AMỤMAMỤ ỤTỌASỤSỤ IGBO - A guideline for learning the basics of Igbo

AMỤMAMỤ
ỤTỌASỤSỤ IGBO
Ndị Edịtọ (Editors)
G. I. Udechukwu
C. N. Ugochukwu
D. I. Ilechukwu
Ebe e bipụtara ya (Place of publication): FORMAT

PUBLISHERS NIG. LTD., 84 OBIAGU ROAD
Mbipụta nke mbụ (First published)

2015
Onye tụgharị ya n’olu bekee (English Translator)
CHIDIEBERE EZEKWESILI
NDỊNAYA (TABLE OF CONTENTS)
Isi Nke Mbụ (Chapter One) – Dr. Alex Anedo
Nkọwa, Njimara Asụsụ na Uru Asụsụ Bara (Defintion, characteristics & Importance of
Language)
Isi Nke Abụọ (Chapter Two) – Dr. Alex Anedo
Mkụrụ Edide Igbo (Igbo Alphabets)
Isi Nke Atọ (Chapter Three) – Dr. Thecla Udemmadu
Iwu Nsupe (Rule of spelling)
Isi Nke Anọ (Chapter Four) – Dr. J. O. Ogbuagu
Mkpọaha (Nominal)
Isi Nke Ise (Chapter Five) – Dr. Gladys I. Udechukwu
Ngwaa (Verb)
Isi Nke Isii (Chapter Six) – Dr. Gladys I. Udechukwu
Njikọ (Conjunction)
Isi Nke Asaa (Chapter Seven) – Nkoli Mercy Nnyigide
Nkwuwa (Adverb)
Isi Nke Asatọ (Chapter Eight) – Chinwendu Ugochukwu
Nsokwụnye N’Asụsụ Igbo
Isi Nke Iteghete (Chapter Nine) – Chinwendu Ugochukwu
Tensị N’Asụsụ Igbo (Tense in Igbo language)
Isi Nke Iri (Chapter Ten) – Aloysuis U. Umeodinka
Nkebiokwu na Nkebiahịrị (Phrase and Clause)
Isi Nke Iri na Otu (Chapter Eleven) – Christian E. C. Ogwudile
Ahịrịokwu, Nkọwa na Ụdịdị Ya (The sentence, defintion & its types)
Isi Nke Iri na Abụọ (Chapter Twelve) – Daniel Ilechukwu
Nkejiokwu na Ụdaolu (Syllable and Tone)
Isi Nke Iri na Atọ (Chapter Thirteen) – Ifeyinwa Cordelia Isidienu
Edemede na Aghọtaazaa (Essay and Comprehension)
Edensibịa (References)
ISI NKE MBỤ (CHAPTER ONE)
NKỌWA, NJIRIMARA ASỤSỤ NA URU ASỤSỤ (DEFINITION, CHARACTERISTICS AND
IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE)
by
Dr. Alex Anedo
OLEE IHE BỤ ASỤSỤ? (WHAT IS LANGUAGE?)
Okwu a akpọrọ asụsụ n’oge ugbu a abughị naanị maka Igbo, Awụsa, Yoruba, Kanuri,
Nupe, Chinese maọbụ English kama ọ bụkwa ọtụtụ ihe ndị ọzọ dịka usoro nzikọrita
ozi, ịma ọkwa maọbụ mgbakọ dịka asụsụ komputa na ohu asụsụ ndị ọzọ e nwere iji
gboo mkpa pụrụ iche. (The word “language” currently is not all about Igbo, Hausa,
Yoruba, Kanuri, Nupe, Chinese or English, but it means a lot of things like a process
of communication, announcements or calculation as in computer terminology and
other foreign languages that can be used to solve important problems.)
Ịmaatụ ohu asụsụ bụ “Esperanto” nke a chọpụtara na ngwụcha senchịrị iri na

iteghete maka izikọrịta ozi na azụmahịa. Ndị họpụtara asụsụ a kpọrọ WAZOBIA
họpụtara ya ka ọ bụrụ asụsụ jikọtara ala Naijiria ọnụ. (An example of other foreign
language is “Esperanto” which was founded in the nineteenth century for
communication and marketing. The founders of this language called WAZOBIA did
so to be the language that unites the whole of Nigeria together.)
Anyị makwara na e nwere asụsụ mmegharịahụ, asụsụ anụ na ndịka ha. Ka o sila dị,
anyị enweghị ndi a ka asụsụ n’ihi na n’ọnọdụ dị otu a, e ji asụsụ egosipụta ihe doro
anya. N’ihi ya, anyị ga-amụ ihe gbasara asụsụ mmadụ ebe ọ bụ na ndị mere maka
sayensi asụsụ na-ekwu maka asụsụ so ụwa malite. (We all know there is a body
language/gesture asụsụ anụ na ndịka ha. However, we do not need such languages
because in this situation, language is used for clarification. Because of that, we will
learn the origin of language since the linguistics said that language is as old as
man.)
Site na nkọwa ndịa gasị, anyị ga-anara nkọwa Bloch na Trager (1942) gbasara asụsụ
dịka usoro e si esi n’onụ ezipụta nnọchianya ihe nke otu otu nabatara. N’out aka ahụ
kwa, Sapir (1921) kọwara asụsụ ka usoro mmadụ na-abụghị nke anụmanụ si ezipụta
echiche, mmetute ahụ na mmasị nke ha hiri aka n’anya wee na-egosipụta
nnochianya ihe. (From these definitions, we will look at the definition of Bloch and
Trager (1942) concerning language as a way of conveying human though which is
accepted by the society. On the same hand, Sapir (1921) defined language as a
process man, not an animal, communicates his thoughts, emotions and feelings
which is carefully conceived to show a hidden intention.)
Na nkọwa a, okwu ndị a bụ echiche, mmetute ahụ na mmasị enweghị nghọta ma otu
ọbụla anyị siri mempụta ha, anyị ga-achọpụta na ọtụtụ ihe ka asụsụ na-ezipụta nke
ha anaghị emetute. (In this definition, the words “thoughts”, “feelings” and
“emotions” are meaningless, but in any way it was formed, we will find out there
are many things about unemotional unfelt languages.)
NJIRIMARA ASỤSỤ (CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE)
 Asụsụ bụ usoro mmadụ si ezipụta echiche mmetute ahụ na mmasị ya.

(Language is a way man communicates his thoughts, feelings and emotions.)
 Asụsụ abụghị nke anụmanụ nwere. (Language is no made for animals.)
 Asụsụ nwere usoro. (Language has procedures.)
 Otu otu maọbụ agbụrụ ga-anabatarịrị ya. (A society or tribe must accept a
language.) na-ezi
 Asụsụ bụ ihe e nyere ya ka ọ bụ. (Language is what it is.)
ỌMỤMAATỤ (EXAMPLES)
Igbo Edo Itsekiri Yoruba English French
Unu Arun Enu Mouth Bouche
Ọnụ
Awa Erenja Aja Dog Chien
Nkịta
Obo Ewo Owo Hand Main
Aka
Esagien Sango Eje Blood Sang
Ọbara
Ukpokpo Agin/egin Igi Stick Baton
Osisi
 E nweghị myiri n’etiti asụsụ na ihe ọ na-ezipụta. (There is no similarities

between languages and their meanings.)
 Asụsụ ọbụla nwere ike ịhọrọ mkpọtụ ọbụla ka ọ nọchie ihe otu oge, nwere ike
ịgbanwe ma nọchite ihe ọzọ n’oge ọzọ. Ịmaatụ, okwu Igbo e ji mara oke,
nwere ike gbanwee bụzịara nchi (Chomsky, 1957.) (Any language might take a
new dimension to be used in another occasion. Example, the Igbo word for
rat might change to nchi (Chomsky, 1957.)
 Asụsụ bụ ihe nrịbaama a chịkọlatara ọnụ site n’ịgbaso usoro agbụrụ
kwekọrịtara (Greenberg, 1956.) (Language is a wonder that follows the belief
of the generation (Greenberg, 1956.)
 Ọ ga-abụrịrị ngwaọrụ nzikọrịta ozi (Ladd, 1957.) (It must be a tool for
communication (Ladd, 1957.)
 Asụsụ bụ ihe a naghị ahụ anya (Francis, 1968.) (Language cannot be seen
(Francis, 1968.)
URU ASỤSỤ BARA (THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE)
 E ji asụsụ ezipụta echiche mmadụ. (Language is used to convey the thought of

man.)
 Ọ bụ asụsụ ka mmadụ na ibe ya ji ezikọrịta ozi. (It is used by man and his
fellow being for communication.)
 Asụsụ ka mmadụ na ibe ya ji enwe mmekọrịta. (The language is used by man
to relate with another.)
 Ọ bụ site n’asụsụ ka mmadụ si aghọta ibe ya. (Through language, man
understands his fellow being.)
WORD THAT NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED

1. Asụsụ anụ na ndịka ha
ISI NKE ABỤỌ (CHAPTER TWO)
MKPỤRỤ EDIDE IGBO (IGBO ALPHABETS)

by
Dr. Alex Anedo
N’iji mee a ọ dịrị ọrụ ndị na-ahazị obaokwu Igbo mfe na site n’ịgbaso akaọrụ mba
ụwa n’edide asụsụ, Igbo n’usoro edide nwere mkpụrụ edide iri atọ na isii ndị a: (In
view to easing the Igbo lexicographers and through the conformity of linguistics,
Igbo and his alphabets have these thirty-six letters):
OBERE MKPỤRỤ EDIDE (SMALL ALPHABETS)
a b ch d e f g gb gh gw h i ị j k kp kw l m n ṅ nw ny o ọ p
r s sh t u ụ v w y z
NNUKWU MKPỤRỤ EDIDE (BIG ALPHABETS)
A B CH D E F G GB GH GW H I Ị J K KP KW L M N Ṅ NW NY O
Ọ P R S SH T U Ụ V W Y Z
N’ime mkpụrụ edide Igbo e nwere ndị a kpọrọ ụdaume nke dị asatọ n’ọnụọgụ
nwekwa ndị a kpọrọ mgbochiume nke ọnụọgụ ha dị iri abụọ na asatọ. (Out of the
Igbo alphabets, there are vowels which are eight in number, also there are
consonants whose number is twenty-eight.)
Ụdaume ndị e nwere bụ (The vowels we have are)

a e i ị o ọ u ụ
Mgbochiume bụ (Consonants are)

b ch d f g gb gh gw h j k kp kw l m n ṅ nw ny p r s sh t v w
y z
N’ime mgbochiume ndị a, e nwekwara ndị a kpọrọ ụdamkpị ndị gụnyere: (In this
consonants, there are diphthongs which are)
ch gb gh gw kp kw nw ny sh
N’aka nke ọzọ, e kewakwara ụdaume ụzọ abụọ. Ha bụ ụdamfe na ụdaarọ. Ụdamfe bụ
ndị a- a, ị, ọ, na ụ maọbụ otu ‘a’. Ụdaarọ bụ ndị a- e, i, o, na u maọbụ ‘otu e’. (On the
other hand, the vowels are divided into two. They are ụdamfe and ụdaarọ. Ụdamfe
are: a, ị, ọ and ụ or ‘Category A’. Ụdaarọ are: e, i, o, u or ‘Category E’.)
E wezuga ụdamkpị dị na mgbochiume, e nwekwara ndị bụ ụdange ndị gụnyere:

(Aside from diphthongs in consonants, there are also monophthongs which
include)
b d f g h j k l m n ṅ p r s t v w y z.
Mmebeokwu Igbo (Word composition in Igbo)

Mmebeokwu bụ idokọ mkpụrụedemede olenaole ọnụ n’ụzọ kwesịrị ekwesị iji
mepụta ezigbo mkpụrụokwu. (Word composition is the arrangement of two or
more alphabets suitably in order to make a good word.) Asụsụ mba ụwa dum na-
esite na mkpụrụedemede ha nwere emepụta mkpụrụokwu. Nke a mere o jiri dị
ezigbo mkpa na onye ọbụla na-amụ asụsụ Igbo ga-amarịrị mkpụrụedemede Igbo.
(The language of other countries comes from their alphabets which forms a word.
This is why it is important that any learners of Igbo language must know the Igbo
alphabets. Mkpụrụedemede bụ mkpụrụụda dịgasị n’asụsụ knew e si na ha emebe
mkpụrụokwu. Mkpụrụedemede asụsụ Igbo ka a na-akpọ ABỊDỊỊ. Ha bụ ndị a:
(Alphabets are letters in languages through which word are formed. Igbo alphabets
can also be known as ABỊDỊỊ. They are)
A B CH D E F G GB GH GW H I Ị J K KP KW L M N Ṅ NW NY O
Ọ P R S SH T U Ụ V W Y Z
Usoro Mmebeokwu n’asụsụ Igbo (Process of word composition)

