kini ang

This Is the

Level 3

Kini ang is the standard way to say 'This is the...' or 'This is what...'. It functions as a cleft sentence, singling out a specific object or idea as the subject of the sentence.

How It Works

The expression kini ang is a fundamental building block for identifying objects and summarizing thoughts in Cebuano.

1. Structure and Definiteness:
The sentence starts with kini (this), followed by the marker ang, which nominalizes whatever follows it. A key distinction for learners is definiteness:

  • Kini ang balay. (This is the house.) - Definite identification.
  • Balay kini. (This is a house.) - Indefinite identification. Note that for indefinite sentences, Cebuano typically uses predicate-initial order, putting the noun first.

2. The Three-Distance System:
This pattern is part of a set based on distance. You can swap kini for other demonstratives depending on where the object is:

  • Kini ang... (This is the... near me)
  • Kana ang... (That is the... near you)
  • Kadto ang... (That is the... far from both)

3. Register and Variants:
Kini is the standard and formal form. In daily conversation, you will often hear the colloquial variant kani. In very fast speech, it may be shortened further to ni.

4. Pluralization:
To say 'These are the...', you simply add the plural marker mga after 'ang'. For example: Kini ang mga libro (These are the books).

5. Distinction from Linkers:
It is crucial not to confuse this with kining (kini + nga). Kini ang creates a full sentence ('This is the...'), whereas kining creates a noun phrase ('This [noun]...') that requires a further verb to be a complete thought.

Examples (5)

  1. Kini ang akong gipalit.

    This is what I bought.

    Word by Word: This the my bought-thing.

    Here, 'kini' identifies the object, and 'ang akong gipalit' nominalizes the verb phrase 'what I bought'.

  2. Kini ang kamatuoran.

    This is the truth.

    Word by Word: This the truth.

    A simple identification sentence where 'kini' is the predicate and 'ang kamatuoran' is the subject.

  3. Kini ang mga balay nga akong gipuy-an.

    These are the houses where I live.

    Word by Word: This the [plural] house that my lived-in.

    To pluralize the sentence, simply add the mga marker after 'ang'.

  4. Kini ang hinungdan ngano nga mianhi ko.

    This is the reason why I came here.

    Word by Word: This the reason why that came I.

    Commonly used to summarize or explain a situation.

  5. Balay kini.

    This is a house.

    Word by Word: House this.

    Notice the absence of 'ang'. In indefinite identification, Cebuano follows a predicate-initial order, placing the noun before the demonstrative.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the 'ang' marker.

    Kini akong gipalit.
    Kini ang akong gipalit.

    Without 'ang', the sentence lacks the proper grammatical structure to link the demonstrative to the following phrase as a subject.

  • Using the ligature 'nga' instead of 'ang'.

    Kini nga akong gipalit.
    Kini ang akong gipalit.

    Using 'nga' turns the expression into a noun phrase fragment ('This thing that I bought...') rather than a complete statement ('This is what I bought').

How It Connects

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

kini angLevel 3This Is the

Learn This First

To understand 'kini ang', you need to know the demonstrative 'kini' (this) and how the marker 'ang' identifies the specific object or action being discussed. Since Cebuano lacks a verb for 'to be', these two components placed together naturally form the statement 'This is the...'.

Words in This Pattern