Ìránṣẹ́, Ìtọ́kasí, àti Àwọn Arọ́pò Orúkọ Àṣepé
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Name common vocabulary for phones, messages, and basic email communication using fully marked Yorùbá.
- Use object pronouns after high-frequency verbs to refer to people and things without repeating a full noun.
- Use the demonstratives yìí ("this") and náà ("that, the aforementioned") to refer back to something already mentioned.
- Distinguish new information from already-mentioned information in a short conversation or message.
- Write a short text message that refers clearly to people or things mentioned earlier in the same message.
- Understand who is contacting whom in a short phone or messaging exchange.
Communication Scenario
Yẹmi's birthday party from Chapter 16 is over, and it went well. Now Dúpé wants to send Kúnlé a short thank-you message, and she also needs to pass along a message from Yẹmi to Adé, who could not attend. As the messages go back and forth, Dúpé must be careful to make clear who she means each time she says "him," "her," "it," "this," or "that" — the people and things being discussed are not always repeated by name. You will follow these exchanges, then write your own short message using object pronouns and reference words.
- Before you open this chapter, think of a short message you might send a friend after an event: a thank-you, a follow-up question, or a piece of news.
- Recall the subject pronouns you have used since Chapter 2 — mo, o, ó, a, ẹ, wọ́n — and the demonstrative yìí, formulaic since Chapter 4. This chapter adds object pronouns and a second demonstrative, náà, to that foundation.
Core Vocabulary
Fóònù àti Ìránṣẹ́ — Phone and Messages
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| fóònù | phone | loanword, adapted to Yorùbá sound-spelling |
| ìránṣẹ́ | message | also used for "messenger" in older usage |
| ránṣẹ́ | to send a message | verb; ránṣẹ́ sí ẹnìkan, "to send [a message] to someone" |
| pe | to call (by phone) | same verb as "to call/invite" from Ch. 16, context distinguishes meaning |
| ìmeèlì | loanword | |
| kọ | to write | reviewed; active for writing since early chapters |
Ìtọ́kasí — Reference Words
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| yìí | this | formulaic since Ch. 4; developed here for reference to something just mentioned |
| náà | that, the aforementioned | new; refers back to something already mentioned, not to something physically distant |
| ẹni náà | that person, the person just mentioned | ẹni, "person" + náà |
| ohun náà | that thing, the thing just mentioned | ohun, "thing" + náà |
Àwọn Ìṣe Ìbánisọ̀rọ̀ — Communication Verbs
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| sọ | to say, to tell | reviewed; sọ fún, "to tell [someone]" |
| gbọ́ | to hear | |
| dá | to reply, to answer | |
| ránnti | to remember, to remind | rán ẹnìkan létí, "to remind someone" — reviewed from Ch. 16 |
| rí | to see | reviewed from á rí ọ, "see you," Ch. 16 |
Object pronouns in this chapter attach to verbs you already control — pè, rí, sọ fún, rán... létí — rather than introducing new verbs to carry the new grammar.
Pronunciation and Orthography Focus
Focus 1 — Connected-speech rhythm in message formulas
Object pronouns are pronounced as a smooth continuation of the verb, not as a separate, heavily stressed word. Say each pair aloud, letting the object pronoun flow directly out of the verb with no pause:
- rí i — see him/her/it (compare with the pause-free á rí ọ, "see you," from Chapter 16)
- pè é — call him/her
- gbọ́ ọ — hear it
Focus 2 — Diacritics in digital text
Formal instructional writing in this course always includes full tone marks and underdots, even in a short text message. Some Yorùbá speakers write informal digital messages without diacritics, but this course keeps every message you write fully marked, so that tone and vowel quality remain visible and unambiguous.
Focus 3 — Distinguishing yìí and náà
Say each phrase aloud, then say an English gloss, keeping the two demonstratives clearly separate in your mind.
- ìránṣẹ́ yìí — this message (a message right in front of you)
- ìránṣẹ́ náà — that message, the message just mentioned (already introduced in the conversation)
- ẹni náà — that person, the person just mentioned
- ohun náà — that thing, the thing just mentioned
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
17.1 Object pronouns after high-frequency verbs
Purpose: refer to a person or thing already mentioned, without repeating the full noun, immediately after a verb.
