The Article of the Proper Names
SINGULAR.
| N. | Peter. | Si Pedro. | |
| G. | Of | Peter. | Ni Pedro. |
| D. | To | Peter. | Can Pedro. |
| Ac. | Peter. | Can Pedro. | |
| Vc. | Peter. | Oy Pedro. | |
| Abl. | With | Peter. | Can Pedro. |
Remark l.a The article of the proper names is used also to point out a person and his companions, as:
| N. | Joseph and his friends. | Sila si José. |
| G. | Of Joseph and of his friends. | ila ni José. |
2.a This article serves also to express kindness or love: as.—My Mother, Si nanay.—My father, Si tatay.—The female child, Si inday—The parish Priest, Si amoy—My eldest sister, Si manang.
3.a The English compounded words, wooden, golden etc. change the affix en into nga, as:—The wooden cross, Ang cruz nga cahoy—The golden ring, Ang singsing nga bulauan.
4.a When we point out the destination of a thing, it is employed the article sa—Thus: The water vat, Ang tadyao sa tubig.—The bottle of wine, Ang botella sa vino.
5.a When it refers to the property of any one, it is as follows.—John's hat, Ang calo ni Juan.
6.a The article sa is employed, when the thing it refers to is determinate, but when it is indeterminate, the article ug must be used, as: Bring the money, Magdala ca sa sapi. Give me money, Taga-an mo acó ug salapi.
PLURAL.
1.a The plural is formed in Bisaya by placing mga after the article ang or sa.
Declension.
| N. | The cats | Ang mga iring |
| G. | Of the cats | Sa mga iring |
| D. | To the cats | Sa mga iring |
| Ac. | The cats | Sa mga iring |
| Vc. | Oh cats | Mga iring |
| Abl. | With the cats | Sa mga iring |
2.a When the possessive case is placed before the name, it must be placed between ang and mga, thus—My friends, ang acong mga higala—Your shoes, ang imong mga sapin.
3.a Rem. The Bisaya article like the English, does not distinguish the gender, but there are two ways of distinguishing the masculine and feminine in this dialect: 1. By using different words: Ex, ang bana, the husband; ang asaua, the wife; ang amahan, the father: ang inahan, the mother. 2. By the suffixes lalaqui and babaye; Ex. ang iro nga lalaqui, the dog, ang iro nga babaye, she dog; ang bata nga lalaqui, the boy; ang bata nga babaye, the girl.