In most cases when you have a proper noun as the noun expressed as the cardinal, we use an emphasize (na). Compare the sentences in group A with those in B.
GROUP A GROUP B
a. Kofi na ɔtɔso miɛnsa a. Kofi a ɔtɔso miɛnsa
b. Abena na adi kan b. Abena a adi kan
c. New York na ɔtɔso du c. New York a ɔtɔso du
d. ɔman panyin Bush na adi akyi d. ɔman pinyin Bush a adi akyi
e. Harvard na adi kan e. Harvard a adi kan
The sentences in group A means is... (eg. Kofi is the third) while the sentences in group B
means one of many. For example, Kofi a ɔtɔ so miɛnsa means there are so many Kofis and the particular one is the third.
Note: The pronouns nea is used for humans meaning nipa a, while deɛ is used for objects meaning ade(ɛ ) a.
*Note: The pronoun nea is used for humans meaning nipa a while deɛ is used for objects
• nea adi kan; (The person who is first) deε adi kan (the thing which is first)
• nea adi finimfini, (the person who is in the middle)
• nea adi akyire (the person who is last)
• Nea εtɔ so mienu (the person who is second)
• Deε εtɔ so du (the thing which is tenth)
• Nea εtɔ so aduonu (the person who is twentieth) etc.
Fractions (nkyεmu) and Percentages (ɔha nkyεmu)
Fractions in Akan are expressed by first saying the denominator and then the numerator. E.g. 3/20 is said aduonu nkyεm(u) miεnsa (20 divided into 3). The only exception is expressing ½ (half).
Examples (Nhwɛsoɔ)
1. ½ (fa/nkyεm(u) mienu)
2. 4/5 (num nkyεm(u) nan)
3. 1/100 (ɔha nkyεm(u) baako)
4. 20/30 (aduasa nkyεm(u) aduonu)
5. 5/16 (dunsia nkyεm(u) num)
Percentages in Akan are written the same way as fractions. Remember that a percentage is a fraction with the denominator as 100, therefore 2% is 2/100 which is written in Akan as ɔha nkyεm(u) mienu.
Examples (Nhwɛsoɔ)
1. 20% (ɔha nkyεm(u) aduonu)
2. 5% (ɔha nkyεm(u) num)
3. 99% (ɔha nkyεm(u) aduɔkron nkron)
4. 45% (ɔha nkyεm(u) aduanan num)
5. 200% (ɔha nkyεm(u) ahaanu)
Frequency (mprε dodo)
Frequency indicates the number of times something is done or something occurs. With the exception of once (one time) all others are expressed by mprε + the number. From twice to ten times, mprε + the number are written as one word (e.g. twice – mprenu, thrice – mprεnsa), while eleven times upward is written as two separate words (e.g. eleven times – mprε dubaako, twenty times – mprε aduonu)
Examples (Nhwɛsoɔ)
1. once (prεko) 11. eleven times (mprε dubaako)
2. twice (mprenu) 12. twenty times (mprε aduonu)
3. thrice (mprεnsa) 13. twenty-one times (mprε aduonu baako)
4. four times (mprεnan) 14. eighty times (mprε aduɔwctwe)
5. five times (mprenum) 15. ninety times (mprε aduɔkron)
6. six times (mprensia) 16. hundred times (mprε ɔha)
7. seven times (mprεnson)
8. eight times (mprεnwɔtwe)
9. nine times (mprεnkron)
10. ten times (mpredu)
Others frequency words in Akan are
a. da never
b. da biara everyday
c. daa always
d. abere biara every time
e. taa often
Activity
c. Can you express the following in English (say and write)?
i. aduonu baako nkyεm(u) miεnsa ……………………………
ii. nan nkyεm(u) baako ………………………….
iii. dunum nkyεm(u) du ……………………………..
iv. ɔha nkyεm(u) aduɔwɔtwe baako …………………..
v. ɔha nkyεm(u) aduonu num ………………………….
d. Can you say and write the following in Twi:
a. Sixteen times..............................................................................................................
b. 920..........................................................................................................................
c. Thirty-five times........................................................................................................
d. 2121