nígbà tí

When an Event Happens

Level 2

Follow nígbà tí with the temporal clause's subject and predicate.

How It Works

Nígbà tí introduces a time clause with its own subject and predicate. Place it before the main statement to set the scene, or after the statement to specify its time. The clauses can identify different participants; the linker remains unchanged.

The linker itself does not mark past or future. Context, predicates and aspect establish the time frame. The textbook also uses nígbà tí … bá … with prospective completion events. An ongoing subordinate predicate can provide an overlapping setting, rendered while in English.

Contrast calling someone while they cook with acting after they finish cooking. Nígbà tí does not itself require the setting event to finish first. Use kí … tó for an explicit before relation and lẹ́yìn tí for after. Conditional bí instead presents an event as a condition for an outcome.

Examples (3)

  1. Nígbà tí Tósìn dé, a ṣí ilẹ̀kùn.

    When Tósìn arrived, we opened the door.

    Arrival supplies the temporal reference.

  2. Ó pè mí nígbà tí mo ń se oúnjẹ.

    They called me while I was cooking.

    They is singular; ń presents cooking as ongoing.

  3. Nígbà tí ẹ bá parí iṣẹ́, ẹ wá síbí.

    When you finish the work, come here.

    Ẹ addresses a group or one person respectfully.