Learn Cebuano

Lamesa kini – This is a table (close usualy within reach)
Lamese kana – That is table (futher away usualy out of reach)
Lamesa kadto – That over there is a table (far away)

The above examples of distance above are a guide only. 

Really the use is contextually based dependant on the distance relationship of one object to another.

If you were talking about the house you lived in you could use
…Kini nga balay (kining balay) – “this house”.

Kana can be used to describe an adjoining house
…kana nga balay (kanang balay) – “that house”.

Kadto could be used to refer to a house in another barangay
…kadto nga balay (kadtong balay) – “that house over there”

If for example you owned three houses and were referring to each as above you could use kini for the house where you are currently located while kana could be describing house in a different city and kadto could be describing a house in a different country.

How to specify a specific object

In the last lesson we had the example of how to say this is a table

Lamesa kini – This (here) is A table

To specify a specific table you can use the ANG marker.

Kini ang lamesa – This (here) is THE table (specific table that becomes the subject)

The ang marker makes the table the topic of the sentence.  There may be other tables in the Proximity but this sentence structure is pertaining to a particular table.

In a previous lesson we had the example of how to say she is beautiful.

Gwapa Siya – She is beautiful

We can se the ANG marker to specify a particular girl as being the beautiful one.

Siya ang gwapa – She is the beautiful (she is the beautiful one)

This specifies one girl as being beautiful and it is implied that is more attractive other girls that might be with her or part of a grouping.

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