berɛ a ... no
When in the Past: Berɛ a ... No
Set a past time with berɛ a + clause + no: Berɛ a meduruu fie no, na ɔredidi means When I got home, he was eating.
How It Works
1. The frame
berɛ + a + clause + no, then the main clause.
- Berɛ a meduruu fie no, na ɔredidi. (When I got home, he was eating.)
- Berɛ a ɔbaeɛ no, na mereda. (When she came, I was sleeping.)
2. Past forms inside
Use the past forms you already know. Before a following word, the verb doubles its last sound: meduruu fie. At the end of the clause, just before no, it takes the -eɛ ending: ɔbaeɛ no. See Simple Past Before an Object and Simple Past at the End of a Clause.
3. States and ongoing actions
State verbs and ongoing actions in the past need na, both inside the frame and in the main clause: Berɛ a na meyɛ abofra no, na mete Kumase (When I was a child, I lived in Kumasi). With re-, berɛ a means while: Berɛ a na nsuo retɔ no, yɛtenaa fie (While it was raining, we stayed at home). See Past States With na and Was Doing: na + re-.
4. Choosing a when
- A future or repeated when: If or When? sɛ ... a.
- The question when?: When: berɛ bɛn.
5. Spelling
You will also see ɛberɛ a. Akuapem writes bere a.
Examples (5)
- Berɛ a meduruu fie no, na ɔredidi.
When I got home, he was eating.
Word by Word: time REL I-arrive-PAST home the, PAST he-PROG-eat
Na + re- in the main clause describes what was going on at that moment.
- Berɛ a ɔbaeɛ no, na mereda.
When she came, I was sleeping.
Ɔbaeɛ ends the clause, so the past takes -eɛ before no.
- Berɛ a na meyɛ abofra no, na mete Kumase.
When I was a child, I lived in Kumasi.
Word by Word: time REL PAST I-be child the, PAST I-live Kumasi
Both clauses describe past states, so both take na.
- Mekae berɛ a wobaa ha no.
I remember when you came here.
Word by Word: I-remember time REL you-come-PAST here the
The frame can also be the object of a verb like kae (remember).
- Berɛ a na nsuo retɔ no, yɛtenaa fie.
While it was raining, we stayed at home.
With re- inside the frame, berɛ a means while.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out na for a past state.
Berɛ a meyɛ abofra no, mete Kumase.Berɛ a na meyɛ abofra no, na mete Kumase.The intended meaning is When I was a child, I lived in Kumasi. State verbs like yɛ and te have no past ending, so without na they read as present. Put na in both clauses.
Using the question word berɛ bɛn in a statement.
Berɛ bɛn meduruu fie no, na ɔredidi.Berɛ a meduruu fie no, na ɔredidi.Berɛ bɛn asks When? A statement about the time when something happened uses berɛ a ... no.
How It Connects
Learn This First
When in the past is a relative clause on berɛ.
Related Patterns
- sɛ ... a (When)If or When? Sɛ ... a
Use sɛ ... a for future or repeated when.
Level 3 - berɛ bɛn (When)When: Berɛ Bɛn
Asks the question when?
Level 2 - na + re-Was Doing: Na + Re-
Often gives the main clause: what was happening at that time.
Level 2 - na (Past State)Past States with Na
Past states inside the frame need na.
Level 2 - no (Clause-Final)Clause-Final No
Explains the no that closes the time clause.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice berɛ a ... no in Bubblegum
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