Exceptions to the Follow-the-first-word Rule

1. Enclitic words cannot immediately follow any of the words below. Instead, they follow the word after them.

• markers, i.e. ang, kay, kina, ni, nina, ng, sa, si, sina
• ay, e di’, halos, kaysa, mas, may, mga, na kay, na kina, nasa
• the verb maging and its different forms
• at, at saka, bukod, dahil, habang, hanggang, hangga’t, imbes na, kapag, kapagka, kung, kung sakali’, maliban, mula’, nang, noon, o, o kaya’, pag, pagka, pero, porke, sa halip na, samantalang, tuwing, sakali’

Example:

* Sila cannot immediately follow dahil.

Note: Enclitic particles except na and pa may immediately follow dahil and halos. All enclitic particles may immediately follow bukod, kung sakali’, maliban, mula’, noon and sakali’.

2. Enclitic words cannot immediately follow the first word of the phrases below. Instead, they follow the entire phrase.

• names such as Mario Cruz
• numbers and expressions that include numbers such as dalawa at kalahati’ (two and a half), limang taon (five years)
• dates, addresses, times of day
• repeated words such as magandang maganda
• some describing words

Example:

* Siya cannot immediately follow si or Mario.

3. Enclitic words may, but do not have to, immediately follow the words below.

• baka, bakit, galing, gaya, mukha’, para, tungkol
• tig- + number
• some describing words
• the first word in describing phrases such as bukas ng hapon

Examples:

Note: Na and pa cannot immediately follow bakit.

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