Simple Past Before an Object
If something follows the verb, the past doubles the verb's last sound: Kofi baa fie (Kofi came home), Ama tɔɔ paanoo (Ama bought bread).
How It Works
The rule
If any word follows the verb in its clause, repeat the verb's last sound:
- ba → baa: Kofi baa fie. (Kofi came home.)
- tɔ → tɔɔ: Ama tɔɔ paanoo. (Ama bought bread.)
- di → dii: Kofi dii aduane. (Kofi ate food.)
- kɔ → kɔɔ: Mekɔɔ Kumase nnɛra. (I went to Kumasi yesterday.)
- hunu → hunuu: Yɛhunuu no. (We saw him.)
Verbs ending in m or n double the consonant: nom → nomm (Afia nomm nsuo, Afia drank water), tɔn → tɔnn (Akosua tɔnn ne ntoma, Akosua sold her cloth).
What counts as "something after"
An object, a person, a place or a time word: Kofi didii nnɛra (Kofi ate yesterday). If nothing follows, use the other past form: Kofi didiiɛ (Kofi ate). See Simple Past at the End of a Clause.
Say the double sound
The doubled letter is really pronounced: tɔ (buy) and tɔɔ (bought) sound different, so hold the vowel.
Past or perfect?
The simple past tells what happened: Kofi baa ha nnɛra (Kofi came here yesterday). The perfect says it matters now: Kofi aba (Kofi has come). See Past or Perfect?.
More than one verb
When each verb in a chain has its own object, each one goes into the past: Ɔtɔɔ aduane maa me (She bought food for me). See Tense Across Serial Verbs.
The negative
"Did not" is a separate form with a- and the nasal: Mankɔ (I did not go). See Did Not: a- + N-.
Examples (6)
- Kofi baa fie.
Kofi came home.
Word by Word: Kofi came home.
- Ama tɔɔ paanoo.
Ama bought bread.
Word by Word: Ama bought bread.
- Mekɔɔ Kumase nnɛra.
I went to Kumasi yesterday.
Word by Word: I-went Kumasi yesterday.
- Yɛhunuu no.
We saw him. / We saw her.
Word by Word: We-saw him/her.
No after the verb counts as something following it.
- Afia nomm nsuo.
Afia drank water.
Word by Word: Afia drank water.
A verb ending in m doubles the m.
- Aduane no yɛɛ dɛ.
The food was delicious.
Word by Word: Food the was sweet.
Common Mistakes
Using the clause-end form before a place or object.
Mekɔeɛ Kumase.Mekɔɔ Kumase.Kumase follows the verb, so the past doubles the vowel: kɔɔ. The -eɛ ending is only for a verb that ends its clause.
Using the plain verb with a past time word.
Ama tɔ paanoo nnɛra.Ama tɔɔ paanoo nnɛra.Nnɛra (yesterday) does not make the verb past by itself. The verb needs its own past form, tɔɔ.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The simple past is built from the plain verb form.
Related Patterns
- Simple Past at the End of a Clause
The other simple past shape, used when nothing follows the verb.
Level 1 - Past or Perfect?
When to report an event with the simple past and when to use the perfect.
Level 3 - a-N- (Negative Past)Did Not: A- + N-
The negative of the simple past: Mankɔ.
Level 2 - Tense Across Serial Verbs
In a chain where each verb has its own object, each verb takes the past form.
Level 3 - Today, Tomorrow and Now
A time word after the verb also calls for the doubled form: nnɛra.
Level 2 - Object Pronouns
An object pronoun after the verb counts too: Yɛhunuu no.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Simple Past Before an Object in Bubblegum
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