Ìpè, Ìbéèrè, àti Àṣẹ Ọ̀wọ̀
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Name common vocabulary for invitations, appointments, social plans, and hospitality using fully marked Yorùbá.
- Invite someone to an event or activity using a controlled invitation frame with fẹ́, reviewed from Chapter 7.
- Accept or decline an invitation politely, using lè, reviewed from Chapter 13.
- Give a simple instruction or polite request using the bare-verb imperative, softened with jọ̀ọ́.
- Develop the prohibition particle má, introduced in Chapter 15 for direct warnings, into a softer, more polite form of caution or advice.
- Consolidate the future particle yóò, introduced in Chapter 9, for describing social plans and arrangements.
- Write a short invitation message to a friend.
- Role-play accepting and declining an invitation in conversation.
Communication Scenario
Dúpé is planning a small birthday gathering for her cousin Yẹmi next weekend. She wants to invite Kúnlé, and she also needs to send a short written invitation to a few other friends. Kúnlé is happy to come, but another friend, Adé, already has plans and must decline politely. You will follow Dúpé's invitations, then prepare your own invitation message and practice accepting or declining one.
- Before you open this chapter, think of an event you might invite a friend to: a meal, a celebration, a trip, or a simple visit.
- Recall fẹ́, active since Chapter 7 for wanting something, and lè, active since Chapter 13 for ability. Both particles return here in the new context of invitations.
- Recall má, introduced in Chapter 15 for direct, personal warnings. This chapter develops má further into a softer, more polite form used among friends and family.
Core Vocabulary
Ìpè àti Ìpàdé — Invitations and Appointments
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ìpè | invitation | noun; verb is pè, "to call, to invite" |
| àríyá | party, celebration | |
| ọjọ́ ìbí | birthday | lit. day of birth |
| ìpàdé | appointment, meeting | |
| àkókò | time, occasion | reviewed from Ch. 6 |
| ìsinmi | rest, break, holiday |
Ètò Àwùjọ — Social Plans
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| gbà | to accept, to receive | |
| kọ̀ | to refuse, to decline | distinct tone from kò, negation particle |
| wá | to come | reviewed from Ch. 9 |
| dájú | to be sure, certain | |
| láàárọ̀ | in the morning | |
| ní ọjọ́ Sátidé | on Saturday | reviewed day-name pattern, Ch. 6 |
Ìlọ́runṣọ̀ — Hospitality
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ẹ̀bùn | gift | |
| oúnjẹ | food | reviewed from Ch. 7 |
| àlejò | guest, visitor | |
| káàbọ̀ | welcome | formulaic since Ch. 1 |
| jọ̀ọ́ | please | softens a request or command; see Grammar 16.1 |
Àwọn Ìṣe Ìdáhùn — Response verbs
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| dùn | to be pleasing, sweet | used in ó dùn mí, "I'm delighted / it pleases me" |
| ṣe | to do, to make | reviewed from Ch. 15's Má Ṣe |
| ṣàánú | to show mercy, to be sorry | used in polite refusals |
Many invitation and response expressions in this chapter recombine familiar particles — fẹ́, lè, and yóò — with the new vocabulary above, rather than introducing new grammatical machinery.
Pronunciation and Orthography Focus
Focus 1 — Polite intonation without losing tone
Polite requests in Yorùbá are softened through word choice — especially jọ̀ọ́ — and through a gentler, slightly rising delivery, not by flattening tone. The high, mid, and low tones of every word remain exactly as written even when a sentence is spoken warmly or gently. Compare a plain instruction with a polite request:
- Wá sí àríyá mi. — Come to my party. (plain, direct)
- Jọ̀ọ́, wá sí àríyá mi. — Please, come to my party. (softened, still fully tone-marked)
Focus 2 — Distinguishing kọ̀ and kò
kọ̀ ("to refuse") and kò (the negation particle you have used since Chapter 2) are different words with different vowels and different tones. Keep the dot-under ọ and the low tone of kọ̀ distinct from the plain o and low tone of kò:
- kọ̀ — to refuse, to decline (verb)
- kò — negation particle ("not")
Say Mo kọ̀. ("I refuse / I decline.") and Kò rọ̀jò. ("It is not raining.") aloud, checking that the vowel quality of each word stays separate.
