nea (The One Who)
What, The One Who: Nea
No noun? Start with nea: nea wopɛ (what you want), nea ɔbaeɛ no (the one who came).
How It Works
1. The frame
nea + clause + (no).
- nea wopɛ (what you want)
- nea ɔbaeɛ no (the one who came)
- nea ɛhia (what is important)
2. Person or thing
The subject prefix inside the clause shows what nea stands for: nea ɔbaeɛ (the one who came) but nea ɛhia (what matters). When nea is the object inside the clause, the context decides: nea wopɛ (what you want).
3. Nea and deɛ
Both are used, and Asante speakers often say deɛ: deɛ ɔbɛdi kan no (the one who comes first). Keep this deɛ apart from As For: deɛ after a word, and from dea in Mine and Yours: me dea.
4. Those who
For several people, use wɔn a: wɔn a wɔbaeɛ no (those who came).
5. Where you will meet it
Nea builds many fixed patterns: What Matters Is That and nea edi kan (the first one) in First, Second, Third.
Examples (6)
- Fa nea wopɛ.
Take what you want.
Word by Word: take what you-want
- Nea ɔbaeɛ no yɛ me nua.
The one who came is my sibling.
Word by Word: the.one he/she-come-PAST the be my sibling
The prefix ɔ- shows that nea is a person.
- Mennim nea ɔkaeɛ.
I do not know what she said.
Kaeɛ is the clause-final past of ka (say).
- Deɛ ɔbɛdi kan no bɛnya akyɛdeɛ.
The one who comes first will get a gift.
Deɛ is the common Asante form of nea. Di kan means be first.
- Nea ɛhia ne sɛ wobɛba.
What matters is that you come.
The prefix ɛ- shows that nea is a thing.
- Wɔn a wɔbaeɛ no nyinaa didiiɛ.
All those who came ate.
For several people, wɔn a replaces nea.
Common Mistakes
Using the thing prefix ɛ- for a person.
Nea ɛbaeɛ no yɛ me nua.Nea ɔbaeɛ no yɛ me nua.The intended meaning is The one who came is my sibling. With ɛ- the clause means the thing that came. Use ɔ- when nea is a person.
Dropping the subject prefix after nea.
Nea baeɛ no yɛ me nua.Nea ɔbaeɛ no yɛ me nua.As in every relative clause, the subject inside must keep its prefix: ɔbaeɛ.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Nea is a headless relative clause.
Related Patterns
- nea ɛhia ne sɛWhat Matters Is That
A fixed frame built on nea: what matters is that.
Level 5 - deɛ (As For)As for: Deɛ
A different deɛ that marks a topic.
Level 3 - me dea (Mine)Mine and Yours: Me Dea
Dea after a possessor means the one belonging to.
Level 2 - obi / biribi / baabiSomeone, Something, Somewhere
Obi a and biribi a are other ways to say someone who, something that.
Level 2 - First, Second, Third
Nea edi kan (the first one) is built on nea.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice nea (The One Who) in Bubblegum
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