Ìrírí, Àbájáde, àti Àwọn Iṣẹ́ tí a Parí
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Use the perfective particle ti with confidence and independence to describe completed experiences, finished tasks, and present results.
- Distinguish clearly among ti (completed/resultative), ń (ongoing), and yóò (future) in connected sentences.
- Name common vocabulary for travel experiences, completed tasks, and achievements.
- Describe what has been done and what result that action has produced in the present.
- Read a short experience note that mixes completed, ongoing, and future time reference.
- Write a short account of something you have done, using full tone marks and underdots.
Communication Scenario
A week has passed since Yẹmi's birthday party. Adé, who could not attend, is now planning the trip to see Yẹmi that he mentioned in his message to Dúpé in Chapter 17. Dúpé checks in with Adé about what he has already arranged, what he is still working on, and what he will do once he arrives. Their exchange moves constantly among three time frames — what is already finished, what is happening now, and what is still to come — and Dúpé must keep these distinct so that Adé's plans stay clear. You will follow their exchange, then describe your own recent experiences and achievements.
- Before you open this chapter, think of something you completed recently — a trip, a task at work or school, or a personal errand.
- Recall the particle ti, introduced formulaically in Chapter 5 and developed since Chapter 11 for narrating yesterday's events. This chapter consolidates ti for independent use and contrasts it directly with ń, active since Chapter 6, and yóò, active since Chapter 9.
Core Vocabulary
Ìrìnàjò àti Ìrírí — Travel and Experience
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ìrìnàjò | trip, journey | |
| rìnrìn àjò | to travel | compound verb; ó ti rìnrìn àjò, "he/she has traveled" |
| dé | to arrive | |
| ìrírí | experience | |
| ọkọ̀ òfurufú | airplane | |
| ilé oúnjẹ | restaurant | reviewed from Ch. 7 |
Iṣẹ́ tí a Parí — Completed Tasks
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| parí | to finish, to complete | iṣẹ́ tí a parí, "a task that has been completed" |
| ṣe | to do, to make | reviewed; active since early chapters |
| rà | to buy | reviewed from Ch. 7 |
| tà | to sell | reviewed from Ch. 7 |
| múra sílẹ̀ | to prepare, to get ready | |
| ìpèsè | arrangement, preparation |
Àbájáde àti Àṣeyọrí — Results and Achievements
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| àbájáde | result, outcome | |
| àṣeyọrí | achievement, success | |
| ti parí | has finished, is finished | perfective + verb; result focus |
| ti ṣetán | is ready, has become ready | ṣetán, "to be ready" |
| síbẹ̀síbẹ̀ | still, even so | useful for contrasting a finished action with an unfinished one |
All verbs in this chapter — rìnrìn àjò, dé, parí, múra sílẹ̀, ṣetán — have been chosen because they combine naturally with ti, ń, and yóò without requiring new sentence patterns.
Pronunciation and Orthography Focus
Focus 1 — Listening for the particle contrasts
Each particle in this chapter is short, but changing it changes the meaning of the whole sentence. Say each set aloud slowly, then at a natural pace, listening for the particle rather than the verb:
- Ó ti dé. — He/She has arrived.
- Ó ń dé. — He/She is arriving (right now).
- Yóò dé. — He/She will arrive.
Focus 2 — Tone stability in result statements
When ti combines with a verb, both the particle and the verb keep their own tone marks; the tone of one does not erase the tone of the other. Practice reading these pairs aloud, keeping each syllable's tone distinct: ti parí, ti ṣetán, ti rìnrìn àjò.
Focus 3 — Reading full sentences with all three particles
Say each sentence aloud, then identify aloud whether it describes something finished, something ongoing, or something still to come.
- Mo ti kọ ìránṣẹ́ náà. — I have written that message. (finished)
- Mo ń kọ ìránṣẹ́ mìíràn. — I am writing another message. (ongoing)
- N ó kọ ìránṣẹ́ mìíràn lọ́la. — I will write another message tomorrow. (future)
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
18.1 Ti consolidated: completed experiences and current results
Purpose: describe an action as finished, and, where relevant, point to the present result of that finished action.
ti has been active since Chapter 5 as a receptive form and developed since Chapter 11 for narrating single completed events. This chapter consolidates ti for independent, flexible use, including its resultative meaning — a completed action that produces a state still true now.