Focus 3 — Final vowel clarity in invitation phrases
Say each phrase aloud, holding the final vowel clearly rather than letting it fall away.
- jọ̀ọ́ — please (low–high)
- àríyá — party (low–high–high)
- ó dùn mí — it pleases me (mid–high–mid)
- mo kọ̀ — I refuse (mid–low)
- a ó lọ — we will go (mid–mid–mid)
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
16.1 Polite requests and commands: bare verb plus jọ̀ọ́
Purpose: give a simple instruction or make a polite request, softened with jọ̀ọ́.
You already know that Yorùbá commands use the bare verb with no subject pronoun, as with má in Chapter 15. An ordinary imperative uses the bare verb alone; a polite request adds jọ̀ọ́ before or after the instruction:
- Wá! come [imperative] Come!
- Jọ̀ọ́, wá sí àríyá mi. Please come to my party.
- Sọ fún mi, jọ̀ọ́. Tell me, please.
jọ̀ọ́ may appear at the beginning or the end of a request, separated from the main clause by a short pause, shown here with a comma. Its position does not change its meaning; it always softens the instruction that surrounds it. Respectful plural ẹ, formulaic since Chapter 3, may replace an implied singular subject when addressing an elder or a group: Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, ẹ wá. ("Please, come," addressed respectfully.)
16.2 Inviting someone: fẹ́ in invitation frames
Purpose: invite someone to an event using fẹ́, the familiar particle for wanting, active since Chapter 7.
- Ǹjẹ́ o fẹ́ wá sí àríyá mi? [question] + you + want + come + to + party + my Do you want to come to my party?
- Mo fẹ́ pè ọ́ sí ọjọ́ ìbí mi. I want to invite you to my birthday.
An invitation is simply a question or statement built from fẹ́, exactly as you have used it since Chapter 7 for ordinary preferences. The new material in this chapter is the vocabulary of invitations and hospitality, not a new grammatical structure.
16.3 Accepting and declining: lè, gbà, and kọ̀
Purpose: respond to an invitation politely, whether accepting or declining.
Acceptance often uses lè, the ability particle active since Chapter 13, together with dájú ("to be sure") or dùn ("to please"):
- Mo lè wá. Ó dùn mí. I can come. I'm delighted.
- Mo dájú pé n ó wá. I'm sure that I'll come.
A polite decline pairs kò lè ("cannot") with ṣàánú or a short explanation:
- Mo kò lè wá, mo ní ìpàdé. I can't come, I have an appointment.
- Mo ṣàánú, mo kọ̀ fún àríyá yìí. I'm sorry, I decline this party.
kọ̀ ("to refuse") is a strong, direct verb and is normally softened with mo ṣàánú ("I'm sorry") or a similar phrase before it. Kò lè ("cannot") paired with a short reason is the more common, gentler way to decline an invitation among friends and family.
15.4 Consolidating má: from direct warning to polite caution
Purpose: extend má, active since Chapter 15 for direct warnings, into softer, polite cautions and reassurances used among friends and family.
má keeps the same form and position you learned in Chapter 15 — directly before a bare verb — but in this chapter it appears in gentler contexts, often softened with jọ̀ọ́ or addressed respectfully with ẹ:
- Má ṣàníyàn, a ó dájú. [prohibition] + worry, we + [future] + be.sure Don't worry, we'll be fine.
- Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, ẹ má pẹ́. Please, don't be late.
má has not changed form or position since Chapter 15. What has developed is its range of use: from an urgent, direct warning (Má lọ sí ìta!, "Don't go outside!") to a gentle reassurance or polite reminder among people who know each other well (Má ṣàníyàn., "Don't worry."). The tone of voice and the surrounding words, not the particle itself, signal the difference.
15.5 Consolidating yóò: describing social plans
Purpose: consolidate the future particle yóò, introduced in Chapter 9, for describing invitations, plans, and arrangements.
yóò continues to appear directly before the verb, often contracted to á or ó in ordinary speech, exactly as in earlier chapters:
- A ó pàdé ní ọjọ́ Sátidé. We will meet on Saturday.
