anka (Would)

Would: Anka

Level 4

Anka + clause = would: Anka mɛba, nanso menni berɛ (I would come, but I have no time).

How It Works

1. Would: anka + future
Anka mɛba, nanso menni berɛ (I would come, but I have no time). Anka ɔbɛboa wo, nanso wayare (She would help you, but she is ill).

2. Would have: anka + past
Anka metɔɔ bi (I would have bought some). The reason it did not happen often follows with But: nanso: Anka metɔɔ bi, nanso na menni sika (I would have bought some, but I had no money).

3. Negatives
Use the negative of the same time. With re- + N-: anka ɔrentumi nyɛ hwee (he would not be able to do anything). With a- + N-: anka me nuabarima anwu (my brother would not have died). Both come from the Asante Twi Bible (John 9:33 and 11:21).

4. Polite wishes: anka mepɛ sɛ
Anka softens a wish or request, much like English would like: Anka mepɛ sɛ mebisa wo biribi (I would like to ask you something). See Want To: pɛ sɛ.

5. Plans that did not happen
The same words can describe a plan that fell through: Anka mepɛ sɛ mekɔ, nanso nsuo tɔeɛ (I wanted to go, but it rained).

6. With conditions
After an if-clause, anka marks the result as unreal: see Unreal Conditions: sɛ ... a, anka. For should have, see Should Have: anka ɛsɛ sɛ.

7. Other things you will hear
Quick speech often shortens anka to nka. Anka can also mark a past state that no longer holds: onipa a anka ɔyɛ onifirani no (the man who had been blind).

Examples (5)

  1. Anka mɛba, nanso menni berɛ.

    I would come, but I have no time.

    Word by Word: would I-will-come, but I-not-have time

  2. Anka metɔɔ bi, nanso na menni sika.

    I would have bought some, but I had no money.

    Anka with the past means would have.

  3. Anka mepɛ sɛ mebisa wo biribi.

    I would like to ask you something.

    A polite way to start a request.

  4. Anka ɔbɛboa wo, nanso wayare.

    She would help you, but she is ill.

  5. Anka mepɛ sɛ mekɔ, nanso nsuo tɔeɛ.

    I wanted to go, but it rained.

    A plan that did not happen.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out anka (intended: I would come, but I have no time).

    Mɛba, nanso menni berɛ.
    Anka mɛba, nanso menni berɛ.

    Without anka, mɛba is a promise: I will come. Anka marks it as something that is not going to happen.

  • Adding anka to a real plan (intended: I will come tomorrow).

    Anka mɛba ɔkyena.
    Mɛba ɔkyena.

    Anka makes the plan unreal: I would come tomorrow, but I cannot. For a real plan, use the future alone.

How It Connects

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

anka (Would)Level 4Would: Anka

Learn This First

Would builds on the future.