State Verbs in the Present

Level 1

Some verbs describe a state, not an action: nim (know), pɛ (want, like), dɔ (love), te (live, stay), wɔ (be at, have). Their plain form already means "now": Menim (I know).

How It Works

Common state verbs

  • nim — know: Menim (I know), Wonim me? (Do you know me?)
  • pɛ — want, like: Mepɛ nsuo (I want water)
  • dɔ — love: Medɔ wo (I love you)
  • te — live, stay: Mete Kumase (I live in Kumasi). See Living Somewhere: te.
  • wɔ — be at, have: Mewɔ fie (I am at home), Mewɔ sika (I have money). See To Be At: wɔ and To Have: wɔ.
  • hia — need: Mehia wo mmoa (I need your help). See Need: hia.

No re- for a state
English says "I know", not "I am knowing", and Twi works the same way: Menim, not Merenim.

Watch out for pɛ
Pɛ also means "look for", which is an action. In that meaning it does take re-: Mepɛ nsuo (I want water) but Merepɛ nsuo (I am looking for water).

Talking about the past
State verbs, and wɔ most of all, do not take the past endings. Put na in front instead: Na menim (I knew), Na mewɔ fie (I was at home). See Past States With na.

States in the perfect
Some states are said with the perfect a-, because they come from a change: Mabrɛ (I am tired), Mayɛ krado (I am ready). See The Perfect for Present States.

Spelling
You will see both menim and minim for "I know"; the prefix vowel follows the verb. See Vowel Harmony.

Examples (6)

  1. Menim.

    I know.

    Word by Word: I-know.

    Also spelled Minim.

  2. Mepɛ nsuo.

    I want water.

    Word by Word: I-want water.

  3. Mete Kumase.

    I live in Kumasi.

    Word by Word: I-live Kumasi.

  4. Medɔ wo.

    I love you.

    Word by Word: I-love you.

  5. Mewɔ sika kakra.

    I have a little money.

    Word by Word: I-have money a-little.

  6. Merepɛ me safoa.

    I am looking for my key.

    Word by Word: I-am-looking-for my key.

    Here pɛ means look for, an action, so it takes re-.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting a state verb into the re- form.

    Merenim.
    Menim.

    Nim (know) describes a state, so the plain form already means I know right now.

  • Giving wɔ (have) a past ending.

    Mewɔɔ sika. (meaning I had money)
    Na mewɔ sika.

    Wɔ (have) takes no past ending. Put na in front of the clause to place it in the past, or use nyaa (got): Minyaa sika.

  • Using re- with pɛ when you mean want.

    Merepɛ nsuo. (meaning I want water)
    Mepɛ nsuo.

    Merepɛ nsuo means I am looking for water. For want, use the plain form.

How It Connects

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State Verbs in the PresentLevel 1

Learn This First

State verbs are a special use of the plain form.

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Patterns that build on this one.