- Wọn yóò wá pẹ̀lú ẹ̀bùn. They will come with a gift.
yóò and its contracted forms á and ó have been active since Chapter 9. This chapter does not add a new future form; it asks you to use the pattern with increasing independence, specifically for social plans, invitations, and arrangements.
This chapter's only genuinely new productive item is the polite marker jọ̀ọ́ and the bare-verb request frame it softens — everything else recombines patterns you already control. fẹ́ has been active since Chapter 7. lè has been active since Chapter 13. má has been active since Chapter 15 and simply widens its range of use here. yóò has been active since Chapter 9 and is consolidated, not reintroduced.
Practice — Inviting and responding
Complete each sentence to match the English prompt.
- Do you want to come to my party? → ___
- I can come. I'm delighted. → ___
- I can't come, I have an appointment. → ___
- Please come on Saturday. → ___
Practice — má: direct warning or polite caution?
Say whether each sentence is a direct warning or a polite caution, then translate it.
- Má lọ sí ìta! (from Chapter 15)
- Má ṣàníyàn, a ó dájú.
- Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, ẹ má pẹ́.
Practice — Consolidating yóò
Rewrite each sentence using yóò or its contracted form to describe a future plan.
- Mo lọ sí ilé Dúpé. (I go to Dúpé's house.) → ___ (I will go to Dúpé's house.)
- A pàdé ní ọjọ́ Sátidé. (We meet on Saturday.) → ___ (We will meet on Saturday.)
Model Dialogue
Read the dialogue carefully. Notice how Dúpé invites Kúnlé using fẹ́, how Kúnlé accepts using lè, and how Dúpé softens her instructions with jọ̀ọ́ and a gentler use of má. Comprehension questions follow.
Ipò: Dúpé ń pe Kúnlé lórí fóònù láti pè é sí àríyá ọjọ́ ìbí Yẹmi.
Setting: Dúpé is calling Kúnlé on the phone to invite him to Yẹmi's birthday party.
- Ǹjẹ́ o fẹ́ wá sí àríyá? — an invitation built from the familiar particle fẹ́.
- Mo lè wá. — an acceptance built from the familiar particle lè.
- Mo kò lè wá, mo ní ìpàdé. — a polite decline with a short explanation.
- Jọ̀ọ́, má pẹ́. and Má ṣàníyàn. — má, developed from a direct warning into a gentle reminder and reassurance between friends.
Àwọn ìbéèrè nípa ọ̀rọ̀ àdáhùnṣe — Comprehension questions:
- Kí ni Dúpé pe Kúnlé sí? (What does Dúpé invite Kúnlé to?)
- Nígbà wo ni àríyá náà? (When is the party?)
- Ǹjẹ́ Adé ń bọ̀ sí àríyá náà? Kí nìdí? (Is Adé coming to the party? Why or why not?)
- Kí ni Dúpé rán Kúnlé létí láti má ṣe? (What does Dúpé remind Kúnlé not to do?)
Listening
Ask your instructor, a study partner, or a qualified Yorùbá speaker to read the following short exchanges at a natural pace. Listen twice. On the first listen, identify whether each response is an acceptance or a decline. On the second listen, complete the table below.
If no speaker is available, this is a Listening Script for Independent Use. Read each exchange aloud at a natural pace, then cover it and complete the tasks. Machine text-to-speech output must be checked by a qualified Yorùbá speaker before being used as a pronunciation model.
Ìjíròrò 1:
Àpín A: "Ǹjẹ́ o fẹ́ wá sí ilé mi ní ọjọ́ Sátidé?"
Àpín B: "Mo lè wá. Ó dùn mí púpọ̀!"
Ìjíròrò 2:
Àpín A: "Jọ̀ọ́, wá sí àríyá mi láàárọ̀."
Àpín B: "Mo ṣàánú, mo kò lè wá, mo ní ìpàdé."
Ìjíròrò 3:
Àpín A: "Ǹjẹ́ o fẹ́ pàdé mi lẹ́yìn iṣẹ́?"
