na + re-
Was Doing: Na + Re-
To say what someone was doing, take a sentence with the progressive re- and put na in front: Na meredidi (I was eating).
How It Works
How it is built. Start with a progressive sentence and put na in front: Meredidi (I am eating) becomes Na meredidi (I was eating). With a noun subject, na comes before the noun and re- attaches to the verb: Na Kofi rekasa (Kofi was speaking).
No past ending. The past endings (-eɛ, a doubled vowel) are only for finished events. A verb with re- never takes them, so meredidiiɛ is not a word. Na does the job instead.
The background to an event. The past progressive often describes what was going on when something happened. The event comes first, usually closed with no, and na opens the background: Yɛbaeɛ no, na Akosua resu (When we came, Akosua was crying), Berɛ a meduruu fie no, na Ama renoa aduane (When I got home, Ama was cooking). See When in the Past: berɛ a ... no.
After sɛ. Na can also open a clause after sɛ (that): Yaw kaa sɛ na Kofi resa (Yaw said that Kofi was dancing).
Listening tip. In fast Asante speech re- is often said as a copy of the vowel before it, so meredidi can sound like meedidi. Always write re-.
Examples (6)
- Na meredidi.
I was eating.
Meredidi (I am eating), moved into the past with na.
- Na Kofi rekasa.
Kofi was speaking.
Na comes before the noun subject; re- joins the verb.
- Yɛbaeɛ no, na Akosua resu.
When we came, Akosua was crying.
The first clause is a finished event; the na clause is what was going on.
- Na nsuo retɔ.
It was raining.
Nsuo retɔ (it is raining, literally water is falling) with na.
- Berɛ a meduruu fie no, na Ama renoa aduane.
When I got home, Ama was cooking.
Berɛ a ... no sets the time; na + re- gives the ongoing action.
- Na wɔrebɔ nkɔmmɔ.
They were chatting.
Bɔ nkɔmmɔ (chat) with wɔ- + re- and na.
Common Mistakes
Adding a past ending to a re- verb.
Meredidiiɛ.Na meredidi.A verb with re- never takes the past ending. Put na before the clause instead.
Putting na after the subject.
Kofi na rekasa.Na Kofi rekasa.The past na must open the clause, before a noun subject. After Kofi, na would be read as the focus marker.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The past progressive combines na with re-.
Related Patterns
- na + Simple PresentUsed to: Na + Simple Present
The same na with a plain action verb describes a past habit instead.
Level 3 - berɛ a ... noWhen in the Past: Berɛ a ... No
Often introduces the event during which the na + re- action was going on.
Level 3 - Simple Present or Progressive?
Explains when to use re- at all, before moving it into the past.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice na + re- in Bubblegum
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