baabi a (Where)

Where in Relative Clauses: Baabi a

Level 4

baabi a mete no means the place where I live. Baabi (a place) starts a relative clause with a.

How It Works

1. The pattern
baabi a + clause + no.

  • baabi a mete no (the place where I live)
  • Baabi a mete no bɛn ha. (Where I live is near here.)
  • Eyi ne baabi a wɔwoo me no. (This is where I was born.)

The whole phrase works like a noun, so it can be a subject or come after a verb.

2. With or without no
Leave no off when the place is unknown or open: Mennim baabi a ɔwɔ (I do not know where she is), Kɔ baabi a wopɛ (Go wherever you like), Kyerɛ me baabi a ɛwɔ (Show me where it is).

3. Wherever
Baabiara (every place) gives wherever, and the main clause often points back with hɔ (there): Baabiara a wobɛkɔ no, mɛkɔ hɔ bi (Wherever you go, I will go there too).

4. Akuapem faako a
Akuapem and much printed Twi often use faako a in the same way: faako a ɔwɔ no (where he is). See Akuapem forms in print.

5. Related frames
For time, the same idea uses berɛ a ... no. When a place word such as so (on) belongs inside the clause, see relatives with a place noun.

Examples (6)

  1. Baabi a mete no bɛn ha.

    Where I live is near here.

    Word by Word: place REL I-live the is-near here

  2. Kɔ baabi a wopɛ.

    Go wherever you like.

    Word by Word: go place REL you-like

    No is left off because the place is open.

  3. Mennim baabi a ɔwɔ.

    I do not know where she is.

    Word by Word: I-not-know place REL she-is-at

  4. Eyi ne baabi a wɔwoo me no.

    This is where I was born.

    Word by Word: this is place REL they-bore me the

    Wɔwoo me (I was born) uses the impersonal wɔ-.

  5. Kyerɛ me baabi a ɛwɔ.

    Show me where it is.

    Word by Word: show me place REL it-is-at

  6. Baabiara a wobɛkɔ no, mɛkɔ hɔ bi.

    Wherever you go, I will go there too.

    Word by Word: place-every REL you-will-go the, I-will-go there also

    Hɔ (there) in the main clause points back to the place.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the relative marker a.

    Baabi mete no bɛn ha.
    Baabi a mete no bɛn ha.

    Baabi is a noun, and a noun that opens a relative clause needs a after it.

  • Using the question word he inside a sentence.

    Kyerɛ me he a ɛwɔ.
    Kyerɛ me baabi a ɛwɔ.

    He is a question word, as in Ɛwɔ he? (Where is it?), and it cannot open a clause with a. To say where inside a sentence, use baabi a.

How It Connects

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

baabi a (Where)Level 4Where in Relative Clauses: Baabi a

Learn This First

Where in relatives builds on baabi.

Words in This Pattern

baabiabaabiara