da / si (Be Located)

Lying and Standing: Da, Si

Level 4

Da = be lying, si = be standing: Nwoma no da pon no so (The book is lying on the table), Kuruwa no si pon no so (The cup is standing on the table).

How It Works

1. Da: lying flat
Use da for things lying down, flat things, and people lying down. Da is also the verb sleep.

  • Nwoma no da pon no so. (The book is lying on the table.)
  • Abofra no da mpa no so. (The child is lying on the bed.)

2. Si: standing upright
Use si for things standing upright, such as cups, bottles and buildings. Si is also the verb build or set down.

  • Kuruwa no si pon no so. (The cup is standing on the table.)
  • Yɛn fie si asɔre no nkyɛn. (Our house stands beside the church.)

3. People standing: gyina
For a person or animal standing, use gyina: Kofi gyina abɔnten (Kofi is standing outside).

4. Wɔ is always correct
You can always use wɔ: Nwoma no wɔ pon no so (The book is on the table). Da and si are not required, but they sound more precise and natural when the position matters.

5. Tense
As state verbs, da and si use the plain form for now. For a past position, add na: Na sika no da ha (The money was lying here). The progressive reda means going to sleep or lying down, an action, not a position.

6. The place phrase
The place phrase that follows uses the usual place nouns: so, mu, ase, nkyɛn.

Examples (6)

  1. Nwoma no da pon no so.

    The book is lying on the table.

    Word by Word: book the lies table the on

    Da says the book is lying flat.

  2. Kuruwa no si pon no so.

    The cup is standing on the table.

    Si says the cup is upright.

  3. Abofra no da mpa no so.

    The child is lying on the bed.

    Da is used for people lying down, too.

  4. Yɛn fie si asɔre no nkyɛn.

    Our house stands beside the church.

    Buildings stand, so they take si.

  5. Kofi gyina abɔnten.

    Kofi is standing outside.

    For a person standing, use gyina rather than si.

  6. Na sika no da ha.

    The money was lying here.

    Na before a state verb places the position in the past.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the progressive re- for a position.

    Nwoma no reda pon no so.
    Nwoma no da pon no so.

    Da here is a state, so it takes the plain form. Reda describes an action, going to sleep or lying down, which a book cannot do.

  • Using si for something lying flat.

    Nwoma no si pon no so.
    Nwoma no da pon no so.

    If you mean the book is lying flat, use da. Si would say the book is standing upright on its end.

How It Connects

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

da / si (Be Located)Level 4Lying and Standing: Da, Si

Learn This First

Lying and standing are state verbs of place.

Words in This Pattern

sigyina