Ìdí, Ète, àti Ipò Kòndíṣọ̀nù
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Give reasons using torí and torí pé.
- Express purpose using kí clauses such as "so that."
- Form conditional clauses with bí ("if") and time clauses with nígbà tí ("when").
- Express obligation with gbọdọ̀ and advice with ó yẹ kí.
- Combine reason, purpose, and condition clauses with relative clauses and serial verbs from earlier chapters in a single explanation.
- Recognize, without producing independently, negative and focus-marked reason and condition clauses, which later chapters will continue to develop.
Communication Scenario
Adé's cousin is now settling into the neighborhood and keeps asking why things are done a certain way — why the gate is locked at night, why the shop closes early on market days, what to do if it rains during the walk to school. Simple descriptions are no longer enough; Adé now needs to explain reasons, purposes, and conditions clearly, and to give the cousin advice about what one should and must do.
- This chapter develops reason clauses with torí and torí pé, purpose clauses with kí, and condition/time clauses with bí and nígbà tí.
- It introduces obligation with gbọdọ̀ and advice with ó yẹ kí, both of which combine with the same kí-clause pattern used for purpose.
- By the end of the chapter, you should be able to write and speak a reasoned explanation that gives a reason, states a purpose or condition, and offers advice — while continuing to recognize, without producing, more advanced negative and focus-marked versions of these clauses.
Core Vocabulary
This chapter's vocabulary supports problem-solving, giving instructions, and stating rules and advice.
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| torí | because (of) | new productive item, followed by a noun phrase |
| torí pé | because (that) | new productive item, followed by a full clause |
| kí | so that; that | new productive item, introduces a purpose clause |
| bí ... bá | if | new productive item, conditional frame |
| nígbà tí | when (at the time that) | new productive item, time clause |
| gbọdọ̀ | must; have to | new productive item, obligation modal |
| ó yẹ kí | it is fitting that; should | new productive item, advice modal |
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| òfin | rule; law | new productive item |
| ìṣòro | problem | new productive item |
| ìmọ̀ràn | advice | new productive item |
| ààbò | safety; security | new productive item |
| ọ̀nà àbáyọ | solution; way out | new productive item |
| ilẹ̀kùn | door | recycled Volume II vocabulary |
| òjò | rain | recycled Volume I vocabulary |
Pronunciation and Orthography Focus
Reason, purpose, and condition clauses often stack two or three clauses in one sentence. Learners sometimes flatten the tone on connectors like torí, kí, and bí because these words are short and feel grammatical rather than meaningful. Each connector still carries its full tone and must be heard clearly, since it signals exactly how the clauses relate to one another.
- Practice saying mo gbọdọ̀ lọ sí ọjà torí pé ilé wa kò ní ẹ̀wà mọ́ slowly, giving torí pé its full weight before speeding up.
- Pause briefly at the boundary between clauses when first practicing a sentence with bí or nígbà tí, then smooth the pause into natural connected speech.
- Read the model dialogue below aloud twice: once identifying every reason, purpose, and condition connector, and once at a natural conversational pace.
Copy out the seven connectors from the first vocabulary table above, marking every tone by hand or by typing. Compare against the table. This continues the Tone and Orthography Checkpoint self-review established since Chapter 1.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
This chapter develops reason clauses, purpose clauses, condition/time clauses, obligation, and advice as productive systems, building on the relative clauses and expanded reference introduced in Chapter 5.
Introduced: Reason clauses with `torí` and `torí pé`
- A kì í jáde nígbà òjò torí ààbò. We don't go out during rain, because of safety. torí + noun phrase (ààbò)
- Ìtajà náà ti ilẹ̀kùn pa ní kùtùkùtù torí pé ọjọ́ ọjà ni. That shop closes early because it is a market day. torí pé + full clause (ọjọ́ ọjà ni)
Introduced: Purpose clauses with `kí`
A purpose clause states why an action is done, in the sense of "so that" or "in order that." The clause after kí uses a subjunctive-like subject pronoun and does not take the ordinary tense/aspect particles of a main clause.
- Mo ti ilẹ̀kùn kí ọlọ́ṣà má bàa wọlé. I locked the door so that thieves would not enter. kí + subject + verb, purpose clause
- A gbọdọ̀ kúrò ní kùtùkùtù kí a lè yẹra fún ọ̀pọ̀ ènìyàn. We must leave early so that we can avoid the crowd. kí + a + lè + verb, purpose clause with ability marker lè
Introduced: Condition and time clauses with `bí` and `nígbà tí`
- Nígbà tí mo dé ilé, mo rí i pé ẹnu ọ̀nà ti ṣí. When I arrived home, I saw that the gate was already open. nígbà tí + clause, time reference
- Bí o bá rí ìṣòro kan, ó yẹ kí o sọ fún mi lẹ́sẹ̀kẹsẹ̀. If you encounter a problem, you should tell me right away. bí + bá conditional combined with ó yẹ kí advice clause
Notice that bí ... bá introduces a general or hypothetical condition, while nígbà tí introduces a specific time reference, often for something that already happened or regularly happens. Do not use nígbà tí where a genuine hypothetical condition, rather than a specific occasion, is intended.