Yorùbá object pronouns come directly after the verb, in the position a noun object would occupy. You have already produced full noun objects since Chapter 4; this chapter replaces some of those nouns with object pronouns in familiar sentence patterns.
| Person | Object pronoun | Example | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|
| me | mi | Ó rí mi. | He/She saw me. |
| you (sg.) | ọ | Mo rí ọ. | I saw you. |
| him/her/it | i / rẹ̀ | Mo rí i. | I saw him/her/it. |
| us | wa | Ó rí wa. | He/She saw us. |
| you (pl./respect) | yín | Mo rí yín. | I saw you (all/respectfully). |
| them | wọn | Ó rí wọn. | He/She saw them. |
- Mo pè é. I + call + him/her [object pronoun] I called him/her.
- Ó ránṣẹ́ sí mi. He/She sent me a message.
- N ó sọ fún un. I will tell him/her.
Volume I activates object pronouns only in the high-frequency verb contexts shown in this chapter: rí ("to see"), pè ("to call"), sọ fún ("to tell"), and ránṣẹ́ sí ("to send a message to"). You are not yet asked to produce object pronouns independently with every verb you know. Broader, more independent object pronoun use is developed in a later volume.
17.2 Referring back with náà
Purpose: refer to a person, thing, or event already mentioned earlier in the same conversation or message, distinguishing it from something new.
náà follows a noun, just as yìí does, but it points back to something already introduced rather than to something physically present:
- Mo rí Kúnlé. Ọkùnrin náà dára púpọ̀. I + saw + Kúnlé. Man + that/the-aforementioned + is-good + very I saw Kúnlé. That man (the one just mentioned) is very kind.
- Mo gba ìránṣẹ́ kan. Ìránṣẹ́ náà wá láti ọ̀dọ̀ Yẹmi. I received a message. That message (the one just mentioned) came from Yẹmi.
yìí, formulaic since Chapter 4, marks something close at hand or currently being shown, such as ìwé yìí ("this book," the one you are holding). náà marks something the listener or reader already knows about because it was mentioned earlier, such as ìwé náà ("that book," the one already discussed). Both words follow the noun they modify, and neither changes form for singular or plural.
17.3 Tracking who is speaking about whom
Purpose: keep subject and object clearly distinct in a short exchange, so that the listener or reader always knows who is doing what to whom.
A message or dialogue often mixes subject pronouns, object pronouns, and demonstratives in the same short passage. Reading or listening carefully for each one keeps the participants straight:
- Yẹmi ránṣẹ́ sí mi. Mo dá a padà lẹ́sẹ̀kẹsẹ̀. Yẹmi[subj] + sent + to + me[obj]. I[subj] + replied + him/her[obj] + immediately Yẹmi sent me a message. I replied to him/her immediately.
The subject pronouns in this section — mo, ó, and the others — have been active since Chapter 2. This section does not add new subject forms; it asks you to track subject and object together in a single short passage, a skill developed gradually since Chapter 3.
This chapter's genuinely new productive material is the object pronoun set and the demonstrative náà. Both attach to sentence patterns and verbs you already control. Subject pronouns, the verbs rí, pè, and sọ fún, and the demonstrative yìí have all been active since earlier chapters and are recombined here rather than retaught from the beginning.
Practice — Choosing the object pronoun
Complete each sentence with the correct object pronoun for the person given in parentheses.
- Mo rí ___. (you, singular) → ___
- Ó pè ___. (me) → ___
- A sọ fún ___. (them) → ___
- Wọ́n rí ___. (us) → ___
Practice — yìí or náà?
Choose yìí or náà for each sentence, based on whether the noun is close at hand or already mentioned.
- (Holding up a phone) — Fóònù ___ ni tèmi. ("This phone is mine.")
- (After discussing Kúnlé for several lines) — Ọkùnrin ___ dára púpọ̀. ("That man [already mentioned] is very kind.")
- (Pointing at a message on the screen) — Ìránṣẹ́ ___ wá láti ọ̀dọ̀ Dúpé. ("This message is from Dúpé.")
Model Dialogue
Read the exchange carefully. Notice how Dúpé and Kúnlé use object pronouns instead of repeating names, and how náà refers back to Yẹmi's message once it has already been mentioned. Comprehension questions follow.