Asụsụ Igbo nwere ụzọ dị iche iche o si emebe okwu ma ụzọ kacha pụta ihe bụ imebe
okwu site n’isingwaa. Site n’isingwaa ka asụsụ Igbo si emepụta okwu dị iche iche,
dịka mfinitiv, jerọnd, ntimiiwu, njụ, mmekangwaa, tensị ndịnaazụ na ụdị aha dị iche
iche. (Igbo language has many ways of composing a word and one of the ways is
through the verb root. It is from this verb root that Igbo language forms other
words like mfinitiv, gerund, command, negation, mmekangwaa, simple past tense
and other different nouns.)
Ọ bụ site na mgbakwụnye dị iche iche ka e si emebe okwu ndị ahụ. Mgbakwụnye bụ
ụmụ irighiri okwu a na-etinye n’isingwaa. Mgbe e tinyere irighiri okwu n’ihu isingwaa
a kpọọ mgbakwunye ahụ NGANIIHU, ọ bụrụ n’azụ isingwaa ka e tinyere irighiri okwu
a kpọọ ya NSONAAZỤ, ọ bụrụkwanụ n’etiti ka e tinyere irighiri okwu ọ bụrụ
NNỌNETITI. (It is through the affixes that such words are formed. Affixes are words
that are attached to the verb root. When a word is attached in front of the verb
root, the affix is called PREFIX, if it is at the back of the verb root, it is called SUFFIX,
even if the word is in the middle, it is called INTERFIX.)
Inwete Mfinitiv site n’isingwaa (To get mfinitiv from the verb root)
Mgbe e tinyere mkpụrụedemede ‘i’ maọbụ ‘ị’ n’ihu isingwaa, ihe a ga-enwete bụ
mfinitiv. Itinye i/ị na-agbaso iwu ndakọrịta ụdaume. (When the letter ‘i’ or ‘ị’ is
attached in front of the verb root, what would be gotten is mfinitiv. To put i/ị must
follow the rule of ndakọrịta ụdaume).
Ọmụmaatụ (Examples)
Nganiihu (Prefix) Isingwaa (Verb root) Mfinitiv
I de ide (to write)
ị ta ịta (to eat)
I si isi (to cook)
ị ma ịma (to know)
I nwe inwe (to have)
I te ite (to cook/rub)
ị chọ ịchọ (to find)
ị hụ ịhụ (to see)
ị sa ịsa (to wash)
I nye inye (to give)
Mmekangwaa (Auxiliary verb)

A na-esite n’isingwaa enwete mmekangwaa mgbe a gbakwụnyere ngannihu ‘a’
maọbụ ‘e’ n’ihu isingwaa. Mgbakwụnye a na-agbasokwa iwu ndakọrịta ụdaume. (The
auxiliary verb is gotten from the verb root by adding the prefix ‘a’ or ‘e’ in front of
the verb root. This affix conforms with the rules of ndakọrịta ụdaume).
Nganiihu (Prefix) Isingwaa (Verb root) Mmekangwaa (Auxiliary

Verb)
A ga aga (is going)
E je eje (is walking)
E si esi (is cooking)
A ta ata (is eating)
A sa asa (is washing)

A sụ asụ (is
washing/pounding)
E de ede (is writing)
A ma ama (is knowing)
E nye enye (is giving)
A zụ azụ (is buying)
Tensị Ndịnaazụ (Past Tense)

Ọ bụrụ na e tinye nsonaazụ ‘r’ na otu ụdaume dabara adaba n’isingwaa e nwete tensị
ndịnaazụ. (If a suffix ‘r’ is added, with a vowel that corresponds (with the last given
letter of the verb root), a past tense is gotten.)
Ịmaatụ (Examples)
Isingwaa (Verb root) Nsonaazụ (Suffix) Tensị Ndinaazụ (Past

Tense)
je re jere (went)
ri ri riri (ate)
chọ rọ chọrọ (searched)
to ro toro (grew)
sa ra sara (washed)
bụ rụ buru (became)
chụ rụ chụrụ (chased)
sị rị sịrị (said)
NOTE: In the first example ‘jere’, the verb root is ‘je’, the past tense is ‘r’ and the
vowel that corresponded (the last given letter of the verb root) is ‘e’.
Njụ (Negation)
Njụ bụ mkpụrụokwu na-egosi na e kwenyeghị n’ihe a na-ekwu. A na-emebe njụ
n’asụsụ Igbo site n’igbakwụnye nsonaazụ ‘ghị’ n’azụ isingwaa, dika: (Negations are
words that show refusal/disapproval in what is being said. Negations are gotten in
Igbo language by adding the suffix ‘ghị’ at the back of the verb root, like)
Isingwaa Nsonaazụ Njụ
je ghị jeghị (not going)
ri ghị righị (not eating)
lụ ghị lụghị (not working)
nwe ghị nweghị (do(es) not have)
sa ghị saghị (not/did not

washing)
ma ghị maghị (do(es) not know)
lo ghị loghị (do(es) swallowing)
NOTE: ‘ghị’ means ‘not/do not (plural)/does not (singular)/did not (past tense).
Ntimiiwu (Command)
Ntimiiwu bụ mkpụrụokwu e ji amanye mmadụ amanye ime ihe. N’inwete ntimiiwu
n’Igbo a na-agbakwụnye otu ụdaume n’azụ isingwaa. Mgbakwụnye ahụ na-abụ
nsonaazụ. Mgbakwụnye a na-agbaso iwu ndakọrịta ụdaume. (Commands are words
used to compel a person to do something. In getting ‘commands’ in Igbo, a vowel is
placed at the back of the verb root. That affix is called suffix. This affix follows the
rules of ndakọrịta ụdaume.
Isingwaa Nsonaazụ Ntimiiwu
ri e rie (eat)
pụ ọ pụọ (go)
je e jee (go)
sa a saa (wash)
de e dee (write)
Aha dị iche iche (Other names)

E nwere ike imebe aha dị iche iche n’asụsụ site n’igbakwụnye ihe n’isingwaa. E nwere
ike inwete aha ome, aha mme na aha ihe ndị ọzọ. (Other categories of nouns can be
gotten in Igbo language by adding a word to the verb root. We can get occupational
names, working tools and other nouns.)
Aha Ome (Occupational name)

Aha ome bụ aha a na-akpọ onye na-emekarị otu ihe maọbụ ihe mmadụ jiri mere aka
ọrụ. A na-enweta nke a site n’igbakwụnye nganiihu ‘o’ maọbụ ‘ọ’ n’ihu isingwaa bịa
tinye ya aha na-arụ ọrụ mmeju. E nwekwara ike ide ya n’ụzọ mkpirisi site n’itinyekwa
otu ụdaume dabara adaba n’isingwaa. (Occupational name is a name given to a
person who does one type of work or what somebody has as a skill. This is gotten
by adding prefix ‘o’ or ‘ọ’ in front of the verb root and also the name of the worker.
It can be written in a shortened version by adding one befitting vowel (that was
attached lastly in the verb root.)
Ịmaatụ (Examples)
Nganiihu (Prefix) Isingwaa (Verb Aha ome Ndebiri ya

root) (Occupational (Shortened
name) version)
O de Ode akwụkwọ Odee (Author)
O si Osi nri Osii (Cook)
Ọ sụ Ọsụ akwụ Ọsụụ
Ọ gụ Ọgụ egwu Ọgụụ

(Singer/Musician)
Aha mme (Working tools)

Nke a bụ aha e nyere ngwa ọrụ onye na-arụ ọrụ ji arụ ọrụ. A na-enwete nke a site
n’igbakwụnye nganiihu ‘m’ maọbụ ‘n’ n’ihu isingwaa bịa tinyekwa ya mmeju.
Mgbakwụnye a ga-agbasorịrị iwu ndagba myiriụdaume. (This is a name given to the
tools used by a worker in his work. This is gotten by adding the suffix ‘m’ or ‘n’ in
front of the verb root, and also adding a completion. This suffix follows the rules of
the semi-vowel.)
Nganiihu (Prefix) Isingwaa (Verb root) Aha mme (Working tool)
m wa mwa nkụ (Axe)

m vọ mvọ isi (Comb)
n Gwu ngwu ala (Digger)
N Si nsi nri (Stove)
Aha ihe ndị ọzọ bụ: (Other names are)

n + ri = nri (Food)
i + je = ije (Journey)
ụ + ba = ụba (Wealth)
ụ + sa = ụsa (Glutton)
ọ + ma = ọma (Beautiful)
m + kpọ = mkpọ (Staff)
n + sọ = nsọ (Sacred/Holy)
WORDS THAT NEED TO BE TRANSLATED

1. Igbaso
2. Usoro
3. Ụdamkpị
4. Ụdange
5. Ụdamfe
6. Ụdaarọ
7. Mfinitiv
8. Mmekangwaa
9. Ndakọrịta
10. Ọsụụ
ISI NKE ATỌ (CHAPTER THREE)
IWU NSUPE (RULES IN SPELLING)

by
Dr. Thecla Udemmadu
Iwu nsupe bụ usoro iwu ndị ọkachamara n’asụsụ Igbo wepụtara a ga-eji na-asupe
mkpụrụokwu n’asụsụ Igbo. Iwu nsupe dị nnukwu mkpa makana onye gbaa isi akwara
hapụ ịgbaso ya, okwu ọ chọrọ ịsụpe nwere ike pụta ihe ọzọ maọbụ mgbagwoju anya
nye onye na-agụ ihe. Ụfọdụ iwu ndị ahụ gụnyere: (The rules in spelling are sets of
rules which the professors of Igbo language founded to aid in the spelling of Igbo
language. The rules are highly important because an ignorant reader who choose
not to abide by them might incur a problem which will come to light when reading.
Some of the rules include):
 Usoro ịsụpe mkpụrụokwu n’Igbo na-agbaso usoro mgbochiume + ụdaume, dị

ka (The method of spelling Igbo words in Igbo follows the method of
consonant + vowel like) –
Aka (Hand) - ụdaume + mgbochiume + ụdaume (vowel + consonant + vowel)

Oche ( Chair) - ụdaume + mgbochiume + ụdaume (vowel + consonant +
vowel)
Akwụkwọ (Book) - ụdaume + mgbochiume + ụdaume + mgbochiume +
ụdaume (vowel + consonant + vowel + consonant + vowel)
Ezi (Pig) - ụdaume + mgbochiume + ụdaume (vowel + consonant + vowel)
Maka (Because) – mgbochiume + ụdaume + mgbochiume + ụdaume
(consonant + vowel + consonant + vowel)
 Otu ụdaume nwere ike mebe otu mkpụrụokwu dị ka nnọchiaha ụfọdụ (A
vowel can function as a word in form of some pronoun) –
A – A gbara egbe
E – E kwuru okwu
I – I nwere ego (You are rich)
Ị - Ị chọrọ ya okwu (You looked for trouble)
O – O jere ụka (He/she went to church)
Ọ - Ọ bịara taa (He/she came today)
M – Nna m gara akwụkwọ (My father went to school)
NOTE: ‘O/Ọ’ can be used for ‘he or she’, ‘i/ị’ can be used for ‘you’
 Myiriụdaume ‘M’ nwere ike ijedewe mkpụrụokwu dị ka (The semi-vowel can
end a work like):
njem (Journey)
mbem
etum
ndọm
ọdụm (Lion)
 Mgbochiume anaghị akwụsị mkpụrụokwu Igbo. (A consonant does not end a
word in Igbo.)
Ịmaatụ (Examples):
 Ezeh
 Obiọrah
 Ezeajụgh
 Okafor
Ha kwesịrị ịbụ (They should be)

Eze
Obiọra
Ezeajụghị
Okafọ
 Mgbochiume abụọ anaghị adịkọ ọnụ n’otu mkpụrụokwu, ya bụ anaghị enwe
ọyọkọ mgbochiume n’otu mkpụrụokwu Igbo. (Two consonants cannot be
placed together in the word, that is, there is no double consonants in one
word in Igbo.)
 Nsụkka
 Owerri
 Awka
 Obollo
 Abba
 Onitsha
Ha kwesịrị ịbụ (They should be)