Introduced: Obligation with `gbọdọ̀` and advice with `ó yẹ kí`
- O gbọdọ̀ wẹ ọwọ́ rẹ kí o tó jẹun. You must wash your hands before you eat. gbọdọ̀ + verb, obligation
- Ó yẹ kí a bọ̀wọ̀ fún àwọn àgbà nínú àdúgbò yìí. We should respect the elders in this neighborhood. ó yẹ kí + subject + verb, advice
English uses different words for purpose ("so that"), advice ("should"), and reported wish ("that"), while Yorùbá reuses the connector kí across several of these functions, always followed by the same subjunctive-like clause pattern. Learners transferring English patterns sometimes look for a separate word for each function; instead, focus on recognizing the pattern kí + subject + verb and interpreting its function from context, whether it follows a purpose statement, an obligation, or a piece of advice.
The reading passage below contains one place where a reason clause combines with negation ("because it was not...") and one place where a condition clause combines with focus ("it is only if..."). As in earlier chapters, this is recognition-only material; full instruction of negative and focus-marked reason and condition clauses continues in later chapters of this unit.
Model Dialogue
Ipò: Ẹ̀gbọ́n Adé ń béèrè nípa àwọn òfin ilé àti ìṣẹ̀lẹ̀ tí ó ṣẹlẹ̀ ní ọjọ́ òjò.
Setting: Adé's cousin is asking about household rules and what happens on a rainy day.
Guided Practice
- Combine each pair of short sentences into one sentence using torí pé or kí, as appropriate: (a) Mo ra ìwé kan. Mo fẹ́ kàwé dáadáa. (b) A dá ilẹ̀kùn dè. Ó ti ṣú. (c) Ó gbọdọ̀ sùn ní kùtùkùtù. Kí ó le jí ní àkókò.
- In the model dialogue, underline every reason connector, purpose connector, and condition/time connector. For each one, identify whether it introduces a reason, a purpose, or a condition/time reference.
- Find the sentence in the dialogue where obligation (gbọdọ̀) and advice (ó yẹ kí) appear in the same account of school rules. Explain the difference in meaning between the two.
- Locate the one negation-plus-reason sentence and the one focus-plus-condition sentence in the reading passage below. Identify what each one explains or clarifies; do not attempt to produce a new sentence combining these systems yet.
Listening Practice
Ask an instructor, study partner, or qualified Yorùbá speaker to read the passage below aloud at a natural pace, or read it aloud yourself and then cover it before answering.
If no speaker is available, this is a Listening Script for Independent Use. Machine text-to-speech must be checked by a qualified Yorùbá speaker before use as a pronunciation model.
"Ní ilé ìwé kan, àwọn akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ gbọdọ̀ dé ṣáájú kí kíláàsì tó bẹ̀rẹ̀, torí pé olùkọ́ máa ń bẹ̀rẹ̀ ẹ̀kọ́ ní kùtùkùtù. Bí akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ kan bá pẹ́, ó yẹ kí ó kọ orúkọ rẹ̀ sílẹ̀ ní ìwé àkọsílẹ̀, kí olùkọ́ lè mọ ìdí ìpẹ́ náà. Nígbà tí òjò bá rọ̀ gidigidi, ilé ìwé náà kì í fi akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ jẹ ẹ̀san torí pé kì í ṣe ẹ̀bi wọn pé òjò dá wọn dúró. Ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ àwọn òfin wọ̀nyí ni a kọ sílẹ̀ kí gbogbo ilé ìwé lè jẹ́ ibi tí ó bá gbogbo ọmọ mu, kì í sì í ṣe fún ìjìyà lásán. Ìdí kan ṣoṣo tí olùkọ́ máa ń fi akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ jẹ ẹ̀san ni bí akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ náà bá mọ̀ọ́mọ̀ ṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀ dé pẹ́ láìsí ìdí kankan."
1. What must students do before class starts, and why?
2. What should a student who is late do, according to the passage?
3. Identify the sentence that gives a reason using negation for why the school does not punish students on rainy days.
4. Identify the sentence near the end that uses focus to clarify the one condition under which a student is punished.
Iṣẹ́ rẹ — Your task: Answer the four questions above in complete Yorùbá sentences.
