Simple Past at the End of a Clause

Level 1

When the verb is the last word of its clause, the past ends in -eɛ or -iɛ: Ɔbaeɛ (He came), Kofi didiiɛ (Kofi ate), Metɔeɛ (I bought it).

How It Works

The rule
When the verb is the last word of its clause, Asante Twi uses an ending instead of a doubled sound:

  • Verbs ending in a vowel add -eɛ or -iɛ: ba → baeɛ, kɔ → kɔeɛ, tɔ → tɔeɛ, su → suiɛ, didi → didiiɛ.
  • Verbs ending in m or n add a vowel first: nom → nomeeɛ, tɔn → tɔneeɛ, dum → dumiiɛ.

Whether you hear e or i depends on the verb's vowels; see Vowel Harmony. The two endings sound close, so learn each verb by ear.

Not emphasis
The final ɛ is the normal Asante ending for a past clause and adds no extra meaning. Akuapem, the variety of much older print, leaves it off: Ɔbae, didii, kɔe. See Asante and Akuapem Verb Differences.

"It" is often hidden here
A known thing is usually left out, so the verb ends the clause: Metɔeɛ (I bought it). See Leaving Out It.

Clause ends inside a sentence
A clause can end before na (and then) or before the no that closes a "when" clause, so those spots take this form too: Ɔbaa fie na ɔdidiiɛ (He came home and ate), Berɛ a ɔbaeɛ no, na mewɔ fie (When he came, I was at home). See And Then: na and When in the Past: berɛ a ... no.

Add a word, switch forms
As soon as a word follows the verb, go back to the doubled form: Ɔbaeɛ (He came) but Ɔbaa ha (He came here). See Simple Past Before an Object.

Examples (6)

  1. Ɔbaeɛ.

    He came. / She came.

    Word by Word: He-came.

  2. Kofi didiiɛ.

    Kofi ate.

    Word by Word: Kofi ate.

    Akuapem writes Kofi didii.

  3. Metɔeɛ.

    I bought it.

    Word by Word: I-bought.

    The thing bought is known, so it is left out and the verb ends the clause.

  4. Kanea no dumiiɛ.

    The light went off.

    Word by Word: Lamp the went-off.

    Dum ends in m, so a vowel is added before the ending.

  5. Wɔkɔeɛ.

    They left. / They went.

    Word by Word: They-went.

  6. Ɔbaa fie na ɔdidiiɛ.

    He came home and ate.

    Word by Word: He-came home and he-ate.

    Baa has a word after it; didiiɛ ends its clause.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the doubled form with nothing after it.

    Ɔbaa. (meaning He came.)
    Ɔbaeɛ.

    The doubled form baa needs a word after it, as in Ɔbaa fie. On its own, Ɔbaa reads as the noun ɔbaa, woman.

  • Using the doubled consonant at the end of the clause.

    Kofi tɔnn.
    Kofi tɔneeɛ.

    Tɔnn is only used before an object, as in Kofi tɔnn nkosua. At the end of the clause, a verb ending in n adds a vowel and then -eɛ.

How It Connects

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

Simple Past at the End of a ClauseLevel 1

Learn This First

The clause-final past completes the simple past.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

-eɛ-iɛ