Learn Hardcore Filipino: Binigyan ko siya ng tulong sa palengke kahapon. - I gave him/her help at the market yesterday.

Binigyan is in the goal‑focus (benefactive) form of the root bigay. It’s formed by adding the infix -in- plus the suffix -an: bini + gay + an → binigyan. This construction highlights the recipient of the action.

Why do we say ko instead of ako in binigyan ko?

Ako is the independent (nominative) pronoun I, used when it stands alone or after topic markers. Ko is the genitive pronoun my/me, used as an enclitic on verbs. In a goal‑focus sentence, the agent (I as the giver) is marked by ko, so you attach it to binigyan.

What is the function of siya in this sentence, and why is it placed right after the verb?

Siya is the nominative third‑person pronoun he/she. In a goal‑focus construction like “binigyan ko siya…,” the recipient is the focused argument, so it takes the nominative form and sits immediately after the verb. It answers the question To whom was help given?

Why is tulong marked with ng instead of ang?

Ang marks the focused (nominative) argument. Since the recipient (siya) is the focus here, tulong (“help”) is a non‑focused argument and must be marked with the genitive/indefinite marker ng.

Could I instead say Nagbigay ako ng tulong sa kanya kahapon sa palengke? What’s the difference?

Yes. Nagbigay ako ng tulong sa kanya kahapon sa palengke uses the actor‑focus verb nagbigay, so the topic is ako, and the recipient is introduced by sa. This version emphasizes who did the giving, whereas binigyan ko siya ng tulong… emphasizes who received the help.

What does sa palengke mean, and how does sa function here?

Sa palengke means at the market. Sa is the preposition that marks location (and also indirect objects), so sa palengke tells us where the action happened.

Why is kahapon placed at the end, and can it move to another position?

Kahapon (“yesterday”) is a time adverb and is very flexible in Tagalog. Placing it at the end (…sa palengke kahapon) is common, but you could also say Kahapon, binigyan ko siya ng tulong sa palengke or Binigyan ko kahapon siya ng tulong sa palengke with no change in meaning.

What’s the difference between the noun tulong and the verb tumulong, and can I use tumulong instead?

Tulong is a noun meaning help; tumulong is an intransitive verb meaning to help. If you want to emphasize doing the helping rather than giving help, you can say Tumulong ako sa kanya sa palengke kahapon (“I helped him/her at the market yesterday”).

How do I decide between pronouns siya, niya, and kanya in this context?

• Siya is the nominative pronoun he/she, used for the focused recipient in goal‑focus verbs like binigyan.
• Niya is the genitive pronoun his/her, used for non‑focused agents or possessives.
• Kanya appears in the oblique case as sa kanya for indirect objects in actor‑focus or other constructions.

In binigyan ko siya ng tulong, the recipient is the focus, so you use siya, not niya or kanya.