sɛ ... o, sɛ ... o

Whether ... or: Sɛ ... O, Sɛ ... O

Level 5

Sɛ A o, sɛ B o, result = whether A or B, result: Sɛ wopɛ o, sɛ wompɛ o, ɛsɛ sɛ wokɔ. (Whether you like it or not, you have to go.)

How It Works

1. The pattern

  • Sɛ ɛyɛ dɛ o, sɛ ɛnyɛ dɛ o, di. (Whether it is tasty or not, eat it.)
  • Sɛ nsuo tɔ o, sɛ awia bɔ o, mɛba. (Rain or shine, I will come.)

2. Yes-or-no pairs
The most common pair sets a verb against its negative with the Negative Prefix N-:

  • sɛ wopɛ o, sɛ wompɛ o (whether you like it or not)
  • sɛ ɔba o, sɛ ɔmma o (whether he comes or not)

Remember the Sound Changes After the Negative: ba becomes mma.

3. Where the main clause goes
The main clause usually follows both choices, but it can also come first: Mɛkɔ, sɛ wopɛ o, sɛ wompɛ o (I will go, whether you like it or not). The second sɛ is sometimes left out, as in the Bible's sɛ yɛte ase o, yɛwu o (whether we live or die), but each choice keeps its o.

4. Both o's are needed
Here o closes each choice. It has the same shape as the friendly Softening and Emphasis: o, but in this pattern it marks the two choices, so neither can be dropped.

5. Whether after a verb
After a verb of knowing or asking, whether is Whether: sɛ ... anaa: Mennim sɛ ɔbɛba anaa (I do not know whether he will come). Sɛ ... o, sɛ ... o instead means no matter whether.

Examples (5)

  1. Sɛ ɛyɛ dɛ o, sɛ ɛnyɛ dɛ o, di.

    Whether it is tasty or not, eat it.

    Word by Word: if it-is sweet o, if it-not-is sweet o, eat

    A verb and its negative give the two choices.

  2. Sɛ wopɛ o, sɛ wompɛ o, ɛsɛ sɛ wokɔ.

    Whether you like it or not, you have to go.

    Pɛ (want, like) becomes mpɛ in the negative.

  3. Sɛ nsuo tɔ o, sɛ awia bɔ o, mɛba.

    Rain or shine, I will come.

    Word by Word: if rain falls o, if sun strikes o, I-will-come

    Two opposites instead of a positive and a negative.

  4. Sɛ ɔba o, sɛ ɔmma o, yɛbɛhyɛ ase.

    Whether he comes or not, we will start.

    Ba becomes mma after the negative nasal.

  5. Mɛkɔ, sɛ wopɛ o, sɛ wompɛ o.

    I will go, whether you like it or not.

    The main clause can come first.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the o that closes each choice.

    Sɛ wopɛ, sɛ wompɛ, mɛkɔ.
    Sɛ wopɛ o, sɛ wompɛ o, mɛkɔ.

    Each choice must close with o. Without it, the two sɛ clauses are left open and do not mean whether ... or.

How It Connects

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

sɛ ... o, sɛ ... oLevel 5Whether ... or: Sɛ ... O, Sɛ ... O

Learn This First

Whether ... or pairs two sɛ clauses with o.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

oo