- Adé ti dé. Adé + PERF + arrive Adé has arrived. (He is here now, as a result.)
- Mo ti parí iṣẹ́ mi. I + PERF + finish + work + my I have finished my work. (It is done now.)
- A ti múra sílẹ̀ fún ìrìnàjò náà. We have prepared for that trip. (We are ready now, as a result.)
Unlike Chapter 11, where ti mainly narrated single events in a past sequence, this chapter emphasizes the connection between the finished action and its result right now. Ó ti dé is not only "he arrived" but also "he is here now." This resultative sense is central to describing achievements and current situations.
18.2 Contrasting ti, ń, and yóò
Purpose: keep completed, ongoing, and future meanings clearly distinct within the same conversation or passage.
| Particle | Time meaning | Example | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|
| ti | completed, resultative | Ó ti kọ ìwé náà. | He/She has written that book/letter. |
| ń | ongoing, in progress | Ó ń kọ ìwé náà. | He/She is writing that book/letter. |
| yóò / á / n ó | future | Yóò kọ ìwé náà. | He/She will write that book/letter. |
- Adé ti kúrò ní ilé, ó sì ń wakọ̀ lọ sí pápá ọkọ̀ òfurufú. Yóò dé láàrin wákàtí méjì. Adé + PERF + leave + house, he + PROG + drive + to + airport. FUT + arrive + within + hours + two Adé has left home, and he is driving to the airport. He will arrive within two hours.
Yorùbá speakers often move through completed, ongoing, and future meanings within the same short passage, exactly as the example above does. Learners should not force every sentence into a single time frame; instead, choose the particle that matches the meaning of each individual clause.
18.3 Result statements with síbẹ̀síbẹ̀
Purpose: contrast a finished action with something that remains unfinished or ongoing.
- Mo ti rà tikẹ́ẹ̀tì mi, síbẹ̀síbẹ̀, n kò tí ì múra sílẹ̀ pátápátá. I have bought my ticket; even so, I have not fully prepared yet.
The form kò tí ì ("has not yet") appears in this chapter's reading and dialogue for recognition only. You are not required to produce the negative perfective independently in Volume I; simply understand it when you meet it in context.
This chapter's genuinely new productive material is the resultative use of ti and its three-way contrast with ń and yóò. The particle ti itself is not new — it has been active in some form since Chapter 5 — but this chapter asks you to use it independently, alongside ń and yóò, in a single connected passage.
Practice — Choosing the correct particle
Complete each sentence with ti, ń, or yóò, based on the time clue given in parentheses.
- Mo ___ parí iṣẹ́ mi. (already finished) → ___
- Ó ___ jẹun báyìí. (happening right now) → ___
- A ___ rí ọ ní ọ̀la. (tomorrow) → ___
- Wọ́n ___ dé láti Èkó. (already arrived) → ___
Practice — Identify the time frame
For each sentence, state whether it describes something completed, ongoing, or future.
- Ó ti rà ẹ̀bùn kan fún Yẹmi.
- A ń múra sílẹ̀ fún ìrìnàjò náà.
- N ó rìnrìn àjò lọ sí Ìbàdàn ní ọ̀sẹ̀ tí ń bọ̀.
Model Dialogue
Read the exchange carefully. Notice how Dúpé and Adé move among completed, ongoing, and future meanings as they discuss Adé's trip. Comprehension questions follow.
Ipò: Dúpé ń pe Adé lórí fóònù láti bèèrè nípa ìrìnàjò rẹ̀ sí ibi tí Yẹmi ń gbé.
Setting: Dúpé is calling Adé to ask about his trip to where Yẹmi lives.
- Mo ti rà tikẹ́ẹ̀tì mi. — completed, with a present result (Adé now holds a ticket).
