Ní Ọjà — Iye àti Owó
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Recall and apply the location question níbo, formulaic direction phrases, and all Chapter 1–3 and Volume I systems.
- Use the plural marker àwọn to talk about more than one person or thing.
- Count and ask about quantities using numerals with everyday market goods.
- Ask and state a price using Élòó ni...? and simple number-plus-owó phrases.
- Use basic quantifiers such as díẹ̀ and púpọ̀ to describe amounts.
- Make a polite request for a quantity of something, and politely decline or state a preference.
- Understand a short market exchange at natural pace well enough to identify the item, quantity, and price.
- Write a short shopping note listing items, quantities, and prices.
Communication Scenario
Following the directions they practiced in Chapter 3, Adé and Yẹmi arrive at the market. Now Adé must do more than find the right stall — he must ask how much things cost, decide how many he needs, and politely negotiate small quantities, all while continuing to greet sellers respectfully and use the request patterns from Chapter 2.
- Every task in this chapter reuses Chapter 3's níbo question and formulaic direction phrases, Chapter 2's object pronouns, request frame, and habitual particle máa ń, and all systems consolidated in Volume I.
- Three new systems are introduced for the first time: the plural marker àwọn, numerals with quantity/measure phrases, and the price question Élòó ni...? together with basic quantifiers díẹ̀ and púpọ̀.
- Bargaining remains simple and polite in this chapter. Extended negotiation language and comparison structures (dára ju... lọ) are reserved for later chapters and are not required here.
Vocabulary Recall
Before you step into the market with Adé and Yẹmi, confirm you can still produce these items from Chapter 3, Chapter 2, and Volume I without looking them up.
| Domain | Recall these |
|---|---|
| Directions, Ch. 3 | níbo, ọ̀nà, tẹ̀síwájú, yà sí ọ̀tún, yà sí òsì, tòsí, jìnnà |
| Household chores, Ch. 2 | ìsé ilé, gbá ilẹ̀, fọ àwo, rà |
| Pronouns | mi, ẹ, wọn, mí, ọ, é (Ch. 2); ẹ̀yin, àwa (Ch. 1); mo, o, ó, a, ẹ, wọ́n (Volume I) |
| Market, Volume I | ọjà, owó, oúnjẹ |
All items above must already be fully tone-marked and dot-underlined in your own recall; this chapter does not re-teach them.
Grammar Recall
If any of the patterns above feel unfamiliar, review Chapter 3, Chapter 2, and Volume I, Chapters 6 and 20 before continuing.
Core Vocabulary
This chapter's new vocabulary supports quantities, prices, and simple market negotiation.
| Yorùbá | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| àwọn | plural marker (they / the ... [plural]) | new |
| ọ̀kan, méjì, mẹ́ta, mẹ́rin, márùn-ún | one, two, three, four, five | new; numerals 1–5 |
| élòó | how much | new question word |
| owó | money, price | review, Volume I |
| díẹ̀ | a little, a few | new quantifier |
| púpọ̀ | a lot, many | new quantifier |
| mú...wá | bring (something) | new formulaic frame |
| ó wọ́n / kò wọ́n | it is expensive / it is not expensive | new |
All new vocabulary above is fully tone-marked and must be written with complete diacritics from first use.
Pronunciation Focus
Several numerals and quantity words contain nasal vowels and syllabic nasals. Keep the nasal vowel in mẹ́rin and márùn-ún distinct from an oral vowel followed by a plain n, and keep each syllable's tone clear even when counting quickly.
- mẹ́ta — mid, high
- mẹ́rin — mid, high, nasal low-mid
- élòó — high, low, mid
- púpọ̀ — high, low
This is a review application of the Volume I skills "nasal vowels" and "tone in connected speech," applied here to numerals and quantity phrases.
Grammar Focus
This chapter opens three systems: the plural marker àwọn, numerals used with quantity/measure phrases, and the price question Élòó ni...? together with the quantifiers díẹ̀ and púpọ̀. All three build on the noun phrases and requests consolidated in Volume I and Chapters 1–3, without introducing comparison structures or extended bargaining language, which later chapters schedule.
- Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, ṣé ẹ ní àwọn ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ díẹ̀? Please, do you have a few bananas? àwọn + N + díẹ̀ — plural noun with small quantity
- Kò wọ́n; owó rẹ̀ kò pọ̀ jù. It's not expensive; its price is not too much. kò + Adj — negation with a stative description, recycled from Volume I
Model Dialogue
Ipò: Adé àti Yẹmi ti dé ọjà; wọ́n dúró ní iwájú ẹni tí ń ta ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ àti búrẹ́dì.
Setting: Adé and Yẹmi have arrived at the market; they stop in front of a seller of bananas and bread.
Guided Practice
- Complete the frame Élòó ni ___? with three different market items from this chapter or Volume I.
- State a quantity you want using a numeral one through five plus a noun.
- Answer a price question with Ó jẹ́...owó, then add one sentence using ó wọ́n or kò wọ́n.
- Write two original sentences: one using àwọn with a plural noun, and one using díẹ̀ or púpọ̀.
Listening Practice
Ask an instructor, study partner, or qualified Yorùbá speaker to read the following three short exchanges at a natural pace. For each, note the item named, the quantity, and the price.
If no speaker is available, this is a Listening Script for Independent Use. Read each statement aloud, cover it, then complete the task. Machine text-to-speech must be checked by a qualified Yorùbá speaker before use as a pronunciation model.
1. "Élòó ni búrẹ́dì yìí?" — "Ó jẹ́ àádọ́ta owó."
2. "Mo fẹ́ ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ mẹ́rin, ẹ jọ̀wọ́." — "Ó dára, ó jẹ́ ọgọ́rin owó."
3. "Ṣé ẹ ní oúnjẹ púpọ̀ lónìí?" — "Bẹ́ẹ̀ni, mo ní púpọ̀; kò wọ́n."
| Gbólóhùn | Kí ni a béèrè nípa rẹ̀? | Iye àti Owó? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ______ | ______ |
| 2 | ______ | ______ |
| 3 | ______ | ______ |
Speaking Practice
Pẹ̀lú alábàáṣepọ̀ — With a partner
Take turns playing seller and buyer. Ask Élòó ni...? about three items, state a quantity with a numeral, and respond using ó wọ́n or kò wọ́n.
Fún àwọn tí ń kọ́ nìkọ̀ọ̀kan — Solo alternative
Record yourself asking for and stating the prices of three items you might buy at a market, using at least one numeral and one quantifier (díẹ̀ or púpọ̀).
Reading Practice
Àpẹẹrẹ — A morning at the market
Lẹ́yìn tí Adé àti Yẹmi tẹ̀síwájú tí wọ́n sì yà sí ọ̀tún, wọ́n dé ọjà. Wọ́n bá ẹni tí ń ta àwọn ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ àti búrẹ́dì. Yẹmi béèrè, "Élòó ni àwọn ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ yìí?" Ẹni tí ń ta náà dáhùn pé ó jẹ́ ọgọ́rùn-ún owó fún márùn-ún. Adé sì fẹ́ ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ mẹ́ta àti búrẹ́dì díẹ̀. Ẹni tí ń ta mú wọn wá fún wọn kíákíá, ó sì sọ pé owó rẹ̀ kò wọ́n. Yẹmi dúpẹ́ púpọ̀, ó sì béèrè bóyá ẹni tí ń ta ní búrẹ́dì díẹ̀ síi.
Gloss: After Adé and Yẹmi kept going and turned right, they arrived at the market. They met a seller of bananas and bread. Yẹmi asked, "How much are these bananas?" The seller answered that it is one hundred naira for five. Adé wanted three bananas and a little bread. The seller brought them quickly and said the price was not expensive. Yẹmi thanked them very much and asked whether the seller had a little more bread.
1. How much do five bananas cost, according to the seller?
2. What two things did Adé ask to buy, and in what quantities?
Writing Workshop
Iṣẹ́ rẹ — Your task: Write the short shopping note described above.
