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138 Unit 10: Wìwá ò. nà
Language points
The word kí “that”
The word kí is used as a clause marker and it usually occurs after a
verb or after an adjective that functions like a verb, and it usually
precedes a noun or a pronoun. It marks the beginning of the second
clause of a complex sentence, especially when the second clause
begins with a noun or a pronoun. For example:
(a) Ó dára kí a ßeré. It is good that we (should) play.
But
(b) Ó dára láti ßeré. It is good to play.
Notice that the second half of the complex sentence in (a) begins
with a pronoun, hence we have to use kí to introduce the clause a
ßeré. If the people who are playing are not mentioned, then the (b)
sentence will be appropriate without the use of the clause marker kí.
On the other hand, if whoever is performing the action in the second
clause is mentioned after the first clause, kí will have to be used
before the second clause. Other examples of the contexts where kí is
used are below:
Ó yõ kí a lo≥sùn.
It is important that we go and sleep.
Mo fõœ kí o jõun.
I want (that) you to eat.
Olú ní kí o sùn.
Olu said that you sleep.
Mo fõœ kí o má pariwo.
I want (that) you do not make noise.
kí is used to mark the beginning of a subordinate clause. Not using
the work kí in the above sentences will result in ungrammatical
sentences.
In some cases, it can be used right after the relative clause marker
pé. For example:
Õ so≥pé kí n sùn.
You said that I should sleep.