bi (A Certain)
A Certain, Some: Bi
Bi after a noun means a certain or some: abofra bi (a child, some child).
How It Works
Bi, no or nothing?
- Mepɛ nsuo. I want water. (bare noun: no particular water)
- Ma me nsuo bi. Give me some water. (bi: some of it)
- Ma me nsuo no. Give me the water. (no: the water we both know about)
A certain one. Bi brings a new character into a story: Ɔbarima bi baa ha nnɛra (A certain man came here yesterday). The next time he is mentioned, he is ɔbarima no (the man).
Some. With a plural noun, bi means some of them: Nnipa bi nnom kɔfe (Some people do not drink coffee).
Bi on its own means some: Ma me bi (Give me some). The fuller forms ebi and ebinom also stand alone.
Time. Da bi means one day or someday: Da bi, mɛkɔ Kumase (One day I will go to Kumasi). Keep it apart from daabi (no), which is one word.
Words built on bi. Bi is inside obi (someone), biribi (something) and baabi (somewhere), and inside biara (every, any). Each of these is written as one word.
Bi is not the number one. For exactly one, use baako: nwoma baako (one book).
Examples (6)
- Ɔbarima bi baa ha nnɛra.
A certain man came here yesterday.
Word by Word: Man certain came here yesterday.
Bi brings in a new person the listener does not know yet.
- Ma me nsuo bi.
Give me some water.
Word by Word: Give me water some.
- Ma me bi.
Give me some.
Bi can stand alone to mean some.
- Nnipa bi nnom kɔfe.
Some people do not drink coffee.
Word by Word: People some not-drink coffee.
Nnom is nom (drink) with the negative prefix.
- Da bi, mɛkɔ Kumase.
One day I will go to Kumasi.
Word by Word: Day certain, I-will-go Kumasi.
- Abofra bi resu.
A child is crying.
Word by Word: Child some is-crying.
Common Mistakes
Putting bi before the noun.
Bi abofra resu.Abofra bi resu.Bi follows the noun, just as no and the numbers do.
Writing obi as two words.
O bi reba.Obi reba.Obi (someone), biribi (something) and baabi (somewhere) are each written as one word.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Bi contrasts with the article no.
Related Patterns
- obi / biribi / baabiSomeone, Something, Somewhere
Someone, something and somewhere are built on bi.
Level 2 - ebi / ebinomSome: Ebi and Ebinom
Fuller forms of some that stand alone.
Level 4 - biaraEvery, Any: Biara
Every and any, also built on bi.
Level 2 - Numbers One to Ten
Baako is the number one; bi is not a number.
Level 1 - Order in the Noun Phrase
Bi, like no, comes after the noun and its describing words.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice bi (A Certain) in Bubblegum
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