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Demonstrative Pronouns: Nitó, Niyán, and Niyón

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There are more Filipino demonstrative pronouns used aside from the ones previously discussed. Nitó, niyán, and niyón are demonstrative pronouns that are used to replace nouns or noun phrases if the verb of the sentence has an actor-focus. It is also similar to "this", "that", and "that, over there", but function differently from "itó", "iyán", and "iyon".
Markup
Examples:
This
Nitó Play audio #2639
That
Niyán / Nyán Play audio #2640
That / Over there
Niyón / Nyón Play audio #2674
Markup
Examples:
This
Nito Play audio #2639
That
Niyan / Nyan Play audio #2640
That / Over there
Niyon / Nyon Play audio #2674
Trivia:
The marker ng has no exact translation in English. For this lesson, it acts as a marker of a noun if the person/thing is not the focus.

These pronouns are used if the verb has an actor-focus (the action is done by a person or thing). Nouns or noun phrases starting with ng can be replaced with nitó, niyán and niyón with respect to the distance of the speaker to the person/object. Read the examples and know how and when to each Filipino demonstrative pronoun.
Markup
Examples:
I drank water.
Uminóm akó ng tubig. Play audio #2702
Uminóm akó nitó Play audio #2703
Eat this fruit.
Kumain ka ng prutas. Play audio #2700
Kumain ka nitó. Play audio #2701
We are making this poster.
Gumágawa kamí ng poster. Play audio #2704
Gumágawa kamí nitó. Play audio #2705
They are selling candy.
Nagtítindá silá ng kendi. Play audio #2698
Nagtítindá silá niyán. Play audio #2699
He bought that book.
Bumilí siyá ng libró. Play audio #2675
Bumilí siyá niyán. Play audio #2676
She brought a ball.
Nagdalá siyá ng bola. Play audio #2696
Nagdalá siyá niyán. Play audio #2697
They are looking for a shirt.
Nagtítingín silá ng kamiseta. Play audio #2681
Nagtítingín silá niyón. Play audio #2682
You will watch a movie.
Manónood ka ng pelíkulá. Play audio #2677
Manónood ka niyón. Play audio #2678
He is playing sungká.
Naglálaró siyá ng sungká. Play audio #2679
Naglálaró siyá niyón. Play audio #2680.
Markup
Examples:
I drank water.
Uminom ako ng tubig. Play audio #2702
Uminom ako nito Play audio #2703
Eat this fruit.
Kumain ka ng prutas. Play audio #2700
Kumain ka nito. Play audio #2701
We are making this poster.
Gumagawa kami ng poster. Play audio #2704
Gumagawa kami nito. Play audio #2705
They are selling candy.
Nagtitinda sila ng kendi. Play audio #2698
Nagtitinda sila niyan. Play audio #2699
He bought that book.
Bumili siya ng libro. Play audio #2675
Bumili siya niyan. Play audio #2676
She brought a ball.
Nagdala siya ng bola. Play audio #2696
Nagdala siya niyan. Play audio #2697
They are looking for a shirt.
Nagtitingin sila ng kamiseta. Play audio #2681
Nagtitingin sila niyon. Play audio #2682
You will watch a movie.
Manonood ka ng pelikula. Play audio #2677
Manonood ka niyon. Play audio #2678
He is playing sungka.
Naglalaro siya ng sungka. Play audio #2679
Naglalaro siya niyon. Play audio #2680.
Not all verbs with an actor-focus can be used with nitó, niyán, and niyón. Verbs with object-focus (action that is done to a person or thing) are used with itó, iyán, and iyón. See and try to compare how these demonstrative pronouns are used with different focuses.
Markup
Examples:
ACTOR-FOCUS
Uminóm ako nitó. Play audio #2695
OBJECT-FOCUS
Ininóm ko itó. Play audio #2683
Kumain ka nitó. Play audio #2694
Kainin mó itó. Play audio #2684
Nagtítinda silá niyán. Play audio #2693
Tinítindá nilá iyán. Play audio #2685
Bumilí siyá niyán. Play audio #2692
Binilí niyá iyán. Play audio #2686
Manónood ka niyón. Play audio #2691
Panónoorin mo iyón. Play audio #2687
Naglálaró siyá niyón. Play audio #2689.
Nilálaró niyá iyón. Play audio #2688
Markup
Examples:
ACTOR-FOCUS
Uminom ako nito. Play audio #2695
OBJECT-FOCUS
Ininom ko ito. Play audio #2683
Kumain ka nito. Play audio #2694
Kainin mo ito. Play audio #2684
Nagtitinda sila niyan. Play audio #2693
Tinitinda nila iyan. Play audio #2685
Bumili siya niyan. Play audio #2692
Binili niya iyan. Play audio #2686
Manonood ka niyon. Play audio #2691
Panonoorin mo iyon. Play audio #2687
Naglalaro siya niyon. Play audio #2689.
Nilalaro niya iyon. Play audio #2688
Nitó, niyán, and niyón can also be used as possessive pronouns, which will be discussed in the next lessons.
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Next: Demonstrative Pronoun Transcription Drill B

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ANG Pronouns