Serial Verbs
Twi often puts two or more verbs in a row to describe one event, where English uses a small word such as with, for or and: Tɔ aduane ma me (Buy food for me).
How It Works
Verbs instead of small words. Where English uses a preposition or and, Twi often uses a second verb. Common patterns: de (take, use) for a tool: Ɔde sekan twaa nam no (He cut the meat with a knife); ma (give) for the person who benefits: Tɔ aduane ma me (Buy food for me); fa ... bra for bring: Fa nsuo bra (Bring water); and kɔ (go) for direction: Ɔtuu mmirika kɔɔ fie (He ran home).
Steps in order. A series can also list steps in the order they happen: Ama tɔɔ paanoo diiɛ (Ama bought bread and ate it). No word for and is needed, and the bread is understood as the object of both verbs. See Two Kinds of Serial Verbs.
One subject. The subject is named once, as a noun or as the prefix on the first verb. Later verbs usually take no subject prefix: Ɔtɔɔ aduane maa me, not Ɔtɔɔ aduane ɔmaa me.
Shared tense and negation. Every verb carries the same tense or negative, except de, which never changes: Ɔde sekan twaa nam no has the past only on twaa. In the past each verb takes the past form (Tense Across Serial Verbs). After a future or progressive first verb, later verbs take a- (Consecutive a-): Ama bɛtɔ mpaboa ama Kofi (Ama will buy shoes for Kofi). In the negative every verb is negative (Negatives in Serial Verbs): Ama antɔ kawa amma abofra no.
Examples (6)
- Ɔde sekan twaa nam no.
He cut the meat with a knife.
Word by Word: He takes knife cut meat the.
De (take, use) introduces the tool; twaa (cut) carries the past.
- Tɔ aduane ma me.
Buy food for me.
Word by Word: Buy food give me.
Ma (give) names the person the action is for.
- Ama tɔɔ paanoo diiɛ.
Ama bought bread and ate it.
Two steps in order; both verbs are in the past.
- Ɔtuu mmirika kɔɔ fie.
He ran home.
Tu mmirika (run) + kɔ (go) gives the direction.
- Ama bɛtɔ mpaboa ama Kofi.
Ama will buy shoes for Kofi.
After the future bɛ-, the second verb takes a-: ama.
- Ama antɔ kawa amma abofra no.
Ama did not buy a ring for the child.
Both verbs are in the negative past: antɔ and amma.
Common Mistakes
Marking the past only on the first verb.
Ɔtɔɔ aduane ma me.Ɔtɔɔ aduane maa me.In the past every verb in the series takes the past form: tɔɔ and maa.
Joining the verbs with ne.
Ama tɔɔ paanoo ne diiɛ.Ama tɔɔ paanoo diiɛ.Ne joins nouns, never verbs. In a series the verbs simply follow each other.
Making only the first verb negative.
Ama antɔ kawa maa abofra no.Ama antɔ kawa amma abofra no.Each verb carries the negative, so ma also takes the negative past: amma.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Serial verbs string ordinary verbs together.
Related Patterns
- Verb + ma (For)Doing Something for Someone: Ma
The most common series: ma (give) after an action names who it is for.
Level 2 - fa ... bra / fa ... kɔBring and Take: Fa ... Bra, Fa ... Kɔ
The series for bring and take away.
Level 2 - de (With, Using)Using Something: De
The series that introduces a tool or the thing handled.
Level 3 - Tense Across Serial Verbs
Explains how the past appears on each verb in a series.
Level 3 - Negatives in Serial Verbs
Explains how the negative appears on each verb in a series.
Level 4 - Two Kinds of Serial Verbs
Separates step-by-step series from series that form one idea.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- tumi (Can)Can: TumiLevel 2
- wɔ (At, In)At, In: WɔLevel 2
- a- (Consecutive)Consecutive a-Level 3
- firi ase (Begin)Begin: Firi AseLevel 3
- ka kyerɛ (Tell)Tell: Ka KyerɛLevel 3
- san (Again, Back)Again, Back: SanLevel 3
- taa (Often)Often: TaaLevel 3
- kɔ so (Continue)Keep on: Kɔ SoLevel 4
And 1 more in the full list.
Practice Serial Verbs in Bubblegum
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