kì í ṣe
Denying an Identity
Name the subject, then kì í ṣe, then the identity being denied.
How It Works
Build a classification denial with a subject, kì í ṣe, and a noun phrase naming the rejected category. The expression remains unchanged with singular and plural subjects. First-person singular negative clauses can use N; a short third-person singular subject ó is absent before this negative construction.
Compare Adé jẹ́ olùkọ́. ‘Adé is a teacher’ with Adé kì í ṣe olùkọ́. ‘Adé is not a teacher.’ The classification construction also permits kò jẹ́ for nominal classification denial. Thus kì í ṣe is not the only possible negative counterpart of jẹ́.
In Kì í ṣe Adé ni ó ra ìwé náà., ‘It was not Adé who bought the book,’ the selected buyer is rejected. Retain ni and resumptive ó. The alternative kọ́ ni frame puts its negator after the selected constituent.
Examples (3)
- Adé kì í ṣe olùkọ́.
Adé is not a teacher.
The noun phrase names the rejected occupation.
- Àwọn ilé yìí kì í ṣe ilé-ìwé.
These buildings are not schools.
The expression remains unchanged with a plural subject.
- Kì í ṣe Adé ni ó ra ìwé náà.
It was not Adé who bought the book.
This rejects the focused buyer.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- jẹ́Being in a Stated Role
Provides affirmative classification predicates; kò jẹ́ is also an attested negative.
Level 1 - Identification With niSaying What Someone Is
Provides another identification construction.
Level 1 - kọ́ / kọ́ niDenying a Selected Identity
Denies a selected identity with a different word order.
Level 2 - kìíSaying Something Does Not Usually Happen
Explains habitual negation before an action.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
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