Learn Hardcore Filipino: Basa ang sahig sa banyo, kaya mag-ingat ka. - The floor in the bathroom is wet, so be careful.

Filipino is typically predicate-initial. Adjectives can serve as the predicate, so Basa ang sahig sa banyo literally orders the information as “Wet [is] the floor in the bathroom.” You can also use the inverted, more formal structure Ang sahig sa banyo ay basa. Both are correct; the predicate-first order is more common in speech.

What does kaya mean here, and how is it different from kasi/dahil?

In this sentence, kaya means “so/therefore,” linking a cause to its result. By contrast, kasi and dahil mean “because” and introduce the reason.

Result-first with kaya: Basa ang sahig sa banyo, kaya mag-ingat ka. (“…so be careful.”)
Reason-first with dahil: Dahil basa ang sahig sa banyo, mag-ingat ka.
Reason-after with kasi: Mag-ingat ka kasi basa ang sahig sa banyo.

Note: kaya also means “able to/can” in other contexts (e.g., Kaya mo? “Can you?”), but not here.

How does mag-ingat ka work grammatically?

mag-: actor-focus verb prefix meaning “to do [the action]” (here, “to take care/be careful”)
ingat: root meaning “care/caution”
ka: 2nd person singular pronoun (“you”) that typically follows the verb/predicate

So mag-ingat ka is the natural way to say “be careful” to one person.

How do I make it polite or address more than one person?

Use kayo for plural or respectful singular, and add po for politeness:

To one respected person: Mag-ingat po kayo.
To a group: Mag-ingat kayo.
Very polite: Mag-ingat po kayo, or Mag-ingat po kayo, ma’am/sir.

Is Ingat ka also acceptable?

Yes. Ingat ka (or simply Ingat) is a very common, friendly warning or leave-taking (“Take care”). Mag-ingat ka is a bit fuller and can sound more deliberate or cautionary in a warning.

Does basa ever mean “to read”? How do I tell them apart?

Yes—spelled the same without diacritics:

basâ (stress on the last syllable) = “wet”
bása (stress on the first syllable) = “to read”

In everyday writing, diacritics are usually omitted, so you rely on context. Here, Basa ang sahig… can only mean “wet,” not “read.”

Why is it sa banyo and not ng banyo after sahig?

sahig sa banyo = “the floor in the bathroom” (location)
sahig ng banyo = “the bathroom’s floor” or “the floor of the bathroom” (possessive/‘of’ relationship)

Both are possible, but sa highlights location; ng highlights an “of” relationship.

Can I use ’yung instead of ang?

Yes in colloquial speech. Ang is the standard topic/subject marker; ’yung is a common conversational form (from iyong) used like “the.” So you may hear: Basa ’yung sahig sa banyo, kaya mag-ingat ka. In formal writing, stick with ang.

Could I say Madulas ang sahig instead of Basa ang sahig?

Yes, but the nuance changes:

Basa ang sahig = the floor is wet (states the condition)
Madulas ang sahig = the floor is slippery (focuses on the hazard) Either can lead naturally to kaya mag-ingat ka (“so be careful”).

How can I intensify or soften the idea of “wet”?

Very wet: Basang-basa ang sahig sa banyo.
Slightly/a bit wet: Medyo basa ang sahig sa banyo.
Damp: Mamasa-masa ang sahig sa banyo.

Is the comma before kaya required?

It’s optional but common when kaya connects two independent clauses. You’ll see both …banyo kaya mag-ingat ka and …banyo, kaya mag-ingat ka in practice. The comma often matches a natural pause.

Any tips on pronunciation here?

basâ (“wet”): stress the last syllable; final vowel is open “a.”
banyo: pronounce ny like Spanish ñ (one sound), roughly “ban-yo.”
kaya: two syllables “ka-ya,” both clear vowels; don’t reduce the second syllable.

What are the tense/aspect forms of mag-ingat?

Imperative/Infinitive: mag-ingat (e.g., Mag-ingat ka.)
Past/Perfective: nag-ingat (e.g., Nag-ingat siya. “He/She exercised caution.”)
Present/Imperfective: nag-iingat (e.g., Nag-iingat siya. “He/She is careful.”)
Future/Contemplated: mag-iingat (e.g., Mag-iingat siya. “He/She will be careful.”)

Why is it ka and not ikaw or mo after mag-ingat?

ka is the unmarked 2nd person pronoun used after a verb/predicate: Mag-ingat ka.
ikaw is used in topic/emphatic position: Ikaw, mag-ingat. or Ikaw ang mag-ingat.
mo is the genitive (“your/by you”), used with certain verb voices or when modifying nouns, not for this imperative. So mag-ingat mo is incorrect.

Is mag-ingat written with a hyphen?

The common, recommended spelling is mag-ingat (especially helpful because the root ingat starts with a vowel). You’ll also see magingat in informal text. Avoid writing it with a space (mag ingat), which is nonstandard.

Are there other common words for banyo?

Yes, by register:

Very common/colloquial: CR (from “comfort room”)
Neutral/common: banyo
Formal/standard: palikuran
Slang/informal: kubeta

What’s the difference between sahig and palapag?

sahig = the floor of a room (the surface you walk on)
palapag = a building’s story/level (e.g., second floor)

What does adding na do in Basa na ang sahig sa banyo?

na adds the nuance of “already/now,” implying a change of state or a relevant new condition: Basa na ang sahig sa banyo = “The bathroom floor is already wet (now),” often hinting that it wasn’t wet before or that the timing matters.