REPRESENTATIVE RELATION
The important Bisayan word that expresses representative relations is the relative pronoun nga, which is invariable.
| an batá nga tinmauag ha acon | (the boy who called me) |
| an cabatáan ng̃a tinmawag ha acon | (the boys who called me) |
As to cases, we have seen (page 52) that this relative nga never refers to the object of the verb. The sentences in the English and other languages, where the corresponding relative pronoun relates to the object of the verb and where consequently the said relative is in the objective case, are expressed in Bisayan in passive voice which is the most used in this tongue.[1] Thus, if we wish to say
the boy whom I called
we should say
an bata ng̃a tinauag co
which literally is: the boy who was called by me.
The personal, demonstrative and possessive pronouns agree in person and number with their antecedents or the word [[103]]or words that they represent. There is no agreement in gender because the pronouns have no gender.
[1] The fact that there are three classes of passive voice in Bisayan show the great importance of the said voice in this tongue. Thus if we wish to say “I love you”, it is more expressive to say: hinihigugma co icao (literally: you are loved by me) than to say: nahigugma aco ha imo. [↑]