Nouns From Verb Expressions

Level 5

Verb + object becomes object + verb in one word: yɛ adwuma → adwumayɛ (work, working).

How It Works

1. Simple joining

  • yɛ adwuma (work) → adwumayɛ (work, working)
  • bɔ nkɔmmɔ (chat) → nkɔmmɔbɔ (conversation)
  • bɔ mpaeɛ (pray) → mpaebɔ (praying)
  • bɔ mmɔden (try hard) → mmɔdenbɔ (effort)
  • nom nsuo (drink water) → nsuonom (water-drinking)

2. With changes
Some nouns add a prefix and a final vowel: tu kwan (travel) → akwantuo (journey). A final m can become n before the verb: ka asɛm (speak the word) → asɛnka (preaching).

3. The thing and the activity
The object noun alone is often the thing, and the joined noun is the activity: mpaeɛ is a prayer, mpaebɔ is praying; adwuma is a job, adwumayɛ is working.

4. People who do it
Add -foɔ to name the people: adwumayɛfoɔ (workers), akwantufoɔ (travellers).

5. In formal Twi
These nouns are common in formal writing and in radio and news language, where ideas need compact nouns. For nouns built from a verb alone, see Nouns for Ideas.

Examples (6)

  1. Akwantuo no yɛɛ dɛ.

    The journey was pleasant.

    Word by Word: journey the was sweet

  2. Mpaebɔ ho hia.

    Praying is important.

    X ho hia is a common way to say X is important.

  3. Nkɔmmɔbɔ no kyɛreeɛ.

    The conversation went on for a long time.

  4. Mmɔdenbɔ na ɛma obi di nkonim.

    It is effort that makes a person succeed.

    Mmɔdenbɔ comes from bɔ mmɔden (try hard).

  5. Nsuonom ma onipa nya ahoɔden.

    Drinking water gives a person strength.

    Word by Word: water-drinking makes person get strength

  6. Adwumayɛfoɔ no aba.

    The workers have come.

    -foɔ turns the activity noun into a noun for people.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the verb first.

    yɛadwuma
    adwumayɛ

    In the noun, the object comes first and the verb after it.

  • Using the verb phrase itself as a subject.

    Tu kwan no yɛɛ dɛ.
    Akwantuo no yɛɛ dɛ.

    Tu kwan is a verb phrase, to travel. To say the journey, use the noun akwantuo.

How It Connects

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

Nouns From Verb ExpressionsLevel 5

Learn This First

These nouns are built from verb and noun expressions.

Words in This Pattern

-ni