re- (Progressive)

Progressive Re-

Level 1

Re- makes the "-ing" form: Merekɔ fie (I am going home), Ɔredidi (She is eating), Mereba! (I'm coming!).

How It Works

Building it

  • Merekɔ — I am going
  • Worekɔ — you are going
  • Ɔrekɔ — he or she is going
  • Ɛrekɔ — it is going
  • Yɛrekɔ — we are going
  • Morekɔ — you all are going
  • Wɔrekɔ — they are going
  • Kofi rekɔ — Kofi is going

Everyday uses

  • Mereba! — I'm coming! (the answer when someone calls you)
  • Worekɔ he? — Where are you going?
  • Meresua Twi. — I am learning Twi.
  • Nsuo reto. — It is raining.

Now or usually?
Mekɔ sukuu means I go to school as a habit; Merekɔ sukuu means I am on my way now. See Simple Present and Simple Present or Progressive?. State verbs such as nim (know) do not take re-; see State Verbs in the Present.

In fast speech
Asante speakers often drop the r: merekɔ can sound like meekɔ, worekɔ like wookɔ, and ɔrekɔ like ɔɔkɔ. In writing, use the full form with re-.

The negative
To say you are not doing something, use the plain negative without re-: Menkɔ (I am not going). Merenkɔ is a different form that means "I will not go"; see Will Not: re- + N-.

Related forms
Put na in front for "was doing": Na meredidi (I was eating); see Was Doing: na + re-. Add bɛ- for "about to": Merebɛkɔ (I am about to go); see About To: rebɛ-.

Examples (6)

  1. Merekɔ fie.

    I am going home.

    Word by Word: I-am-going home.

  2. Ɔredidi.

    She is eating.

    Word by Word: She-is-eating.

  3. Mereba!

    I'm coming!

    Word by Word: I-am-coming!

    The usual answer when someone calls you.

  4. Kofi resua Twi.

    Kofi is learning Twi.

    Word by Word: Kofi is-learning Twi.

    With a noun subject, re- goes straight onto the verb.

  5. Worekɔ he?

    Where are you going?

    Word by Word: You-are-going where?

  6. Yɛrehwɛ bɔɔl.

    We are watching football.

    Word by Word: We-are-watching football.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing re- as a separate word.

    Me re kɔ fie.
    Merekɔ fie.

    The subject prefix, re- and the verb are written as one word.

  • Using re- + N- for "not doing right now".

    Merenkɔ. (meaning I am not going right now)
    Menkɔ.

    Merenkɔ is the negative future, I will not go. The negative of the progressive drops re-: Menkɔ.

How It Connects

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

re- (Progressive)Level 1Progressive Re-

Learn This First

The progressive adds re- to the plain verb.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

re-