Subject Focus + ó
Highlighting the Actor
Ordinary singular name + ni + ó + predicate.
How It Works
To highlight an actor, put the subject phrase before ni and retain a pronoun in the following subject position. An ordinary singular name is resumed by ó, which does not distinguish male from female participants.
Compare Délé ra bàtà, “Délé bought shoes”, with Délé ni ó ra bàtà, “It was Délé who bought shoes”. The shoes remain after the verb because the actor receives focus. Independent pronouns can also occupy the fronted position. Standard Yoruba also has negative àwa kọ́ ni a… and first-person singular alternatives with mo or ó. These examples do not establish a complete affirmative pronoun paradigm. Respectful reference can use plural pronouns for one person; the ordinary singular-name frame is not a rule requiring ó for every focused participant.
Examples (3)
- Kẹ́mi ni ó se ẹ̀wà.
It was Kẹ́mi who cooked beans.
Ó resumes Kẹ́mi; the beans remain the object.
- Délé ni ó ra bàtà.
It was Délé who bought shoes.
The actor receives focus.
- Àwa kọ́ ni a mu omi.
It was not we who drank water.
A resumes àwa in this negative focus frame.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Resume a focused ordinary singular actor with ó after ni.
Related Patterns
Practice Subject Focus + ó in Bubblegum
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