Language/Twi/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be
Hi Twi learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on how to use the verb "be" in Twi. "Be" is a very important verb to know because it is used to express existence, identity, and location. We will also learn how "be" changes according to tense and subject. As always, we will provide cultural information and interesting facts along the way. So, let's get started!
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Give your Opinion & Gender.
The Verb "Be"[edit | edit source]
In Twi, the verb "be" is expressed by the verb "bɛ". "Bɛ" is an irregular verb, so it changes slightly depending on the subject and the tense. Here are the different forms of "bɛ" in the present tense:
Twi | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Me bɛ | may beh | I am |
Wo bɛ | wo beh | You are |
Ɛnyɛ bɛ | eh-nyeh beh | He/She/It is |
Yɛbɛ | yeh-beh | We are |
Mo bɛ | mo beh | You all are |
Wɔn bɛ | wohn beh | They are |
Did you know that the Twi verb "bɛ" is related to the Akan word "obi"? "Obi" means "someone" or "somebody" in Akan. In fact, "bɛ" can be used to mean "to exist" or "to be someone". For example:
- Ɛno bɛhwɛ - This means "he exists" or "he is someone".
Another interesting fact about Twi is that it is a tonal language. This means that the pitch or tone of a word can change its meaning. For example, "bɛ" with a high tone means "will be" while "bɛ" with a low tone means "should be".
"Be" in the Past and Future Tense[edit | edit source]
Just like in English, "be" in Twi can be used in the past and future tense. In the past tense, "be" is expressed by the verb "bɛhyɛ". Here are the different forms of "bɛhyɛ" in the past tense:
Twi | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Me bɛhyɛ | may beh-yeah | I was |
Wo bɛhyɛ | wo beh-yeah | You were |
Ɛnyɛ bɛhyɛ | eh-nyeh beh-yeah | He/She/It was |
Yɛbɛhyɛ | yeh-beh-yeah | We were |
Mo bɛhyɛ | mo beh-yeah | You all were |
Wɔn bɛhyɛ | wohn beh-yeah | They were |
In the future tense, "be" is expressed by the verb "bɛfi". Here are the different forms of "bɛfi" in the future tense:
Twi | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Me bɛfi | may beh-fee | I will be |
Wo bɛfi | wo beh-fee | You will be |
Ɛnyɛ bɛfi | eh-nyeh beh-fee | He/She/It will be |
Yɛbɛfi | yeh-beh-fee | We will be |
Mo bɛfi | mo beh-fee | You all will be |
Wɔn bɛfi | wohn beh-fee | They will be |
"Be" for Location and Identity[edit | edit source]
"Be" in Twi can also be used to express location and identity. In English, we use "to be" for location and identity. For example, "I am in the kitchen" or "She is a doctor". In Twi, we use the verb "bɛ" for these situations.
To express location with "bɛ", we use the preposition "wɔ". "Wɔ" means "at" or "in" in English. Here are some examples:
- Me bɛwɔ krom - I am in the village
- Wo bɛwɔ koraa - You are here
- Ɛnyɛ bɛwɔ Asanteman - He is in Asanteman
To express identity with "bɛ", we use the word "yɛn" which means "we". Here are some examples:
- Yɛn bɛma no nsamanfoɔ - We are his friends
- Yɛn bɛda so - We are tired
- Yɛn bɛhyɛ me ntoma mu - We wore my clothes
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Here is a dialogue to help you see how "be" is used in context:
- Person 1: Me bɛwɔ Accra (<translation in English>: I am in Accra)
- Person 2: Wo bɛwɔ hɔ baako? (<translation in English>: Are you here alone?)
- Person 1: Me bɛwɔ hɔ na wɔfa me nsaama. (<translation in English>: I am here with my friend.)
- Person 2: Yɛbɛkɔ so saa ara? (<translation in English>: Shall we go now?)
- Person 1: Wɔn bɛsa ma no (<translation in English>: They will send it to him)
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now that you have learned the basics of "be" in Twi, it's time to practice! Here are some sentences for you to translate into Twi:
1. We are happy 2. They were here 3. She will be late 4. You all were hungry 5. I am in Kumasi
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In conclusion, "be" is an important verb to know in Twi. It can be used to express existence, identity, location, and more. Remember that "be" changes depending on the tense and subject. To improve your Twi Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Congratulations on finishing this lesson! Explore these related pages to keep learning: Conditional Mood & Pronouns.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Plurals
- Pronouns
- Give your Opinion
- Questions
- Adjectives
- Conditional Mood
- Nouns
- Future Tense
- Negation
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Twi Grammar - How to Use "Be"
- Twi - Wikipedia
- Twi kasa mmara : a Twi grammar in Twi in SearchWorks catalog