Learn Hardcore Filipino: Sabihin mo ang sagot sa tanong ni Maria sa silid-aralan. - Say the answer to Maria's question in the classroom.

mo is the second-person singular genitive (ng-case) pronoun. With an object-focus verb like sabihin, the actor is marked by the genitive, so you say Sabihin mo.... You use ka (ang-case) when the verb is actor-focus, e.g., Magsabi ka.... So:

Object-focus: Sabihin mo ang sagot...
Actor-focus: Magsabi ka ng sagot...

What is sabihin, and what nuance does it have?

sabihin is the object-focus form of the root sabi with the suffix -hin. It means “to say/tell (something),” and it highlights the thing said. In a command, Sabihin mo... is “Tell/Say [it]...,” emphasizing the content you’re telling.

Why is it ang sagot and not ng sagot?

Because sabihin is object-focus, its patient (what’s being said) is marked by ang: ang sagot. If you used actor-focus (magsabi), then the thing said would be ng: Magsabi ka ng sagot...

What does sa tanong ni Maria modify—sabihin or sagot?

It modifies sagot: ang sagot [sa tanong ni Maria] = “the answer to Maria’s question.” It does not mean “tell the question to Maria.” If you want “tell Maria,” use kay Maria (see next).

How do I say “Tell Maria the answer to the question”?

Use kay for the recipient:

Sabihin mo kay Maria ang sagot (sa tanong). Add the place if needed:
Sabihin mo kay Maria ang sagot sa silid-aralan.

Could I instead say “Answer Maria’s question”?

Yes, and it’s natural:

Object-focus: Sagutin mo ang tanong ni Maria (sa silid-aralan).
Actor-focus: Sumagot ka sa tanong ni Maria (sa silid-aralan). Using sagutin emphasizes the question as the thing to be answered; sumagot emphasizes the act of answering.

Is the word order fixed? Where else can sa silid-aralan go?

Word order is flexible. All of these are fine:

Sa silid-aralan, sabihin mo ang sagot sa tanong ni Maria. (fronted place = topicalized)
Sabihin mo sa silid-aralan ang sagot sa tanong ni Maria.
Sabihin mo ang sagot sa tanong ni Maria sa silid-aralan. Clitic pronouns (like mo) stay right after the first word of the clause.

Where do politeness marker po and particles like na/pa/ba go?

They cluster immediately after the first word of the clause (together with clitic pronouns). Common, natural placements include:

Sabihin mo po ang sagot...
Sabihin mo na ang sagot...
Sabihin mo ba ang sagot?
You can combine them: Sabihin mo na po ang sagot...

How do I make the command plural or more respectful?

Change mo (you, singular) to ninyo (you, plural/polite), and optionally add po:

Sabihin ninyo ang sagot...
Sabihin po ninyo ang sagot...

How do I negate this command?

Use huwag + genitive pronoun + verb:

Huwag mong sabihin ang sagot sa tanong ni Maria (sa silid-aralan). For plural/polite:
Huwag ninyong sabihin ang sagot...

What’s the difference between ni Maria, kay Maria, and si Maria?

ni Maria = genitive (ng-case): “Maria’s” or “by Maria” (possession/actor). Example: ang tanong ni Maria.
kay Maria = oblique (sa-case): “to/for Maria” (recipient). Example: Sabihin mo kay Maria...
si Maria = ang-case (topic). Example: Si Maria ang nagtanong.

Why is it sagot sa tanong, not sagot ng tanong?

The natural collocation is sagot sa tanong (“answer to a question”). sagot ng tanong would sound like “the answer owned by the question,” which is odd in Filipino.

Could the sentence be misread so that the classroom modifies the question instead of the telling?

A little, but the default reading is that sa silid-aralan modifies the verb (where to tell it). If you want to be extra clear:

Put the place first: Sa silid-aralan, sabihin mo ang sagot sa tanong ni Maria. If you meant “the question that was asked in the classroom,” you can specify:
Sabihin mo ang sagot sa tanong ni Maria na itinatanong sa silid-aralan.

Can I drop mo?

You can, but it becomes a more impersonal/instructional tone (like a posted rule): Sabihin ang sagot sa tanong ni Maria sa silid-aralan. In normal conversation, keeping mo sounds more natural when addressing a specific person.

How is silid-aralan formed, and is there a simpler alternative?

silid-aralan = silid (room) + aral (study) + -an (“place for”) → “classroom.” Everyday alternatives include sa classroom or sa klase (“in class”), both common in speech.

Can I use other verbs instead of sabihin?

Yes, with slight nuances:

Sagutin mo ang tanong ni Maria... (Answer Maria’s question.)
Ibigay mo ang sagot sa tanong ni Maria... (Give the answer...)
Polite request: Pakisabi ang sagot sa tanong ni Maria (sa silid-aralan).
Recipient focus (emphasizing who is told): Sabihan mo si Maria ng sagot sa silid-aralan.