so (On)

On: So

Level 2

Say the thing, then so: pon no so means on the table. English puts on first; Twi puts so last.

How It Works

1. The pattern
Noun + so. The noun keeps its own words, such as no (the), and so comes at the very end.

  • pon no so (on the table)
  • akonnwa no so (on the chair)
  • kwan no so (on the road)
  • ne ti so (on his or her head)

2. Saying where something is
Use wɔ (be at) before the place: Nwoma no wɔ pon no so (The book is on the table). For the negative, use nni: Nwoma no nni pon no so (The book is not on the table). See Location With Place Nouns.

3. After action verbs
Verbs of sitting, putting and climbing take the place straight after them, with no wɔ: Tena akonnwa no so (Sit on the chair).

4. It is a noun
Because so is a noun, a possessive can stand in for the thing: ne so (on it, on him or her). You also meet it in fixed phrases such as Hwɛ wo ho so yie (Take care of yourself), from Myself, Yourself: possessive + ho.

5. Do not confuse
Nso means also, not on: see Also, Too: nso.

Examples (6)

  1. Nwoma no wɔ pon no so.

    The book is on the table.

    Word by Word: book the be.at table the top

  2. Tena akonnwa no so.

    Sit on the chair.

    Word by Word: sit chair the top

    After tena (sit), the place follows directly, with no wɔ.

  3. Ne kyɛ wɔ ne ti so.

    His hat is on his head.

    Word by Word: his hat be.at his head top

  4. Nnipa pii wɔ kwan no so.

    There are many people on the road.

    Word by Word: people many be.at road the top

  5. Nwoma no nni pon no so.

    The book is not on the table.

    Nni is the negative of wɔ (be at). The place phrase stays the same.

  6. Hwɛ wo ho so yie.

    Take care of yourself.

    Word by Word: look your self top well

    A fixed phrase: hwɛ ... so means look after, and yie means well.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting so before the noun, like English on.

    Nwoma no wɔ so pon no.
    Nwoma no wɔ pon no so.

    So is a place noun and always follows the thing it belongs to: pon no so, the table's top.

  • Leaving out wɔ when saying where something is.

    Nwoma no pon no so.
    Nwoma no wɔ pon no so.

    A location sentence needs the verb wɔ (be at). Without it there is no verb, so the sentence is incomplete.

How It Connects

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

so (On)Level 2On: So

Learn This First

So is a location noun.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

ɛso