- Mo ń ṣe bẹ́ẹ̀ báyìí. — ongoing, happening at the moment of speaking.
- Ọkọ̀ òfurufú mi yóò gbéra ní àárọ̀ ọ̀la. — future, scheduled for tomorrow.
- ó ń múra sílẹ̀ láti pàdé mi — ongoing, describing Yẹmi's current preparation.
Àwọn ìbéèrè nípa ọ̀rọ̀ àdáhùnṣe — Comprehension questions:
- Kí ni Adé ti ṣe fún ìrìnàjò rẹ̀? (What has Adé already done for his trip?)
- Kí ni Adé kò tí ì ṣe? (What has Adé not yet done?)
- Nígbà wo ni ọkọ̀ òfurufú Adé yóò gbéra? (When will Adé's plane take off?)
- Kí ni Adé àti Yẹmi yóò ṣe nígbà tí Adé bá dé? (What will Adé and Yẹmi do when Adé arrives?)
Listening
Ask your instructor, a study partner, or a qualified Yorùbá speaker to read the following short statements at a natural pace. For each one, decide whether it describes something completed, ongoing, or future.
If no speaker is available, this is a Listening Script for Independent Use. Read each statement aloud at a natural pace, then cover it and complete the task. Machine text-to-speech output must be checked by a qualified Yorùbá speaker before being used as a pronunciation model.
1. "Mo ti parí iṣẹ́ ilé mi."
2. "Wọ́n ń kó ẹrù wọn sínú ọkọ̀."
3. "A ó lọ síbi àríyá ní ọ̀sẹ̀ tí ń bọ̀."
4. "Kúnlé ti dé ní ilé."
5. "N ó kọ ìránṣẹ́ kan lálẹ́ yìí."
| Gbólóhùn | Àkókò (Completed / Ongoing / Future) |
|---|---|
| 1 | ______ |
| 2 | ______ |
| 3 | ______ |
| 4 | ______ |
| 5 | ______ |
Ìbéèrè àfikún — Bonus questions:
- Which sentence uses the resultative meaning of ti most clearly — describing a present situation caused by a finished action?
- Which sentence describes an action happening at the exact moment of speaking?
Reading
Read Adé's short experience note, written after his trip. Notice how it moves from completed events to a present result and finally to a future plan.
Ìrírí Ìrìnàjò Adé — Adé's Travel Experience
Mo ti rìnrìn àjò lọ sí ibi tí Yẹmi ń gbé, mo sì ti dé láìsí wàhálà kankan. Nígbà tí mo dé, Yẹmi ti dúró de mi ní pápá ọkọ̀ òfurufú, ó sì dùn mí gidigidi láti rí i lẹ́yìn ọ̀pọ̀ oṣù. A ti lọ sí ilé oúnjẹ kan pọ̀, a sì ti sọ̀rọ̀ nípa gbogbo ìrírí wa. Báyìí, a ń múra sílẹ̀ láti lọ sí ilé Yẹmi, a ó sì sinmi níbẹ̀ fún ọjọ́ mẹ́ta. Ìrìnàjò yìí jẹ́ àṣeyọrí ńlá fún mi, nítorí n kò tí ì rí Yẹmi fún ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ àkókò.
Gloss: I have traveled to where Yẹmi lives, and I arrived without any trouble. When I arrived, Yẹmi had already waited for me at the airport, and I was very happy to see her after so many months. We have already gone to a restaurant together, and we have already talked about all our experiences. Now, we are preparing to go to Yẹmi's house, and we will rest there for three days. This trip is a great achievement for me, because I had not seen Yẹmi for a very long time.
Àwọn ìbéèrè nípa ọ̀rọ̀ àdáhùnṣe — Comprehension questions:
- Ṣé Adé dé láìsí wàhálà? (Did Adé arrive without trouble?)
- Kí ni Adé àti Yẹmi ti ṣe pọ̀ láti ìgbà tí Adé dé? (What have Adé and Yẹmi already done together since Adé arrived?)
- Kí ni wọ́n ń múra sílẹ̀ láti ṣe báyìí? (What are they now preparing to do?)
