Language/Twi/Grammar/Present-Tense
Introduction
In this lesson, you will learn how to form the present tense of Twi verbs and practice using them in various contexts and situations. The present tense is used to describe actions happening at the moment or habitual actions. By the end of this lesson, you will have a better understanding of basic Twi grammar and be able to communicate using present tense verbs.
Present Tense Formation
To form the present tense in Twi, use the stem of the verb followed by the appropriate present tense suffix. The present tense suffix depends on the subject pronoun preceding the verb. The chart below shows the present tense suffixes for each personal pronoun:
| Personal Pronoun | Present Tense Suffix |
|---|---|
| I (Me) | -(n)aa |
| You (Singular) | -s(i/i wo/wo) |
| He/She/It | -(n)i |
| We | -n(a) |
| You (Plural) | -m(m)o/mu |
| They | -(n)om |
Note that the first person singular pronoun, "Me," can take an optional "n" before the present tense suffix. This is only used in formal speech.
Let's take a look at some example sentences:
- Me papa maanom aa. (My father is eating.)
- Wo nsa de me nkutoo. (You are holding my pencil.)
- Ɛyɛ mekɔm de wo. (It is my room you are in.)
- Ɔno nso yɛ ɔbaafoɔ bi. (He/she/it also is a teacher.)
- Yɛn tea mmaa nana. (We drink tea with sugar.)
- Nimpamu adiyifoɔ. (You (plural) are wise people.)
- Wɔn nsuframa nam bi. (They sell bread.)
As you can see from these examples, the present tense suffix changes based on the subject pronoun in the sentence.
Practicing Present Tense Verbs
To practice using present tense verbs, try the following exercises:
Exercise 1: Completing Sentences
Complete the following sentences by conjugating the verbs in brackets into the present tense:
- _____ (Wo nkɔ) biribi papa no mu.
- _____ (Yɛ de) asaase so.
- _____ (Ɛbɔ) bo ne nsa so.
- _____ (Ɛdi) adwene nanso dɔ baako pɛ.
- _____ (M'adamfoɔ de) mmaa no nsa so.
Answers:
- Wunkɔ biribi papa no mu. (You enter the room of his/her father.)
- Yɛde asaase so. (We plow the land.)
- Ɛbɔ bo ne nsa so. (It boils water on the stove.)
- Ɛdi adwene nanso dɔ baako pɛ. (He/She eats fufu, but not with soup.)
- M'adamfoɔ de mmaa no nsa so. (My friends wash the girl's hands.)
Exercise 2: Identifying Verbs in Sentences
Identify the verbs in the following sentences and conjugate them into the present tense. Make sure to use the appropriate present tense suffix based on the subject pronoun:
- Wote asempa a ɔde no.
- Ɛno nso de wↄ asɔre.
- Yɛ hu ntɛm bu nnipa ho mma.
- Mepɛ sɛ ɔbɛto me nuanom anim.
- Ingyina ne bo bo saa asɛm yi baako.
Answers:
- Wote asempa a ɔdi no. (You hear the news he/she brought.)
- Ɛno nso de wↄ asɔre. (It lights up your evening too.)
- Yɛ hu ntɛm bu nnipa ho mma. (We make an effort to please people.)
- Mepɛ sɛ ɔbɛto me nuanom anim. (I want him/her to invite my siblings.)
- Ingyina ne bobo saa asɛm yi baako. (The fisherman and his wife always do this.)
Exercise 3: Writing Sentences
Write five sentences using present tense verbs, at least one for each personal pronoun. Be creative and use vocabulary you know to write about yourself or people you know.
Example:
- Me maanomaa akyɛdeɛ no maa me ho. (I listen to my favorite music.)
- Wo yɛ mbɔkrɔ mma wo ho mma. (You cook for yourself.)
- Ɛno tɔ na aufɛ no tu me ho. (It carries some ofits belongings on my head.)
- Yɛn nuanom yɛrekɔ sa kakraa. (We always play soccer.)
- Wɔn wopɛ akyi wo ama wↄ nnipa. (They are forgiving you for insulting someone.)
Conclusion
Now that you have learned how to form the present tense of Twi verbs, you can practice using them in everyday conversations. Remember to use the appropriate present tense suffix for each subject pronoun. Keep studying, and you will soon be able to speak Twi fluently!