Speaking Practice
Tier 1 — Supported
Using three sentence pairs from this chapter (two short sentences and their combined reason or purpose version), practice saying each pair aloud, noticing where torí pé, kí, or bí appears.
Tier 2 — Guided
With a partner or on your own, explain three household or classroom rules, giving a reason for each with torí pé and a purpose with kí.
Tier 3 — Independent
Give a one- to two-minute connected explanation of a problem and its solution, real or invented, using at least one reason clause, one purpose clause, one condition or time clause, and one sentence combining obligation or advice with a relative clause from Chapter 5. Record yourself if possible and self-check against the Tone and Orthography Checkpoint below.
Reading Practice
Ìṣòro Ẹnu Ọ̀nà
Adé kíyè sí i pé ẹnu ọ̀nà iwájú ilé wọn ti bẹ̀rẹ̀ sí í ṣẹ̀. Ó sọ fún bàbá rẹ̀ pé, "Ẹnu ọ̀nà náà kò le ṣí mọ́ torí pé ìjì náà ti bà á jẹ́ ní ọ̀sẹ̀ tó kọjá." Bàbá rẹ̀ dáhùn pé, "Bí a kò bá tún un ṣe kíákíá, gbogbo wa ni yóò ní ìṣòro nígbà tí òjò bá tún rọ̀." Adé béèrè pé, "Kí ni a gbọdọ̀ ṣe?" Bàbá rẹ̀ ní, "A gbọdọ̀ pe ọ̀gá ọwọ́ kan wá kí ó lè tún un ṣe, kí ilé wa má bàa wà nínú ewu." Ó sì fi kún un pé, "Ìdí kan ṣoṣo tí a kò tíì pè é ni pé a ń wá owó tó pọ̀ tó láti san án." Adé dúpẹ́ lọ́wọ́ bàbá rẹ̀ fún ìtànjẹ tó ṣe kedere, ó sì ṣèlérí láti ṣèrànwọ́ láti kó owó jọ.
1. Why can the front gate no longer open properly, according to Adé's father?
2. What must the family do, and why, according to Adé's father?
3. Find the sentence near the end that uses focus with a condition to clarify the one reason the repair has not yet happened. What is being clarified?
Iṣẹ́ rẹ — Your task: Answer the three questions above. For Question 3, simply identify the focus-plus-condition construction and explain its meaning; do not attempt to construct a new sentence combining focus and a condition clause on your own yet.
Writing Workshop
Write a reasoned explanation of 90–120 words with full tone marks and dot-under letters throughout, describing a problem, its cause, and a suggested solution, using at least one reason clause, one purpose clause, one condition or time clause, and one sentence with obligation or advice.
Include
- at least 1 reason clause with torí pé
- at least 1 purpose clause with kí
- at least 1 condition or time clause with bí ... bá or nígbà tí
- at least 1 sentence with gbọdọ̀ or ó yẹ kí
Avoid
- producing new negation-plus-reason constructions
- producing new focus-plus-condition constructions
- confusing nígbà tí (specific time) with a genuine hypothetical bí ... bá condition
- dropping the subject pronoun in a kí clause
- Every vowel that should carry a high or low tone mark has one.
- Every mid-tone syllable is left correctly unmarked.
ẹ,ọ, andṣare distinguished frome,o, andsthroughout.- Tone on torí, kí, bí, and gbọdọ̀ is correct in every clause.
- No unscheduled negation-plus-reason or focus-plus-condition construction has been produced independently.
Culture and Communication
When explaining a rule or giving advice to someone younger or in a family setting, many Yorùbá speakers pair an obligation or advice statement with a clear reason, using torí pé or a purpose clause with kí, rather than stating a rule as a bare command. This pattern reflects a broader communicative expectation that guidance should be explained, not merely issued, especially across generations within a household or community.
Common Mistakes
Error: Producing a sentence such as *mo dá ilẹ̀kùn dè torí ó ti ṣú, using torí directly before a full clause on the model of English "because."
Correction: Use torí pé before a full clause, as in mo dá ilẹ̀kùn dè torí pé ó ti ṣú. Reserve plain torí for a noun phrase, as in torí ààbò ("because of safety").
Error: Using nígbà tí for a general hypothetical condition, as in *nígbà tí òjò bá rọ̀, a kì í jáde when a genuine "if" condition, not a specific past occasion, is intended.
Correction: Use bí ... bá for hypothetical or general conditions, as in bí òjò bá rọ̀, a kì í jáde ("if it rains, we don't go out"). Reserve nígbà tí for a specific time reference, as in nígbà tí mo dé ilé, mo rí i pé ẹnu ọ̀nà ti ṣí.
