kung + Clause

Whether Clause

Level 3

Use kung to report a question or express uncertainty about a yes-no situation (e.g., 'I don't know if it's raining').

How It Works

The kung + embedded question pattern is the standard way to form indirect questions in Filipino.

1. Usage with Head Verbs:
It typically follows verbs of cognition or communication, such as:

  • Alam (to know) - 'Hindi ko alam kung...'
  • Tanong (to ask) - 'Magtanong ka kung...'
  • Tingnan (to check/see) - 'Tingnan mo kung...'
  • Sigurado (to be sure) - 'Hindi ako sigurado kung...'

2. Mandatory with Interrogatives:
Unlike English, where you can say 'I know who he is,' Filipino requires kung before the interrogative word: 'Alam ko kung sino siya.' Omitting kung in these cases is a common error for English speakers.

3. The Role of 'Ba':
The question particle ba is omitted from the embedded clause itself. However, if the entire sentence is a question (e.g., 'Do you know if...?'), the ba is placed in the main clause: 'Alam mo ba kung...?'

4. Alternative Questions:
To express 'whether... or...', use the pattern kung... o.... For example: 'Hindi ko alam kung kakain siya o hindi' (I don't know whether he will eat or not).

5. Structure:
The clause following kung uses standard predicate-initial word order.

Examples (5)

  1. Tingnan mo kung bukas ang tindahan.

    Check if the store is open.

    Word by Word: Check you if open the store.

    Here, 'kung' introduces the indirect yes-no question 'Is the store open?'

  2. Hindi ko alam kung darating siya.

    I don't know whether he is coming.

    Word by Word: Not by-me known if will-arrive he.

    The verb 'alam' (know) is negated, and 'kung' introduces the uncertainty.

  3. Itanong mo sa kaniya kung gusto niya ng kape.

    Ask him/her if they want coffee.

    Word by Word: Ask you to him/her if want he/she of coffee.

    The verb 'itanong' (to ask something) naturally leads into a 'kung' clause.

  4. Sigurado ka ba kung saan tayo pupunta?

    Are you sure where we are going?

    Word by Word: Sure you [question] if where we will-go?

    In Filipino, 'kung' is mandatory when embedding content questions like 'saan' (where). Note that 'ba' appears in the main clause because the whole sentence is a question.

  5. Hindi ako sigurado kung sasama siya o hindi.

    I am not sure whether he is coming along or not.

    Word by Word: Not I sure if will-come-along he or not.

    This demonstrates the 'kung... o...' (whether... or...) construction for alternatives.

Common Mistakes

  • 'Ba' inside a 'kung' clause is optional.

    Different MeaningHindi ko alam kung darating ba siya.
    Hindi ko alam kung darating siya.

    This sentence is grammatical and heard. Since 'kung' already marks the embedded question, 'ba' is usually unnecessary and can feel wordy.

  • 'Kapag' means 'when'; 'kung' means 'whether'.

    Different MeaningTingnan mo kapag luto na ang kanin.
    Tingnan mo kung luto na ang kanin.

    'Tingnan mo kapag luto na ang kanin' is a good sentence: 'Check once the rice is cooked.' Use 'kung' to check whether it is cooked.

How It Connects

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

kung + ClauseLevel 3Whether Clause

Learn This First

To understand 'kung' as a 'whether' clause, you first need to know its basic use as a conditional marker. You also need to understand how basic yes-no questions are structured in Filipino, as this pattern essentially embeds a question into a larger sentence to express uncertainty or inquiry.

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