Learn Hardcore Filipino: Pakinggan ninyo ang bagong awit ngayong hapon.

Ninyo is the second-person plural (or polite singular) genitive pronoun. In object-focus commands like Pakinggan ninyo…, it marks the doer (“you”) when the verb focuses on the object.

Talking to one person informally: Pakinggan mo ang…
Talking to several people, or to one person politely: Pakinggan ninyo ang…

You’ll also see the colloquial spellings niyo, n’yo, or nyo for ninyo.

What’s the difference between pakinggan and makinig?

Pakinggan is object-focus and transitive: it takes a direct object marked by ang. Example: Pakinggan ninyo ang bagong awit… (“Listen to the new song…”).
Makinig is actor-focus and intransitive: the thing you listen to is marked with sa. Example: Makinig kayo sa bagong awit…

So you say:

Pakinggan ninyo ang kanta. (Correct)
Not: “Pakinggan ninyo sa kanta.” (Incorrect)
Or: Makinig kayo sa kanta. (Correct)

Why is it ang bagong awit and not ng bagong awit?

In object-focus sentences (like those with -in forms such as pakinggan), the object/patient is the sentence pivot and is marked by ang. That’s why it’s ang bagong awit.

By contrast, in actor-focus sentences, objects are typically marked by ng (or by sa if the verb requires it, as with makinig).

Why is it bagong and not bago?

Bago (“new”) becomes bagong before a following noun because of the linker -ng that connects modifiers to nouns. Examples:

bagong awit (new song)
bagong telepono (new phone)

If the modifier ends in a consonant, you use the linker na instead (e.g., maiksi na buhok).

What does ngayong mean, and how is it different from ngayon?

Ngayon means “now/today.” When it modifies a following time word, it takes the linker -g, becoming ngayong (“this …”). Examples:

ngayong hapon = “this afternoon”
ngayong gabi = “tonight/this evening”

You can also front it for emphasis: Ngayong hapon, pakinggan ninyo…

Can I change the word order?

Yes. Common, natural options include:

Pakinggan ninyo ang bagong awit ngayong hapon. (default)
Ngayong hapon, pakinggan ninyo ang bagong awit. (time up front)
Pakinggan ninyo, ngayong hapon, ang bagong awit. (time inserted)

Topicalization like Ang bagong awit, pakinggan ninyo ngayong hapon is also possible for emphasis.

How do I make this more polite?

Add po/ho after the first element or right after the verb:

Pakinggan po ninyo ang bagong awit ngayong hapon. Or soften with request forms:
Pakipakinggan po ninyo ang bagong awit ngayong hapon.
Makikinig po kayo sa bagong awit ngayong hapon.

Is it okay to write niyo/nyo instead of ninyo?

Yes. Ninyo is the fully spelled-out form; niyo, n’yo, and nyo are common, especially in informal writing. All are widely understood.

What’s the difference between awit and kanta?

Both mean “song,” but:

Awit is more formal/poetic or used in standard Filipino.
Kanta is more colloquial/conversational.

Either works here: ang bagong awit or ang bagong kanta.

How do I say “Don’t listen to the new song this afternoon”?

Use huwag for negative commands:

Huwag ninyong pakinggan ang bagong awit ngayong hapon. Actor-focus alternative:
Huwag kayong makinig sa bagong awit ngayong hapon.

Can I drop ninyo and just say Pakinggan ang bagong awit ngayong hapon?

You can, but it becomes a general directive with no explicit addressee (“Let the new song be listened to this afternoon” / “Please have the new song listened to…”). To address specific listeners (“you”), keep mo or ninyo.

Why does pakinggan end with -gan? I thought object-focus uses -in.

This verb family shows a spelling/phonology pattern where the -in object-focus form surfaces as -ngan/-gan with the root kinig:

root: kinig
OF form: pakinggan (“listen to [something]”)

It’s similar to how tingin → tingnan (“look at”). Best to treat pakinggan as the standard object-focus form to memorize.

If the object is a person, do I still use ang?

For proper names, use si; for personal pronouns, use ang-case pronouns:

Pakinggan ninyo si Maria.
Pakinggan ninyo siya. For plural proper names: sina (e.g., Pakinggan ninyo sina Maria at Lito.)

How do I say “Let’s listen to the new song this afternoon”?

Use first-person inclusive:

Object-focus: Pakinggan natin ang bagong awit ngayong hapon.
Actor-focus: Makinig tayo sa bagong awit ngayong hapon.

How do I make it plural: “the new songs”?

Add mga before the noun:

Pakinggan ninyo ang mga bagong awit ngayong hapon. (“Listen to the new songs this afternoon.”)

Is there a difference between ngayong hapon and mamayang hapon?

Yes:

Ngayong hapon = “this afternoon” (today, more general reference to this time period)
Mamayang hapon = “later this afternoon” (a later point within this afternoon)

Both are natural, but mamayang hapon highlights the “later” aspect.