- Wa gbolohùn kan nínú ìrírí Adé tí ó lo ti láti fi hàn àbájáde kan tí ó ṣì wà lónìí. Kọ ọ̀ jáde, kí o sì ṣàlàyé àbájáde náà. (Find one sentence in Adé's account that uses ti to show a result that is still true today. Write it out and explain the result.)
Writing Workshop
Chapter 18's writing product is a short experience note describing something you have done, its present result, and one thing you still plan to do. It must use Standard Yorùbá orthography with full tone marks and underdots.
Ìrírí Mi — My Experience
Write a short account (50–70 words) of a trip, a completed task, or an achievement. Your writing must include:
- At least two sentences using ti to describe completed actions.
- At least one sentence showing a present result of a completed action.
- At least one sentence using ń to describe something ongoing.
- At least one sentence using yóò, á, or n ó to describe a future plan connected to your experience.
- Choose your experience. Decide on a trip, task, or achievement to describe.
- State what you have completed. Use ti for the main finished actions.
- Show the present result. Add a sentence showing what is true now because of that completed action.
- Add something ongoing. Use ń for something still in progress.
- Add a future plan. Use yóò, á, or n ó for what comes next.
- Apply the editing checklist. Verify every tone mark, underdot, and particle choice before submitting.
Àtúnṣe àtúnyẹ̀wò — Editing checklist:
- Every completed action uses ti, not ń or a bare verb alone.
- At least one sentence makes clear what present result follows from a completed action.
- ń is used only for something genuinely ongoing, not for something already finished.
- yóò, á, or n ó is used only for something not yet begun.
- A reader could clearly tell which parts of the account are finished, ongoing, and future.
- 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: particle substitution
Working with a partner, Speaker A says a sentence with a bare verb and a time cue in English. Speaker B produces the correct sentence with ti, ń, or yóò. Switch roles after six exchanges each.
Example:
- Speaker A: parí iṣẹ́ — "already finished"
- Speaker B: Mo ti parí iṣẹ́. ("I have finished the work.")
Ìrírí àìpẹ́ yìí — A recent experience
Tell a partner about something you have recently completed, what result it has produced, and one thing you are still preparing to do. Your partner should ask at least two follow-up questions using ti, ń, or yóò. Switch roles after each account. If no partner is available, record yourself and check that all three time frames are clearly distinguished.
Fún àwọn tí ń kọ́ nìkọ̀ọ̀kan — Solo alternative: narrated achievement
Record yourself narrating an achievement — real or invented — in one to two minutes of continuous Yorùbá. Include at least three uses of ti, one use of ń, and one use of yóò. Listen back and check:
- Did you clearly distinguish completed, ongoing, and future actions?
- Did you state at least one present result of a completed action?
- Did you keep tone accurate on both the particle and the verb?
Culture and Communication
Announcing safe arrival after a journey is an important courtesy in many Yorùbá-speaking families and communities. A message or call such as mo ti dé ("I have arrived") reassures family and friends and is often expected soon after travel, even for short trips.
A reunion after a long separation, such as Adé and Yẹmi's meeting in this chapter, is often marked with warmth, shared food, and extended conversation, as reflected in a ó kọ́kọ́ lọ sí ilé oúnjẹ ("we'll first go to a restaurant"). Recognizing an achievement or milestone verbally, as Dúpé does with àṣeyọrí ni ("it's an achievement"), is a valued way of honoring someone's effort.
This course uses yóò, á, and n ó as controlled future forms depending on the subject pronoun, following the pattern established since Chapter 9. Some speakers favor one form over another in casual speech; all three remain within the productive standard of this course.
Common Mistakes
Error: Writing *Ó ń dé to mean "he has arrived," when the person is already present and the action is finished.
Correction: Ó ti dé. — use ti, not ń, when the action is complete and its result holds now. Ó ń dé means "he is arriving," describing the arrival as still in progress.
Error: Writing *Mo parí iṣẹ́ mi alone to mean "I have finished my work," omitting the particle that signals completion.
