Learn Hardcore Filipino: Hindi ito malayo kung sasakay ka ng tricycle.

A word‑by‑word analysis:
• Hindi = “not”
• ito = “this”
• malayo = “far”
• kung = “if”
• sasakay = “will ride” (actor‑focus, future aspect)
• ka = “you”
• ng = indefinite object marker
• tricycle = “tricycle”

Put together the sentence means “This is not far if you ride (take) a tricycle.”

Why does the sentence start with Hindi ito malayo instead of “Ito hindi malayo” or “Hindi malayo ito”?

All three can be grammatically correct, but:
• Hindi ito malayo places the negation Hindi first, then the pronoun ito, then the predicate malayo.
• Hindi malayo ito shifts a bit more emphasis onto malayo.
• Ito hindi malayo is less idiomatic because Filipino typically puts negation before the adjective or verb.

Starting with Hindi ito malayo is simply the most natural way to say “This is not far.”

What does sasakay mean, and why is it in that form?

The root verb is sakay (“ride/get on”). Filipino verbs take different affixes to show aspect and focus:
• sumakay = past/completed actor focus (“rode”)
• sumasakay = present/incomplete actor focus (“is riding”)
• sasakay = future/contemplated actor focus (“will ride”)

Here, sasakay conveys a future possibility: “if you will ride a tricycle.”

Why is sasakay placed before ka and ng tricycle?

Filipino’s neutral word order with an actor‑focus verb is Verb–Subject–Object:

Verb (sasakay)
Subject (ka = you)
Direct object (ng tricycle)

This VSO pattern highlights the action first, then who does it, then what is involved.

What is the function of kung here? Could we replace it with kapag?

• kung introduces a conditional clause meaning “if” (a real or hypothetical condition).
• kapag also means “if/when,” but is more for general truths or habits.

So kung sasakay ka ng tricycle speaks of a specific possible action. You could use kapag to imply “whenever you ride a tricycle” (habitual).

Why is ng used before tricycle? Can we use sa instead?

• ng marks an indefinite direct object: “a tricycle” in general.
• sa marks a specific location or instrument: “on/at the tricycle.”

Thus:
– sasakay ka ng tricycle = “you will ride a (some) tricycle.”
– sasakay ka sa tricycle = “you will get on the (specific) tricycle.”

Both are correct; use depends on whether you mean “any tricycle” or “that particular one.”

Can we omit ito and say Hindi malayo kung sasakay ka ng tricycle? How does that change meaning?

Yes. Without ito you get a more general statement:
• Hindi malayo kung sasakay ka ng tricycle = “It’s not far if you ride a tricycle,” without pointing to a specific “this.”

Including ito makes it clear you’re talking about a particular place or thing already mentioned.

Why is sasakay (future aspect) used instead of the completed aspect sumakay?

• sasakay = “if you will ride” — expressing a future possibility.
• sumakay = “if you have ridden” — implying the action is already done before the next clause.

Since the sentence talks about a future condition (“if you take a tricycle”), sasakay is the correct aspect.