ebia / ɛbɛyɛ sɛ

Maybe: Ebia, Ɛbɛyɛ Sɛ

Level 3

Ebia means maybe and ɛbɛyɛ sɛ means it seems that: Ebia ɔbɛba (Maybe he will come).

How It Works

1. Ebia: maybe

  • Ebia ɔbɛba. (Maybe he will come.)
  • Ebia ɔwɔ fie. (Maybe she is at home.)

Ebia can also stand alone as an answer: Ebia. (Maybe.)

2. Ɛbɛyɛ sɛ: it seems that
Say ɛbɛyɛ sɛ, then the sentence. The word sɛ is needed:

  • Ɛbɛyɛ sɛ nsuo bɛtɔ. (It looks like it will rain.)
  • Ɛbɛyɛ sɛ wabrɛ. (It seems she is tired.)

3. Tense stays normal
The sentence after ebia or ɛbɛyɛ sɛ uses whatever tense it needs: future bɛ-, perfect a-, or the plain present.

4. Related words

  • Ɛte sɛ (it is like) can also mean it looks like.
  • Before a number or a time, ɛbɛyɛ sɛ or bɛyɛ means about: ɛbɛyɛ sɛ nnɔnmmiɛnsa (at about three o'clock).

Examples (5)

  1. Ebia ɔbɛba.

    Maybe he will come.

    Word by Word: perhaps he-will-come

  2. Ebia ɔwɔ fie.

    Maybe she is at home.

    Word by Word: perhaps she-is-at home

  3. Ebia mɛba ɔkyena.

    Maybe I will come tomorrow.

    Word by Word: perhaps I-will-come tomorrow

    Me + bɛ- becomes mɛ-.

  4. Ɛbɛyɛ sɛ nsuo bɛtɔ.

    It looks like it will rain.

    Word by Word: it-will-be that water will-fall

  5. Ɛbɛyɛ sɛ wabrɛ.

    It seems she is tired.

    Word by Word: it-will-be that she-has-tired

    Wabrɛ uses the perfect for a present state.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping sɛ after ɛbɛyɛ.

    Ɛbɛyɛ nsuo bɛtɔ.
    Ɛbɛyɛ sɛ nsuo bɛtɔ.

    Ɛbɛyɛ on its own means it will be. To say it seems that, add sɛ before the sentence.

How It Connects

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

ebia / ɛbɛyɛ sɛLevel 3Maybe: Ebia, Ɛbɛyɛ Sɛ

Learn This First

Maybe uses the future and sɛ clauses.

Words in This Pattern

ebiayɛ