Just out curiosity, is “Ano bang ginagawa niya?” also correct? Which is the most correct formal way to write it (say, in a newspaper article), or do they all work formally?
@FilipinoChatAdmin
"Ano ba ang ginagawa niya?" is different from "Ano bang ginagawa niya". The latter is an incomplete sentence and most likely end up being grammatically wrong when completed.
I can think of only two words that we can attach "ang" to and give them that "ng" ending. They would be "ano" and "sino".
Ano ang ginagawa mo? = Anong ginagawa mo?
Sino ang kasama mo? = Sinong kasama mo? (The "sinong" form is even rarely used. More often you'd see it as "sino'ng").
"Ano bang ginagawa niya?" when spoken may sound right, but what we really said there was "Ano ba ang ginagawa niya?". Normal speed of talking could make that "ba ang" sound like just "bang".
Ano ang ginagawa mo? = Ang ginagawa mo ay ano? = The thing that your're doing is what?
Ano ba ang ginagawa mo? = Ang ginagawa mo ba ay ano? = The thing that you're doing is what?
In both cases, we have a subject clause with "ay ano" serving as the predicate.
Ano bang ginagawa mo... = Ano ba na ginagawa mo... = What, which you do... - The sentence is incomplete and it does not even have a clear subject.
"Ano bang ginagawa mo ANG ayaw ng tatay mo?" could be a way of completing the sentence. Although to say it correctly, it should be "Ano/Alin ba SA MGA ginagawa mo ANG ayaw ng tatay mo? (What/Which from among the things that you do does your father disapprove of?) = "ANG ayaw ng tatay mo AY alin ba sa mga ginagawa mo? (The things that your father disapproves of are what/which from among the things that you do?).
So, "ano", if not written or stated as "anong" would need an "ang". When "ba" is added to "Anong ginagawa mo?", it separates the "ang" from "ano" that's why it becomes "Ano ba ang ginagawa mo?". When you make that "Ano bang ginagawa mo", "bang" is already "ba na" and not "ba ang". The sentence become incomplete because "Ano" would need an "ang" that would indicate the subject of the sentence.