Learn Hardcore Filipino: Bumili sila ng relo sa tindahan at tapos na sila. - They bought a watch at the store and they are done.

Bumili is actor-focus (AF), perfective aspect. Root: bili “buy.” The infix -um- marks actor focus, and the perfective (completed) form is bumili. So it means “(the actor) bought.”

Why is it sila and not nila?

In actor-focus clauses, the actor uses the nominative (ang-case) pronoun, so you use sila. The genitive nila is used when the clause is object-focused (e.g., Binili nila ang relo “They bought the watch”).

What does ng do in ng relo?

Ng marks the patient/object in an actor-focus clause. Bumili sila ng relo = “They bought a watch.” If plural: Bumili sila ng mga relo (“They bought watches”).

How would I say “They bought the watch (that specific one)”?

Use object focus: Binili nila ang relo (sa tindahan). Here, binili (object focus) highlights the watch, and ang relo marks it as the topic/specific item. If you want to stay in actor focus but specify which watch, you can say Bumili sila ng relo na iyon (“They bought that watch”).

Is it ng or nang here?

Here it’s ng (object marker). Use ng for objects and for “of.” Use nang for “when/as,” for linking to modifiers (e.g., nang mabilis “quickly”), or in some comparative/degree constructions.

Why is it sa tindahan? What does sa mark?

Sa marks oblique relations like place, time, or direction. Sa tindahan = “at the store.” If you mean “at a store,” you can say sa isang tindahan. If it’s that particular store: sa tindahang iyon.

Can I swap the order of the object and the location? For example, Bumili sila sa tindahan ng relo?

Yes. Both Bumili sila ng relo sa tindahan and Bumili sila sa tindahan ng relo are acceptable. Default is often object before location, but order can change for emphasis or flow. You can also front the location: Sa tindahan sila bumili ng relo (emphasizes the place).

What does at do? Can I drop or replace it?

At means “and.” You can keep it, drop it in casual speech, or use more conversational tsaka/at saka:

Bumili sila… at tapos na sila.
Bumili sila… tapos na sila.
Bumili sila… tsaka tapos na sila.

In tapos na sila, is tapos a verb? What does na mean?

Tapos is a stative adjective “finished/done.” Na is a particle meaning “already/now,” signaling a current state or change. So Tapos na sila = “They are already done.”

What’s the difference between Tapos na sila and Natapos na sila?

Tapos na sila states their current state: they’re done now.
Natapos na sila (perfective verb, undergoer-focus) highlights the completion event: “They’ve finished (already).” Both are fine; the first sounds more stative, the second more eventive.

How do I say “They’re already done buying (a watch)” or “They already bought a watch”?

“They’re already done buying”: Tapos na silang bumili (ng relo). Note the linker -ng in silang bumili.
“They already bought a watch”: Bumili na sila ng relo. The particle na (“already”) goes after the first word of the predicate.

Where do particles like na/pa/ba/po go in these clauses?

They’re enclitics that typically sit after the first predicate word:

Bumili na sila ng relo.
Bumili ba sila ng relo?
Bumili po sila ng relo.
For the stative clause: Tapos na sila, Tapos pa sila?, Tapos na po sila.

If they bought multiple watches or went to multiple stores, how do I mark plural?

Use mga before the noun:

Bumili sila ng mga relo. (watches)
Bumili sila sa mga tindahan. (stores)

Can I omit sila?

Yes, if the context makes the subject clear: Bumili ng relo sa tindahan at tapos na. Filipino often drops pronouns when they’re understood.

How do I make it negative or say “not yet”?

Negative: Hindi sila bumili ng relo sa tindahan.
“Not yet”: Hindi pa sila tapos. (pa = “yet/still”)
Combined: Hindi sila bumili ng relo, at hindi pa sila tapos.

I often mix up bumili and pumili. What’s the difference?

Bumili = to buy (from root bili, “buy”)
Pumili = to choose/select (from root pili, “choose”)
Example: Pumili sila ng relo (They chose a watch) vs Bumili sila ng relo (They bought a watch).

What does tindahan literally mean?

It’s derived from the root tinda (“to sell goods”) plus the locative suffix -han, yielding “place of selling,” i.e., a store or shop.

Is relo the only word for a timepiece?

Relo commonly means a wristwatch. Orasan is “clock” (or a timepiece, often larger like a wall/desk clock). In some dialects you’ll also hear relos for “watch.”