ɛ- (Subject Prefix)
The Subject Prefix Ɛ- for Things
Ɛ- means "it" and joins the front of the verb like the other subject prefixes: Ɛyɛ dɛ (It is nice), Ɛwɔ he? (Where is it?).
How It Works
People get ɔ-, things get ɛ-
Animals often take ɔ- as well.
About a person: Ɔkɔ Kejetia (She goes to Kejetia). About the trotro: Ɛkɔ Kejetia (It goes to Kejetia). Food, prices, places, plans and ideas all take ɛ-.
The empty "it"
Like English, Twi needs a subject even when nothing real is doing the action:
- Ɛyɛ hyew. — It is hot. See Talking About the Weather.
- Ɛyɛ me dɛ. — I like it. (Literally "It is sweet to me.")
- Ɛsɛ sɛ mekɔ. — I have to go. See Must, Should: ɛsɛ sɛ.
- Ɛnyɛ hwee. — It is nothing; no problem.
With markers
- Future: Ɛbɛyɛ yie (It will be fine).
- Progressive: Ɛreba (It is coming).
- Negative: Ɛnyɛ den (It is not hard).
- Perfect: ɛ- drops before a-, so only a- is left: Asɛe (It has spoiled; it is broken), Abɔ nnɔn nson (It is seven o'clock). See Telling the Time: abɔ nnɔn.
Spelling
The usual spelling is ɛ-. Before a verb with i or u, the prefix can sound like e, and some writers spell it that way: ɛhia or ehia (it is needed). Both are in use. See Vowel Harmony.
No ɛ- after a noun
If the thing is named, the noun takes the place of ɛ-: Trotro no kɔ Kejetia (The trotro goes to Kejetia). See Noun Subjects Take No Prefix.
Examples (6)
- Ɛyɛ dɛ.
It is nice. / It tastes good.
Word by Word: It-is sweet.
- Ɛyɛ hyew ɛnnɛ.
It is hot today.
Word by Word: It-is hot today.
The empty "it" of the weather.
- Ɛwɔ he?
Where is it?
Word by Word: It-is-at where?
- Ɛbɛyɛ yie.
It will be fine.
Word by Word: It-will-be well.
- Ɛyɛ me dɛ.
I like it.
Word by Word: It-is me sweet.
The thing you like is the subject, so it takes ɛ-.
- Asɛe.
It has broken. / It has gone bad.
Word by Word: It-has-spoiled.
In the perfect, ɛ- drops and only a- remains.
Common Mistakes
Using ɔ- for a thing.
Ɔyɛ dɛ. (about the soup)Ɛyɛ dɛ.Ɔ- is for people (and often animals). Food, places and objects take ɛ-. Ɔyɛ dɛ would describe a person.
Leaving out the empty it.
Yɛ hyew.Ɛyɛ hyew.A Twi statement needs a subject. For weather and similar sentences, that subject is ɛ-.
Adding ɛ- after a noun subject.
Trotro no ɛkɔ Kejetia.Trotro no kɔ Kejetia.The noun trotro no is already the subject, so the verb takes no prefix.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The prefix ɛ- extends the set of subject prefixes.
Related Patterns
- Noun Subjects Take No Prefix
When the thing is named, ɛ- is left out.
Level 1 - Talking About the Weather
Weather sentences use the empty ɛ-: Ɛyɛ hyew.
Level 2 - abɔ nnɔnTelling the Time: Abɔ Nnɔn
In clock time, ɛ- drops before the perfect a-: Abɔ nnɔn nson.
Level 2 - ɛsɛ sɛ (Must)Must, Should: Ɛsɛ Sɛ
A fixed expression built on the empty ɛ-.
Level 2 - yɛ + AdjectiveDescribing with Yɛ
Ɛyɛ plus a describing word says what something is like: Ɛyɛ fɛ.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice ɛ- (Subject Prefix) in Bubblegum
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