Learn Hardcore Filipino: Oo, may kanin pa, pero dalhin mo ito sa kwarto ni Maria. - Yes, there is still rice, but bring it to Maria's bedroom.

Oo = Yes (neutral/casual).
Opo = Yes (polite/deferential, used when speaking to elders, superiors, or strangers). You can also add the politeness particle po elsewhere in the sentence: Opo, may kanin pa po.

How do I pronounce Oo?

It’s two syllables: o-o (like “oh-oh,” not “u”). Each “o” is pronounced separately. Many learners try to blend it into one syllable; don’t—keep it as two.

What does may mean here, and how is it different from mayroon/meron?

may = there is/are; used before a following word: may kanin (there is rice).
mayroon/meron are used when:
- there’s no following word: Meron pa.
- the next word is a pronoun: Mayroon ako. (not “May ako.”)
mayroon is the full form; meron is the common spoken form. In your sentence, may kanin pa is correct because it’s followed by a noun.

What does the particle pa add, and where does it go?

pa means “still/yet” or “more/remaining.” May kanin pa = “There is still rice / there’s rice left.”
It’s an enclitic that typically comes right after the first word or phrase of the clause. Here, the first phrase is may kanin, so we say may kanin pa.
Common contrast: na (already/anymore). Compare:
- May kanin pa. = There’s still rice.
- Wala nang kanin. = There’s no rice anymore.

What’s the difference between kanin and bigas?

kanin = cooked rice (ready to eat).
bigas = uncooked rice (grains). So may kanin pa means “there’s still cooked rice.”

Is pero the only way to say “but”?

No:

pero = but (very common, neutral/casual).
ngunit/subalit = but/however (formal/written).
kaso/kaya lang = but/unfortunately (colloquial, with a slightly adverse nuance). Your sentence uses the very common pero.

Why is dalhin used instead of magdala or just dala?

dalhin = object-focus (patient-focus) verb “to bring (something).” The thing being moved is the focus.
magdala = actor-focus “to bring/carry” (focus on the doer).
dala on its own is a root meaning “carry/bring;” in colloquial speech you might hear it as an adjective-like stative: Dala mo ba ang payong? (“Do you have the umbrella with you?”) In Dalhin mo ito, the command highlights the specific thing (ito) to be moved, hence object-focus dalhin.

In dalhin mo, why is it mo and not ka?

With object-focus verbs like dalhin, the actor is marked by the “ng-set” pronouns (e.g., ko, mo, niya). So you say dalhin mo. With actor-focus verbs (e.g., magdala), the actor uses the “ang-set” pronouns (e.g., ako, ka, siya): Magdala ka.

Object-focus: Dalhin mo ito.
Actor-focus: Magdala ka nito.

Can I move the words around? Where do mo and ito normally go?

Short pronouns like mo/ko/niya are enclitics and typically appear right after the first verb or particle: Dalhin mo ito…
The pronoun ito (this) usually follows the verb or the enclitic cluster: Dalhin mo ito sa… Other acceptable orders (with slight changes in emphasis):
Dalhin mo sa kwarto ni Maria ito.
Spoken: Dalhin mo ’to sa kwarto ni Maria. Avoid heavy fronting like Ito, dalhin mo… unless for contrastive emphasis.

When do I use ito vs iyan vs iyon?

ito = this (near the speaker).
iyan = that (near the listener).
iyon = that (far from both). So if you’re holding the item: Dalhin mo ito… If the item is near the hearer: Dalhin mo iyan… If it’s over there: Dalhin mo iyon…

I often hear ’to instead of ito. Is that okay?

Yes. ’to is the colloquial contraction of ito in speech. It’s fine in casual writing or dialogue:

Dalhin mo ’to sa kwarto ni Maria. Use the full ito in formal writing.

Why is it sa kwarto ni Maria and not kay Maria or sa kwarto kay Maria?

sa kwarto ni Maria = to/in the room of Maria (possessive “of Maria” uses ni for a proper name).
kay Maria is used when the preposition applies directly to the person (to/for/from Maria): Ibigay mo kay Maria. You wouldn’t say sa kwarto kay Maria; for possession after a noun, use ni/ng. So: sa kwarto ng guro (common noun), sa kwarto ni Maria (proper name).

What’s the difference between ni Maria, ng guro, nina Maria at Juan, and nila?

These are possessive/genitive markers:

ni + [proper singular]: sa kwarto ni Maria (Maria’s room).
ng + [common noun]: sa kwarto ng guro (the teacher’s room).
nina + [proper plural]: sa kwarto nina Maria at Juan (Maria and Juan’s room).
nila (pronoun “their”): sa kwarto nila (their room; antecedent understood from context).

Is kwarto correct, or should it be kuwarto?

Both are acceptable. kuwarto is closer to the Spanish source “cuarto”; kwarto is a common simplified spelling. You may also see silid or silid-tulugan (bedroom) in more formal or native-leaning vocabulary.

How can I make the sentence more polite or address multiple people respectfully?

Add po and use plural/respectful ninyo:
- Opo, may kanin pa po, pero dalhin ninyo po ito sa kuwarto ni Maria.
You can also soften with paki- (please):
- Pakidalá po ninyo ito sa kuwarto ni Maria.

How would I say the same idea with actor-focus instead of object-focus?

Actor-focus: Magdala ka nito sa kwarto ni Maria.
- Here nito = “of this,” often implying some amount/portion or less specific reference.
Object-focus: Dalhin mo ito sa kwarto ni Maria.
- ito points to a specific item as the direct object (more definite). Choose based on what you want to highlight: the actor doing the bringing (AF) or the specific thing being brought (OF).

What does sa mean here—“to,” “in,” or “at”?

sa is a general locative preposition that can mean “to/in/at.” The verb determines the sense:

With a motion verb like dalhin (bring), sa kwarto is interpreted as “to the room” (destination).

How do I negate parts of this sentence naturally?

No more rice: Wala nang kanin.
Still have no rice yet: Wala pang kanin.
Negate the command (don’t bring it): Huwag mong dalhin ito sa kwarto ni Maria. (You can also say: Huwag mo itong dalhin…)
Negate the statement part: Hindi, wala nang kanin, pero… (if answering “Is there still rice?”)

What are the main verb forms of dalhin?

Imperative: Dalhin! (Bring!)
Completed (perfective): dinala (brought)
Incomplete (imperfective/progressive): dinadala (is/was bringing)
Contemplated (future): dadalhin (will bring) Examples:
Dinala ko ito sa kwarto ni Maria.
Dinadala ko ito sa kwarto ni Maria.
Dadalhin ko ito sa kwarto ni Maria.