Learn Hardcore Filipino: Tumawag ako kanina, pero hindi niya kaya ngayon. - I called earlier, but she cannot do it now.

In modern usage, tumawag most often implies placing a phone call. It can also mean “called out” vocally, but without context, people will assume it was a phone call. To be explicit, you can say tumawag ako sa telepono or use object-focus: tinawagan ko siya.

Why is it tumawag and not tinawagan?

Tumawag = actor-focus, completed aspect: emphasizes the caller (I called). Example: Tumawag ako kanina.
Tinawagan = object/patient-focus, completed aspect: emphasizes the person called. Example: Tinawagan ko siya kanina. With actor-focus, mark the recipient with kay/sa: Tumawag ako kay Maria / sa kanya.

What does kanina mean exactly?

Kanina means “earlier today” (within the same day). Use:

kahapon = yesterday
noon/noong = at some time in the past (not today)
ngayon = now/today (context-dependent)
mamaya = later today

Can I move kanina around?

Yes. All are natural, with slight shifts in emphasis:

Tumawag ako kanina.
Kanina, tumawag ako. If you mean “just earlier,” say kanina lang. If you mean “since earlier/for a while now,” use kanina pa.

Why is it niya and not siya after hindi?

Because kaya (be able to) uses the genitive pronoun set: kaya ko, kaya mo, kaya niya, etc. So the negative is hindi niya kaya, not hindi siya kaya. Use siya with predicates like hindi siya puwede.

What does kaya mean here? Does it have other meanings?

Here kaya means “ability/capability” (“can manage”). It also functions as a conjunction meaning “so/therefore”: Umulan, kaya hindi kami umalis. You’ll also see kaya nga (“that’s why/indeed”) and kaya pala (“so that’s why”).

Is hindi niya kaya ngayon missing an object? “Can’t what?”

Yes, Filipino often omits obvious parts. Context supplies the missing action (e.g., talk, take the call, meet). To be explicit:

Hindi niya kaya makipag-usap ngayon.
Hindi niya kayang sumagot ngayon. Note the linker -ng in kayang before a following verb.

What’s the difference between kaya and puwede/maaari?

kaya = ability/capacity (“can manage/do”)
puwede/maaari = permission/possibility/availability So hindi niya kaya = not capable right now; hindi siya puwede = not allowed/available right now.

Can I say Pero ngayon, hindi niya kaya instead?

Yes. Pero ngayon, hindi niya kaya is natural and emphasizes the time. You can also say Ngayon, hindi niya kaya or keep pero hindi niya kaya ngayon. Adverbs like ngayon move freely for emphasis.

Why not use wala (e.g., wala siyang kaya)?

Wala negates existence/possession (nouns), not ability predicates. Wala siyang kaya sounds odd here. Use hindi to negate kaya: hindi niya kaya. Use wala with nouns: Wala siyang oras (He has no time).

How would I say “I couldn’t earlier, but I can now”?

Hindi ko kaya kanina, pero kaya ko na ngayon. The na marks a change of state (“now already”).

What’s the difference between tumawag ako and tumatawag ako?

tumawag = completed aspect (the call was made)
tumatawag = imperfective/progressive (was/is calling; repeated action) With kanina, tumatawag ako kanina suggests you were in the middle of calling earlier or kept trying.

Could I say nakatawag ako kanina? What’s the nuance?

Yes. Nakatawag ako kanina suggests you managed/succeeded in calling (focus on successful attainment), whereas Tumawag ako kanina is a plain past action.

How do I include the person I called?

Actor-focus: Tumawag ako kay Maria / sa kanya.
Object-focus: Tinawagan ko si Maria / siya. Use kay before names/pronouns under actor-focus; use si/ang with tinawagan to mark the person called.

Do I need a comma before pero?

Optional in informal writing. In more formal writing, use a comma when joining two independent clauses: …, pero ….

How can I make the sentence more polite?

Add po:

Tumawag po ako kanina, pero hindi po niya kaya ngayon. Place po after the first word of each clause: Tumawag po…, hindi po….

Is kanina exactly the same as English “earlier”?

Not exactly. Kanina is only “earlier today.” English “earlier” can refer to any prior time. For today’s specific parts, you can say kaninang umaga/hapon/gabi (“earlier this morning/afternoon/evening”).

Can I use kanina pa here?

Different meaning. Kanina pa = “since earlier/for a while already.” Example: Kanina pa ako tumatawag (I’ve been calling for a while). Your sentence reports a single past action, so use kanina or kanina lang (“just earlier”).

What pronoun forms go with kaya?

1st sg: kaya ko
2nd sg: kaya mo
3rd sg: kaya niya
1st pl inclusive: kaya natin
1st pl exclusive: kaya namin
2nd pl: kaya ninyo/nyo
3rd pl: kaya nila