Àpín B: "Mo dájú pé n ó wá. Má ṣàníyàn."
| Ìjíròrò | Ìdáhùn (Accept or decline) | Ìdí, tí ó bá wà (Reason, if given) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ______ | ______ |
| 2 | ______ | ______ |
| 3 | ______ | ______ |
Ìbéèrè àfikún — Bonus questions:
- In Exchange 1, how does Speaker B feel about the invitation?
- In Exchange 2, why does Speaker B decline?
- In Exchange 3, what reassurance does Speaker B give?
Reading
Read the two texts below. The first is a short written invitation from Dúpé. The second is a short reply message from a friend who must decline. Both use Standard Yorùbá orthography with full tone marks and underdots.
Ìpè sí Àríyá — An invitation to a party
Ẹ káàbọ̀! Mo fẹ́ pè yín sí àríyá ọjọ́ ìbí Yẹmi. A ó pàdé ní ọjọ́ Sátidé, láàárọ̀, ní ọgbà nítòsí ilé mi. Oúnjẹ àti ẹ̀bùn kì í ṣe dandan, ṣùgbọ́n ẹ jọ̀ọ́, ẹ wá! Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, ẹ má pẹ́, nítorí àríyá bẹ̀rẹ̀ ní kùtùkùtù.
Ìdáhùn Adé — Adé's reply
Ẹ ṣé fún ìpè yín. Mo ṣàánú, mo kò lè wá ní ọjọ́ Sátidé, nítorí mo ní ìpàdé pàtàkì. Mo dájú pé àríyá náà yóò dára púpọ̀. Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, ẹ ki Yẹmi fún mi.
Àwọn ìbéèrè nípa ọ̀rọ̀ àdáhùnṣe — Comprehension questions:
- Nígbà wo ni àríyá náà, gẹ́gẹ́ bí ìpè Dúpé? (When is the party, according to Dúpé's invitation?)
- Ǹjẹ́ oúnjẹ tàbí ẹ̀bùn ṣe pàtàkì? (Is food or a gift required?)
- Kí nìdí tí Adé kò fi lè wá? (Why can't Adé come?)
- Kí ni Adé béèrè lọ́wọ́ Dúpé láti ṣe fún un? (What does Adé ask Dúpé to do for him?)
- Wa gbolohùn kan nínú ìdáhùn Adé tí ó lo kò lè. Kọ ọ̀ jáde. (Find one sentence in Adé's reply that uses kò lè. Write it out.)
Writing Workshop
Chapter 16's writing product is a short invitation message to a friend, plus a short reply accepting or declining. It must use Standard Yorùbá orthography with full tone marks and underdots.
Ìpè àti Ìdáhùn — An invitation and a reply
Write a short invitation (40–60 words) to a friend for an event of your choice. Then write a short reply (20–30 words) either accepting or declining the invitation. Your writing must include:
- At least one invitation statement using fẹ́.
- At least one plan or arrangement using yóò or its contracted form.
- At least one polite request or reminder using jọ̀ọ́ and má.
- In the reply: either an acceptance using lè, or a decline using kò lè with a short reason.
- Choose an event. Decide what you are inviting your friend to and when it takes place.
- Draft the invitation. Write two or three sentences using fẹ́ and yóò.
- Add a polite reminder. Include one jọ̀ọ́ request and one softened má reminder.
- Write the reply. Choose to accept or decline, and give a short reason if declining.
- Apply the editing checklist. Verify every tone mark, underdot, and pattern choice before submitting.
Àtúnṣe àtúnyẹ̀wò — Editing checklist:
- The invitation uses fẹ́ exactly as shown in Grammar 16.2.
- yóò or a contracted form appears immediately before the verb in every plan statement.
- jọ̀ọ́ softens a request without changing the tone of the surrounding words.
- má appears immediately before a bare verb in the polite reminder, with no subject pronoun required.
- The reply uses either lè to accept or kò lè with a reason to decline, not both.
- kọ̀ and kò are kept distinct in spelling and tone.
- Every ẹ, ọ, and ṣ carries its underdot.
- High and low tones are marked on every required syllable. Mid tones are left unmarked.
