Maglinis tayo ng bahay bago dumating ang mga bisita.

Maglinis means to clean or, in this sentence, let’s clean.

It comes from the root word linis (cleanliness / clean) plus the verb prefix mag-.
The prefix mag- often makes an actor-focus verb, meaning the sentence highlights the doer of the action.

So:

• linis = clean / cleanliness
• maglinis = to clean

In this sentence, maglinis tayo is understood as Let’s clean.

In Filipino, using a mag- verb with tayo often makes a suggestion that includes the listener.

So:

• maglinis = clean
• tayo = we including the person being spoken to

Together, maglinis tayo naturally means:

• Let’s clean
• more literally, We will/shall clean

In everyday English, Let’s clean is the most natural translation.

This is a very important Filipino distinction:

• tayo = we, including the listener
• kami = we, excluding the listener

So Maglinis tayo means Let’s clean because the speaker wants the listener to join in.

If you said Maglinis kami, it would mean We will clean, but not you. That would not fit the English idea of let’s.

Because maglinis is an actor-focus verb, the thing being cleaned is marked with ng, not ang.

So in:

• Maglinis tayo ng bahay

the doer is the focus, and bahay is the object affected by the action.

Very roughly:

• tayo = the ones doing the cleaning
• ng bahay = the house being cleaned

If you wanted bahay to be the focus/topic instead, you would use a different verb form, such as:

• Linisin natin ang bahay.

That also means Let’s clean the house, but the grammar is structured differently.

It can mean either, depending on context.

Filipino does not have direct equivalents of English a/an and the in most cases. So bahay can be:

• a house
• the house
• sometimes just house/home in a general sense

In this sentence, context makes the house the most natural English translation:

• Let’s clean the house before the guests arrive.

Bago means before here.

It connects the main action and the later event:

• Maglinis tayo ng bahay = Let’s clean the house
• bago dumating ang mga bisita = before the guests arrive

So bago introduces the time clause that tells us when the cleaning should happen.

This is a very common learner question.

Even though dumating is often taught as a completed form (arrived), after bago it is very commonly used to mean before someone arrives / before coming.

So:

• bago dumating ang mga bisita = before the guests arrive

This sounds natural in Filipino.

Using darating here is generally not the usual choice. Filipino aspect does not match English tense one-to-one, so a form that looks “past” in English-based explanations can still be used in a future-time expression like this.

Because in the clause dumating ang mga bisita, the guests are the ones doing the arriving, and they are marked with ang.

Breakdown:

• dumating = arrived / arrive
• ang mga bisita = the guests

Also:

• mga is the plural marker
• bisita = guest / visitor
• mga bisita = guests / visitors

So ang mga bisita means the guests as the ones who arrive.

Mga marks plurality.

Examples:

• bisita = guest / visitor
• mga bisita = guests / visitors

It is usually pronounced roughly like manga.

So in this sentence, ang mga bisita clearly means the guests, not just the guest.

Yes. Filipino word order is flexible, especially with time clauses.

This sentence can also be said as:

• Bago dumating ang mga bisita, maglinis tayo ng bahay.

That means the same thing:

• Before the guests arrive, let’s clean the house.

The original version is also perfectly natural. The difference is mostly about what the speaker wants to say first.

Yes. That is also correct and very natural.

Compare:

• Maglinis tayo ng bahay...
• Linisin natin ang bahay...

Both can mean Let’s clean the house..., but they use different focus patterns.

1. Maglinis tayo ng bahay

   • actor-focus
   • the doers (tayo) are in focus
   • the house is marked with ng

2. Linisin natin ang bahay

   • object-focus
   • the house (ang bahay) is in focus
   • natin is used instead of tayo in that structure

Both are good Filipino; learners should get used to seeing this kind of alternation.

It is generally neutral and natural.

It works well in everyday speech and writing. It does not sound overly formal, and it does not sound slangy either.

A slightly more conversational version might add a word like muna:

• Maglinis muna tayo ng bahay bago dumating ang mga bisita.

That means:

• Let’s clean the house first before the guests arrive.

But the original sentence is already completely normal.