Complement With àti / láti

Linking an Action Complement

Level 3

Subject + fẹ́ + àti/láti + action expresses wanting to perform that action.

How It Works

In Standard Nigerian Yoruba, an action complement contains a verb and its dependents. Awoyale illustrates both fẹ́ àti and fẹ́ láti with the meaning “want to.” In these patterns, the main subject is the understood performer of the desired action. No additional subject pronoun follows the marker. The markers receive no person or number endings.

Preserve ordinary spelling: àti begins with low tone, láti with high tone; both have mid-tone ti. Write the complement marker separately from its following verb. Compare the fragments àti ra ìwé, “to buy books,” and ìwé àti bàtà, “books and shoes.” The first àti introduces an action; the second joins objects.

The textbook also supports bare actions after fẹ́, so English “to” does not always require an overt marker. Learn other predicates with their supported patterns, including fẹ́ràn láti and pinnu láti. The desire contrast establishes neither equal contemporary frequency nor unrestricted interchangeability after every predicate.

Examples (3)

  1. Mo fẹ́ àti mu omi.

    I want to drink water.

    Complement àti introduces the drinking action; the speaker is the intended drinker.

  2. Adé fẹ́ láti jó.

    Adé wants to dance.

    Láti introduces the desired action, whose understood performer is Adé.

  3. A fẹ́ àti ra ìwé àti bàtà.

    We want to buy books and shoes.

    The first àti introduces the buying complement; the second joins the objects. A identifies the intended buyers.

How It Connects

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

Complement With àti / látiLevel 3Linking an Action Complement

Learn This First

After fẹ́, distinguish complement àti or láti from àti meaning “and.”