da so (Still)

Still: Da So

Level 4

Ɔda so wɔ ha means She is still here. Da so says something has not stopped yet.

How It Works

1. The pattern
subject + da so + next verb.

  • An action in progress: Ɔda so reda. (He is still sleeping.) Nsuo da so retɔ. (It is still raining.)
  • A habit: Kofi da so kɔ sukuu. (Kofi still goes to school.)
  • A state: Ɔda so wɔ ha. (She is still here.) Ɔda so yɛ abofra. (He is still a child.)

A name or noun subject takes no prefix: Kofi da so, but Ɔda so and Meda so. See Noun Subjects Without a Prefix.

2. Still, in the past
Put na in front: Na ɔda so reda (He was still sleeping).

3. Da so ara
Ara adds weight: Ɔda so ara kɔ asɔre (She still goes to church, even now).

4. Still not and no longer
Da so is for things that go on. For still not or not yet, use nnya: Ɔnnya mmaeɛ (He still has not come). For no longer, use a negative with bio: Ɔnni ha bio (She is no longer here).

5. Da so or kɔ so?
Ɔda so rekasa says he is still speaking; the talk has not stopped. Kɔ so says someone keeps on with an action: Kɔ so kasa (Keep talking).

Examples (6)

  1. Ɔda so reda.

    He is still sleeping.

    Word by Word: he-lies on is-sleeping

    The second verb has re-, so the action is still in progress.

  2. Ɔda so wɔ ha.

    She is still here.

    Word by Word: she-lies on is-at here

  3. Kofi da so kɔ sukuu.

    Kofi still goes to school.

    Word by Word: Kofi lies on goes school

    The plain form kɔ shows a habit that has not stopped.

  4. Nsuo da so retɔ.

    It is still raining.

    Word by Word: water lies on is-falling

  5. Woda so wɔ hɔ?

    Are you still there?

    Word by Word: you-lie on are-at there

  6. Na ɔda so reda.

    He was still sleeping.

    Word by Word: PAST he-lies on is-sleeping

    Na in front moves the whole sentence into the past.

Common Mistakes

  • Using bio for still.

    Ɔreda bio. (meaning he is still sleeping)
    Ɔda so reda.

    Bio means again, so Ɔreda bio says he is sleeping again. For still, use da so.

  • Leaving out the second verb.

    Ɔda so ha.
    Ɔda so wɔ ha.

    Da so needs a verb after it. To say where someone still is, add wɔ (be at).

How It Connects

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

da so (Still)Level 4Still: Da So

Learn This First

Still often goes with the progressive.