level 5 - kunoReportedly
A hearsay particle used in casual speech to indicate 'they say' or 'reportedly' without a formal citation.
Level 3 - sa akong hunahunaIn My Opinion
Used to express a personal opinion ('In my mind/opinion') rather than citing an external source.
Level 3 - subay saIn Accordance with
A more formal synonym meaning 'in line with' or 'following the track of,' often used in legal contexts.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
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