Speaking Practice
Àdáwọlé àkọ́kọ́ — Controlled practice: inviting and responding
Working with a partner, take turns inviting each other to an event and responding. Speaker A invites Speaker B using Ǹjẹ́ o fẹ́...? Speaker B responds, either accepting with lè or declining politely with kò lè and a reason. Switch roles after four exchanges each.
Every exchange must include:
- An invitation using fẹ́.
- A plan or time using yóò or a contracted form.
- A response using lè or kò lè.
Ìtura pẹ̀lú ọ̀rẹ́ — Reassurance role-play
One partner expresses a worry about an upcoming event (being late, forgetting something, the weather); the other responds with a soft má reassurance. Switch roles after three exchanges each. If no partner is available, perform both roles aloud, then create a new set of exchanges on your own.
- First speaker expresses worry: Mo bẹ̀rù pé n ó pẹ́. ("I'm afraid I'll be late.")
- Second speaker reassures: Má ṣàníyàn, a ó dájú. ("Don't worry, we'll be fine.")
Fún àwọn tí ń kọ́ nìkọ̀ọ̀kan — Solo alternative: recorded invitation
Record yourself inviting a friend to an event, in one to two minutes of continuous Yorùbá. Include at least one invitation statement, one plan with yóò, one jọ̀ọ́ request, and one má reminder. Listen back and check:
- Did you use fẹ́ correctly to invite?
- Did you place yóò or its contracted form correctly before the verb?
- Did you keep kọ̀ and kò distinct?
- Did you soften your requests with jọ̀ọ́ while keeping every tone accurate?
Culture and Communication
Among many Yorùbá-speaking families and communities, hospitality is highly valued, and invitations to gatherings such as birthdays, naming ceremonies, and family visits are extended warmly and often repeated more than once as a sign of sincerity. A guest, àlejò, is typically welcomed generously, and offering food or drink is a common gesture of respect and care.
Declining an invitation is often accompanied by an expression of regret, such as mo ṣàánú ("I'm sorry"), and a brief, honest reason. A blunt refusal without softening language, such as a bare use of kọ̀ alone, can sound abrupt in many everyday social contexts; pairing a decline with a reason and a polite phrase helps preserve the relationship.
Some speakers use additional expressions of delight or enthusiasm beyond ó dùn mí when accepting an invitation, depending on region and personal style. This chapter uses ó dùn mí as the stable productive form; broader expressive vocabulary for enthusiasm and emotion is developed further in a later volume.
Common Mistakes
Error: Writing *Mo kò fún àríyá yìí when you mean "I decline this party," confusing the verb kọ̀ with the negation particle kò.
Correction: Mo kọ̀ fún àríyá yìí. — kọ̀ is a verb meaning "to refuse"; kò is the negation particle. Keep the vowel and tone distinct.
Error: Writing *Mo kọ̀. alone as a complete reply to an invitation, with no softening or reason.
Correction: Mo ṣàánú, mo kò lè wá, mo ní ìpàdé. — A polite decline pairs an expression of regret with kò lè and a short reason, as shown in Grammar 16.3.
Error: Writing *Kò má pẹ́, combining the two negative particles, as warned against in Chapter 15.
Correction: Má pẹ́. — má and kò remain separate particles with separate jobs in every context, including polite reminders.
Error: Writing *Wá jọ̀ọ́ sí àríyá mi, inserting jọ̀ọ́ in the middle of the verb phrase.
Correction: Jọ̀ọ́, wá sí àríyá mi. or Wá sí àríyá mi, jọ̀ọ́. — jọ̀ọ́ frames the whole request from the beginning or the end; it does not interrupt the verb phrase.
Chapter Review
Apá A — Àwọn Ọ̀rọ̀ (Vocabulary)
1. Write the Yorùbá word for each of the following: invitation, party, birthday, appointment, guest, gift.
2. Translate each expression into English: gbà · kọ̀ · dájú · ó dùn mí · jọ̀ọ́.
3. Write a short phrase using each of the following: ǹjẹ́ o fẹ́ · mo lè · mo kò lè · jọ̀ọ́.
Apá B — Gírámà (Grammar)
1. Write an invitation and a response for each situation: (a) invite a friend to dinner; (b) invite a friend to a birthday party; (c) invite a friend to meet on Saturday.