Correction: Mo ti parí iṣẹ́ mi. — ti is required to mark the resultative, completed meaning; a bare verb alone does not reliably signal that the action is finished.
Error: Writing *Mo ti yóò lọ sí ilé oúnjẹ, combining the completed particle and the future particle in a single clause.
Correction: N ó lọ sí ilé oúnjẹ. — choose one particle per clause according to the intended time meaning; ti and yóò do not combine to form a single tense in this course.
Error: Translating Ó ti dé only as "he arrived" and missing that it also communicates "he is here now."
Correction: When explaining or glossing ti sentences, note both the completed action and its present result where relevant, as shown in Grammar 18.1.
Chapter Review
Apá A — Àwọn Ọ̀rọ̀ (Vocabulary)
1. Write the Yorùbá word for each of the following: trip, to arrive, experience, to finish, result, achievement.
2. Translate each expression into English: ti parí · ti ṣetán · múra sílẹ̀ · síbẹ̀síbẹ̀.
3. Write a short phrase using each of the following: ìrìnàjò · àbájáde · àṣeyọrí.
Apá B — Gírámà (Grammar)
1. Rewrite each sentence using ti, ń, or yóò to match the time cue given: (a) Mo (already finished) rà tikẹ́ẹ̀tì. (b) Wọ́n (right now) sinmi. (c) A (tomorrow) rí ọ.
2. Write one sentence showing a completed action and one sentence showing the present result of that action.
3. Identify and correct the error in each sentence:
- *Ó ń dé. (meant as "he has arrived," person already present)
- *Mo parí iṣẹ́ mi. (meant as "I have finished my work")
- *Mo ti yóò lọ sí ilé oúnjẹ.
4. Write a short three-sentence account using ti, ń, and yóò, one particle per sentence.
Apá C — Ìmọ̀ Ohùn àti Àkọ̀wé (Pronunciation and orthography)
1. The following words are written without tone marks or underdots. Restore all required diacritics: irinajo; pari; abajade; aseyori.
2. Say ó ti dé, ó ń dé, and yóò dé aloud, keeping the particle tone distinct in each case.
3. Write one sentence using ti and one using ń, marking every required tone mark and underdot, and clearly showing the difference in meaning.
Apá D — Kíkọ (Writing)
1. Submit your completed experience note from the Writing Workshop. Apply the editing checklist before submission.
2. Write two additional sentences continuing your experience note, using at least one more instance of ti and one of yóò.
Apá E — Ìbánisọ̀rọ̀ (Speaking)
1. Without notes, tell a partner about something you have completed recently, its present result, and one future plan connected to it, using at least three particle contrasts.
2. Working with a partner or practicing solo, perform the "Ìrírí àìpẹ́ yìí" activity from the Speaking Practice section, then summarize what was completed, ongoing, and planned.
Ìfojúsí ẹkọ̀ tẹ́lẹ̀ — Cumulative review check
Before the Performance Task, confirm you can do the following using vocabulary and grammar from Chapters 1–18:
- Use object pronouns and náà from Chapter 17 alongside the particle contrasts in this chapter.
- Use ń, active since Chapter 6, correctly alongside the consolidated ti and yóò.
- Use subject pronouns from Chapter 2 with all three particles.
- Recognize kò tí ì receptively without being required to produce it independently.
- Write a short account with full tone marks and underdots, as required since Chapter 1.
Performance Task
Iṣẹ́ aṣeyọrí — Abala 18
Ìtàn ìrírí mi tí ó ṣe kedere — A clear personal experience narrative
The Chapter 18 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 real or invented experience — a trip, a completed task, or an achievement — describing what you have done, its present result, and what you still plan to do. Your narration must include:
- At least three uses of ti to describe completed actions.
- At least one clear statement of a present result following from a completed action.
- At least one use of ń and one use of yóò, á, or n ó, each correctly placed.
Part 2 — Written experience note (50–70 words):
Write a short experience note following the model in the Reading section. Your writing must include at least two uses of ti, one result statement, one use of ń, one use of a future particle, and correct use of full diacritics throughout.
