English-Bisaya Grammar Part 8

Slight fault. Sayop nga diutay.

2.a The adjectives of ma, become diminutives by putting before, the particle malo, as:

Somewhat valiant. Malomaisug.

Somewhat fat. Matolotambuc.

3.a The same adjectives become diminutives by duplicating the root, as:

Somewhat sweet. Matam-istam-is.

Somewhat bitter. Mapait-pait.

4.a Adding a, to the nouns, are formed diminutives expressing contempt or disregard, as:

Worthless woman. Babayeha.

Nag. Cabayoa.

5.a When this letter a is added, but not in contemptible sense, serves to point out that the subject or object is unknown to us, as:

What kind of medicine is that? Onsa nga tambala cana?

What kind of tree is that? Onsa ba ang calainan nianang cahuya?

Degrees of Comparison

The degrees of comparison are formed in Bisaya by adding to the superiority Lapi pa, to the equality ingon, and to the inferiority, as we have seen, Diutay pa.

Ex.

Large. Daco.

Larger. Labi pa nga daco.

Largest. Ang labing daco.

Small. Diutay.

Smaller. Labi pa nga diutay.

Smallest. Ang labing diutay.

Well, Good. Maayo.

Better. Labi pang maayo.

Best. Ang labing maayo.

Bad. Dautan.

Worse. Labi pang dautan.

Worst. Ang labi nga dautan.

More. Labi pa.

Less. Diutay pa.

More, than. Labi pa; daghan pa, sa.

Less, than. Diriot pa; culang pa, sa.

Very much. Caayo or uyamut.

As much, as. Magsama sa cadaghan, ug.

Not as much. Dili ingon.

Ex:

Have you as many friends as I? Magsama ba sa cadaghan sa mga higala mo ug ang aco?

I have less money than he. Diriot pa ang acong salapi sa iya.

This book is small, that is Quining libro diutay man, cadto labi smaller, and that is the pang diutay, ug cari mao ang lab ng smallest of all. diutay sa ngatanan.

This hat is large, but that is Quining calo daco man, apan cadto larger. labi pang daco.

Is your hat as large as mine? Ang imong calo daco ba ingon sa aco?

It is not so large as your. Diutay pa sa imo?

Do your children write as much Ang Pagsulat sa imong mga anac as we? tagingon ba sa pagsulat namo?

Do you read as often as I? Nagabasa ca ba sa masubsub ingon canaco?

As early as you. Masayo ingon canimo.

G.o.d is the best Father. Ang Dios mao ang lobing maayo nga Amahan.

Remarks l.a The comparative of inferiority is formed by translating the adverbs less by diutay, diriut pa, ingon nga, culang, and than, into sa.

Ex.

I have less rice than coffee. Diriut pa ang acong bugas sa cape.

Your father is less wise tan Ang amahan mo culang sa quinaadman mine. sa aco.

Your ring is not so nice as my Ang singsing mo dili ingon nga mother's. maanindut sa can nanay.

2.a The comparative of equality is formed by translating the adverbs as or so into magsama, and the second adverb as into ug, and both terms of comparison in nominative case, as:

Ex:

Have you as many friends as Magsama ba ang cadaghan sa mga higala I? mo ug ang aco?

3.a The comparative of superiority is formed by translating more by labi pa, and than into sa; and also into dili, but in this case, both terms of comparison must be placed in nominative case, like in the comparatives of majority and of inferiority: Ex.

Honor is more precious that Labi pang tacus higugmaon ang catahod-an riches. sa pagcadaghan sa catigayonan