Nsụka
Owere
Ọka
Obolo
Aba
Ọnịcha
 Nsupe mkpụrụokwu Igbo na-esite n’ụda pụtagasịrị na mkpụrụokwu ahụ. A
naghị enwe ụda ogbi na mkpụrụokwu Igbo ọ dị n’asụsụ bekee ebe ụfọdụ ụda
dị na mkpụrụokwu na-abụ ụda ogbi n’ihi na ụda ndị ahụ anaghị apụta oge a
na-akpọpụta ụfọdụ okwu, dịka (Word spellings in Igbo come from the sound
present in those words. There is no silent letters in Igbo words just like in
English language where some letters in words are silent because those
letters are not heard when they are pronounced, like):
psychology
sword
honour
 Na mkpụrụedemede ndị gbara mkpị, a chọọ ide ha na nnukwu
mkpụrụedemede, ọ bụ naanị nke bụ ụzọ ka a na-eji nnukwu mkpụrụedemede
were amalite. (Coming to diphthong letters, when it is written with other
letters, only the first alphabet is started with capital letter.)
Ọmụmaatụ (Examples):
Nwankwọ ọ bụghị (not) NWankwọ
Gboko ọ bụghị (not) GBoko
Chika ọ bụghị (not) Chika
 Nsụpe mkpụrụokwu Igbo na-agabso iwu ndakọrịta ụdaume (Word spellings in
Igbo conforms to the rules of ndakọrịta vowel.) Otu ‘A’ a, ị, ọ, ụ dịka
(Category ‘A’ a, ị, ọ, ụ like) - akwụkwọ (book), ụlọ (house), atụ (brush), aka
(hand).
Otu ‘E’ e, i, o, u dịka (Category ‘E’ e, i, o, u like) – elu (up), oche (chair), udu,
ezi (pig).
 Nsụpe ezigbo mkpụrụokwu na-agbasokwu iwu ndagba myiriụdaume. Nke a bụ
iwu nsụpe na-ekwu na myiriụdaume ọbụla nwere mgbochiume ya na ya na-
awị na mkpụrụokwu. Nke a gosiri na myiriụdaume Igbo na-ahọ otu,
mgbochiume ndị ha na myiriụdaume ‘m’ na agakọ bụ (A good word spelling
also follows the matching rules of semi-vowels. This is the type where a
semi-vowel has another consonant as a comparison in a word. This shows
that the Igbo semi-vowels are linked as one. The consonants that could go
with semi-vowels ‘m’ are):
b mbọ (hard work/fingernails)
f mfe (easy)
gb mgba (wrestling)
m mma (knife/beauty)
kp mkpọ (staff)
p mpe (small)
v mvọ (comb)
w mwute (sadness)
y myọ (sieve)
Mgbochiume ndị ha na myiriụdaume ‘n’ na-agakọ bụ (The consonants that
could go with semi-vowel ‘n’ are):
ch ncha (soap)
d nde (million)
g nga (prison/jail)
gh nghọta (understanding)
gw ngwaa (verb)
h nha (equal/fine as in tax)
j nje (germ)
k nkenke (pieces)
kw nkwenye (belief)
l nlekọta (care)
n nna (father)
ị nịomi (emulation)
nw nnwale (test/tempt)
ny nnyocha (investigation)
r nracha (lick)
n nsọ (holy/sacred)
sh nshịkọ (crab)
t nte
z nzuzu (foolish)

1. A gbara egbe
2. E kwuru okwu
3. Mbem
4. Etum
5. Ọdụm
6. Udu
7. Nịomi
8. Nte
ISI NKE ANỌ (CHAPTER FOUR)
MKPỌAHA (NOMINAL)
by
Dr. J. O. Ogbuagu
Mkpọaha maọbụ aha bụ otu n’ime nkejiasụsụ e nwere n’asụsụ Igbo. Mkpọaha bụ
mkpụrụokwu e ji ahụba ihe ama. Mkpọaha nwere ngalaba ndị a (Nominal is one of
the parts of speech in Igbo language. Nominal is a word that is used to identify a
thing. Nominal has these categories):
Aha (Noun)
Nnọchịaha (Pronoun)
Njụajụjụ (Interrogative)
Ọnụọgụgụ (Numeral)
 Aha (Noun)
Aha bụ mkpụrụokwu e ji mara ihe ọbụla dị ka mmadụ, osisi, anụmanụ,
akwụkwọ, wdg (Noun is a name of a word used to identify things like person,
tree, animal, book etc.) E nwere ụdị aha dị iche iche dị ka (There are types of
nouns like):
 Ahaaka (Proper Noun) – Okeke (A name), Ọka (Anglicalized Awka),
Orie (Market day), Jenụwarị (January), Ahaneku wdg (A name etc.)
 Ahaizugbe (Common Noun) – mmadụ (person), anụmanụ (animal),
osisi (tree), ala (land), ahịhịa (grass), nri (food), ụlọ (house), oche
(chair.)
 Ahauche (Abstract Noun) – aṅụrị (joy), iwe (hatred), ọnụma (misery),
amamihe (wisdom), nzuzu (foolish), arịrị (sorrow), ebere (mercy),
ịhụnanya (love), ndidi (patience), umeala, wdg (humility etc.)
 Ahaigwe (Collective Noun) – ọyọkọ igodo (bunch of keys), igwe atụrụ
(flock of sheep), igwe mmadụ (crowd of people), ọha obodo
(community of villagers), ukwu nkụ (log of woods), ajụ unere (bunch
of bananas), ikpo ahịhịa wdg
NB: The ‘ọyọkọ’ in ‘bunch’ is used for keys while ‘ajụ’ in the ‘bunch’ is used for
bananas.
 Ahaucheụda (Idiophone) – pokopoko , gbaa, zii, mụrụmụrụ, ṅarịṅarị,

zaa, wdg
 Ahansinaụda (Onomatopoeia) – kọị kọị (as in ladies’ shoe), pụtụ pụtụ
(as in boiling soup), gbim, yọm, pata pata (as in rain drops), tụwaị (as
in flogging), dum dum etc (as in door banging etc.)
NB: Idiophone has no sound but it is used a noun while Onomatopoeia has sound
and its meanings are gotten from them.
 Nnọchiaha (Pronoun)
Nnọchiaha bụ mkpụrụokwu e ji anọchi anya aha n’ahịrịokwu. E ji ya egbochi
ịkpọ aha ugboro ugboro n’ederede nke nwere ike ime ka ederede dị ka ihe
onye amaghị asụsụ dere (Pronoun is a word used to replace a noun in a
sentence. It is used to avoid numerous repetition of names in a write-up
which would make such write-up look immature.) E ji ụdaume a, e, I, ị, o, ọ,
eme nnọchiaha n’asụsụ Igbo. Ụdaume ‘u’ na ‘ụ’ enweghị ike ịrụ ọrụ
nnọchiaha. Myiriụdaume /m/ na-arụkwa ọrụ dị ka nnọchiaha n’ahịrịokwu (The
vowels a, e, i, ị, o, ọ are used as pronouns in Igbo language. The vowels ‘u’
and ‘ụ’ cannot work as pronouns. Semi-vowels ‘m’ can also act as pronoun in
a sentence.) Lee ịma atụ ebe e nwere nnọchiaha n’ahịrịokwu ndị a (Look at
the following examples where pronouns are used in these sentences):
Ọ bịara akwụkwọ taa (She came to school today)
E kwuru na mmadụ nwụrụ taa (It was said that someone died today)
I mechaara kwue ihe merenụ? (Did you say what happened?)
Ị sị na ndị ahịa niile alaala? (Did you say that all traders had gone?)
Akwụkwọ m niile furu ụbọchị ahụ (All my books got lost that day)
E jidere ya n’ohi o zuru (They caught him as he stole)
Ndị a kagbadoro ihe n’ahịrịokwu ndị dị n’elu bụ nnọchiaha. E nwere ụdị
nnọchiaha dị iche iche. Ha bụ: nnọchionye, nnọchimpesin, nnọchionwe,
nnọchionweonye, nnọchinkeonye, nnọchinkọwa (The underlined words in the
above sentences are pronouns. There are other types of pronouns. They are:
personal pronoun, impersonal pronoun, reflexive pronoun, emphatic
pronoun, possessive pronoun, relative pronoun.)
 Nnọchionye (Personal Pronoun): Ọ bụ ụdị nnọchiaha e ji edochi aha
mmadụ maọbụ ihe nkịtị dị ka (It is the type of pronoun used to replace
a name of a person or thing like): m (my), mụ (me), o (he/she/it), ọ
(he/she/it), gị (you), ya (him/her/it), ha (them), anyị (we/us).
 Nnọchiamaonye/ Nnọchimpesi (Impersonal Pronoun): Ọ bụ ụdị
nnọchiaha enweghị onye ọ na-anọchite anya n’ụzọ doro anya. Ha dị
naanị abụọ, ya bụ /A/ na /E/ (It is the type of pronoun that does not
replace a name of a person or thing clearly. They are two in number:
‘A’ and ‘E’.)
A sịrị na ọ dara (It was said that it fell)
E kwuru na ọ nwụọla wdg (It was said that he died etc.)
 Nnọchionwe (Reflexive Pronoun): Ọ bụ ụdị nnọchiaha e ji ekwu maka
onwe mmadụ. Usorookwu ya na-adị abụọ (It is the type of pronoun
used to refer oneself. It is made up of two words.) N’ụdị a, a na-enwe
(In this, there are): onwe ya (himself/herself), onwe m (myself), onwe
ha (themselves), onwe ụnụ (yourselves), onwe anyị (ourselves), onwe
gị (yourself.)
 Nnọchionweonye (Emphatic Pronoun): E ji ya ekwusi ike maka onwe
mmadụ. Usorookwu ya na-enwe mkpụrụokwu atọ (It is used to
emphasize oneself. It is made up of three words.)
Ịma atụ (Examples): ya onwe ya (he himself/her herself), mụ onwe m
(me myself), ha onwe ha (they themselves), ụnụ onwe ụnụ (you
yourselves), anyị onwe anyị (we ourselves.)
 Nnọchinkọwa (Relative Pronoun): E ji ya akọwagharị ihe e kwuburula
maka ya mbụ maọbụ eme ka a mata onye a na-ekwu maka ya nke ọma
(It is used to explain what has been said or point out whom is being
referred to.) Ha dị olenaole (They are few) – nke (whom), onye (who),
ndị (who (plural) etc.)
Ịma atụ (Examples):
Obi, onye tara azụ anwụọla (The Obi, who ate the fish is dead)
Onye nkụzị ahụ nke na-asọ nsọ apụọla (The born-again teacher is
gone)
Ụmụakwụkwọ ndị na-awa anya dara ada wdg (The students who are
bright failed etc.)
 Nnọchinkeonye (Possessive Pronoun): Ụdị a ka e ji egosi ihe mmadụ
nwe (This is used to show possession.)
Ịma atụ (Examples): akwụkwọ m (my book), ụlọ ya (his house), anụ gị
(your meat), efere ya wdg (her plate etc.)
Njirimara Nnọchiaha (Features of Pronoun)
i. A na-edepu ya iche n’ahịrịokwu ọbụla (It is written separately from any

sentences)
ii. Ọ nwere ike ịbụ otu mkpụrụụdaasụsụ, abụọ maọbụ karịa – ọ, o, ya, ha, e, a,
anyị, ụnụ, i, ị (It can be made of one letter, two or more letters – ọ, o, ya, ha,
e, a, anyị, ụnụ, i, ị.)
 Njụajụjụ (Interrogatives)
Njụajụjụ bụ mkpụrụokwu ndị e ji ajụ mmadụ ajụjụ n’asụsụ Igbo. O nwere ike
ịdị na mmalite maọbụ na njedebe ahịrịokwu. Mkpụrụokwu ndị a na-arụ ọrụ
dịka njụajụjụ n’asụsụ Igbo (Interrogatives are words that are used to ask
questions in Igbo language. It can be at the end of a sentence. These words
act as interrogatives in Igbo language):
Onye (who), kedụ (how, who, what, why), olee (who, why, how, what), gịnị
(what), aghaa/aṅaa (how), ebee (where.)
a) Olee ihe ị na-ekwu ekwu? (What are you saying?)
b) Kedu aha obodo gị? (What is the name of your village?)
c) Onye na-akụ n’ụzọ? (Who is knocking at the door?)
d) Gịnị ka a sị sị mebe emebe? (What should we do?)
e) Ụmụaka a ha emere aghaa? (These children how are they?)
f) Ebee ka ụnụ bi? (Where do you live?)
 Ọnụọgụgụ (Numeral)
Ọnụọgụgụ bụ okwu ndị e ji agụ ihe ọnụ. Otu ọrụ pụtakarịchara ihe ọ na-arụ bụ
na ọ na-eme ka a mata ole ihe dị. O nwere ike iwere ọnọdụ isiahịrị maọbụ
mmeju n’ime usorookwu. Lee ọnụọgụgụ Arabik ụfọdụ na mpụtara ha n’Igbo
(Numerals are used for counting. One of the significant functions is that it
tells us the number of things. It can take the position of a subject or
predicate in a sentence. Take a look at some Arabic numerals and their
meanings in Igbo):
0 Efu/nkịtị/ziro (Zero)
1 Otu (One)
2 Abụọ (Two)
10 Iri (Ten)
20 Iri abụọ (Twenty)
100 Narị (Hundred)
1000 Puku (Thousand)
2,000000 Nde abụọ (Two million)
1,000000000 Otu ijeri (One billion)
Ebe Dị Iche Iche Ọnụọgụgụ Na-Arụ Ọrụ (Instances of where numerals can
work)
A. Ịgụ Ego (Money counting)
5k - Kobo ise (Five Kobo)
12k - Kobo iri na abụọ (Twelve Kobo)
N10.00 - Naịra iri (Ten Naira)
N 10.50 - Naịra iri na kobo iri ise (Ten Naira, fifty kobo)
N 606.90 - Narị naịra isii na isii na kobo iri iteghete (Six
hundred and six naira, ninety kobo.)
B. Ịgụ Afọ (Counting years)
5 years Afọ ise (Five years)
10 years Afọ iri (Ten years)
1999 Otu puku afọ, narị iteghete, iri iteghete na iteghete (One
thousand, nine hundred and nine years/Nineteen Ninety
Nine)
1980 Otu puku afọ, narị iteghete, na iri asatọ (One thousand,
nine hundred and eighty years/Nineteen Eighty)
2014 Puku afọ abụọ, na iri na anọ (Two thousand and fourteen
years/Twenty Fourteen.)
CH. Ịgụ Oge (Time counting)