Chapter Summary
This chapter developed reason clauses with torí and torí pé, purpose clauses with kí, condition and time clauses with bí ... bá and nígbà tí, and modal expressions of obligation and advice with gbọdọ̀ and ó yẹ kí. You practiced explaining problems and rules, wrote a reasoned explanation, and continued to notice, without producing, negation-plus-reason and focus-plus-condition constructions in supported reading material.
Chapter Review
Apá A — Ìṣàyẹ̀wò Gírámà (Grammar Check)
1. Explain the difference between torí and torí pé, using one example of each from this chapter.
2. Explain the difference between bí ... bá and nígbà tí, and give one example situation where each would be appropriate.
Apá B — Ìṣàyẹ̀wò Ara Ẹni (Self-Check)
1. Did you find reason clauses or purpose clauses easier to produce? Why?
2. Where in your own speaking or writing did you catch yourself confusing bí ... bá with nígbà tí?
Ìfojúsí ẹkọ̀ tẹ́lẹ̀ — Cumulative review check
Before continuing to Chapter 7, confirm you can do the following:
- Form at least two reason clauses and two purpose clauses with torí pé and kí.
- Form at least one condition clause and one time clause with bí ... bá and nígbà tí.
- State obligation with gbọdọ̀ and advice with ó yẹ kí.
- Combine reason, purpose, and condition clauses with relative clauses from Chapter 5 in a single connected explanation.
Practical Performance Task
Iṣẹ́ aṣeyọrí — Abala 6
Ìṣòro àti Ọ̀nà Àbáyọ — A Problem and a Solution
Produce a connected spoken and written explanation of a problem, real or invented, giving a reason, a purpose, a condition or time reference, and a piece of advice or a statement of obligation.
- Speaking: Deliver a one- to two-minute connected spoken explanation (Speaking Practice, Tier 3).
- Writing: Submit your 90–120 word written explanation (Writing Workshop).
- Self-review: Complete the Tone and Orthography Checkpoint for both your spoken notes and written account.
Assessment note: This task provides formative evidence of your developing control of reason, purpose, condition, obligation, and advice clauses. Negation-plus-reason and focus-plus-condition constructions are not assessed as independent production in this chapter.
Answer Key
Listening Practice Questions
- Students must arrive before class begins, because the teacher usually starts the lesson early.
- A student who is late should write his or her name in the record book, so that the teacher can know the reason for the lateness.
- The sentence is "ilé ìwé náà kì í fi akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ jẹ ẹ̀san torí pé kì í ṣe ẹ̀bi wọn pé òjò dá wọn dúró" (the school does not punish the student because it is not their fault that the rain delayed them).
- The sentence is "Ìdí kan ṣoṣo tí olùkọ́ máa ń fi akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ jẹ ẹ̀san ni bí akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ náà bá mọ̀ọ́mọ̀ ṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀ dé pẹ́ láìsí ìdí kankan" (the one reason the teacher punishes a student is if the student deliberately arrives late without any reason).
Reading Practice Questions
- The gate can no longer open properly because a storm damaged it the previous week.
- The family must call a handyman to repair it, so that the house will not remain in danger.
- The sentence is "Ìdí kan ṣoṣo tí a kò tíì pè é ni pé a ń wá owó tó pọ̀ tó láti san án" (the one reason they have not yet called him is that they are still looking for enough money to pay him), clarifying the single reason for the delay.
Guided Practice — Sample Combined Sentences
(a) Mo ra ìwé kan kí n lè kàwé dáadáa. (b) A dá ilẹ̀kùn dè torí pé ó ti ṣú. (c) Ó gbọdọ̀ sùn ní kùtùkùtù kí ó lè jí ní àkókò.
Chapter Review — Apá A
1. Torí attaches directly to a noun phrase, as in "torí ààbò" (because of safety), while torí pé attaches to a full clause, as in "torí pé ó ti ṣú" (because it had gotten dark). 2. Bí ... bá introduces a general or hypothetical condition, appropriate for a repeated or possible situation such as rain in general; nígbà tí introduces a specific time reference, appropriate for a particular occasion that already occurred, such as the moment of arriving home.
Chapter Review — Apá B
Self-check items have no single fixed answer. Confirm your responses against the cumulative review checklist above.
Looking Ahead
Ohun tí o lè ṣe báyìí — What you can do now
You can now give reasons with torí and torí pé, state purposes with kí, form condition and time clauses with bí ... bá and nígbà tí, and express obligation and advice with gbọdọ̀ and ó yẹ kí. You continue to recognize, without producing, negation-plus-reason and focus-plus-condition constructions.