tumi (Can)

How It Works

Examples (6)

1. Metumi kasa Twi kakra.

   I can speak a little Twi.

   Word by Word: I.can speak Twi a.little

2. Wotumi kenkan Twi?

   Can you read Twi?

   Word by Word: you.can read Twi

3. Mentumi nkɔ.

   I cannot go.

   Word by Word: I.not.can not.go

   Both verbs take the negative nasal.

4. Mantumi ankɔ sukuu nnɛra.

   I could not go to school yesterday.

   Word by Word: I.did.not.can did.not.go school yesterday

   The negative past a- + N- appears on both verbs.

5. Wobɛtumi aba ɔkyena?

   Will you be able to come tomorrow?

   Word by Word: you.will.can and.come tomorrow

6. Wobɛtumi akɔ mu.

   You can go in.

   Word by Word: you.will.can and.go inside

   Here tumi gives permission.

Common Mistakes

• Putting the negative only on tumi.

  Mentumi kɔ.

  Mentumi nkɔ.

  In a verb series, the negative appears on each verb. The second verb also takes the nasal: nkɔ.

• Joining the next verb with sɛ, like pɛ sɛ.

  Metumi sɛ mekɔ.

  Metumi kɔ.

  Tumi takes the next verb directly. Only verbs like pɛ (want) join a whole clause with sɛ.

How It Connects

Learn This First

Tumi opens a verb series with the next verb.

• Serial Verbs

  Tumi and the next verb form a series, so in the negative both change: Mentumi nkɔ.

  Level 2

Related Patterns

• Negatives in Serial Verbs

  Explains why both verbs are negative in Mentumi nkɔ.

  Level 4
• a- (Consecutive)Consecutive a-

  Explains aba in Wobɛtumi aba.

  Level 3
• pɛ sɛ (Want To)Want to: Pɛ Sɛ

  Pɛ sɛ joins a whole clause instead.

  Level 2
• ɛsɛ sɛ (Must)Must, Should: Ɛsɛ Sɛ

  Ɛsɛ sɛ expresses must rather than can.

  Level 2
• Sound Changes After the Negative

  Shows how the second verb changes after the nasal.

  Level 2

Words in This Pattern