Assessment note: The spoken task is evaluated on task completion, comprehensibility, correct choice among ti, ń, and yóò, clear expression of a present result, and overall tone accuracy. The written task is evaluated on accuracy of particle choice, clarity of the completed/ongoing/future contrast, and orthographic completeness (underdots and tone marks).
Answer Key
Practice — Choosing the correct particle
- Mo ti parí iṣẹ́ mi.
- Ó ń jẹun báyìí.
- A ó rí ọ ní ọ̀la.
- Wọ́n ti dé láti Èkó.
Practice — Identify the time frame
- Completed — ti rà, a finished purchase.
- Ongoing — ń múra sílẹ̀, preparation in progress.
- Future — n ó rìnrìn àjò, a planned trip next week.
Dialogue — Comprehension
- Ó ti rà tikẹ́ẹ̀tì rẹ̀. (He has bought his ticket.)
- Kò tí ì kó ẹrù rẹ̀. (He has not yet packed his bags.)
- Ní àárọ̀ ọ̀la. (Tomorrow morning.)
- A ó kọ́kọ́ lọ sí ilé oúnjẹ, a ó sì sọ̀rọ̀ nípa ìrírí wọn. (They'll first go to a restaurant and talk about their experiences.)
Listening — Comprehension table
- 1: Completed. 2: Ongoing. 3: Future. 4: Completed. 5: Future.
Bonus: (1) Sentence 4, Kúnlé ti dé ní ilé — result: Kúnlé is now at home. (2) Sentence 2, happening at the moment of speaking.
Reading — Comprehension
- Bẹ́ẹ̀ni, ó dé láìsí wàhálà. (Yes, he arrived without trouble.)
- Wọ́n ti lọ sí ilé oúnjẹ kan, wọ́n sì ti sọ̀rọ̀ nípa ìrírí wọn. (They have gone to a restaurant and talked about their experiences.)
- Wọ́n ń múra sílẹ̀ láti lọ sí ilé Yẹmi. (They are preparing to go to Yẹmi's house.)
- Yẹmi ti dúró de mi ní pápá ọkọ̀ òfurufú. — result: Yẹmi was already waiting when Adé arrived.
Chapter Review — Apá A
- ìrìnàjò; dé; ìrírí; parí; àbájáde; àṣeyọrí
- has finished, is finished; is ready, has become ready; to prepare, to get ready; still, even so
- Accept any natural phrase using each item; examples: Mo ti parí ìrìnàjò mi. / Àbájáde iṣẹ́ náà dára. / Ó jẹ́ àṣeyọrí ńlá.
Chapter Review — Apá B
- (a) Mo ti rà tikẹ́ẹ̀tì. (b) Wọ́n ń sinmi. (c) A ó rí ọ.
- Accept any accurate pair, such as: Ó ti dé. (completed) / Ó wà ní ilé báyìí. (present result).
- Corrections: (i) Ó ti dé. — ti, not ń, is required for a completed arrival. (ii) Mo ti parí iṣẹ́ mi. — ti is required to mark completion. (iii) N ó lọ sí ilé oúnjẹ. — only one particle may be used per clause.
- Accept any three-sentence account using ti, ń, and yóò once each. Example: Mo ti parí iṣẹ́ mi. Mo ń sinmi báyìí. N ó jẹun ní alẹ́.
Chapter Review — Apá C
- Correct forms: ìrìnàjò; parí; àbájáde; àṣeyọrí.
- Accept accurate, natural pronunciation with each particle's tone kept distinct from the verb's tone.
- Accept any accurate contrastive pair, such as: Mo ti kọ ìwé náà. / Mo ń kọ ìránṣẹ́ mìíràn.
Looking Ahead
Ohun tí o lè ṣe báyìí — What you can do now
You can use ti independently to describe completed experiences and present results, and you can keep ti, ń, and yóò clearly distinct within a single connected passage. You can also describe travel experiences, completed tasks, and achievements, and write a short experience note with full diacritics that moves clearly among completed, ongoing, and future time.