ganito / ganyan / ganoon

Like This or That

Level 1

Ganito (like this), Ganyan (like that), and Ganoon (like that over there) describe the quality or method of an action or object based on distance.

How It Works

In Filipino, when you want to say 'like this' or 'in this way,' you use these demonstrative forms. They are distinct from ito (this thing) because they focus on the manner or quality rather than the object itself.

1. The Three Distances:

  • Ganito: Near the speaker. Used when showing someone how you are doing something right now.
  • Ganyan: Near the listener. Used when commenting on how the listener is doing something.
  • Ganoon: Far from both. Used for things in the distance or abstract concepts.

2. How to use them:

  • As Adverbs (Manner): Use the marker nang if the demonstrative follows the verb (e.g., Tumakbo nang ganito). However, if it starts the sentence as a predicate, no marker is needed (e.g., Ganito siya tumakbo).
  • As Adjectives (Kind): Use the linker -ng to describe a noun. Example: ganitong klase (this kind).
  • Pluralization: You can place mga before these words to indicate plurality, such as mga ganyan (things like those).
  • Verbalization: You can turn these into verbs by adding affixes. For example, magganito means 'to act like this' or 'to do it this way.'
  • For Degree: Combine with a 'ka-' adjective to show scale. Example: ganito kalaki (this big).

Note on Register: In casual speech, ganoon is almost always shortened to ganun, and ganito is sometimes shortened to ganto.

Examples (6)

  1. Gawin mo nang ganito ang pagluto.

    Cook it like this.

    Word by Word: Do you [adverb marker] like-this the cooking.

    When 'ganito' follows the verb to describe the manner, the marker nang is used.

  2. Ganito siya tumakbo.

    This is how he runs.

    Word by Word: Like-this he run.

    When the demonstrative is the predicate at the start of the sentence, the marker nang is not required.

  3. Huwag kang magganito sa harap nila.

    Don't act like this in front of them.

    Word by Word: Do-not you [linker] act-like-this at front their.

    Demonstratives can be verbalized using affixes like mag- to mean 'to act like' or 'to do like' this/that.

  4. Ganyan ang gusto kong kulay.

    That is the kind of color I want.

    Word by Word: Like-that the want my-linker color.

    'Ganyan' points to a manner or quality near the listener.

  5. Hindi ako sanay sa mga ganoong ingay.

    I am not used to those kinds of noises.

    Word by Word: Not I used-to to [plural] that-kind-of noise.

    You can use the plural marker mga before these words to refer to multiple instances or types.

  6. Ganito ba kalaki ang bahay niyo?

    Is your house this big?

    Word by Word: Like-this [question] how-big the house your?

    'Ganito' is used here to express the degree or scale of the adjective.

Common Mistakes

  • 'Ito' names the task; 'ganito' names the way.

    Different MeaningGawin mo ito.
    Gawin mo nang ganito.

    'Gawin mo ito' is correct and means 'Do this (task),' whereas 'Gawin mo nang ganito' means 'Do it in this way (method).'

  • Forgetting the linker '-ng' when describing a noun.

    Ganyan klase ng tao.
    Ganyang klase ng tao.

    When 'ganyan' modifies a noun like 'klase' (kind), it requires the linker '-ng' to connect them properly.

How It Connects

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ganito / ganyan / ganoonLevel 1Like This or That

Learn This First

To understand 'ganito / ganyan / ganoon', you first need to grasp the basic spatial logic of Filipino demonstratives (ito/iyan/iyon) which distinguish between proximity to the speaker and listener. Additionally, knowing how the linker 'na/-ng' functions is essential because these 'like this/that' forms often act as modifiers within a sentence.

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ganyanganiyan