In our last grammar lesson, we were introduced to a very important part of speech: the verb. We got to know what verbs are; touched on action and stative verbs as the two main verb types (acknowledging helping verbs and the other verb sub-types); listed a few examples of each type. If you missed it, please click here to check it out.
Today, we are zoning in on Twi action verbs. We will repeat what action verbs are, but our main focus for this lesson will be to list more examples of Twi action verbs, using them in sentential examples. Let’s get to it.
What are Action Verbs?
To put it simply, action verbs show action. Yes, that’s it! If you need to express an action in a sentence, you need an action verb. Examples include “bisa (ask)”, “bue (open)”, “sere (laugh)”, “popa (clean)”, “soma (send)”, “bu (break)”, etc.
“So… we are done here, right?” you probably may be asking. Yes, we are. Well, almost. Let’s just look at the sub-types of action verbs there are.
Types of Action Verbs
Transitive Verbs
Transitive verbs have direct objects following them. That’s just a fancy way of saying there is always someone or something who/that receives the action of transitive verbs.
In the following set of usage examples, the transitive verbs are italicized and underlined.
1. Kofi soma Ama.
Kofi sends Ama.
2. Si nneɛma no.
Wash the clothes.
3. Yaa frɛɛ Kwasi.
Yaa called Kwasi.
4. Akumaa twaa dua no.
Akumaa cut the tree.
5. Kwadwo kan kowaa nkrataa.
Kwadwo reads newspapers.
Ama, nneɛma no (the clothes), Kwasi, dua no and kowaa nkrataa are the direct objects of the verbs; they are the direct receivers of the actions of the verbs soma, si, frɛ, twa and kan respectively.
Intransitive Verbs
In contrast with transitive verbs, intransitive verbs do not need direct objects in order for their meanings to be complete. An intransitive verb can end a sentence, or be followed by an adjective or adverb.
Some examples:
6. Yaw sereeɛ.
Yaw laughed.
7. Amakye awu.
Amakye has died.
8. Wɔaduru.
They have arrived.
9. JM, toa so.
JM, continue.
10. Ofori suiɛ.
Ofori cried.
NB: Quite a number of verbs can serve as both transitive and intransitive.
Action Verbs in Twi
| Twi | English | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| kɔ | go | kɔ na bra go and come |
| bra | come | bra bɛfa. come and take. |
| tɔ | buy | tɔ na tɔn buy and sell. |
| twa | cut | twa dua no. cut the tree. |
| bue | open | bue pono no open the door |
| soa | carry | soa akonnwa no carry the chair |
| ko | fight | ko ma me fight for me |
| kan | read | kan kowaa krataa no read the newspaper |
| dua | plant | di na dua aba no eat and plant the seed |
| su | cry | su saa ara, memfii wo keep on crying (cry on), I won’t mind you |
| kye | fry | kye kosua no fry the egg |
| dwene | think | dwene wo ho think about yourself |
| kyerɛ | show
teach | kyerɛ me kwan no show me the way kyerɛ me Twi teach me Twi |
| foro | climb | foro dua pa, na yɛapia wo climb a good tree, and you’ll be pushed |
| nante | walk | nante yie walk well |
| nom | drink | nom nsuo no drink the water |
| di | eat | di aduane no ansa na maba eat the food before I come |
| frɛ | call | frɛ maame no ma me call me the woman |
| sensene | peel | sensene ankaa no peel the orange |
| da | sleep | sɛ w’ani kum a, da if you feel sleepy, sleep. |
| dware | bath | Kofi, dware na wo ho bɔn Kofi, bath for our body smells |
| tafere | lick | nkraman tafere wɔn kuro dogs lick their wound |
| tɔn | sell | tɔn adepa sell good stuff |
| gye | take | gye safoa yi take this key |
| ka | bite | ntontom ka nnipa daa mosquitoes bite people every day |
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