Ipò: Dúpé ń rán ìránṣẹ́ sí Kúnlé lẹ́yìn àríyá ọjọ́ ìbí Yẹmi.
Setting: Dúpé is sending Kúnlé a message after Yẹmi's birthday party.
- Ó rí i. — object pronoun i refers back to the gift already mentioned.
- àríyá náà and ìránṣẹ́ náà — náà refers back to a party and a message already introduced in the conversation.
- Mo dá a padà. — object pronoun a refers back to Adé without repeating his name.
- Sọ fún un pé mo kí i. — object pronoun un ("him," a variant of i after certain sounds) again refers back to Adé.
Àwọn ìbéèrè nípa ọ̀rọ̀ àdáhùnṣe — Comprehension questions:
- Ǹjẹ́ Yẹmi rí ẹ̀bùn Kúnlé? (Did Yẹmi see Kúnlé's gift?)
- Ta ni ó ránṣẹ́ sí Dúpé lánàá? (Who sent Dúpé a message yesterday?)
- Kí nìdí tí Adé kò fi wá sí àríyá náà? (Why didn't Adé come to that party?)
- Kí ni Kúnlé béèrè lọ́wọ́ Dúpé láti sọ fún Adé? (What does Kúnlé ask Dúpé to tell Adé?)
Listening
Ask your instructor, a study partner, or a qualified Yorùbá speaker to read the following short exchanges at a natural pace. Listen for who is contacting whom, and what pronoun or reference word points back to a person already mentioned.
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 rí Yẹmi lánàá?"
Àpín B: "Bẹ́ẹ̀ni, mo rí i ní àríyá náà."
Ìjíròrò 2:
Àpín A: "Ta ni ó ránṣẹ́ sí ọ lónìí?"
Àpín B: "Adé ni ó ránṣẹ́ sí mi. Mo dá a padà."
Ìjíròrò 3:
Àpín A: "Ǹjẹ́ o sọ fún Kúnlé pé àríyá náà dára?"
Àpín B: "Bẹ́ẹ̀ni, mo sọ fún un."
| Ìjíròrò | Ta ni ó ń sọ̀rọ̀ nípa ẹni tí ó ń bọ̀ (Who is being talked about) | Arọ́pò tàbí ìtọ́kasí tí a lò (Pronoun or reference word used) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ______ | ______ |
| 2 | ______ | ______ |
| 3 | ______ | ______ |
Ìbéèrè àfikún — Bonus questions:
- In Exchange 1, where did Speaker B see Yẹmi?
- In Exchange 2, what did Speaker B do after Adé sent a message?
- In Exchange 3, who is un referring to?
Reading
Read the two short text messages below. The first is Dúpé's thank-you message to Kúnlé. The second is Kúnlé's reply. Both use Standard Yorùbá orthography with full tone marks and underdots, exactly as they would be written in this course even in an informal message.
Àwọn ìbéèrè nípa ọ̀rọ̀ àdáhùnṣe — Comprehension questions:
- Kí ni Dúpé dúpẹ́ lọ́wọ́ Kúnlé fún? (What does Dúpé thank Kúnlé for?)
- Ǹjẹ́ Yẹmi fẹ́ràn ẹ̀bùn Kúnlé? (Did Yẹmi like Kúnlé's gift?)
- Kí ni Kúnlé béèrè lọ́wọ́ Dúpé láti sọ fún Yẹmi? (What does Kúnlé ask Dúpé to tell Yẹmi?)
- Wa gbolohùn kan nínú ìránṣẹ́ Kúnlé tí ó lo náà. Kọ ọ̀ jáde, kí o sì ṣàlàyé ohun tí ó ń tọ́ka sí. (Find one sentence in Kúnlé's message that uses náà. Write it out, and explain what it refers to.)
- Wa àpẹẹrẹ arọ́pò orúkọ àṣepé kan nínú àwọn ìránṣẹ́ méjèèjì. (Find one example of an object pronoun in either message.)
Writing Workshop
Chapter 17's writing product is a short text message exchange: one message and one reply, each referring clearly to a person or thing mentioned in the other. It must use Standard Yorùbá orthography with full tone marks and underdots.
