Verb and Noun Expressions

Level 3

Many Twi actions are verb + noun: tu kwan (travel), yɛ adwuma (work), bɔ mmɔden (try hard).

How It Works

1. Common pairs

  • tu kwan (travel, literally pull up the road)
  • yɛ adwuma (work, literally do work)
  • bɔ mmɔden (try hard, make an effort)
  • bɔ nkɔmmɔ or di nkɔmmɔ (chat)
  • gye ahome (rest, literally take breath)
  • bɔ mpaeɛ (pray)

2. Grammar goes on the verb
The verb carries everything: Ɔtuu kwan (He travelled), Merentu kwan ɔkyena (I will not travel tomorrow), Abena ntuu kwan da (Abena has never travelled). The past shows by repeating the verb vowel, because the noun follows. See Simple Past Before an Object.

3. The noun can take a possessive
Some of these nouns can take a possessive: Yɛ wo adwuma (Do your work), Gye w'ahome (Rest, take your rest).

4. Adding another verb
A second verb can follow: Ɔretu kwan akɔ Nkran (She is travelling to Accra). Bɔ mmɔden + verb means try hard to do something: Bɔ mmɔden sua Twi (Try hard to learn Twi). See Serial Verbs.

5. Nouns made from them
Put the noun first to name the activity: akwantuo (journey), adwumayɛ (working), nkɔmmɔbɔ (conversation). See Nouns From Verb Expressions.

Examples (6)

  1. Ɔretu kwan akɔ Nkran.

    She is travelling to Accra.

    Word by Word: she-is-pulling road going Accra

    Re- goes on tu. Akɔ adds where she is going.

  2. Meyɛ adwuma wɔ Kumase.

    I work in Kumasi.

    Word by Word: I-do work at Kumasi

  3. Bɔ mmɔden!

    Try hard! Keep it up!

    Word by Word: strike effort

    A common word of encouragement.

  4. Yɛbɔɔ nkɔmmɔ nnɛra.

    We chatted yesterday.

    Word by Word: we-struck chat yesterday

    The past shows on bɔɔ because the noun follows it.

  5. Merentu kwan ɔkyena.

    I will not travel tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I-will-not-pull road tomorrow

    The negative future goes on the verb tu.

  6. Mɛgye m'ahome kakra.

    I will rest a little.

    Word by Word: I-will-take my-breath a-little

    M' is the short form of me before a vowel.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the noun when you mean work.

    Merenyɛ nnɛ.
    Merenyɛ adwuma nnɛ.

    Merenyɛ nnɛ means I will not do it today, because yɛ alone means do or make. The noun adwuma is what makes yɛ mean work.

How It Connects

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

Verb and Noun ExpressionsLevel 3

Learn This First

Verb and noun expressions follow basic word order.

Words in This Pattern

tu kwan