Ang mga bata ay dapat masaya habang naglalaro sa labas.

to be

Breakdown of Ang mga bata ay dapat masaya habang naglalaro sa labas.

• masaya: happy
• habang: while
• maglaro: to play
• bata: the child
• dapat: must
• sa labas: outside

Questions & Answers about Ang mga bata ay dapat masaya habang naglalaro sa labas.

Why do we use mga when we say Ang mga bata?

Mga is a plural marker in Filipino. It indicates that we’re talking about more than one child, which is why we say mga bata rather than just bata.

What does ay do in the sentence?

The word ay often functions as a linker or a form of inversion marker in Filipino grammar. It makes the sentence sound more formal or stylistically inverted. In normal conversation, you might also hear the sentence without ay.

Why do we say dapat masaya here?

Dapat means “should,” while masaya means “happy.” Together, dapat masaya conveys that the children should be in a state of happiness.

What is the role of habang?

Habang means “while.” It tells us that the happiness of the children should be maintained while they are playing, emphasizing that these two actions or states (being happy and playing) happen at the same time.

Why is the verb naglalaro used?

The verb naglalaro means “are playing” or “play” (in a progressive sense). This form shows the children are actively engaged in playing at the moment described.

How can I make this sentence sound more casual?

You could drop the word ay and simply say Ang mga bata dapat masaya habang naglalaro sa labas. In everyday speech, Filipinos sometimes omit ay to make the sentence flow more naturally.