Ìránṣẹ́ àti Ìdáhùn — A message and a reply
Write a short message (30–50 words) to a friend about a recent event, a plan, or a piece of news. Then write a short reply (20–30 words). Your writing must include:
- At least one object pronoun after a verb such as rí, pè, or sọ fún.
- At least one use of náà, referring back to something already mentioned in your own message.
- At least one subject pronoun, correctly distinguished from the object pronoun(s) in the same sentence or nearby sentences.
- In the reply: at least one object pronoun or one use of náà referring back to the first message.
- Choose a topic. Decide what event, plan, or news you are messaging your friend about.
- Introduce the person or thing. Name it once with a full noun.
- Refer back to it. Use an object pronoun or náà instead of repeating the noun.
- Write the reply. Respond, referring back to something in the first message with a pronoun or náà.
- Apply the editing checklist. Verify every tone mark, underdot, and reference choice before submitting.
Àtúnṣe àtúnyẹ̀wò — Editing checklist:
- Every object pronoun appears immediately after its verb, in the position of the noun it replaces.
- náà follows a noun that was already mentioned earlier in the message, not a brand-new noun.
- yìí is used only for something close at hand, not for something already discussed.
- Subject pronouns and object pronouns are kept distinct; no object pronoun is used in subject position.
- A reader unfamiliar with the situation could still tell who "he," "she," "it," or "that" refers to.
- 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: object pronoun substitution
Working with a partner, Speaker A says a sentence with a full noun object. Speaker B repeats the sentence, replacing the noun with the correct object pronoun. Switch roles after six exchanges each.
Example:
- Speaker A: Mo rí Kúnlé. ("I saw Kúnlé.")
- Speaker B: Mo rí i. ("I saw him.")
Ta ni ó ń pè ta? — Who is calling whom?
One partner describes a short phone or messaging exchange using subject pronouns, object pronouns, and náà. The other partner listens and then states, in their own words, exactly who contacted whom and what was said. Switch roles after three rounds each. If no partner is available, record yourself describing the exchange, then listen back and check that a listener could follow who is who.
Fún àwọn tí ń kọ́ nìkọ̀ọ̀kan — Solo alternative: narrated message exchange
Record yourself narrating a short messaging exchange between two people you invent, in one to two minutes of continuous Yorùbá. Include at least three object pronouns and two uses of náà. Listen back and check:
- Did you place each object pronoun directly after its verb?
- Did you use náà only for something already mentioned?
- Could a listener tell who sent the message and who replied?
- Did you keep every tone accurate while speaking at a natural pace?
Culture and Communication
Among many Yorùbá-speaking families and communities, a phone call is often preferred over a written message for important news, thanks, or condolences, since it allows for a fuller exchange of greetings and warmth. A short written message is common for practical, quick information, but a follow-up call is not unusual even after a message has been sent, especially between close friends and family.
Asking a friend to pass along a greeting, as Kúnlé does in this chapter's dialogue and message when he says sọ fún un pé mo kí i ("tell him I say hello"), is a common and valued gesture in Yorùbá-speaking communities. It keeps relationships warm even when direct contact is not immediately possible.
In everyday digital communication, some Yorùbá speakers write with reduced or no diacritics because of keyboard limitations or habit, while others maintain full diacritics, especially in more formal digital writing. This chapter keeps all model messages fully marked as the stable instructional standard; recognizing informal, reduced-diacritic text is developed later in the series as a scheduled receptive skill.
Common Mistakes
Error: Writing *Mo rí ó when you mean "I saw him," using the subject form ó instead of the object form.
Correction: Mo rí i. — the object pronoun for "him/her/it" is i (or rẹ̀ in some contexts), not the subject pronoun ó. Keep subject and object forms distinct, as shown in Grammar 17.1.
Error: Writing *Ìránṣẹ́ yìí wá láti ọ̀dọ̀ Yẹmi to refer back to a message discussed several sentences earlier, when the message is not physically present or currently being shown.
Correction: Ìránṣẹ́ náà wá láti ọ̀dọ̀ Yẹmi. — use náà, not yìí, for something already mentioned rather than something close at hand.
Error: Writing *Mo rí Kúnlé. Mo pè Kúnlé., repeating the full name where an object pronoun would sound more natural.
