ẹ jẹ́ kí a

Suggesting a Shared Action

Level 2

Ẹ jẹ́ kí a + action phrase: let us act together.

How It Works

Begin the shared invitation with ẹ jẹ́ kí a, then give the action phrase. Opening ẹ addresses plural listeners or a respectfully addressed person. Embedded a identifies the acting group, including the speaker. These pronouns have different roles, and the action verb takes no person or number ending.

The complete construction with written mid-tone a occurs repeatedly in native instructional prose. The textbook also writes shared invitations with á. These cards follow the independently attested a convention; the references do not establish an automatic tone conversion across all environments.

Compare Ẹ ṣí fèrèsé náà, “Open the window,” with Ẹ jẹ́ kí a ṣí fèrèsé náà, “Let us open the window.” The second includes the speaker in the proposal, without asserting acceptance or performance.

Examples (3)

  1. Ẹ jẹ́ kí a bẹ̀rẹ̀ ìpàdé.

    Let us begin the meeting.

    The proposed acting group includes the speaker.

  2. Ẹ jẹ́ kí a pín oúnjẹ náà.

    Let us share out the food.

    The speaker proposes participating in distributing the food.

  3. Ẹ jẹ́ kí a ṣí fèrèsé náà.

    Let us open the window.

    The invitation includes the speaker instead of directing only the listeners.

How It Connects

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

ẹ jẹ́ kí aLevel 2Suggesting a Shared Action

Learn This First

Ẹ addresses the listeners; a identifies the group invited to act.