Learn Hardcore Filipino: Nais mo bang humingi ng tulong sa iyong mga kaibigan? - Do you want to ask for help from your friends?

Nais literally means “to wish” or “to desire” and carries a more polite or formal tone than gusto, which simply means “to like” or “to want.” Both can be used in Nais mo bang…? / Gusto mo bang…? (“Do you want…?”), but nais feels more courteous.

Why is the word bang used instead of just ba in Nais mo bang?

Ba is the enclitic particle that turns a statement into a yes/no question. It attaches to the first word or phrase of the clause—in this case mo—yielding mo ba. Because the next element is the linker ng (before humingi), ba + ng fusion spells bang. So you end up with Nais mo bang humingi…?

(Note: technically the question particle attaches to mo, creating mo ba humingi…, and the ng linker then follows ba, giving bang.)

Why are there two instances of ng in the sentence, and do they do the same thing?

They look identical but have different roles:

The ng in bang is part of ba + ng, where ng is simply the linker following the question particle.
The ng in humingi ng tulong is the genitive/direct‐object marker that links the verb to its object (tulong).

So one is grammatical fusion with ba, the other marks the noun phrase.

What is the function of humingi, and why does it have um-?

Humingi is the actor‐focused form of the root hiling (“request” or “ask”) with the um- affix. This um- infix indicates that the subject (the one wanting) actively performs the action. Thus humingi ng tulong = “to ask for help.”

What does sa iyong mga kaibigan mean, and why do we use sa here?

Sa is the preposition marking the source/recipient in this context—“to” or “from.” Sa iyong mga kaibigan literally means “to/from your friends,” so humingi ng tulong sa iyong mga kaibigan = “ask for help from your friends.”

What role does mga play in mga kaibigan, and how is it pronounced?

Mga is the plural marker. Placing mga before kaibigan turns “friend” into “friends.” Pronunciation: /mɑːˈŋɑ/ (the “g” is a velar nasal).

Why use iyong instead of putting mo after kaibigan?

Iyong is the genitive form of “you” used before a noun—iyong mga kaibigan = “your friends.” You can also say mga kaibigan mo (placing mo after kaibigan) for a more casual style. Both are correct.

Can I swap Nais mo bang with Gusto mo bang without changing the meaning?

Yes. Gusto mo bang humingi ng tulong sa iyong mga kaibigan? has the same basic meaning but sounds more conversational. Nais is simply the more formal/polite alternative.

How would I pronounce the whole sentence?

Nah‐EES mo bang hoo‑MEEN‑gee ng too‑LONG sa EE‑yong MAH‑gah kah‑ee‑BI‑gan?