Correction: Mo rí Kúnlé. Mo pè é. — once a person has been named, an object pronoun is usually preferred over repeating the name in the next closely connected sentence.
Error: Writing *Mo ri e, o dun mi for a text message assignment, omitting tone marks and underdots because the content is "just a text message."
Correction: Mo rí ẹ, ó dùn mí. — this course requires full diacritics in every formal writing task, including short messages, unless an exercise specifically asks for undiacritized recognition practice.
Chapter Review
Apá A — Àwọn Ọ̀rọ̀ (Vocabulary)
1. Write the Yorùbá word for each of the following: phone, message, email, to send a message, to reply, to remind.
2. Translate each expression into English: ránṣẹ́ sí · dá a padà · ẹni náà · ohun náà.
3. Write a short phrase using each of the following: fóònù · ìránṣẹ́ · sọ fún.
Apá B — Gírámà (Grammar)
1. Rewrite each sentence, replacing the underlined noun with the correct object pronoun: (a) Mo rí Yẹmi. (b) Ó pè Kúnlé àti Adé. (c) A sọ fún ọ àti Dúpé.
2. Choose yìí or náà for each context: (a) pointing at a phone in your hand; (b) referring back to a party discussed three sentences earlier; (c) referring back to a message someone just read aloud to you.
3. Identify and correct the error in each sentence:
- *Mo rí ó. (meant as "I saw him.")
- *Ìránṣẹ́ yìí wá láti ọ̀dọ̀ Yẹmi, referring to a message mentioned several lines earlier.
- *Mo rí Kúnlé. Mo pè Kúnlé.
4. Write a short two-sentence exchange using at least one object pronoun and one use of náà.
Apá C — Ìmọ̀ Ohùn àti Àkọ̀wé (Pronunciation and orthography)
1. The following words are written without tone marks or underdots. Restore all required diacritics: foonu; iranse; naa; ranse.
2. Say rí i, pè é, and gbọ́ ọ aloud, keeping the object pronoun flowing smoothly out of the verb with no pause.
3. Write one sentence using yìí and one using náà, marking every required tone mark and underdot, and clearly showing the difference in meaning.
Apá D — Kíkọ (Writing)
1. Submit your completed message and reply from the Writing Workshop. Apply the editing checklist before submission.
2. Write one additional short message that refers back to a person or event mentioned in your Writing Workshop message, using at least one object pronoun and one use of náà.
Apá E — Ìbánisọ̀rọ̀ (Speaking)
1. Without notes, tell a partner about a short phone or messaging exchange you had recently (real or invented), using at least three object pronouns and one use of náà.
2. Working with a partner or practicing solo, perform the "Ta ni ó ń pè ta?" activity from the Speaking Practice section, then summarize who contacted whom.
Ìfojúsí ẹkọ̀ tẹ́lẹ̀ — Cumulative review check
Before the Performance Task, confirm you can do the following using vocabulary and grammar from Chapters 1–17:
- Use subject pronouns from Chapter 2, now clearly distinguished from the new object pronouns.
- Use yìí, formulaic since Chapter 4, correctly alongside the new demonstrative náà.
- Use rí, pè, and sọ fún with object pronouns instead of repeated full nouns.
- Recognize and reuse rán... létí ("to remind"), reviewed from Chapter 16, in a messaging context.
- Write a short message with full tone marks and underdots, as required since Chapter 1.
Performance Task
Iṣẹ́ aṣeyọrí — Abala 17
Ìránṣẹ́ àti ìdáhùn tí ó ṣe kedere — A clear message and reply
The Chapter 17 Performance Task has two parts. All spoken and written Yorùbá must use full tone marks and underdots.
Part 1 — Oral narration (1–2 minutes):
Narrate a short phone or messaging exchange between two people, describing who contacted whom, what was said, and how the other person replied. Your narration must include:
- At least three object pronouns used correctly after their verbs.
- At least two uses of náà referring back to something already mentioned.
- Clear tracking of subject and object throughout, so a listener always knows who is doing what to whom.
Part 2 — Written message and reply (30–50 words plus 20–30 words):
Write a short message to a friend and a short reply, following the model in the Reading section. Your writing must include at least two object pronouns, one use of náà, and correct use of full diacritics throughout.
