dada (Already)

Already: Dada

Level 3

Dada means already and comes at the end of the clause: Wadidi dada (He has already eaten).

How It Works

1. The pattern
Perfect verb + object + dada.

  • Wadidi dada. (He has already eaten.)
  • Maka akyerɛ no dada. (I have already told him.)
  • Kofi aba dada. (Kofi has already come.)

2. Questions
Woadidi dada? (Have you eaten already?)

3. State verbs
A state verb such as nim (know) keeps its plain form with dada: Menim dada (I already know).

4. Not yet
The opposite of already is nnya with the negative perfect: Ɔnnya mmaeɛ (She has not come yet).

5. Dada meaning old
The same letters also appear in words for old, as in ntoma dada (old cloth). They are said with a different tone. See Tone: Pitch Changes Meaning.

Examples (6)

  1. Wadidi dada.

    He has already eaten.

    Word by Word: he-has-eaten already

    Wa- is ɔ + a-, the perfect.

  2. Maka akyerɛ no dada.

    I have already told him.

    Word by Word: I-have-said and-shown him already

    Ka kyerɛ means tell. In the perfect, both verbs take a-.

  3. Kofi aba dada.

    Kofi has already come.

    Word by Word: Kofi has-come already

  4. Woadidi dada?

    Have you eaten already?

    Word by Word: you-have-eaten already

  5. Mawie dada.

    I have already finished.

    Word by Word: I-have-finished already

  6. Bɔɔso no afiri hɔ dada.

    The bus has already left.

    Word by Word: bus the has-left there already

    Firi here means leave a place.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the plain present of an action verb with dada.

    Medidi dada.
    Madidi dada.

    Medidi is the habitual present: I eat. For a finished action like eating, already needs the perfect: madidi, I have eaten.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

dada (Already)Level 3Already: Dada

Learn This First

Already usually goes with the perfect.

Words in This Pattern

dedaw