- Every ẹ, ọ, and ṣ is correctly dot-underlined.
- Every required high and low tone is marked.
- Àwọn is used correctly with at least one plural noun.
- At least one numeral, one price statement, and one object pronoun from Chapter 2 all appear.
Culture and Communication
In many Yorùbá markets, asking a price and requesting a quantity are commonly softened with ẹ jọ̀wọ́ ("please") and closed with thanks such as ẹ ṣé or ẹ ṣé púpọ̀. Gentle negotiation over price is often expected and is not usually seen as rude, but it is typically conducted with courtesy rather than insistence, especially between a buyer and seller who do not yet know each other.
Common Mistakes
Error: *ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ àwọn, placing the plural marker after the noun.
Correction: àwọn ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀. The plural marker àwọn always comes directly before the noun it pluralizes.
Error: Using níbo ni to ask a price, e.g. *Níbo ni ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ yìí? when a price is intended.
Correction: Use Élòó ni ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ yìí? for price. Níbo asks only about location, as reviewed from Chapter 3.
Chapter Review
Apá A — Àwọn Ọ̀rọ̀ (Vocabulary)
1. Give the Yorùbá for: how much, a little, a lot, money/price, one through five.
Apá B — Gírámà (Grammar)
1. Write one question using Élòó ni...?.
2. Write a sentence using àwọn with a plural noun.
3. Write a sentence combining a numeral with a noun and an object pronoun from Chapter 2.
Ìfojúsí ẹkọ̀ tẹ́lẹ̀ — Cumulative review check
Before moving to Chapter 5, confirm you can still do the following using only Volume I, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and Chapter 3 systems, now combined with this chapter's additions:
- Greet, introduce yourself, and introduce a small group with full diacritics.
- Make and respond to a polite household request using an object pronoun.
- Ask where something is using níbo and give short, formulaic directions.
- Mark a plural noun with àwọn.
- Ask a price with élòó and state a quantity with a numeral.
Practical Performance Task
Iṣẹ́ aṣeyọrí — Abala 4
Ní ọjà — At the market
Orally act out (live or recorded) a short market exchange: name an item, ask its price, state a quantity, and respond to whether it is expensive, with a partner or listener. Afterward, write the same content as a short shopping note (40–60 words).
- Use Élòó ni...? at least once.
- Use at least one numeral and one quantifier (díẹ̀ or púpọ̀).
- Use àwọn with at least one plural noun.
- Reuse at least one object pronoun or request frame from Chapter 2.
- Keep all writing fully tone-marked and dot-underlined.
Assessment note: This task is evaluated on accurate use of àwọn, numerals, and élòó, and continued accuracy in tone, orthography, particles, negation, and Chapter 1–3's pronoun, request, direction, and location-question systems.
Answer Key
Part 5 — Listening Task
- 1: Asked about bread; told it costs fifty naira.
- 2: Requested four bananas; told the price is eighty naira.
- 3: Asked whether there is a lot of food today; told yes, plenty, and it is not expensive.
Reading — Comprehension Questions
- One hundred naira for five bananas.
- Three bananas and a little bread (ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ mẹ́ta àti búrẹ́dì díẹ̀).
Chapter Review — Apá B
- Accept any accurate price question, e.g.: Élòó ni búrẹ́dì yìí?
- Accept any accurate plural sentence, e.g.: Àwọn ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ yìí dùn.
- Accept any accurate combined sentence, e.g.: Mo fẹ́ búrẹ́dì méjì; ẹ jọ̀wọ́, ẹ mú wọn wá fún mi.
Looking Ahead
Ohun tí o lè ṣe báyìí — What you can do now
You can now mark plural nouns with àwọn, count with numerals one through five, ask and state prices with élòó, and describe amounts with díẹ̀ and púpọ̀ — all while maintaining the tone and orthography accuracy built across Volume I, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and Chapter 3, and continuing to use object pronouns, requests, and formulaic directions in natural context.