kang
Oblique Personal Marker
Use kang before a person's name (or kinship term like 'Mama') when they are the indirect object (to/for them) or the destination (to their place). It also shows possession at the start of a sentence.
How It Works
The marker kang is part of the personal name marker system. It is used in four primary ways:
- Recipient/Beneficiary: When you give something to or do something for a specific person.
Ihatag kini kang Maria. (Give this to Maria.) - Location (At): To indicate being at a person's house or current location.
Naa ko kang Pedro. (I am at Pedro's place.) - Destination (To): When you are going to a person's location.
Moadto ko kang Juan. (I am going to Juan's.) - Possessive Predicate: When placed at the beginning of a sentence, it means 'belongs to'.
Kang kinsa kini? Kang Juan kini. (Whose is this? This is Juan's.)
For groups of people, the plural form kanila ni is used (e.g., Ihatag kini kanila ni Maria - Give this to Maria and her group). While you may hear ni used casually in place of kang in some regions, kang is the standard form to become confident with for clear communication.
Examples (6)
- Ihatag kini kang Ana.
Give this to Ana.
Word by Word: Give this to Ana.
Here, 'kang' marks Ana as the recipient of the action.
- Naa ko kang Maria.
I am at Maria's place.
Word by Word: Is I at Maria.
When used with 'naa', 'kang' indicates being at a specific person's house or current location.
- Moadto mi kang Lola karong Dominggo.
We are going to Grandma's this Sunday.
Word by Word: Will-go we to Grandma this Sunday.
When used with a destination, 'kang' implies going to that person's house or location.
- Kang kinsa kining lapis?
Whose is this pencil?
Word by Word: To whom this pencil?
'Kang kinsa' is the standard way to ask 'whose' or 'to whom'.
- Ipalit kini kanila ni Pedro.
Buy this for Pedro and his companions.
Word by Word: Buy this for-them (personal) Pedro.
'Kanila ni' is the plural form used when the action is for a group identified by one person's name.
- Ihatag kini kang Tatay.
Give this to Dad.
Word by Word: Give this to Dad.
'Kang' marks the beneficiary (the person for whom the action is done).
Common Mistakes
Using 'sa' with personal names.
Ihatag kini sa Maria.Ihatag kini kang Maria.'Sa' is for common nouns (like 'sa bata' - to the child). For proper names, you must use 'kang'.
Using 'kang' when you mean Maria and her group.
Different MeaningIhatag kini kang Maria ug Juan.Ihatag kini kanila ni Maria.'Ihatag kini kang Maria ug Juan' is a good sentence: give this to Maria and Juan, named one by one. To mean Maria and the people with her, use 'kanila ni Maria'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'kang', you need to be familiar with the personal name marker system and the concept of oblique markers (like 'sa') which indicate destination, location, or beneficiary.
- si / ni / kangPersonal Name Markers
Understanding the overall system of personal name markers provides the context for how 'kang' functions relative to 'si' and 'ni'.
Foundations - saOblique and Definite Marker
The marker 'kang' is the personal name equivalent of the general oblique marker 'sa', so understanding 'sa' helps clarify the role of 'kang'.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- niGenitive Personal Marker
Ni is the genitive marker (owner/actor), whereas kang is the oblique marker (recipient/destination).
Level 1 - kang kinsaWhose / to Whom
This is the question form of kang, used to ask 'whose' or 'to whom'.
Level 2 - kanako / kanimo / kaniyaOblique Pronouns Singular
These are the pronoun versions of the kang marker (to me, to you, to him/her).
Level 2 - sila si/ni + NameSomeone and Company
The plural oblique form 'kanila ni' follows the same logic as 'sila si' and 'sila ni' to refer to a group.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice kang in Bubblegum
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