ansa na (Before)
Before: Ansa Na
First event, then ansa na, then the later event: Hohoro wo nsa ansa na woadidi means Wash your hands before you eat.
How It Works
1. The order
first event + ansa na + later event.
- Hohoro wo nsa ansa na woadidi. (Wash your hands before you eat.)
- Frɛ me ansa na woaba. (Call me before you come.)
2. The verb after ansa na
- After a command or in a habit, use a-: woadidi, wɔakɔ. Mmofra no di aduane ansa na wɔakɔ sukuu (The children eat before they go to school).
- After a single past event, use re-: Mmofra no dii aduane ansa na wɔrekɔ fie (The children ate before going home).
3. Always a full clause
English can say before eating. Twi needs a subject: ansa na woadidi (before you eat), ansa na yɛrekɔ (before we went).
4. Short form
Na is sometimes dropped: Ɔbaa ha ansa yɛrekɔ (He came here before we left).
5. Before and after
For after, Twi usually uses a noun with akyi: adidi akyi (after eating). See After: noun + akyi.
Examples (5)
- Hohoro wo nsa ansa na woadidi.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Word by Word: wash your hand before you-A-eat
After a command, the later verb takes a-.
- Frɛ me ansa na woaba.
Call me before you come.
- Mmofra no di aduane ansa na wɔakɔ sukuu.
The children eat before they go to school.
A habit: plain di first, then a- after ansa na.
- Mmofra no dii aduane ansa na wɔrekɔ fie.
The children ate before going home.
Word by Word: children the eat-PAST food before they-PROG-go home
After a past event, the later verb takes re-.
- Ɔbaa ha ansa yɛrekɔ.
He came here before we left.
Na can be dropped.
Common Mistakes
Putting a bare verb after ansa na.
Hohoro wo nsa ansa na didi.Hohoro wo nsa ansa na woadidi.The clause after ansa na needs a subject prefix and, here, a-: woadidi (you eat).
Putting the first event after ansa na.
Didi ansa na woahohoro wo nsa.Hohoro wo nsa ansa na woadidi.The intended meaning is Wash your hands before you eat. Didi ansa na woahohoro wo nsa means Eat before you wash your hands. Ansa na always introduces the later event.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before builds on na joining events.
Related Patterns
- akyi (After)After: Noun + Akyi
The matching way to say after.
Level 3 - a- (Perfect)Perfect a-
The a- on the verb after ansa na.
Level 1 - re- (Progressive)Progressive Re-
The re- after a past main event.
Level 1 - a- (Consecutive)Consecutive a-
Another place where a later verb takes a-.
Level 3 - gye sɛ (Unless)Unless: Gye Sɛ
Gye sɛ and ansa na can combine in one sentence.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice ansa na (Before) in Bubblegum
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