Ndị a bụ ihe ndị dị mkpa mgbe a na-agụ oge:
Tịm tịm - Second

Nkeji - Minutes
Elekere - Hour
A.M. - Ọnụ ụtụtụ/ụzụ ụtụtụ, ụtụtụ wdg
(Midnight/morning etc)
P.M. - Ehihie, etiti ehihie, mgbede, uhuruchi, abalị
wdg (Afternoon, evening, night etc)
5.00 am. - Elekere ise nke ọnụ ụtụtụ (Five o’clock in
the morning)
7.30 am. - O jirila ọkara gata elekere asaa nke ụtụtụ (It
is thirty minutes past seven in the morning)
12.00 pm - Elekere iri na abụọ nke etiti ehihie (Twelve
o’clock in the afternoon)
12.45 pm - Ọ fọdụrụ nkeji iri na ise ka ọ kụọ elekere
mbụ nke ehihie (It is fifteen minutes to one
hour in the afternoon)
4.05 pm - O jirila nkeji ise gata elekere anọ nke
mgbede (It is five minutes past four in the
evening)
7.15 pm - O jirila nkeji ise gata elekere asaa nke
uhuruchi (It is fifteen minutes past seven in
the evening)
10.00 pm - Ọ kụọla elekere iri nke abalị (It is ten o’clock
in the night)
12.00 pm - Ọ kụọla elekere iri na abụọ nke etiti abalị (It
is twelve o’clock in the midnight)
2.25 pm - O jirila nkeji iri abụọ na ise gata elekere abụọ nke
ime abalị/nderi/ọnụ ụtụtụ (It is twenty-five
minutes past two in the midnight)
D. Ịgụ Ọnụọgụgụ Ndị Ọzọ - Ịgụ Mmadụ, Ịgụ Nọmba Mpekele (Other
countings – Head count, Fractions)
Otu onye - One person
Mmadụ iri na asatọ - Eighteen persons
Mmadụ narị atọ, iri atọ na ise - Three hundred and thirty five
persons
Ewu puku isii, narị asaa, iri asatọ - Six thousand, seven hundred and
na iteghete eighty-nine goats
2
/3 - Abụọ n’ime atọ (Two of three)
3
3 /8 - Atọ na atọ n’ime asatọ (Three, three
of eight)

1. Ikpo ahịhịa
ISI NKE ISE (CHAPTER FIVE)
NGWAA (VERB)
by
Dr. Gladys I. Udechukwu
Ngwaa sokwa n’otu n’ime nkejiasụsụ e nwere n’Igbo. Ngwaa na-ezipụta nghọta dị
n’ahịrịokwu. E wezụga ya, ahịrịokwu agaghị enwe nghọta. E nwere ụdịdị ngwaa dị
iche iche nke gụnyere ndị a (Verb is also one of the parts of speech we have in Igbo.
Verb shows the meaning in a sentence. Without it, the sentences will not have any
meaning. There are various types of verbs which include):
1) Isingwaa (Verb root)
2) Nnyemakangwaa
3) Mfinitiv
4) Mmekangwaa
5) Jerọnd (Gerund)
Isingwaa (Verb root): Nke a bụ ụdịdị ngwaa nke bụ isi sekpụ ngwaa ndị ọzọ. Ọ bụ ya
bụ ebe ngwaa ndị ọzọ na-adabere were emebe onwe ha. E wezuga isingwaa, ngwaa
ndị ọzọ agaaghị adị (This is the type of verbs that forms other verbs. It is where
other verbs depend to form on their own. Without verb root, other verbs would
not exist.) Isingwaa e nwere bụ ndị a: si, ta, ri, je, mụ, be, ga, ti, gba, gbu, chu, gbe,
chụ, kpa, kpụ, kpọ dgz (The verb roots we have are these: si, ta, ri, je, mụ, be, ga, ti,
gba, gbu, chu, gbe, chụ, kpa, kpọ etc.)
NB: Verb root is gotten from one consonant and one vowel.
Nnyemakangwaa: Ọ bụ ngalaba ngwaa nke ọrụ ya bụ inyere ngwaa aka ka nghọta ya

wee pụta ihe nke ọma. N’ebe ọbụla e nwere nnyemakangwaa n’ahịrịokwu, a na-eji
akarauhie (hypen) (-) were ejikọ ya na ngwaa ọ na-enyere aka (It is a category of
verb whose function is to help another verb as so to have a clear meaning. Where
there is nnyemakangwaa in a sentence, there is the use of hyphen (-) which holds
together the verb it is helping.) Ọ bụ naanị ‘na’ na ‘ga’ na-arụ ọrụ dị ka
nnyemakangwaa n’Igbo. Mgbe ‘na’ na-arụ ọrụ dị ka nnyemakangwaa, ọ na-egosi ihe
na-eme mgbe ahụ a na-ekwu okwu (present tense), mana mgbe ‘ga’ na-arụ ọrụ dị ka
nnyemakangwaa, ọ na-egosi ihe na-eme n’ihu (future tense) (It is only ‘na’ and ‘ga’
that function as helping verbs in Igbo. When ‘na’ acts as nnyemakangwaa, it shows
the present tense of the action, but when ‘ga’ acts as nnyemakangwaa, it shows
the future tense of the action.)
Ịmaatụ (Examples): ‘na’
Ọ na-agụ egwu (She is singing)
Ada na-aga ahịa (Ada is going to the market)
Eze na-asụ akwa (Eze is washing clothes)
Nne ya na-esi nri abalị (His mother is cooking dinner)
Okeke na-egbu akwụ (Okeke is cutting some palm fruit)
Ịmaatụ (Examples): ‘ga’

Ọ ga-agụ egwu (She will sing)
Ada ga-aga ahịa (Ada will go to the market)
Eze ga-asụ akwa (Eze will wash clothes)
Nne ya ga-esi nri abalị (His mother will cook dinner)
Okeke ga-egbu akwụ dgz (Okeke will cut some palm fruit etc)
Mfinitiv: Mfinitiv bụ ngalaba bgwaa a na-enweta site n’ịgbakwụnye ‘i’ maọbụ ‘ị’ n’ihu
isingwaa. Mgbe a na-eme nke a, a ga-agbasorịrị iwu ndakọrịta ụdaume, ya bụ na
ụdaume dị n’isingwaa na nke a ga-agbakwụnyere ya iji mebe mfinitiv ga-abụ nke ya
na ya nọ n’otu otu ụdaume (Mfinitiv is a category of verb gotten through the
affixation of ‘i’ or ‘ị’ in front of verb root. When this is done, it conforms to the
rules of ndakọrịta vowel, that is the vowel at the verb root and the prefix that
equals mfinitiv will be on the same category of vowel (Category ‘A’/Category ‘E’.)
Ịmaatụ (Examples): I + je = Ije (to go)

I + si = Isi (to cook)
Ị + ta = Ịta (to eat)
Ị + gba = Ịgba (to dance/play)
I + gbu = Igbu dgz (to kill/cut etc)
Mmekangwaa: Nke a bụ ngalaba ngwaa nke a na-enweta site n’ịgbakwụnye ‘a’

maọbụ ‘e’ n’ihu isingwaa. Ebe ọbụla e nwere mmekangwaa, nnyemakangwaa na-
abata iji meek a nghọta ngwaa wee pụta ihe nke ọma. A na-agbasokwa iwu ndakọrịta
ụdaume mgbe a na-eme nke a (This is the type of verb that is gotten through the
placement of ‘a’ or ‘e’ in front of the verb root. Where there is mmekangwaa,
nnyemakangwaa is present to make the meaning of the verb complete. The rules of
ndakọrịta vowel is observed when achieving this.
Ịmaatụ (Examples): E + je = Eje (is going)

E + ri = Eri (is eating)
A + ta = Ata (is chewing)
A + gba = Agba (is dancing)
E + si = Esi dgz (is cooking etc)
Jerọnd (Gerund): Jerọnd bụ ngalaba ngwaa a na-enweta site n’ịgbakwụnye ‘o’

maọbụ ‘ọ’ n’isingwaa a magbara amagba, ya bụ isingwaa e dere ugboro abụọ. E
nwere jerọnd abụọ (Gerund is a type of verb that is gotten from placing ‘o’ or ‘ọ’ in
front of the verb root that is twicely written. There are two types of gerund.)
(a) Jerọnd mfe na (Simple gerund and)
(b) Jerọnd mgbagwo (Complex gerund)
Jerọnd mfe (Simple gerund): Ọ bụ jerọnd ndị ahụ na-adị mfe na mmebe site n’iwere
naanị o/ọ tinye n’ihu isingwaa e dere ugboro abụọ (This is the gerund that is easily
gotten from placing o/ọ in front of the verb root that is twicely written.)
O + riri -------------- Oriri (Eating)
O + sisi -------------- Osisi (Cooking)
Ọ + ṅụṅụ ----------- Ọṅụṅụ (Drinking)
Ọ + mụmụ --------- Ọmụmụ (Learning)
O + chuchu -------- Ochuchu (Fetching)
NB: In the first example ‘Oriri’, the gerund is ‘O’, while the verb root is ‘ri’ but
written twice to have ‘riri’. Another fact is that anytime the verb root is as follows:
ri, si, chu (category ‘E’), the gerund should be ‘O’ but when the verb root is as
follows: ṅụ, mụ, chụ, chị (category ‘A’), the gerund should be ‘Ọ’.
Jerọnd mgbagwo (Complex gerund): Nke a bụ jerọnd ebe a na-enwe ntakịrị ihe isi
ike maọbụ mgbagwo n’imebe ya. N’ebe a ụdaume mbụ na mmagba isingwaa na-
adapụ, họrọ ụdaume ọzọ nọ n’otu ya dochie ya anya. A na-ahụkarị nke a ebe e nwere
ụdaume a/e na o/ọ (This the the gerund that is bit difficult in its making. Here, the
first vowel in the verb root is not written twice but once, then another vowel from
its category (Category ‘A’/Category ‘E’) is being used to replace the first vowel. This
is where there are vowels a/e and o/ọ.)
Ọ + tịta ------------------------ Ọtịta (Chewing)
O + jije ------------------------ Ojije (Walking)
O + bibe ---------------------- Obibe (Crying)
Ọ + gịga ---------------------- Ọgịga (Going)
O + mime -------------------- Omime (Doing)
Ọ + gbịgba ------------------- Ọgbịgba dgz (Dancing etc)
Ihe a niile ga-agbasoriri iwu ndakọrịta ụdaume (All of these must follow the rules of
ndakọrịta vowel.)
NB: In the first example ‘Ọ’ is the gerund, while the vowel in the verb root ‘ị’ which
is also in category ‘A’ is written once and then another member of category ‘A’ is
used to replace the first vowel.
In the second example, ‘O’ is the gerund, while the vowel in the verb root ‘i’
which is also in category ‘E’ is written once and then another member of category
‘E’ is used to replace the first vowel.

1. Nnyemakangwaa
ISI NKE ISII (CHAPTER SIX)
NJIKO (CONJUNCTION)
by
Dr. Gladys I. Udechukwu
Njikọ bụkwa otu n’ime nnukwu nkejiasụsụ. Ọrụ njikọ bụ ijikọ mkpụrụokwu abụọ
maọbụ karịa; nkebiokwu/nkebiahịrị abụọ maọbụ karịa na ahịrịokwu abụọ maọbụ
karịa (Conjunction is also one of the parts of speech. The function is to join two or
more words together; two or more phrases/clauses and two or more sentences.)
Mọfịm ndị na-arụ ọrụ ka njikọ bụ (The morphemes that act like conjunction are)- na
(and), mana (but), maka (because), makana (because of), tutu/tupu (before), tụmadị
(in respect of), n’ihina dgz (because etc.) E nwere udidi njikọ abụọ (There are two
types of conjunction):
1) Njikọ nkwụgba na (Words and opposite)

2) Njikọ ndabe (Dependent conjunction)
Njikọ nkwụgba (Words and opposite): Ọ bụ naanị ‘na’ na-arụ ọrụ dịka njikọ nkwụgba
nke ọrụ ya bụ ijikọ naanị mkpụrụokwu abụọ ga-agakọ ọnụ (It is only ‘and’ that
functions in words and opposite whose work is to join only words that go hand in
hand.)
Ịmaatụ (Examples): Ji na ede (Yam and cassava)

