masasabing

It Can Be Said That

Level 6

Masasabing is a sophisticated way to present a claim as a valid interpretation rather than a blunt fact. It translates to 'It can be said that...' or 'One could say that...'

How It Works

In advanced Filipino discourse, masasabing serves as a potential actorless stance marker.

1. Morphological Breakdown:
The word is formed by: ma- (potential/ability) + sa- (reduplication of the first syllable of sabi) + sabi (root) + -ng (linker). The contemplated aspect (future/potential) indicates that the statement is a possibility or a reasonable conclusion.

2. The Role of the Linker:
The linker -ng is attached directly to masasabi because it ends in a vowel. This 'tight' construction is preferred when immediately followed by an adjective or a descriptor (e.g., masasabing matalino). If you wish to introduce a full clause, you might see masasabi na, though masasabing remains the most common formal variant.

3. Register and Nuance:
While it is a staple of academic and journalistic writing, it is also used in daily life to express a 'fair assessment.' By removing a specific actor (like ko or namin), the speaker makes the observation sound like a universal truth or a logical consensus rather than just a personal opinion.

4. Comparison with Similar Forms:
Unlike daw/raw, which indicates hearsay, masasabing indicates a conclusion based on evidence. It differs from sinasabing (it is being said) because masasabing focuses on the possibility of the description being true.

Examples (4)

  1. Masasabing matagumpay ang programa sa kabila ng mga hamon.

    It can be said that the program is successful despite the challenges.

    Word by Word: Can-be-said-that successful the program in spite of plural challenge.

    Here, 'masasabing' introduces the evaluation 'matagumpay' (successful) as a logical conclusion based on the situation.

  2. Dahil sa kanyang mga nagawa, masasabing siya ang pinakamagaling na pinuno.

    Because of his achievements, one could say that he is the best leader.

    Word by Word: Because of his plural achievements, can-be-said-that he the best linker leader.

    This demonstrates the journalistic use of the pattern to provide a high-level assessment of a person's performance.

  3. Masasabing swerte pa rin tayo dahil ligtas ang lahat.

    It can be said that we are still lucky because everyone is safe.

    Word by Word: Can-be-said-that lucky still also we because safe the all.

    In this more conversational context, the speaker uses the pattern to frame their opinion as a reasonable observation.

  4. Masasabing sulit ang pagod natin sa proyektong ito.

    One could say that our tiredness was worth it for this project.

    Word by Word: Can-be-said-that worth-it the tiredness our in project-linker this.

    The pattern is used here to evaluate the outcome of an effort, making the statement sound more reflective.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding a redundant personal pronoun to make it objective.

    Masasabing ko na matagumpay ang plano.
    Masasabing matagumpay ang plano.

    The specific 'masasabing' pattern is designed to be actorless. If you want to say 'I can say,' use 'Masasabi ko na...' without the fused linker -ng on the verb.

  • Confusing 'masasabing' with 'nasabing'.

    Nasabing magaling siya sa trabaho.
    Masasabing magaling siya sa trabaho.

    'Nasabing' is the completed aspect and usually means 'the aforementioned' or 'the said...'. 'Masasabing' is required for making a current evaluation or claim.

How It Connects

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

masasabingLevel 6It Can Be Said That

Learn This First

The pattern 'masasabing' is a combination of the contemplated aspect of the ma- ability/potential verb 'masabi' (to be able to say) and the linker '-ng'. It functions as a stance marker to introduce a claim or observation. To understand it, learners need to be familiar with ma- verb conjugation, the use of the linker to connect clauses, and the basic structure of reported speech.

Words in This Pattern

masabi