sɛ ... a (When)

If or When? Sɛ ... a

Level 3

Twi uses one frame for if and when: Sɛ woduru a, frɛ me means When you arrive, call me.

How It Works

1. Expected events
When the event will surely happen, sɛ ... a is heard as when.

  • Sɛ woduru a, frɛ me. (When you arrive, call me.)
  • Sɛ ɔba a, ka kyerɛ no. (When he comes, tell him.)
  • Sɛ adeɛ kye a, yɛbɛkɔ. (When morning comes, we will go.)

2. After something is done
The perfect a- inside the frame says the first action will be finished: Sɛ woawie a, bra (When you have finished, come).

3. Whenever
With a plain verb in both halves, the sentence describes a habit: Sɛ meba Kumase a, mete me nua nkyɛn (Whenever I come to Kumasi, I stay at my sibling's place).

4. Three different whens

5. Sometimes
The fixed phrase Sometimes: ɛtɔ da a ends with the same a.

Examples (5)

  1. Sɛ woduru a, frɛ me.

    When you arrive, call me.

    Word by Word: if you-arrive IF, call me

    Arriving is expected, so the frame is heard as when.

  2. Sɛ ɔba a, ka kyerɛ no.

    When he comes, tell him.

  3. Sɛ adeɛ kye a, yɛbɛkɔ.

    When morning comes, we will go.

    Word by Word: if thing dawn IF, we-FUT-go

    Adeɛ kye (the thing dawns) is how Twi says morning comes.

  4. Sɛ woawie a, bra.

    When you have finished, come.

    Word by Word: if you-PERF-finish IF, come

    The perfect a- says the first action will be done before the second.

  5. Sɛ meba Kumase a, mete me nua nkyɛn.

    Whenever I come to Kumasi, I stay at my sibling's place.

    Plain verbs in both halves describe a habit.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the question word berɛ bɛn for a when statement.

    Berɛ bɛn woduru no, frɛ me.
    Sɛ woduru a, frɛ me.

    Berɛ bɛn only asks the question When? To say when you arrive, use the sɛ ... a frame.

  • Using sɛ ... a for one past event.

    Sɛ meduruu fie a, na ɔredidi.
    Berɛ a meduruu fie no, na ɔredidi.

    The intended meaning is When I got home, he was eating. Sɛ ... a is for expected or repeated events. A single past time uses berɛ a ... no.

How It Connects

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

sɛ ... a (When)Level 3If or When? Sɛ ... a

Learn This First

When uses the same frame as if.

Words in This Pattern

a