Log inSign up

Sa tindahan, huminto kami sandali bago magsimula ang laro.

Sa tindahan, huminto kami sandali bago magsimula ang laro.
At the store, we stopped for a moment before the game started.
FromLesson 6inHardcore Filipino

Breakdown of Sa tindahan, huminto kami sandali bago magsimula ang laro.

sandali
briefly
sa
at
bago
before
kami
we
magsimula
to start
huminto
to stop
tindahan
the store
laro
the game

Questions & Answers about Sa tindahan, huminto kami sandali bago magsimula ang laro.

What does the preposition sa in Sa tindahan do here?
Sa marks a general location or direction (roughly “at/in/to”). Sa tindahan means “at the store.” You can also put it later: Huminto kami sandali sa tindahan... Both are fine.
Why is Sa tindahan placed at the beginning, and is the comma required?

Fronting Sa tindahan sets the scene (location) first, which is common in Filipino. The comma simply marks that fronted phrase; it’s stylistic, not mandatory. You could also say:

  • Huminto kami sandali sa tindahan bago magsimula ang laro.
  • More formal: Sa tindahan ay huminto kami sandali...
What aspect is huminto, and how would I change it for other times/aspects?

Huminto is the completed/perfective form of the -um- verb from the root hinto (“to stop”).

  • Completed/past: huminto (We stopped)
  • Incomplete/progressive/habitual: humihinto (We stop/are stopping)
  • Contemplated/future: hihinto (We will stop) Examples:
  • Habitual: Humihinto kami sandali bago magsimula ang laro.
  • Future: Hihinto kami sandali bago magsimula ang laro.
Why kami and not tayo?

Kami = “we (excluding you, the listener).”
Tayo = “we (including you).”
So if you’re including the person you’re talking to, say: Huminto tayo sandali...

Why isn’t there ang before kami?
Personal pronouns like ako/ikaw/siya/kami/tayo/kayo/sila already function as “ang-marked” subjects and do not take ang. With common nouns, you use ang (e.g., ang laro), and with proper names, si/sina (e.g., Si Ana).
What does sandali mean here, and are there alternatives?

Sandali means “for a moment/briefly.” Common variants:

  • sandali lang (just a moment)
  • isang sandali (one moment)
  • Synonym: saglit (e.g., Huminto kami saglit...) All are natural.
Should there be nang before sandali (as in nang sandali)?
You may add nang to mark an adverbial measure: Huminto kami nang sandali. It’s acceptable and a bit more formal. Everyday speech often omits it: Huminto kami sandali and Huminto kami sandali lang are very natural.
Could I use tumigil instead of huminto?

Yes. Huminto and tumigil often overlap (“stop”). Subtle tendencies:

  • Huminto commonly describes stopping movement or an ongoing action: Huminto ang kotse.
  • Tumigil also works for stopping an activity: Tumigil ka sa pag-ingay. In your sentence, both are fine: Huminto/Tumigil kami sandali...
Does bago mean “before” or “new”? How do I tell?

Context decides:

  • bago = “before” as a conjunction/preposition: bago magsimula ang laro (before the game starts)
  • bago/bagong = “new” as an adjective with linker: bagong laro (new game) Compare: bago ang laro (before the game) vs bagong laro (a new game).
Why is it bago magsimula ang laro and not bago nagsimula/magsisimula ang laro?

After bago, Filipino often uses the uninflected/infinitive-like form to express a general “before X happens” idea: bago magsimula ang laro. You can use aspect-marked forms for specific timing:

  • Past context: bago nagsimula ang laro (before the game started)
  • Future context: bago magsisimula ang laro (before the game will start), though the infinitive-like magsimula is more idiomatic in many cases.
Why does the subject ang laro come after magsimula?
Predicate-initial order is typical in Filipino. The verb/predicate (magsimula) often comes first, followed by the ang-marked subject (ang laro). A more formal inversion is possible: Ang laro ay magsisimula, but in your sentence’s subordinate clause, magsimula ang laro is the natural pattern.
Could I say bago kami magsimula instead? What changes?

Yes, but it changes the subject of “start”:

  • bago magsimula ang laro = “before the game starts” (the game is the subject)
  • bago kami magsimula = “before we start” (we are the subject) Use whichever matches who/what is doing the starting. If you mean “before we start the game,” options include:
  • bago kami magsimulang maglaro
  • bago kami mag-umpisa
Is magsimula the only verb I can use? What about mag-umpisa?

Magsimula and mag-umpisa are near-synonyms (“to start/begin”). Both are common:

  • bago magsimula ang laro
  • bago mag-umpisa ang laro
Why is it ang laro and not yung laro?

Ang is the standard definite marker in neutral/formal Filipino. Yung (from iyong) is very common in colloquial speech. In writing or neutral style, ang is preferred:

  • Neutral/formal: ang laro
  • Colloquial: yung laro

More from this lesson

alas siyeterelomagsimulaAlas siyete na sa relo ko; magsimula na tayo.alas otsotaposgawainMagpahinga tayo pagkatapos ng gawain.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Filipino grammar?”
Filipino grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Filipino

Master Filipino — from Sa tindahan, huminto kami sandali bago magsimula ang laro to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Filipino freeBrowse the full course