Topics Taken Up by a Pronoun

Level 5

Topic, pause, then a sentence with a pronoun for it: Kofi deɛ, mehunuu no nnɛra. (As for Kofi, I saw him yesterday.)

How It Works

1. The pattern
Topic + (deɛ) + pause + a full sentence with a pronoun for the topic.

2. Which pronoun?

  • Subject: the verb prefix. Mmofra no deɛ, wɔakɔ sukuu. (As for the children, they have gone to school.) A thing takes ɛ-: Kaa no deɛ, ɛyɛ foforɔ (As for the car, it is new).
  • Person object: no or wɔn, from Object Pronouns. Kofi deɛ, mehunuu no nnɛra.
  • Owner: a possessive. Kofi, ne maame yare. (Kofi, his mother is sick.)
  • Place: hɔ (there). Kumase deɛ, mekɔɔ hɔ nnɛra. (As for Kumasi, I went there yesterday.)

3. Things as objects
When the topic is a thing and the object of the verb, the pronoun is usually left out, as in Leaving Out It: Aduane no deɛ, yɛadi awie (As for the food, we have finished eating it). A person is never left out this way.

4. Topic or focus?
A topic sets the scene. Focus with na singles one thing out from others. Kofi deɛ, mehunuu no (As for Kofi, I saw him) says nothing about anyone else, but Kofi na mehunuu no (It was Kofi that I saw) means Kofi and no one else. Both need no for a person, and so do Pronouns Inside Relative Clauses.

5. Without deɛ
In relaxed speech the topic can stand alone before a pause: Wɔfa Kofi, waba ha (Uncle Kofi, he has come here). Deɛ adds a light contrast, like as for.

Examples (6)

  1. Kofi deɛ, mehunuu no nnɛra.

    As for Kofi, I saw him yesterday.

    Word by Word: Kofi as-for, I-saw him yesterday

    The object pronoun no points back to Kofi.

  2. Kofi, ne maame yare.

    Kofi, his mother is sick.

    The possessive ne points back to Kofi.

  3. Mmofra no deɛ, wɔakɔ sukuu.

    As for the children, they have gone to school.

    The subject prefix wɔ- points back to mmofra no.

  4. Kumase deɛ, mekɔɔ hɔ nnɛra.

    As for Kumasi, I went there yesterday.

    Hɔ (there) points back to a place.

  5. Aduane no deɛ, yɛadi awie.

    As for the food, we have finished eating it.

    A thing as object is usually left unsaid.

  6. Wɔfa Kofi, waba ha.

    Uncle Kofi, he has come here.

    A topic without deɛ, followed by a pause.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the pronoun for a person object.

    Kofi deɛ, mehunuu nnɛra.
    Kofi deɛ, mehunuu no nnɛra.

    A person who is the object must be picked up again with an object pronoun, here no (him). Only things are usually left out.

  • Leaving out the subject prefix after the topic.

    Mmofra no deɛ, akɔ sukuu.
    Mmofra no deɛ, wɔakɔ sukuu.

    The sentence after the topic is complete on its own, so its verb needs a subject prefix. Wɔ- points back to the children.

How It Connects

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

Topics Taken Up by a PronounLevel 5

Learn This First

Topics combine deɛ with a later pronoun.

Words in This Pattern

deɛ