ingon + ni/si + Speaker + Clause
Someone Said
The pattern ingon + ni/si + speaker is the most common way to attribute speech or information to a specific person in daily Cebuano conversation.
How It Works
In Cebuano, ingon acts as a 'defective verb'—a word that functions like a verb but doesn't take the usual prefixes in casual speech. It is used to report what someone else has said or to cite a source.
1. Choosing the Marker (ni vs. si)
- ni + Name: This is the most standard and natural form. It treats the speaker as the 'agent' of the statement. Example: Ingon ni Maria... (Maria said...).
- si + Name: This is a colloquial variant. While technically a shortened version of Miingon si..., it is very common in modern media and speech. Example: Ingon si Maria...
2. Using Pronouns
When using pronouns with ingon, you can use either the genitive or nominative sets, depending on the phrasing:
- Genitive Set: nako, nimo, niya, nato, namo, ninyo, and nila. This is the most common way to say "I said," "you said," etc. (e.g., Ingon nako...).
- Nominative Set: ako/ko, ikaw/ka, siya, kita/ta, kami/mi, kamo/mo, and sila. These are often used in colloquial speech (e.g., Ingon siya...).
3. The Alternative: Matod
A common synonym for ingon is matod (or matud). It is slightly more formal or traditional but follows the same rules for markers and pronouns. You will often see it as Matod ni Maria... or Matod niya... (According to her/She said).
4. Connecting the Speech
To connect the speaker to the actual quote, you often use the linker nga (meaning 'that'), though in fast conversation, this is sometimes omitted.
5. The 'Similarity' Trap
Be careful: ingon also means 'like' or 'similar to.' If you say Ingon ni Maria ang bata, it means 'The child is like Maria.' If you say Ingon ni Maria, gwapa ang bata, it means 'Maria said the child is beautiful.' Context and the presence of a full clause usually make the meaning clear.
Examples (4)
- Ingon ni Tatay, ayaw mo paglangay-langay.
Dad said, don't you all dally.
Word by Word: Said by Dad, don't you (plural) dally.
This uses the standard 'ni' marker for a personal name/title to attribute the command to 'Tatay'.
- Ingon si Maria nga dili siya makakuyog nato.
Maria said that she can't come with us.
Word by Word: Said Maria that not she can-join with-us.
This uses the colloquial 'si' marker and the linker 'nga' to introduce the reported statement.
- Ingon niya, padulong na kuno siya dinhi.
He/She said he/she is reportedly on the way here.
Word by Word: Said by-him/her, heading-to now reportedly he/she here.
Here, 'ingon' is paired with the genitive pronoun 'niya' to mean 'he/she said'. The particle 'kuno' reinforces that this is reported information.
- Ingon ni Pedro ang iyang barog.
His posture is like Pedro's.
Word by Word: Like of Pedro the his posture.
This example shows the 'similarity' meaning of 'ingon' for contrast. Notice there is no reported action or statement following it.
Common Mistakes
Using 'ug' or 'sa' for personal names in reported speech.
Ingon sa Maria, nindot ang balay.Ingon ni Maria, nindot ang balay.When attributing speech to a specific person by name, you must use the personal markers 'ni' or 'si', not the general markers 'sa' or 'og'.
Confusing 'said' with 'like' in comparison sentences.
Different MeaningIngon ni Ana siya.Ingon ni Ana, moabot siya.Without a following clause or the linker 'nga', 'Ingon ni Ana siya' means 'He/She is like Ana.' To mean 'Ana said,' you need to provide the statement she made.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use this pattern, you need to understand how to mark personal names using 'si' and 'ni', as these identify who is speaking. Additionally, understanding how to link clauses with 'nga' is helpful for connecting the speaker to their statement.
- siFocused Personal Marker
The marker 'si' is used to identify the speaker when they are the focused subject of the reported speech introduction.
Level 1 - niGenitive Personal Marker
The marker 'ni' is used to identify the speaker as the genitive actor of the verb 'ingon'.
Level 1 - ngaThat
The ligature 'nga' is often used to link the speaker to the content of what was said.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- si / ni / kangPersonal Name Markers
This pattern relies on the personal name markers 'ni' and 'si' to identify the speaker.
Foundations - miingon ngaSaid That
This is the full, formal verb form of 'ingon' used for reported speech.
Level 3 - kunoReportedly
The particle 'kuno' is often used alongside 'ingon' to emphasize that the information is hearsay or reported.
Level 3 - matod pa niAs Said by
A more formal way to say 'according to,' often used in news or writing.
Level 5 - sama saLike / Same as
Related to the 'similarity' meaning of 'ingon' (meaning 'like' or 'same as').
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice ingon + ni/si + Speaker + Clause in Bubblegum
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