kana / na

That Near You

Level 1

Kana (shortened to na) means 'that' specifically when the object is near the person you are talking to. It is the 'listener's zone' demonstrative.

How It Works

In Cebuano, kana is the nominative (subject) form of the medial demonstrative. It functions in three main ways:

1. As a Pronoun: It can stand alone as the subject or the predicate of a sentence.
Example: Kana ang libro. (That is the book.) In this zero copula structure, kana points to an object near the listener.

2. As a Determiner: When it describes a specific noun, it must be connected using the ligature. The pattern is kana nga [noun] or kanang [noun]. Additionally, to mark specificity, Cebuano frequently attaches a definite suffix to the noun: -a after a consonant, and -ha after a vowel.
Example: Kanang libroha (That specific book near you) or Kanang balaya (That specific house near you). To make it plural, simply add mga: Kanang mga libroha (Those books near you).

3. The Short Form 'na': In casual conversation, kana is frequently shortened to na, though the full form kana remains standard for formal writing and when you want to add emphasis. The short form is extremely common in questions like Unsa na? (What is that?). Be careful not to confuse this with the aspectual particle na (already/now). Crucially, na cannot stand alone at the beginning of a sentence or act as a predicate. While Kana ang libro is correct, you cannot say *Na ang libro. To use the short form at the beginning of this kind of sentence, you must use mao: Mao na ang libro. (That is the book).

4. Non-Nominative Forms: You cannot use kana after markers like sa. Instead, you must use the genitive/oblique forms niana or the very common short form ana. In casual, everyday speech, it is also quite common to double up the oblique marker and say sa ana. Notice how the meaning changes based on the word used:

  • Ibutang kana. (Put that down. - kana is the object being put down. If you say Ibutang na, native speakers will almost universally interpret na as 'now/already', meaning 'Put it down now'.)
  • Ibutang ana or Ibutang sa ana. (Put something in/on that. - ana is the oblique target)
  • Ibutang diha. (Put something there. - diha is the location)

Spatial Logic:

  • Kini (or the variant kani): Near the speaker (This).
  • Kana: Near the listener (That near you).
  • Kadto: Far from both (That over there).

Examples (5)

  1. Unsa na?

    What is that (near you)?

    Word by Word: What that?

    This uses the short form 'na' as a predicate. It is the most common way to ask about something someone else is holding.

  2. Kana ang akong bag.

    That (near you) is my bag.

    Word by Word: That the my bag.

    Here 'kana' acts as the subject, pointing to a bag located near the listener.

  3. Lami kana nga kape.

    That coffee (you are drinking) is delicious.

    Word by Word: Delicious that linker coffee.

    This shows 'kana' modifying a noun. Notice the use of the linker 'nga' to connect 'kana' to 'kape'.

  4. Ihatag kana kanako.

    Give that (near you) to me.

    Word by Word: Give that to-me.

    In this command, 'kana' is the object being requested, which is currently in the listener's possession.

  5. Kanang bataa hilakon kaayo.

    That child (near you) is a crybaby.

    Word by Word: That-linker child-the crybaby very.

    This uses the contracted form 'kanang' (kana + nga) to modify the noun 'bata'. Notice the definite suffix '-a' added to 'bata' (becoming 'bataa') to emphasize that specific child.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'kana' for objects far from both the speaker and listener.

    Tan-awa kana nga bukid sa layo.
    Tan-awa kadto nga bukid sa layo.

    'Kana' points at something near the person you are talking with, or something already mentioned. A mountain far from both of you is normally 'kadto'.

  • Omitting the linker 'nga' when modifying a noun.

    Kana libro.
    Kana nga libro.

    Demonstratives need a linker before the noun they describe, as in 'kana nga libro' or 'kanang libro'. Without it, the phrase is incomplete.

  • Mixing up the particle 'na' with the demonstrative 'na'.

    Different MeaningHuman na?
    Unsa na?

    'Human na?' is a good question that means 'Finished already?'. To ask 'What is that?', use 'Unsa na?'. The particle 'na' means 'already'; the demonstrative 'na' means 'that'.

How It Connects

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kana / naLevel 1That Near You

Learn This First

To use 'kana' (that near you), you need to understand how Cebuano handles basic identification without a copula verb and how the focus marker 'ang' identifies the subject being pointed to. Familiarity with the proximal demonstrative 'kini' is also helpful as it establishes the spatial logic of the Cebuano demonstrative system.

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