Adjectives After the Noun
Noun + adjective: fie kɛseɛ (a big house), abofra ketewa (a small child), ntoma fitaa (white cloth).
How It Works
Common describing words
- kɛseɛ big, ketewa small
- fitaa white, tuntum black, kɔkɔɔ red
- foforɔ new, pa good
- nwini cold
The order
Noun, then adjective, then number, then no or another closing word: fie kɛseɛ no (the big house), aboa kɛseɛ bi (a big animal). See noun phrase order.
Saying what something is like
An adjective after a noun only describes it. To say that something is big, you need a verb: Fie no yɛ kɛseɛ (The house is big). See yɛ + adjective.
Plural nouns
Many adjectives take a plural prefix when the noun is plural: mmofra nketewa (small children). See adjective plural agreement.
Akuapem spelling
Akuapem books write some adjectives without the final ɛ, such as kɛse for Asante kɛseɛ.
Examples (6)
- Ɔwɔ fie kɛseɛ.
She has a big house.
Word by Word: she-has house big
- Ɔtɔɔ ntoma fitaa.
She bought a white cloth.
Word by Word: she-bought cloth white
- Aboa kɛseɛ no wɔ hɔ.
The big animal is there.
Word by Word: animal big the is-at there
No comes after the adjective and closes the phrase.
- Ma me nsuo nwini.
Give me cold water.
Word by Word: give me water cold
- Ɔyɛ onipa pa.
He is a good person.
Word by Word: he-is person good
Pa (good) follows the noun like any other adjective.
- Metɔɔ kaa tuntum.
I bought a black car.
Word by Word: I-bought car black
Common Mistakes
Putting the adjective before the noun, as in English.
Ɔwɔ kɛseɛ fie.Ɔwɔ fie kɛseɛ.The describing word follows the noun: fie kɛseɛ.
Putting no between the noun and the adjective.
Aboa no kɛseɛ wɔ hɔ.Aboa kɛseɛ no wɔ hɔ.No closes the whole phrase, so it comes after the adjective.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- Order in the Noun Phrase
The full order: noun, adjective, number, then no.
Level 2 - Plural Adjectives
How adjectives change with a plural noun.
Level 2 - yɛ + AdjectiveDescribing with Yɛ
Use yɛ to say what something is like: Fie no yɛ kɛseɛ.
Level 2 - no (The)The Article No
No comes after the adjective, at the end of the phrase.
Level 1 - foforɔNew, Another: Foforɔ
Foforɔ (new, another) is a common adjective that follows the noun.
Level 2 - Numbers One to Ten
Numbers also follow the noun, after any adjective.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
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