Ewu na ọkụkọ (Goat and cock)
Elu na ala (Up and down)
Ọcha na oji (Fair and dark)
Mmiri na ọkụ (Water and fire)
Ihe na ọchịchị (Light and darkness)
Udummiri na ọkọcha dgz (Rainy season + dry season)
Njikọ ndabe: Ndi a gụnyere njikọ ndị ọzọ ga tinyekwara n’onwe ya (These include
other conjunctions with the placement of ‘and’ itself.)
Ịmaatụ: (Examples): A chọrọ m ịta isi ewu na afọ anụ (I want to eat goat head and
meat)
Okeke gara ọrụ ma ọ rụghị ọrụ (Okeke went to work but he did not work)
O tiri ya ihe makana ọ sịrị asị (He beat her because she lied)
Ọ maghị ekwu okwu n’ihina ọ bụ nwata (He does not know how to talk because he
is a child)
O riri nri tutu ọ gaba akwụkwọ dgz (She ate some food before going to school etc)
Mbuụzọ (Preposition)
Mbuụzọ bụ otu n’ime nnukwu ụtọasụsụ e nwere n’asụsụ Igbo. Ọ dịghị ọtụtụ n’ asụsụ
Igbo. Mbuụzọ na-egosi ebe ihe dị maọbụ ebe nọrọ mee n’ahịrịokwu. (Preposition is
one of the highest parts of speech in Igbo language. It is not much in Igbo
language.) Ọ bụ naanị ‘na’ na-arụ ọrụ dị ka mbuụzọ. Mgbe ọbụla ‘na’ na-arụ ọrụ dị ka
mbuụzọ, e nwere ụzọ abụọ e si ede ya; mgbe a na-ewepụ ‘a’ dị na ‘na’ tinye rịkọm
elu na mgbe a na-ederu ‘na’ n’isi na-enweghị ihe e wepụrụ maọbụ tinye (It is only
‘na’ that functions as preposition. Anytime ‘na’ acts as a preposition, there are two
ways of writing it, when ‘a’ is removed from ‘na’ and an apostrophe (‘) is put and
when it is written in full ‘na’ without any subtraction or addition.)
Ọ bụrụ na okwu na-esote ‘na’ n’ahịrịokwu ji ụdaume were bido, a na-ewepụ ‘a’ dị na
‘na’ tinye rịkọm elu. Rịkọm elu ahụ e tinyere na-egosi na o nwere ihe si ebe ahụ wee
pụ (If the word that precedes ‘na’ in a sentence started with a vowel, the ‘a’ in ‘na’
is removed and an apostrophe (‘) is added. The apostrophe there shows that a
word was taken out of there.
NB: Apostrophe is ‘rịkọm elu’ in Igbo language.
Ịmaatụ (Examples): Ọ nọ n’ahịa (He is in the bush)

Ha bi n’Abagana (They live in Abagana)
Ngọzị nọ n’ụlọ (Ngosi is in the house)
Obi na-agụ akwụkwọ n’Obosi (Obi is schooling in Obosi)
Anụ dị n’ime ite (The meat is in the pot)
Ose ahụ dị n’ọkwa dgz (That pepper is in the mortar)
Mana mgbe okwu na-eso ‘na’ n’ahịrịokwu ji mgbochiume were bido, a na-ederu ‘na’
n’isi na-enweghị ihe ọbụla e wepụrụ maọbụ tinye (But when the word that precedes
‘na’ in a sentence started with a consonant, the ‘na’ is written in full without any
subtraction or addition.)
Chiọma na-asụ akwa na mmiri (Chioma is washing clothes in a stream)
Akwụ ahụ dị na nkata (That kernel is in the basket)
Adaobi bi na Lagos (Adaobi lives in Lagos)
Ha nwere ụlọ na Nsuka (They have a house in Nsuka)
A kpọchiri ya na nga dgz (He was locked in jail etc)
Nkọwa (Adjective)
Nkọwa bụ otu n’ime nkejiasụsụ nke ọrụ ya bụ ịkọwa mkpọaha ndị ọzọ. Nkọwa adịghị
ọtụtụ n’Igbo. E nwekwara ụmụ nkọwa ndị a (Adjective is one parts of speech whose
work is to modify other names. There is no much adjective in Igbo. There are also
three types of adjectives):
(a) Nkọwaaha
(b) Ahankọwa (Descriptive adjective)
(c) Nrụaka (Demonstrative adjective)
Nkọwaaha: Nke a bụ ezigbo nkọwa e nwere n’Igbo. Ha adịghị ọtụtụ n’asụsụ Igbo
(This is the best adjective we have in Igbo. They are not many in Igbo language). Ha
bụ ndị a (They are these): ọcha (fair)/clean), ọma (good), ọjọọ (bad), ojii
(dark/black), ọhụụ dgz (clean etc.) Nkọwaaha na-anọ naanị n’azụ aha ọ na-akọwa, ọ
naghị anọ n’ihu aha maọlị (Nkọwaaha only stays behind the noun it is modifying, it
does not stay in the front of the noun at all.)
Ịmaatụ (Examples): Ha zụtara ewu ojii (They bought a black goat)

Ada nwere chi ọma (Ada has a good God)
O yi akwa ọcha wee bịa (He cam with a white shirt)
O nwere obi ọjọọ (She has a bad heart)
O wuru ụlọ ọhụụ dgz (She built a new house etc)
Ndi a kara ihe n’okpuru bụ nkọwaaha (These underlined words are nkọwaaha)
Ahankọwa (Descriptive adjective): E wezuga nkọwaaha bụ ezi nkọwa kpọmkwem,

nkọwa ndị ọzọ abụghị ezi nkọwa kama ha nwere ike ịrụ ọrụ dị ka nkọwa (Without
nkọwaaha which is considered as the best adjective, other adjectives are not good
enough instead they could function as a (normal) adjective.) Ndi a ka a na-akpọ
‘ahankọwa’. Dị ka ndị a (These are called descriptive adjectives. Just like these):
ogologo (long/tall), mkpụmkpụ (short), njọnjọ (ugly), obodobo (big/large),
akpụtakpụ dgz (heavy etc.) Ahankọwa na-anọ n’ihu maọbụ n’azụ aha ọ na-akọwa
(Descriptive adjective can be at the front or back of the noun it is modifying.)
O gotara ogologo ji/ji ogologo (He bought long yams)
O nwere obodobo ihu/ihu obodobo (He has a big face)
Nwoke a nwere akpụtakpụ aka/aka akpụtakpụ (This man has a heavy hand)
Ha nwere mkpụmkpụ mmadụ/mmadụ mkpụmkpụ dgz (They have short men etc)
Nrụaka (Demonstrative adjective): Nke a na-arụtụ aka n’ihe a na-ekwu maka ya

kpọmkwem. Ọ na-arụkwa ọrụ ka nkọwaaha n’ihina ọ na-arụ aha aka ma nọrọkwa
n’azụ ya. Ọ bụ ‘a’ na ‘ahụ’ na-arụ ọrụ dị ka nrụaka n’Igbo. A na-edesa ha na okwu ha
na-eso edesa (This exactly points to what is being said. It also acts like nkọwaaha
because it modifies the noun and is placed at the back of the noun. They are ‘a’
(this/these) and ‘ahụ’ (that/those) that act as demonstrative adjectives in Igbo.
They are written separately from the word they succeeds.)
Ịmaatụ (Examples): Onye butere ji a? (Who brought this yam?)

Ọ bụ ya nwe akwụkwọ a (She is the owner of these books)
Chiọma wetaara m ego ahụ (Chioma brought me that money)
Ị hụrụ ewu ahụ? (Do you see that goat?)
Anyị tara anụ ahụ dgz (We ate those meat etc)

1. Njiko nkwugba
2. Njiko ndabe
3. Nkọwaaha
ISI NKE ASAA (CHAPTER SEVEN)
NKWUWA (ADVERB)
by
Nkoli Mercy Nnyigide
Nkwuwa bụ otu n’ime nkejiasụsụ e nwere n’asụsụ Igbo. Ọ bụ nkejiasụsụ nke na-
etinyeso nghọta na ngwaa. Ọ na-egosi ihe dị iche iche dị ka: oge ihe ji mee, ebe ihe
mere, otu ihe siri mee maọbụ ka ihe si mee, ihe kpatara ihe ji mee, ihe nwere ike ime
dgz (Adverb is one of the parts of speech in Igbo language. It is the parts of speech
that gives meaning to verb. It shows different things like: the time of action, place
of action, frequency of action, manner of action, condition of action, degree of
action etc.)
Ọ bụrụ na e wepụ nkwuwa n’ahịrịokwu, mkụrụokwu ndị ọzọ na-ezu iji meek a
ahịrịokwu ahụ kwụdo (If an adverb is removed from a sentence, other words help
to strengthen the sentence.) Ịmaatụ (Examples):
Nkwuwa na-egosi oge (Adverb of time):
 Obinna jere ụka ụnyaahụ (Obinna went to church yesterday)

 Chiọma tetere ụra taa atụ ozigbo (Chioma woke up and brushed
immediately)
Nkwuwa na-egosi ebe ihe mere (Adverb of place):
 Ụmụ akwụkwọ nọdwere onye nkuzi nso na-egere nkuzi ọ na-enye (The
students sat closely to the teacher listening to his teachings)
Nkwuwa na-egosi otu ihe siri mee (Adverb of frequency):
 Uche tara anụ ahụ ọsọọsọ (Uche ate the meat fastly)
 Nwata ahụ jere dina ala nwayọọ (The baby went and laid down sluggishly)
Nkwuwa na-egosi otu ihe si eme (Adverb of manner):
 Mbe na-aga nwayọọ (The tortoise walks slowly)

 Dinta na-achụ anụ ọnwụọnwụ (The hunter chases the animal swiftly)
N’ebe a, ọ dị mkpa ịkọwa na a na-ejikarị okwu ụfọdụ e dere ugboro abụọ emepụta
nkwuwa na-egosi otu ihe si eme dịka (In here, it is important to explain that’s some
words which are written twice could act as an adverb to show the manner of action
like): ọsọ-ọsọ (fastly), ngwa-ngwa (quickly), ike-ike (strongly), nwayọọ-nwayọọ
(slowly), ọnwụ-ọnwụ (swiftly), aghara-aghara (carelessly), ugboro-ugboro
(severally), ozigbo-ozigbo dgz (as quick as possible etc.)
Ntimkpu (Interjection)
Ntimkpu bụ otu n’ime nkejiasụsụ e nwere. Ọ bụ ụdị nkejiasụsụ e ji egosi mkpu pụrụ
mmadụ n’ọnụ mgbe ihe mere n’ike, na mwute na mberede maọbụ nkụja. E wezuga
izipụta mmetụtaobi, mkpu anaghị enwe nghọta maọbụ echiche zuru oke n’ihi na ọ
bụghị ihe a na-eche eche were ekwu (Interjection is one of the parts of speech we
have. It is the type of speech used to show someone’s exclamation at the sudden
time of happening, sorrow, incidents or fear. Without the ability to show emotion,
exclamation cannot have a meaning or complete sense because it is done
unconsciously.)
A bịa n’usoro mmebeokwu Igbo, a chọpụtara na mkpu na-anọrọ onwe ya, bụrụ
mkpụrụokwu ma bụrụkwa ahịrịokwu. Ebe e nwere mkpu na usorookwu ndị ọzọ,
mkpu na-ebu ụzọ tupu usorookwu ndị ọzọ. Ọzọ ebe ọbụla e dere ntimkpu, a na-
etinyere ya akara mkpu ‘!’ (When it comes to word formation, the exclamatory
mark stands alone, both as a word and a sentence. Anywhere there is exclamatory
word, the mark comes first before other words. Again, anywhere there is an
exclamatory mark, a sign is given to it.)
Chei! Ewo! Hei! Hia! Tụfịa! dgz.
Lezie ụfọdụ ọmụmaatụ n’ahịrịokwu (Look at the following examples in these

sentences)
Chei! Ọnwụ egbuo dike (Chei! Death has killed a great man – sorrowful
exclamation)
Ewo! Dike alaa (Ewo! A great man is gone – sorrowful exclamation)
Hei! Ụwa dị egwu (Hei! This world is mysterious – shocking exclamation)
Hia! O mebiela (Hia! It has spoilt – sudden exclamation)
Tụfịa! Ala alụọla (Tụfịa! Abomination – shocking exclamation)
Mgbakwụmye (Affixes)
Mgbakwụnye bụ aha jikọrọ ụdị ụmụ irighiri okwu niile a na-agbakwụnyere ngwaa. Ọ
bụ irighiri okwu maọbụ mkpụrụasụsụ (mọfịm) a na-agbakwụnye n’isingwaa maọbụ
n’irighiri okwu ọzọ iji mepụta mkpụrụokwu maọbụ iji gbanwee maọbụ gbatịa nghọta
mkpụrụokwu (Affixes are the general name that unite all kinds of words which are
attached to verbs. They are words or letters (morpheme) that are attached to the
verb root or some other group of words in view to make a complete word or
change or enlongate the meaning of the word.)
Mgbakwụnye nwere ngalaba ndị a: (Affixes are categorized as):
Nganiihu (Prefix)
Nsonaazụ (Suffix)
Nnọnime (Infix)
Nnọnetiti (Interfix)
a. Ngannihu (Prefix):
Nke a bụ mkpụrụasụsụ a na-agbakwụnye n’ihu isingwaa iji mepụta okwu dị iche iche.
A bịa n’asụsụ Igbo, ihe e ji eme nganiihu na-abụkarị ụdaume maọbụ myiriụdaume
(This is a letter that is attached in front of the verb root in order to form different
words. Coming to Igbo language, the component used in prefix are always vowels
or semi-vowels.)
Nganiihu Isingwaa Mkpụrụokwu
a + ta ata (eating)
e + de ede (writing)
I + si isi (to cook)
ị + gba ịgba (to dance)
o + pi opi (trumpet)
ọ + kụ ọkụ (fire/light)
n + dụ ndụ (life)
m + kpa mkpa (important)
b. Nsonaazụ (Suffix):
Nke a bụ irighiri okwu maọbụ mkpụrụasụsụ a na-agbakwụnye n’azụ isingwaa iji
gbatịa maọbụ gbanwe nghọta ya. N’asụsụ Igbo, ihe e ji eme nsonaazụ bụ ụdaume
maọbụ mgbochiume nke ụdaume na-eso (These are the letters which are attached
at the back of the verb root in order to enlongate or change the meaning. In Igbo
language, the component used in suffix are vowels and consonants which are
preceded by vowels.) Nsonaazụ a na-etinye maka mgbanwe nzipụta okwu ka a na-
akpọ nsonaazụ mgbanwe (mfleskshọnalụ). Ọ bụ ụdị nsonaazụ a ka e ji ezipụta tensi
na aspeekịtị tinyere nkwe na nju. Nsonaazụ nke nghọta o nwere pụrụ iche na nghọta
isingwaa na-agbatịkwa maọbụ tinyeso nghọta n’isingwaa. A na-akpọ ụdị nsonaazụ
ahụ nsonaazụ mgbatị (estenshọnal) (The suffix that joins to effect changes in the
nature of the word is called (inflectional suffix). It is the type of suffix used to show
tense and the aspect including affirmation and negation. The suffix that has a
different meaning to verb roots, elongates or adds more meaning to the verb root.
That type of suffix is called (extensional suffix.)
mụ + ọ = mụọ (learn)
jụ + rụ = jụrụ (asked)
jụ + ọ + la = jụọla (has asked)
jụ + ghị = jụghị (did not ask)
me + e = mee (do)
me + re = mere dgz (did etc)
Nsonaazụ Mgbatị (Extensional):

ku + fe = kufe ( )
ku + pụ = kupụ ( )
ri + kọ = rikọ ( )
me + bi = mebi ( )
fe + ba = feba ( )
je + mi = jemi ( )
ch. Nnọnime (Infix):

