yɛ + Adjective
Describing with Yɛ
Fie no yɛ kɛseɛ means The house is big. A describing word needs yɛ to make a sentence.
How It Works
1. The pattern
Subject + yɛ + describing word.
- Fie no yɛ kɛseɛ. (The house is big.)
- Ɛyɛ fɛ. (It is pretty.)
- Aduane no yɛ dɛ paa. (The food is really tasty.)
2. Phrase or sentence
fie kɛseɛ is a big house, a phrase. Fie no yɛ kɛseɛ is a sentence: the house is big. See Adjectives After the Noun.
3. Negative and past
Use nyɛ for the negative: Twi nyɛ den (Twi is not hard). Use na for the past: Na ɛyɛ dɛ (It was nice).
4. Plural
With a plural subject, many describing words take their plural form: Mmofra no yɛ nketewa (The children are small). See Plural Adjectives.
5. Quality verbs
Some qualities are verbs: ware (be tall, long), tia (be short). They work like any verb: Kofi ware (Kofi is tall). With these, do not add yɛ.
Examples (6)
- Fie no yɛ kɛseɛ.
The house is big.
Word by Word: house the is big
- Ɛyɛ fɛ.
It is pretty.
Word by Word: it.is pretty
- Aduane no yɛ dɛ paa.
The food is really tasty.
Word by Word: food the is sweet very
- Twi nyɛ den.
Twi is not hard.
Word by Word: Twi not.is hard
- Mmofra no yɛ nketewa.
The children are small.
Word by Word: children the are small.PL
Nketewa is the plural form of ketewa.
- Kofi ware.
Kofi is tall.
Word by Word: Kofi is.tall
Ware is a verb, so it needs no yɛ.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out yɛ, so the sentence has no verb.
Fie no kɛseɛ.Fie no yɛ kɛseɛ.A describing word after a noun only makes a phrase. Yɛ turns it into a sentence.
Adding yɛ to a quality verb.
Kofi yɛ ware.Kofi ware.Ware (be tall) is already a verb. Use it on its own, like any other verb.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Describing with yɛ uses the verb yɛ.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice yɛ + Adjective in Bubblegum
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