Assessment note: The spoken task is evaluated on task completion, comprehensibility, correct placement and choice of object pronouns, correct use of náà versus yìí, and clear tracking of who is speaking about whom. The written task is evaluated on accuracy of pronoun and reference choices, clarity for a reader unfamiliar with the situation, and orthographic completeness (underdots and tone marks).
Answer Key
Practice — Choosing the object pronoun
- Mo rí ọ.
- Ó pè mí.
- A sọ fún wọn.
- Wọ́n rí wa.
Practice — yìí or náà?
- Fóònù yìí ni tèmi. — yìí, since the phone is being held.
- Ọkùnrin náà dára púpọ̀. — náà, since Kúnlé has already been mentioned.
- Ìránṣẹ́ yìí wá láti ọ̀dọ̀ Dúpé. — yìí, since the message is currently on screen.
Dialogue — Comprehension
- Bẹ́ẹ̀ni, ó rí i, ó sì fẹ́ràn rẹ̀ púpọ̀. (Yes, she saw it and liked it very much.)
- Adé ni ó ránṣẹ́ sí Dúpé lánàá. (Adé sent Dúpé a message yesterday.)
- Nítorí ó ní ìpàdé pàtàkì. (Because he had an important appointment — reviewed from Chapter 16.)
- Ó béèrè pé kí Dúpé sọ fún Adé pé òun kí i. (He asks Dúpé to tell Adé that he says hello.)
Listening — Comprehension table
- Exchange 1: Person discussed: Yẹmi; Reference word: object pronoun i.
- Exchange 2: Person discussed: Adé; Reference word: object pronoun a.
- Exchange 3: Person discussed: Kúnlé; Reference word: object pronoun un.
Bonus: (1) At the party. (2) Replied to him immediately. (3) Kúnlé.
Reading — Comprehension
- Fún wíwá sí àríyá Yẹmi. (For coming to Yẹmi's party.)
- Bẹ́ẹ̀ni, ó fẹ́ràn rẹ̀ púpọ̀. (Yes, she liked it very much.)
- Ó béèrè pé kí Dúpé sọ fún Yẹmi pé òun kí i, àti pé òun fẹ́ rí i lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi. (He asks Dúpé to tell Yẹmi he says hello and wants to see her again.)
- Àríyá náà dára gan-an. — refers back to Yẹmi's party, already mentioned.
- Example: mo kí i — object pronoun i referring to Yẹmi.
Chapter Review — Apá A
- fóònù; ìránṣẹ́; ìmeèlì; ránṣẹ́; dá padà; ránnti
- to send [a message] to; to reply to him/her; that person, the person just mentioned; that thing, the thing just mentioned
- Accept any natural phrase using each item; examples: Mo ní fóònù kan. / Mo gba ìránṣẹ́ kan. / Sọ fún mi.
Chapter Review — Apá B
- (a) Mo rí i. (b) Ó pè wọn. (c) A sọ fún yín.
- (a) yìí (b) náà (c) náà
- Corrections: (i) Mo rí i. — the object pronoun, not the subject pronoun ó, is required after the verb. (ii) Ìránṣẹ́ náà wá láti ọ̀dọ̀ Yẹmi. — náà is required for something already mentioned. (iii) Mo rí Kúnlé. Mo pè é. — an object pronoun replaces the repeated name.
- Accept any two-sentence exchange that correctly uses an object pronoun and náà. Example: Mo rí Adé lánàá. Ọkùnrin náà sọ pé ó dájú pé n ó rí i lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi.
Chapter Review — Apá C
- Correct forms: fóònù; ìránṣẹ́; náà; ránṣẹ́.
- Accept accurate, natural pronunciation with the object pronoun pronounced as a smooth continuation of the verb, with no pause.
- Accept any accurate contrastive pair, such as: Ìwé yìí dára. / Ìwé náà tí a sọ̀rọ̀ rẹ̀ lánàá kò sí níbí.
Looking Ahead
Ohun tí o lè ṣe báyìí — What you can do now
You can name vocabulary for phones, messages, and basic email, use object pronouns after high-frequency verbs such as rí, pè, and sọ fún, and use náà to refer back to a person or thing already mentioned, keeping it clearly distinct from yìí. You can also write a short text message that a reader can follow clearly, and understand who is contacting whom in a short phone or messaging exchange.