Nke a bụ nsonaazụ nke na-abụghị ya kpesị azụ n’ebe e nwere karịa otu nsonaazụ
(This is the suffix that is not considered as the last in a case where there are more
than one suffix.)
me + bi + ri (mebiri – spoilt)
ga + bi + ga + ra (gabigara – ordeal)
ta + cha + pụ (tachapụ – ate completely)
ba + ta + ra (batara – came)
d. Nnọnetiti (Interfix)
Nke a bụ mgbakwụnye ọnọdụ ya na-adị n’etiti mkpụrụokwu iji kewa ya nhatanha nke
na ihe dị n’ihu ya ga-abụkwa ihe dị n’azụ ya (This si the affix that stays in the middle
of the word and divides them equally in that what is at the front will be the same
at the back.)
ede + r + ede (written) ekwu + m + ekwu (spoken/oral)
agụ + r + agụ (recitation) eje + m + eje (travel)
nha + ta + nha (equilibrium) eri + m + eri (festivities)
ede + m + ede (composition) eje + r + eje (adventure)
ngọ + ri + ngọ (bribe) amụ + ma + amụ (learning)
egwu + r + egwu (play) amụ + rụ + amụ ( )
agụ + m + agụ (literature)

1. Kufe 2. Kupụ 3. Rikọ 4. Mebi 5. Feba 6. Jemi
ISI NKE ASATỌ (CHAPTER EIGHT)
NSOKWỤNYE N’ASỤSỤ IGBO (NSOKWỤNYE IN IGBO LANGUAGE)
by
Chinweude Ugochukwu
Nsokwụnye bụ otu n’ime nkejiasụsụ e nwere n’asụsụ Igbo. Ọ bụ irighiri okwu
(mkpụrụokwu) ma ọ bụ mkpụrụasụsụ nwere ike idabanye n’ebe ọbụla n’ahịrịokwu iji
tinyeso nghọta n’ahịrịokwu. Mgbe ọ bụla nsokwụnye na-eso ngwaa n’ahịrịokwu, a
na-edekọ ya na ngwaa ọ na-eso mana ọ bụrụ na ọ na-eso nkeji asụsụ ndị ọzọ, ọ na-
akwụrụ onwe ya iche (Nsokwụnye is one of the parts of speech in Igbo. It is the
word or letter that is capable of being found anywhere in the sentence to provide
emphasis in a sentence. Anytime nsokwụnye precedes a verb in a sentence, it is
written together with the verb it follows but if it precedes other parts of speech, it
stands on its own.) Nsokwụnye bụ mkpụrụokwu n’onwe ya, ọ na-akwụrụ onwe ya
n’ahịrịokwu ma nwee nghọta nke aka ya. Nsokwụnye e nwere n’asụsụ Igbo adịghị
ọtụtụ. Lee ụfọdụ n’ime ha (Nsokwụnye is itself a word, it is independent in a
sentence and has meaning of its own. The nsokwụnye in Igbo language are not
much. Take a look at some of them):
cha, kwa, nụ, kwanụ, zị, dị, kwu, kwazi, nwa.
Lee ha n’ahịrịokwu (Look at them in the sentence)
i. Akwụkwọ a cha bụ nke m (All these books are mine)
ii. Onye kwa na-akụ n’ụzọ? (Who is knocking on the door?)
iii. Gịnị kwanụ ka i kwuru? (What did you say?)
iv. Nweke kwu zụrụ ụgbọala (Nweke too bought a car)
v. Akwụkwọ zị ka ọ na-agụ (So he is reading a book)
vi. Ji ole kwazi ka a chọrọ? (Which of the yams does it want?)
vii. Onye dị bụ nne gị? (Who is your mother?)
viii. Gị nwa ka a na-achọ (You are being looked for)
Mkpụrụokwu ndị a kara ihe n’okpuru bụcha nsokwụnye (These underlined words are
nsokwụnye.)
Njịrịmara Nsokwụnye (Features of Nsokwụnye):
a) Nsokwụnye bụ mkpụrụokwu n’onwe ya (Nsokwụnye is a word itself)
b) Ọ na-akwụrụ onwe ya n’ahịrịokwu ma nwee nghọta nke aka ya (It stands on
its own and also have a meaning itself)
ch) Nsokwụnye na-etinyeso nghọta n’ahịrịokwu (Nsokwụnye adds meaning to a
sentence)
d) O nwere ike ịnọ ebe ọbụla n’ahịrịokwu (It can take any position in a sentence)
e) Mgbe ọbụla nsokwụnye na-eso ngwaa, a na-edekọ ya na ngwaa, ma mgbe ọ
na-eso mkpụrụokwu ọzọ, a na-ede ya iche (Anytime nsokwụnye precedes a
verb, it is written together with the verb, but when it follows other words, it
is written separately.)
Ebe dị iche iche a na-ahụ nsokwụnye n’ahịrịokwu (Places where nsokwụnye can be
seen in a sentence):
1. Nsokwụnye nwere ike isote aha n’ahịrịokwu (Nsokwụnye can come after a
noun in a sentence):
(a) Emeka kwu churu mmiri (Emeka too fetched water)
(b) Ji zi ka ọ na-eri (So he is eating yam)
(c) Ego kwazi ka ọ na-achọ (He is looking for money)
(d) Ewu kwa batara ụlọ (A goat entered the house)
2. Nsokwụnye nwekwara ike isote nnọchiaha n’ahịrịokwu (Nsokwụnye can also
come after a pronoun in a sentence):
Lee ọmụmaatụ ndị a (Look at the following sentences):
(a) Ya kwa ka ọ na-agwa (He is even taking to him)
(b) Mụ kwu ka ọ na-abara mba (She is scolding me too)
(c) Ha cha ka ọ chọrọ (She wants all of them)
(d) Ụnụ zi ka a na-akpọ (You (plural) are being called)
(e) O nyere ya kwu (He gave her too)
3. Nsokwụnye nwekwara ike iso ngwaa n’ahịrịokwu. Mgbe ọ bụla nsokwụnye na-
eso ngwaa, a ga-edekọ ya na ngwaa (Nsokwụnye can come after a verb in a
sentence. Anytime nsokwụnye succeeds a verb, it is written together with
the verb.)
(a) Gịnị bụzi nke a? (What is this?)
(b) Onye na-ekwukwa okwu (Who is talking too?)
(c) Nna ya ga-abakwa mba (His father will scold him too)
(d) Ụlọ niile a bụcha nke m (These houses are all mine)
(e) Ngọzị sozi ede ihe (Ngozi too is writing)
4. Nsokwụnye nwere ike sote njụajụjụ (Nsokwụnye can come after
interrogatives)
(a) Gịnị kwa bụ nke a? (What is this?)
(b) Onye zi ka ị chọtara (Who are you looking for?)
(c) Olee kwa ihe ọ na-ekwu? (What else is she saying?)
(d) Kedụ kwanụ ihe ị chọrọ ka m mee? (What again do you want me to do?)
(e) O kwụrụ gịnị kwa? (What again did she pay?)
5. Nsokwụnye nwekwara ike isote nrụaka n’ahịrịokwu (Nsokwụnye can come
after a demonstrative adjective in a sentence.)
(a) Nke a kwu bụ nke m (This too is mine)
(b) Ndị a cha bụ nke ha (All these are theirs)
(c) Ụlọ a kwanụ dị mma (This house is beautiful too)
(d) Nwa ahụ kwa mara mma (That child too is handsome)
6. Nsokwụnye nwere ike ịbụ mkpụrụokwu ikpeazụ n’ahịrịokwu (Nsokwụnye can
also be the last word in a sentence.)
(a) Onye bụ onye ahụ kwa? (Who is that person again?)
(b) Ihe ndị a bụ ihe ọṅụṅụ cha (All these are drinks)
(c) Akwa ndị a bụ nke ya kwu (These clothes too are hers)
(d) O kwuru gịnị kwanụ? (What again did he say?)
(e) Onye bịakwara nụ? (Who came again?)
NB: The underlined nsokwụnye in numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 are all alone except the ones
in number 3, which are together to the verb.

