sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a (Otherwise)

Otherwise: Sɛ Ɛnyɛ Saa a

Level 5

Advice + sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a + what happens if not: Yɛ ntɛm, sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a yɛbɛka akyi. (Hurry, otherwise we will be left behind.)

How It Works

1. A warning after advice
Say what should happen, then sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a and the result if it does not:

  • Yɛ ntɛm, sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a yɛbɛka akyi. (Hurry, otherwise we will be left behind.)
  • Di aduane no, sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a ɛkɔm bɛde wo. (Eat the food, otherwise you will get hungry.)

2. The result
The clause after it says what will happen, so it usually takes the future bɛ- or a negative future: sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a, worennya bi (otherwise you won't get any).

3. The short form anyɛ saa a
You will often hear anyɛ saa a, without sɛ: Fa kyinie, anyɛ saa a wobɛfɔ (Take an umbrella, otherwise you will get wet). Anyɛ is the Did Not: a- + N- form of yɛ, the same form found in At Least: anyɛ yie koraa a.

4. Keep the negative
The ɛnyɛ is what makes this mean otherwise. Without it, sɛ ɛyɛ saa a means if it is so, or in that case, which is close to Then, In That Case: ɛnneɛ.

5. Otherwise or unless?
Gye sɛ puts the condition inside one sentence: Yɛbɛka akyi gye sɛ yɛyɛ ntɛm (We will be left behind unless we hurry). Sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a comes after advice that has already been given.

Examples (4)

  1. Yɛ ntɛm, sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a yɛbɛka akyi.

    Hurry, otherwise we will be left behind.

    Word by Word: do quickly, if it-is-not so a we-will-remain behind

    Ka akyi (remain behind) means be left behind.

  2. Di aduane no, sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a ɛkɔm bɛde wo.

    Eat the food, otherwise you will get hungry.

    Ɛkɔm de wo (hunger holds you) means you are hungry.

  3. Fa kyinie, anyɛ saa a wobɛfɔ.

    Take an umbrella, otherwise you will get wet.

    The shorter form anyɛ saa a works the same way.

  4. Frɛ me, sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a me werɛ bɛfi.

    Call me, otherwise I will forget.

    Me werɛ bɛfi (my memory will leave) means I will forget.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the negative ɛnyɛ.

    Yɛ ntɛm, sɛ ɛyɛ saa a yɛbɛka akyi.
    Yɛ ntɛm, sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a yɛbɛka akyi.

    Sɛ ɛyɛ saa a means if it is so, so this says that hurrying will leave us behind. Otherwise needs the negative: sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a, if it is not so.

  • Dropping the closing a.

    Yɛ ntɛm, sɛ ɛnyɛ saa yɛbɛka akyi.
    Yɛ ntɛm, sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a yɛbɛka akyi.

    Sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a is an if-clause, so it ends with a before the result.

How It Connects

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

sɛ ɛnyɛ saa a (Otherwise)Level 5Otherwise: Sɛ Ɛnyɛ Saa a

Learn This First

Otherwise is a fixed negative condition.

Words in This Pattern

yɛsaaa