sa matag higayon nga

Every Time That

Level 6

Sa matag higayon nga is the formal way to say 'every time that' or 'whenever.' It connects a specific recurring situation to an action that happens as a result.

How It Works

The phrase sa matag higayon nga functions as a complex temporal conjunction. While formal style prefers this full structure to link to an entire action or event (a clause), casual speech often shortens this by using matag or kada directly before a verb.

1. Structural Components:

  • sa: The oblique marker indicating the time. This initial sa is often dropped when the phrase begins a sentence.
  • matag: The distributive adjective meaning 'each' or 'every.'
  • higayon: A noun meaning 'occasion' or 'time.'
  • nga: The ligature that bridges the noun 'higayon' to the following clause.

2. Register and Usage:
This pattern is considered formal or literary. You will encounter it frequently in formal speeches and literature. In casual conversation, speakers typically use the Spanish loanword kada (e.g., Kada moulan...). Using the full phrase adds precision and gravity to your speech.

3. Aspect and the 'Whenever' Trigger:
Although the overall sentence can refer to the past, present, or future, the verb inside the nga clause typically uses the not started (irrealis) aspect (e.g., mo- or mag-). This denotes the habitual or 'whenever' nature of the trigger. For example: sa matag higayon nga moulan (every time it rains).

4. Phonological Note:
In formal writing, nga is usually kept separate. However, in spoken or semi-formal contexts, it contracts to -ng if the preceding word ends in a vowel OR the letter -n. When a word ends in -n, the -n is replaced by -ng (e.g., higayon becomes higayong).

Examples (4)

  1. Sa matag higayon nga moulan, mobaha ang karsada.

    Every time that it rains, the road floods.

    Word by Word: At every occasion that will-rain, will-flood the road.

    This shows a recurring natural event. The ligature 'nga' connects the occasion of rain to the result of flooding.

  2. Nagapasalamat ako sa Dios sa matag higayon nga maghandom ako kaninyo.

    I thank God every time that I remember you.

    Word by Word: Am-thanking I to God at every occasion that will-remember I you-all.

    A formal, literary example often found in religious contexts, showing a consistent emotional response to a recurring thought.

  3. Kinahanglan timbangon ang kuwarta sa matag higayon nga sila mopalit.

    The money must be weighed every time that they buy (something).

    Word by Word: Must be-weighed the money at every occasion that they will-buy.

    Here, the pattern establishes a mandatory protocol that must occur during every instance of a transaction.

  4. Sa matag higayon nga mobisita siya, magdala siya og mga gasa.

    Every time that he visits, he brings gifts.

    Word by Word: At every occasion that will-visit he, will-bring he [object] [plural] gift.

    This describes a habitual action. Note the use of 'og' for the indefinite object 'gasa' (gifts).

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the mandatory ligature 'nga'.

    Sa matag higayon moulan, mobaha ang karsada.
    Sa matag higayon nga moulan, mobaha ang karsada.

    Without the 'nga', the noun 'higayon' (occasion) has no grammatical bridge to the verb 'moulan' (rains). The sentence becomes a string of unrelated words.

  • Using 'ug' instead of 'nga' as a linker.

    Sa matag higayon ug moulan...
    Sa matag higayon nga moulan...

    In Cebuano, 'ug' is a conjunction for 'and' or an indefinite object marker. 'Nga' is the specific linker required for relative or subordinate clauses.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

sa matag higayon ngaLevel 6Every Time That

Learn This First

To understand 'sa matag higayon nga' (every time that), a learner needs to know the word for 'every' (matag), how the oblique marker 'sa' functions in time expressions, and how the ligature 'nga' connects a noun to a descriptive clause.

Words in This Pattern

higayon