1. Nsokwụnye
ISI NKE ITEGHETE (CHAPTER NINE)
TENSỊ N’ASỤSỤ IGBO (TENSE IN IGBO LANGUAGE)
by
Chinweude Ugochukwu
Tensị bụ nghọta dị n’ụtọasụsụ nke a na-enwe na ngwaa. Ọ bụ katịgori ụtọasụsụ Igbo
na-egosipụta mgbe ma ọ bụ oge ihe a na-ekwu maka ya jiri mee n’ahịrịokwu. Ọ bụ
site na tensị ka e ji akọwapụta oge dị iche iche na-eme ma ọ bụ mere ma ọ bụ ga-
eme. (Tense is the meaning in ụtọasụsụ which is found in verb. It is the category of
ụtọasụsụ Igbo that shows when or the time of action in a sentence. Through the
tense it explains when an action is happening, happened or will happen.) Ọ bụ
mgbanwe a na-enweta na ngwaa na-egosi ụdị tensị e nwere. Ọ bụkwa
nnyemakangwaa na nsonaazụ na-ewebata mgbanwe na ngwaa (The changes gotten
from the verb shows the types of tense we have. They are nnyemakangwaa and
suffix that bring changes to the verb.)
Tensị nwere ike izipụta ihe na-eme ugbu a, ihe mere n’oge gara aga, ihe ga-eme
n’ọdịniihu, ihe nwere ike ime na-agawanye, ihe gaara ime mana o mezighi. A na-
enwe nkwe na nju n’ime ngalaba tensị (Tense can tell what is happening now, what
happened in the past, what will happen in the future, the present continuous, the
unfulfilled tense. There are affirmations and negations in the tense categories.)
Ụdị Tensị Dị Iche Iche (Different types of tense)
1. Tensị Ndịugbua (Present tense)
2. Tensị Ndịnaazụ (Past tense)
3. Tensị Ndịniihu (Future tense)
4. Tensị Ndịmecha (Perfect tense)
5. Tensị Ngaaradị (Unfulfilled tense)
Tensị Ndịugbua (Present tense)
Tensị ndịugbua bụ ngalaba tensị na-egosipụta ihe na-eme mgbe onye na-ekwu okwu
ka kpụ okwu n’ọnụ. Ọ bụ oge a na-ekwu ya bụ okwu ka ihe ahụ na-eme kpọmkwem.
Mgbe a na-emebe tensị ndịugbua, a na-agbakwụnye nganiihu ‘a’ na ‘e’ n’ihu isingwaa
ma ọ bụ ‘a, o, e’ n’azụ isingwaa (Present tense is a type of tense that shows the
current state of action as the speaker is speaking. The action happened as it is
being said. When the present tense is formed, the prefix ‘a’ and ‘e’ is added in front
of the verb root or ‘a, o, e’ at the back of the verb root.)
1. Eze alaa be ya (Eze has gone home)
2. Ataa m akị ọcha (I have eaten a white nut)
3. Nne erie nri (Mother has eaten some food)
4. Obi agaa ahịa (Obi has gone to the market)
Mgbe a na-ekwu maka ya na-eme ugbu a na-eme na-agawanye, a na-eji
nnyemakangwaa ‘na-’ ezipụta ya. Lee ọmụmaatụ (When said action is in present
continuous tense, the nnyemakangwaa ‘na-‘ is used. See the following examples):
1. Anyị na-agụ akwụkwọ (We are reading)
2. Ha na-achị ọchị (They are laughing)
3. Obinna na-ehi ụra (Obinna is sleeping)
4. Ụmụ akwụkwọ na-agụsi akwụkwọ ike (The students are studying hard)
5. Ihe na-eme ya (She is shy)
Tensị ndịugbua nwere nkwe na njụ. Ahịrịokwu ndi ezipụtara n’elu bụcha nke nkwe, a
na-enweta njụ site n’igbakwụnye nsonaazụ ‘ghi’ na nnyemakangwaa ma tinye ya
nganiihu ‘a’, dị ka n’ahịrịokwu ndị a (The present tense has affirmations and
negations. The above sentences are all written in affirmations. The negations are
gotten by adding the suffix ‘ghi’ and a nnyemakangwaa and also add a prefix ‘a’,
like in these sentences):
1. Ada anaghị achị ọchị (Ada is not smiling)
2. Obinna anaghị ehi ụra (Obi is not sleeping)
3. Ha anaghị agụsi akwụkwọ ike (They are not studious)
4. Ihere anaghị eme ya (He is not shy)
5. Ọ naghị ekwu eziokwu (He is not telling the truth)
Tensị Ndịnaazụ (Past tense)
Nke a bụ tensị na-ezipụta ihe mere n’oge gara aga. A na-emepụta tensị ndịnaazụ site
n’igbakwụnye nsonaazụ ‘-r’ ma otu ụdaume (rv – ‘r’ + vowel) n’isingwaa ma ọ bụ na
ngwaa. Ụdaume a ga-agbakwụnye ga-abụrịrị nke dị n’isingwaa dị ka ọ dị n’ọmụma
atụ ahịrịnkwe ndị a (This is the tense that tells what happened in the past. The past
tense is gotten from adding a suffix ‘r’ and one vowel in the verb root or in the
verb. The vowel that is affixed is usually found in the verb root just like it is on the
following examples in affirmation.)
1. O riri nri (He ate food)
2. O churu mmiri (She fetched water)
3. Nne tiri ya ihe (The mother beat her)
4. Ada mụrụ nwa (Ada was delivered of a baby)
5. Ike gwuru ya (He was tired)
Iji nweta njụ tensị ndịnaazụ, a na-etinye nganiihu ‘a/e’ n’isingwaa bịa tinyekwa
nsonaazụ ‘-ghị’ (To get the negation of past tense, the prfix ‘a/e’ is added in the
verb root and also the suffix ‘ghi’ at the back.
1. O righị nri (She did not eat)
2. O chughị mmiri (He did not fetch water)
3. Nne etighị ya ihe (The mother did not beat him)
4. Ada amụghị nwa (Ada was not delivered of a baby)
5. Ike agaghị ahịa (Ike did not go to the market)
Tensị Ngaaradị (Unfulfilled tense)
Nke a bụ tensị na-egosi ihe gaara ime mana ọ mezịghị n’ihi otu ihe ma ọ bụ ihe ọzọ. A
na-eji ‘gaara’ ezipụta tensi ngaaradị. Lee ọmụmaatụ ndị a (This is the tense that tells
what might happen but did not happen later due to one thing or the other. The
word ‘gaara’ is used in unfulfilled tense. Look at the following examples):
1. Anyị gaara ile ule taa (We were supposed to sit for the exam today)
2. Agaara m ịga ahịa (I was supposed to go to the market)
3. Nna ya gaara eti ya ihe (His father was supposed to beat him)
4. Nnaemeka gaara eme nke ọma n’ule (Nnaemeka was supposed to do well in
exam)
5. Onye nkuzi gaara enye ya ahụhụ (The teacher was supposed to punish her)
Ihe ahịrịokwu ndị a niile pụtara bụ na e mezịghị ihe ndị niile gaara eme. A na-emebe
njụ tensị ngaraadị site n’igbakwụnye nsonaazụ ‘ghị’ (What these sentences meant
were that the subjects did not fulfil the action. The negation of unfulfilledtense is
gotten through the affixation of suffix ‘ghị’.)
1. Anyị agaraghị ile ule (We are not supposed to sit for the exam)
2. Uju agaraghị ịga ahịa (Uju was not supposed to go to the market)
3. Nna ya agaraghị eti ya ihe (His father was not supposed to beat him)
4. Nnaemeka agaraghị eme nke ọma n’ule (Nnaemeka was not supposed to do
well in exam)
5. Onye nkuzi agaraghị enye ya ahụhụ (The teacher was not supposed to punish
her)
Mgbe a na-emebe tensị ngaradị, ọ bụrụ na mkpụrụokwu e jiri mere isiahịrị bụ
nnọchiaha onye nke abụọ na nke atọ (ị, ọ), a na-agbakwụnye nsonaazụ ‘ghị’ n’azụ
‘gara’. Lee ọmụmaatụ (When the unfulfilled tense is being made, if the word that is
used as subject is a second person and third person pronoun (ị, ọ), the suffix ‘ghi’ is
added at the back of ‘gara’. Look at the following examples):
1. Ị garaghị iti ya ihe (You were not supposed to beat him)
2. Ị garaghị iri nri (You were not supposed to eat food)
3. Ọ garaghị ekwu okwu (She was not supposed to talk)
4. Ọ garaghị enye ya ego (He was not supposed to give her money)
AJỤJỤ (QUESTION): Nye ọmụmaatụ tensị ngaaradị n’oluasụsụ gị (Give examples of
unfulfilled tense in your dialect.)
Tensị Ndịniihu (Future tense):
Nke a bụ tensị na-egosi ihe ga-eme n’ọdịniihu. Mkpụrụokwu e ji ezipụta tensị
ndịniihu bụ nnyemakangwaa ‘ga-’ (This is the tense that tells what will happen in
the future. The word used to show the future tense is nnyemakangwaa ‘ga-‘.)
1. Anyị ga-ele ule taa (We will sit for exam today)
2. Ọ ga-akwụ ụgwọ o ji (He will pay his debt)
3. Dibịa oyibo ga-agba ya ọgwụ (The doctor will inject him)
4. Anyị na-agụ akwụkwọ (We will read our books)
Ahịrịokwu ndị a bụcha ahịrịnkwe tensị ndịniihu. Iji nweta njụ tensị ndịniihu, a na-
agbakwụnye ‘-ghị’ n’azụ nnyemakangwaa ‘ga’, oge ụfọdụ a gbakwụnyere ya (The
sentences are affirmations in the future tense. To get the negation of the future
tense, ‘ghị’ is added at the back of the nnyemakangwaa ‘ga’, sometimes, the suffix
‘a’ is added.)
1. Ọ gaghị akwụ ụgwọ o ji (She will not pay her debt)
2. Anyị agaghị eme mkpọtụ ọzọ (We will not make noise again)
3. Dibịa oyibo agaghị agba ya ọgwụ (The doctor will not inject him)
4. Obinna agaghị arahụ ụra (Obinna will not sleep)
Mgbe ụfọdụ, a na-eji nnọchiaha anọchịbido tensị ndịniihu na ngwaa ọ na-enye oge dị
ka usoro okwu ya si dị. A na-ahụkarị nke a mgbe isiahịrị bụ nnọchiaha onye nke mbụ
mkpọolu (m). Mgbe ọnọdọ dị otu a, a na-agbakwụnye nganiihu ‘a’ n’ihu
nnyemakangwaa ‘ga’. A naghịzị eji akarauhie (-) ejikọ ‘ga’ na ngwaa ọ na-enye oge.
(Most times, pronouns are used to replace the future tense and the verb suitable
to that time of the action. This is seen when the subject is a first person singular
pronoun (m). When the situation arises, the prefix ‘a’ is added in front of the
nnyemakangwaa ‘ga’. Also, the hypen (-) is not used with the nnyemakangwaa ‘ga’
in the verb it tells.)
1. Aga m abịa echi (I will come tomorrow)
2. Aga m asụ akwa (I will wash clothes)
NB: In the above examples, ‘Aga’ is the combination of pronoun (A) and
nnyemakangwaa (ga.)
Lee ahịrịnjụ ha (Look at their negations):
1. Agaghị m abịa echi (I will not come tomorrow)
2. Agaghị m asụ akwa (I will not wash clothes)
NB: In the above examples, ‘Agaghi’ is the combination of pronoun (A),
nnyemakangwaa (ga) and the negation (ghị.)
Ọ bụrụ na a chọọ ka ihe ga-eme n’oge dị n’iru dịrị na-agawanye, a ga-agbakwụnye ‘ga
na-‘ n’ihu ngwaa (If the action that will happen in the future would continuous, the
word ‘ga’ is added in front of the verb.)
1. Ụmụ akwụkwọ ga na-agụsi akwụkwọ ike (The students have to be studying
very hard)
2. Nwata ga na-asọpụrụ okenye (A child have to respect the elders)
A ga-enweta njụ tensị ndịniihu ngawanye site n’ịgakwụnye nsonaazụ ‘-ghị’ n’azụ ‘aga’
(The negation of the future continuous tense is gotten through adding the suffix
‘ghị’ at the back of ‘aga’.)
1. Nwata agaghị na-akparị okenye (A child should not disrespect the elders)
2. Anyị agaghị na-eso ajọ otu (We should not join bad company)
Tensị Ndịmechaa (Perfect tense):
Nke a bụ tensị na-egosipụta ihe mecharalarị mgbe a na-ekwu okwu. Ihe e ji ezipụta
ya n’asụsụ Igbo bụ ịgbakwụnye ‘-la’ n’azụ ngwaa (This is a tense that tells what has
already happened when it is being said. What is used to show it in Igbo language is
the placement of ‘-la’ at the back of the verb.)
1. Ha eriela nri (They had eaten some food)
2. Ụmụ akwụkwọ abịala (The students had come)
3. Ha apụọla (They had gone)
4. Ikem emechaala ihe ọ na-eme (Ikem had finished what he was doing)
5. Oziọma agaala ahịa (Ozioma had gone to the market)
AJỤJỤ (QUESTION):
1. Olee ọrụ tensị na-arụ n’ụtọasụsụ Igbo? (What is the function of the tense in
ụtọasụsụ Igbo?)
2. Ụdị tensị ole ka e nwere? (How many tenses do we have?)
Nye ọmụmaatụ abụọ nke ọ bụla (Give two examples each)
1. Ụtọasụsụ
ISI NKE IRI (CHAPTER TEN)
NKEBIOKWU NA NKEBIAHỊRỊ (PHRASE AND CLAUSE)

by
Aloysuis U. Umeodinka
Nkọwa Nkebiokwu (Definition of phrase)
Dị ka aha ya siri dị, Nkebiokwu bụ okwu e kebiri ekebi nke ezughị oke na nghọta
maka na o nweghị ngwaa. Ndị bekee na-akpọ ya ‘phrase’ (Just as its name, a pharse
is a group of words that does not have a complete meaning because it does not
have a finite verb. The English call it ‘phrase.’)
Ihe ndị mebere Nkebiokwu (Components of a phrase)
Ọ dị mkpa na onye chọrọ ịma ihe bụ nkebiokwu ga-amarịrị ihe ndị a na-akpọ
mkpụrụedemede, mkpụrụụdasụsụ, mkpụrụasụsụ na mkpụrụokwu. Ọ bụ ngwa asụsụ
ndị a mebere nkebiokwu (It is important that anyone who wants to know the true
meaning of phrase must know the meanings of alphabetic letters, phonemes,
morphemes and words. These components make up a phrase.)
Mkpụrụedemede (Letters of the alphabets): bụ ọdịmara (akara e kwekọrịtara na ya)
e ji ede asụsụ. Ọ bụ akara ndị nwe asụsụ kwekọrịtara ha ga-eji na-ede asụsụ ha. Ya bụ
asụsụ Igbo, Yoruba, Awụsa na ndị ọzọ nwere nke ha (The alphabets are generally
(accepted symbols) used in language writing. They are symbols which are accepted
by the real speakers of language, which is used in writing what they spoke. They
are Igbo language, Yoruba, Hausa and other tribes have their own.)
E nwere ike ịkọwa mkpụrụụdaasụsụ dị ka mkpụrụedemede ọ bụla nke nwere ike
iweta ndịiche n’etiti otu mkpụrụokwu na ibe ya. Na mkpụrụokwu dị ka ‘ntụ’ na ‘nkụ’,
ihe ndị bụ mkpụrụụdaasụsụ n’ime ha bụ /k/ na /t/ (It can be explained that phonetic
symbols are letters distinct from one word and another. In a word like ‘ntụ’ (ash)
and ‘nkụ’ (wood), the phonetic symbols different from them are /k/ and /t/.)
Mkpụrụasụsụ (Morphemes)
Mkpụrụasụsụ bụ ụmụ irighiri, mperimpe mkpụrụụdaasụsụ nwere mpụtara na nghọta
na mkpụrụokwu. Ọ bụ ya ka e ji emebe mkpụrụokwu. E nwekwara ike isi na ọ bụ
nkeri ndị ahụ ọ ga-abụ e kerie mkpụrụokwu karịa ya, ọ gaghịkwa enwe nghọta ma ọ
bụ mpụtara. Mkpụrụasụsụ bụ nkeri ikpeazụ a ga-ekeri okwu ọ ka nwee nghọta ma ọ
bụ mpụtara (Morphemes are those phonetic symbols that has complete meaning in
a word. It is used to form a word. It can be said that morphemes are those divisions
that can not have a complete meaning if the division goes beyond its structure.
Morphemes is the last division in a word so as to have meaning.)
Ọmụmaatụ (Examples): N’okwu a bụ ‘ogbu’, mkpụrụasụsụ abụọ dị ya: ‘o’ na ‘gbu’.
‘O’ e tinyere na isingwaa bụ ‘-gbu’ mere ka okwu ahụ bụrụzie ‘onye na-egbu mmadụ
ma ọ bụ ihe ọzọ’. O nyere okwu ahụ nghọta onye na-egbu mmadụ ma ọ bụ ihe a na-
egbu egbu (In a word like ‘ogbu – kill’, there are two morphemes: ‘o’ and ‘-gbu’.
The ‘O’ that is placed beside the verb root ‘-gbu’ made the word to be ‘onye na-
egbu mmadụ ma ọ bụ ihe ọzọ - one who kills people or another thing’. It gave the
word a meaning as ‘one who kills people or any other thing killable’.
Mkpụrụokwu (Word) bụ okwu ọ bụla nwere mpụtara, ga-akwụnwuru onwe ya nke e
jiri mkpụrụedemede, mkpụrụụdaasụsụ na mkpụrụasụsụ wee mebe (is sentence that
has a meaning, independent, and made up of letters, phonetic symbols, and
morphemes.)
Eserese Mmebere Nkebiokwu (Diagram of a phrase)
Mkpụrụedemede (Letters of the alphabet)
Mkpụrụụdaasụsụ (Phonemes)
Mkpụrụasụsụ (Morphemes)
Mkpụrụokwu (Words)
Nkebiokwu (Phrase)
Nhụbaama (Njirimara) Nkebiokwu (Features of a phrase)

