sí
Toward a Place
Use a suitable predicate followed by sí + target.
How It Works
With a movement predicate, put sí before the destination. Aspect or future markers precede the verb. Sí does not take person, number or gender endings.
Contrast movement to a place with presence there: lọ sí ilé-ìwé identifies school as the goal; wà ní ilé-ìwé locates someone at school. An ongoing journey does not assert arrival.
A target can also be a page to which a book is opened. Thus English ‘to’ is useful but does not define every use of sí. Recipients can require other constructions, including fún. Learn established destination contractions separately rather than inventing a joining paradigm.
- Tósìn ń lọ sí ilé-ìwé. — Tósìn is going to school. School is the destination.
- A yóò lọ sí Èkó ọ̀la. — We will go to Lagos tomorrow. The future marker precedes the movement verb.
- Ẹ ṣí ìwé sí ojú-ìwé méjìlá. — Open the book to page twelve. The page is the directed target.
- Tósìn wà ní ilé-ìwé. — Tósìn is at school. This is the location contrast.
Examples (4)
- Tósìn ń lọ sí ilé-ìwé.
Tósìn is going to school.
Sí introduces the destination of the ongoing movement.
- A yóò lọ sí Èkó ọ̀la.
We will go to Lagos tomorrow.
The destination marker is unchanged in a future clause.
- Ẹ ṣí ìwé sí ojú-ìwé méjìlá.
Open the book to page twelve.
The target is a page rather than a geographical destination.
- Tósìn wà ní ilé-ìwé.
Tósìn is at school.
Ní marks location, contrasting with the movement goal introduced by sí.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- ní + PlaceAt or in a Place
Contrasts a setting with a movement goal.
Level 1 - Origin With látiComing from
Identifies the source of movement.
Level 1 - Contracted síContracted Destination Forms
Develops established destination contractions.
Level 3 - fúnFor a Recipient
Introduces recipient relations also translated with English ‘to’.
Level 1
Practice sí in Bubblegum
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