2. Write a polite request using jọ̀ọ́ for each situation: (a) asking someone to come early; (b) asking someone not to be late; (c) asking someone to bring a friend.
3. Identify and correct the error in each sentence:
- *Mo kò fún àríyá yìí. (meant as "I decline this party.")
- *Mo kọ̀. (as a complete, polite decline)
- *Kò má pẹ́.
4. Write a short invitation and reply exchange, using at least one fẹ́ invitation, one yóò plan, and one lè or kò lè response.
Apá C — Ìmọ̀ Ohùn àti Àkọ̀wé (Pronunciation and orthography)
1. The following words are written without tone marks or underdots. Restore all required diacritics: ipe; ariya; jo'o; ko (refuse); danju.
2. Write the tone pattern (H = high, M = mid, L = low) for each syllable of: jọ̀ọ́ · àríyá · ó dùn mí · mo kọ̀.
3. Write two sentences that contrast kọ̀ and kò, marking every required tone mark and underdot.
Apá D — Kíkọ (Writing)
1. Submit your completed invitation and reply from the Writing Workshop. Apply the editing checklist before submission.
2. Write two additional short exchanges: one accepting an invitation, and one declining an invitation with a reason.
Apá E — Ìbánisọ̀rọ̀ (Speaking)
1. Without notes, invite a partner to an event and respond to their invitation in one to two minutes. Your exchange must include: an invitation, a plan with yóò, a polite request with jọ̀ọ́, and either an acceptance or a decline.
2. Working with a partner or practicing solo, perform the reassurance role-play from the Speaking Practice section, inventing new worries and reassurances.
Ìfojúsí ẹkọ̀ tẹ́lẹ̀ — Cumulative review check
Before the Performance Task, confirm you can do the following using vocabulary and grammar from Chapters 1–16:
- Use fẹ́ from Chapter 7, most recently used for weather preference contrasts in Chapter 14, now used to extend invitations.
- Use lè from Chapter 13 to accept an invitation and describe ability.
- Use yóò and its contracted forms from Chapter 9 to describe social plans with growing independence.
- Distinguish the direct warning use of má from Chapter 15 from the softer, polite use developed in this chapter.
- Recognize ẹ, the respectful/plural address form formulaic since Chapter 3, in polite requests and reminders.
Performance Task
Iṣẹ́ aṣeyọrí — Abala 16
Ìpè àti ìdáhùn nípa àríyá kan — An invitation and response about a gathering
The Chapter 16 Performance Task has two parts. All spoken and written Yorùbá must use full tone marks and underdots.
Part 1 — Oral role-play (1–2 minutes):
Invite a partner to an event and respond to their invitation. Your conversation must include:
- At least one invitation using fẹ́.
- At least one plan or arrangement using yóò or a contracted form.
- At least one polite request using jọ̀ọ́ and one reminder or reassurance using má.
- A clear response, either accepting with lè or declining with kò lè and a reason.
Part 2 — Written invitation and reply (40–60 words):
Write a short invitation to a friend and a short reply accepting or declining it, following the model in the Reading section. Your writing must include at least one invitation statement, one plan with yóò, one polite request with jọ̀ọ́, one má reminder, and a clear response using lè or kò lè. Use fully marked Standard Yorùbá throughout.
Assessment note: The spoken task is evaluated on task completion, comprehensibility, correct use of invitation and response particles, correct placement of jọ̀ọ́ and má, and intelligible tone, including the kọ̀/kò distinction. The written task is evaluated on accuracy of the invitation, plan, and response patterns, appropriate politeness, orthographic completeness (underdots and tone marks), and overall clarity.
Answer Key
Practice — Inviting and responding
- Ǹjẹ́ o fẹ́ wá sí àríyá mi?
- Mo lè wá. Ó dùn mí.
- Mo kò lè wá, mo ní ìpàdé.
- Jọ̀ọ́, wá ní ọjọ́ Sátidé.
Practice — má: direct warning or polite caution?
