Vocabulary
CR
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restroom
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kalye
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street
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Grammar
In the previous lesson, we learned nasaan, the Tagalog word for where which is used with nouns. This lesson is about saan, the word used for wherewith a verb. Saan is used to ask the question.
Ex: Saan nag-tennis si Maria?
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= Where did Maria play tennis?
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For a positive answer, use the sa-form of the location.
Ans: Sa eskuwelahan.
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= At school.
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Or: Nag-tennis si Maria sa eskuwelahan.
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= Maria played tennis at school.
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Note that saan is an enclitic magnate, like hindi. So if we replace si Maria with siya:
Ex: Saan siya nag-tennis?
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= Where did she play tennis?
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For a negative answer, you use hindi.
Ans: Hindi sa eskuwelahan.
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= Not at school.
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Or: Hindi nag-tennis si Maria sa eskuwelahan.
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= Maria didn’t play tennis at school.
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Additional Notes
Question word order is <saan, basic-sentence>
Pos. answer word order is <(basic-sentence), location>
Neg. answer word order is <hindi, (basic-sentence), location>
The location takes sa-form
Plural sa-forms of personal pronouns may have the alternate meaning of “place”, i.e. sa atin = our(incl) place, sa amin = our(excl) place, sa inyo = your(pl) place, sa kanila = their place.
Sample Sentences
Q1
Where will Miguel brush his teeth?
Saan magsisipilyo si Miguel ng ngipin?
Q2
In the CR.
Sa CR.
Q3
Where will we eat supper?
Saan tayo maghahapunan?
Q4
At Joe and Mary’s.
Kina Joe at Mary.
Q5
Where did the students ride bicycles?
Saan nagbisikleta ang mga estudyante?
Q6
They rode bicycles in the street. (po)
Nagbisikleta po sila sa kalye.
Q7
Where are y’all reading books?
Saan kayo nagbabasa ng mga libro?
Q8
Where will she study Tagalog tomorrow?
Saan siya mag-aaral ng Tagalog bukas?
Q9
At their place.
Sa kanila.
Q10
Where are you speaking sir?
Saan po kayo nagsasalita?