no (Clause-Final)

Clause-Final No

Level 5

End a relative or time clause with no when it is known: abofra a ɔbaeɛ no (the child who came), Berɛ a ɔbaeɛ no (When he came).

How It Works

1. After a relative clause
The noun comes first, then the clause starting with a, then no.

  • abofra a ɔbaeɛ no (the child who came)
  • nwoma a metɔeɛ no (the book that I bought)

Compare Mehunuu abofra bi a na ɔresu (I saw a child who was crying). This child is new to the listener, so the clause ends without no, and bi marks it as a child.

2. Two no's in a row
When a person is the object inside the clause, the pronoun no (him, her) stays in its place and the clause-final no follows it: ɔbarima a mehunuu no no (the man whom I saw). The first no means him; the second closes the clause.

3. After a time clause
Berɛ a ... no sets a known past time: Berɛ a ɔbaeɛ no, na yɛredidi (When he came, we were eating). A clause with no alone can do the same job: Kofi saeɛ no, Kwaku dii ahurusie (When Kofi danced, Kwaku cheered).

4. Other clauses
You will also meet clause-final no after nea (what, the one who), after baabi a (the place where), and at the end of focus sentences: Kofi na ɔsaeɛ no (It was Kofi who danced).

5. No or a?
A clause about something known ends in no. A condition about something not yet real ends in a, as in sɛ ... a (if). So Berɛ a ɔbaeɛ no is when he came, but Sɛ ɔba a is if he comes.

Examples (6)

  1. Abofra a ɔbaeɛ no yɛ me ba.

    The child who came is my child.

    Word by Word: child that she-came NO is my child

  2. Ɔbarima a mehunuu no no te Kumase.

    The man whom I saw lives in Kumasi.

    Word by Word: man that I-saw him NO lives Kumasi

    The first no is the pronoun him; the second closes the clause.

  3. Nwoma a metɔeɛ no ayera.

    The book that I bought is lost.

  4. Berɛ a ɔbaeɛ no, na yɛredidi.

    When he came, we were eating.

    No marks the arrival as a known past moment.

  5. Kofi saeɛ no, Kwaku dii ahurusie.

    When Kofi danced, Kwaku cheered.

    Word by Word: Kofi danced NO, Kwaku ate cheering

    A plain clause closed by no can set the time without berɛ.

  6. Mehunuu abofra bi a na ɔresu.

    I saw a child who was crying.

    A new, unknown child: bi after the noun and no final no.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out no when you mean a particular, known person.

    Abofra a ɔbaeɛ yɛ me ba.
    Abofra a ɔbaeɛ no yɛ me ba.

    You are pointing to a child the listener knows about, so the clause needs no at the end, just as a noun needs no for the.

How It Connects

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

no (Clause-Final)Level 5Clause-Final No

Learn This First

Clause-final no generalizes the closing no.

Words in This Pattern

no