- Direct warning — "Don't go outside!"
- Polite caution — "Don't worry, we'll be fine."
- Polite caution — "Please, don't be late" (respectful plural).
Practice — Consolidating yóò
- N ó lọ sí ilé Dúpé. / Èmi yóò lọ sí ilé Dúpé.
- A ó pàdé ní ọjọ́ Sátidé.
Dialogue — Comprehension
- Ó pè é sí àríyá ọjọ́ ìbí Yẹmi. (She invites him to Yẹmi's birthday party.)
- Ní ọjọ́ Sátidé, láàárọ̀. (On Saturday, in the morning.)
- Rárá, nítorí ó ní ìpàdé pàtàkì ní ọjọ́ Sátidé. (No, because he has an important appointment on Saturday.)
- Ó rán an létí láti má pẹ́. (She reminds him not to be late.)
Listening — Comprehension table
- Exchange 1: Response: accept; Reason: none needed, delighted.
- Exchange 2: Response: decline; Reason: has an appointment.
- Exchange 3: Response: accept; Reason: none needed, reassures partner.
Bonus: (1) Delighted. (2) Because they have an appointment. (3) That they'll be fine / not to worry.
Reading — Comprehension
- Ní ọjọ́ Sátidé, láàárọ̀. (On Saturday, in the morning.)
- Rárá, kì í ṣe dandan. (No, they are not required.)
- Nítorí ó ní ìpàdé pàtàkì. (Because he has an important appointment.)
- Ó béèrè pé kí Dúpé kí Yẹmi fún un. (He asks Dúpé to greet Yẹmi for him.)
- Accept: Mo ṣàánú, mo kò lè wá ní ọjọ́ Sátidé, nítorí mo ní ìpàdé pàtàkì.
Chapter Review — Apá A
- ìpè; àríyá; ọjọ́ ìbí; ìpàdé; àlejò; ẹ̀bùn
- to accept/receive; to refuse/decline; to be sure/certain; it pleases me / I'm delighted; please
- Accept any natural, well-formed phrase using each item; examples: Ǹjẹ́ o fẹ́ wá? / Mo lè wá. / Mo kò lè wá. / Jọ̀ọ́, wá pẹ̀lú mi.
Chapter Review — Apá B
- Accept any natural invitation-and-response pair for each situation using fẹ́, yóò, and lè/kò lè; example: Ǹjẹ́ o fẹ́ wá jẹun pẹ̀lú mi? — Mo lè wá, ó dùn mí.
- (a) Jọ̀ọ́, wá ní kùtùkùtù. (b) Jọ̀ọ́, má pẹ́. (c) Jọ̀ọ́, mú ọ̀rẹ́ rẹ wá.
- Corrections: (i) Mo kọ̀ fún àríyá yìí. — the verb kọ̀, not the negation particle kò, is required. (ii) Mo ṣàánú, mo kò lè wá, mo ní ìpàdé. — a bare refusal needs softening language and a reason. (iii) Má pẹ́. — má and kò are never combined.
- Accept any invitation-and-reply exchange that correctly uses fẹ́, yóò, and lè or kò lè. Example: Ǹjẹ́ o fẹ́ wá sí àríyá mi? A ó pàdé ní ọjọ́ Sátidé. — Mo lè wá, ó dùn mí.
Chapter Review — Apá C
- Correct forms: ìpè; àríyá; jọ̀ọ́; kọ̀; dájú.
- Tone patterns (accept phonetically motivated alternatives; flag for human review): jọ̀ọ́ = L-H; àríyá = L-H-H; ó dùn mí = M-H-M; mo kọ̀ = M-L.
- Accept any accurate contrastive pair, such as: Mo kọ̀. / Kò rọ̀jò.
Looking Ahead
Ohun tí o lè ṣe báyìí — What you can do now
You can name vocabulary for invitations, appointments, social plans, and hospitality, invite someone using fẹ́, accept or decline politely using lè and kò lè, give a polite request or reminder using jọ̀ọ́ and a softened má, and describe social plans with increasing independence using yóò. You can also write a short invitation message and role-play accepting or declining one in conversation.