i. Ọ bụ okwu enweghị ngwaa, e kebiri ekebi (It is a group of words without a
finite verb)
ii. Nghọta ya ezughị oke (The meaning is not complete)
iii. Ọ ga-enwerịrị otu nkejiasụsụ ọ na-ezipụta (It must have one part of speech it
conveys)
iv. E nwere mgbe ọ naghị enwe okwupụta okwu (predikeet) (There are times it
does not have a predicate)
v. Mkpụrụasụsụ na mkpụrụokwu na-adị n’ime ya (There are morphemes and
words in it)
vi. Otu echiche ga-adịrịrị n’ime ya (There must be a meaning in it)
vii. N’isiahịrị ma ọ bụ na mmeju ahịrịokwu ka a na-ahụkarị ya (It is found either at
the beginning or the end of a sentence)
Ụdị Nkebiokwu Dịgasị N’Igbo (Types of phrases in Igbo)
i. Kemkpọaha (Noun phrase)
ii. Kenkwuwa (Adverbial phrase)
iii. Kembuụzọ (Prepositional phrase)
iv. Kemfinitiv (mfinitiv phrase)
v. Kejerọndụ (Gerund phrase)
Ụdị Nkebiokwu Dịgasị N’Igbo
Eserese Nkenụụdị Nkebiokwu
Nkebiokwu (Phrase)
Mkpọaha (Noun) Nkọwa (Adjective)

Keaha (Nominal) Kemkpọaha (Nziole) Kenkwuwa (Adverb)
Kennọchiaha (Pronoun) Kenkọwaaha Kembuụzọ (Preposition)
Keọnụọgụgụ (Numerals) Kenrụaka (Demonstrative) Kemfinitiv
Adjective Kejerọndụ (Gerund)
Kenọmba (Numbers)
Keajụjụ (Interrogative)
Nnọchionye (Personal pronoun)
Nnọchionwe (Reflexive pronoun)
Nnọchionweonye (Emphatic pronoun)
Nnọchichinke (Possessive pronoun)
Ịmaatụ Nkenụụdị Nkebiokwu (Examples of the types of phrase)
Nkebiokwu kemkpọaha
i. Nkebiokwu keaha
ii. Nkebiokwu kennọchiaha
iii. Nkebiokwu keọnụọgụgụ
iv. Nkebiokwu kenọmba
v. Nkebiokwu keajụjụ
Nkebiokwu keaha
1. Ahaaka (Proper noun) Ijeoma na Adaora
Chiemerie na Chibụzọ
2. Ahaịzugbe (Common noun) Ewu na Ọkụkọ (Goat and cock)
Ite ofe ha (Their pot of soup)
Nkebiokwu Kennọchiaha
Nkebiokwu kennọchiaha nwere alaka ma ọ bụ ụmụ anọ. Ụmụ anọ ahụ bụ
(Nkebiokwu kennọchiaha has branches. The four branches are):
i. Nnọchionye (Personal pronoun)
ii. Nnọchionwe (Reflexive pronoun)
iii. Nnọchionweonye (Emphatic pronoun)
iv. Nnọchinke (Possessive pronoun)
Nkebiokwu Nnọchionye (Personal pronoun phrase)
Nke a bụ nkebiokwu e ji edochi aha onye ahụ (This is the phrase used to replace a
name of a person.)
i. Anyị na ụnụ (We and you (plural)
ii. Gị na ha (You (singular) and them)
iii. Mụ na gị (Me and you)
Nnọchionwe (Reflexive pronoun)
Nke a bụ nkebiokwu e ji edochi aga mmadụ new n’onwe ya (This is the phrase used
to replace somebody’s name itself.)
1. Onwe ya (Himself/herself)
2. Onwe anyị (Ourselves)
3. Onwe ha (Themselves)
Nnọchionweonye (Emphatic pronoun)
1. Mụ onwe m (Me myself)
2. Gị onwe gị (You yourself (singular)
3. Ụnụ onwe ụnụ (You yourselves (plural)
Nnọchinke (Possessive pronoun)
1. Efere ha (Their plates)
2. Akpa m (My bag)
3. Iko anyị (Our cups)
Nkebiokwu Keọnụọgụ
1. Ji narị atọ na iri (Three hundred and ten yams)
2. Puku nde anọ na asatọ
3. Iri anọ na ise (Forty five)
Nkebiokwu Kenọmba
A. Nọmbampekele (Fractions):
3
1. Atọ n’ime ise (Three in five) /5
3/
2. Atọ n’ime iri (Three in ten) 10
2
3. Abụọ n’ime iri na ise (Two in fifteen) /15
B. Nọmba Ọgwa (Mixed fractions)

1. Anọ, na ise n’ime asatọ (Four and five in eight) 4 5/ 8
2. Atọ na otu n’ime iri abụọ (Three and one in twenty) 3 1/20
3. Abụọ na asaa n’ime iri (Two and seven in ten) 2 7/10
C. Nọmbanke (Positions)
1. Onye nke atọ (Third position)
2. Onye nke iri (Tenth position)
3. Onye nke abụọ (Second position)
Nkebiokwu keajụjụ
1. Kedụ ije? (How is your journey? /How are you? (informal)
2. Ji gịnị? (What yam?)
3. Olee nwata? (Which child?)
Nkebiokwu Kenkọwa (Adjectival phrase)
A. Nkebiokwu Kemkpọkọta (Nziole)
1. Mmadụ naatọ (Three persons)
2. Ụmụ ọkụkọ ọcha niile (All the white hens)
3. Ụmụ okorobịa niile (All the young men)
B. Nkebiokwu Kenkọwaaha
1. Nwoke ojii (Black man)
2. Ụlọ elu ọma (Beautiful mansion)
3. Ọkụkọ ayaghịrị
CH. Nkebiokwu Kenrụaka (Demonstrative adjectival phrase)
Kenrụaka na-arụtụrụ anyị aka n’ihe a na-ekwu maka ya (Demonstrative adjective
shows us the object which is being talked about.)
1. Ede a (This cocoyam)
2. Ji a (This yam)
3. Ewu ahụ (That goat)
4. Nwaanyị ahụ (That woman)
D. Nkebiokwu Kemfinitiv
Mmebere nkebiokwu kemfinitiv na-abụ mfinitiv n’onwe ya na mmeju ngwaa (The
composition of nkebiokwu mfinitiv is the mfinitiv itself at the end of the verb.)
1. Ịtọ mmadụ (To kidnap person)
2. Ịgba ama asị (To bear false witness)
3. Ịrụ ọrụ ngọ (To take bribe)
E. Nkebiokwu Kejerọndụ (Gerund phrase)

Ihe e ji emebe nkebiokwu a bụ jerọndụ na mmeju ngwaa (This phrase is made up of
gerund at the end of the verb.)
1. Ojije ahịa (Going to the market)
2. Odide uri (Applying body ink)
3. Ọtịta akị (Eating palm nuts)
Gịnị bụ Ahịrị? (What is sentence?)

‘Ahịrị’ bụ aha nkenke a na-akpọ ahịrịokwu. Dị ka Uba Mgbemene siri kọwaa ya
n’akwụkwọ ya ọ kpọrọ Ntọala Usoroasụsụ Igbo (2006), ‘Ahịrịokwu bụ nsokọ
mkpụrụokwu na mkpụrụokwu n’ụzọ kwesịrịnụ nke nwere ngwaa, nwekwaa echiche
zuru ezu’ (‘Ahịrị’ is a short word for ‘Ahịrịokwu’ (sentence). As Uba Mgbemene
explained in her book titled Ntọala Usoroasụsụ Igbo (2006), ‘A sentence is the word
for word arrangement in a presentable way, that has a verb, and also a complete
meaning.’)
Gịnị bụzị Nkebiahịrị? (What is clause?)
Na nkọwa ya, ‘Nkebiahịrị bụ mkpụrụokwu ụfọdụ e dokọrọ ọnụ n’ụzọ kwesịrị ekwesị,
nwere ngwaa mana nghọta ya ezughị oke. Ihe mere e ji akpọ ya nkebiahịrị bụ makana
ọ bụ ahịrịokwu e kebipụrụ ihe ọ ga-eji zu oke, o wee ghara izu oke na nghọta (In her
(Ubah Mgbemene) definition, ‘A clause is a group of words placed together in a
presentable way, that has a verb but not a complete meaning’. Why it is called a
‘clause’ is because it is a sentence whose meaning is separated, thereby making the
thought incomplete.)
Mmebere Nkebiahịrị (Composition of a clause)
1. Mkpụrụedemede (Letters of the alphabet)
2. Mkpụrụụdaasụsụ (Phonemes)
3. Mkpụrụasụsụ (Morphemes)
4. Mkpụrụokwu (Words)
5. Nkebiokwu (Phrase)
Nhụbaama (Njimara) Nkebiahịrị (Features of a clause)
1. Nghọta dị nay a ma o zughị oke (There is meaning but it is not complete)
2. O nwere ngwaa (It has a verb)
3. Usoro ndokọ okwu ya kwesịrị ekwesị (Its arrangement is acceptable)
4. Ọ bụ okwu erughị n’isi (It is an incomplete word)
5. N’ime ahịrịokwu ka ọ na-adị (It is found inside a sentence)
Ụdị Nkebiahịrị E Nwegasịrị (Different types of clause)
1. Nkebiahịrị keaha (Noun clause)
2. Nkebiahịrị kenkọwaaha
3. Nkebiahịrị kenkwuwa (Adverbial clause)
Ọmụmaatụ Nkebiahịrị (Examples of clause)
Nkebiahịrị keaha (Noun clause)
Dị ka Isiahịrị (As a subject):
1. Onye ori ahụ e nwudere, agbapụla (The thief that was caught has escaped)
2. Tupu ọ hụ m, aga m ahụ ya (Before she sees me, I will see her)
Dị ka Nnara (As an object):
1. Aga m ahụ ya, tupu ọ hụ m (I will see him before he sees me)
2. Ihe wutere ya bụ rie nsị ọ gwara ya (What made him angry was the word she
said to him)
Dị ka Mmeju (As a predicate):
1. Okwu ya atọka m (Her words gladdens me)
2. O weta ji, m weta ede (If he brings yam, I will bring cocoyam)
3. Onye na-eti mkpu, nwere oke (He who shouts, has a share)
Nkebiahịrị kenkọwaaha
1. Osisi ahụ o rigoro na ya na-eme mgbaji (The tree he climbed on is breaking)
2. Uri anyasị ahụ Nwakaego pụrụ na-atụ m egwu (That night Nwakaego went
out is getting me afraid)
3. Chiemerie sịrị na onye nkuzi ha toro ogologo (Chiemerie said that their
teacher is tall)
4. Ewu nke afọ na-asa nwụrụ taa (The sick goat died today)
Nkebiahịrị Kenkwuwa (Adverbial clause)
Nke a bụ nke na-egosi mgbe ihe jiri mee ebe ihe mere na ihe kpatara ihe ji wee mee
(This shows when an action took place, where it happened and the condition an
action happened.)
1. Na mgbede ụbọchị ụka ka o ziri m ozi ahụ (On Sunday evening was when she
sent me a message)
2. O bere nnukwu akwa n’ihi na nna ya nwụrụ (He cried heavily because his
father died)
3. N’elu uko ha ka ha na-adọba nri ha rifọrọ (They kept their remaining food on
top of their shelf)

1. Kemkpọkọta (Nziole)
2. Kenkọwaaha
3. Nkebiokwu kemkpọaha
4. Nkebiokwu keaha
5. Nkebiokwu kennọchiaha
6. Nkebiokwu keọnụọgụgụ
7. Nkebiokwu kenọmba
8. Nkebiokwu keajụjụ
9. Puku nde anọ na asatọ
9. Ọkụkọ ayaghịrị
10. Nkebiahịrị kenkọwaaha
ISI NKE IRI NA OTU (CHAPTER ELEVEN)
AHỊRỊOKWU, NKỌWA NA ỤDỊDỊ YA (THE SENTENCE, DEFINTION AND ITS TYPES)
by
Christian E. C. Ogwudile
Oge ọ bụla a na-asụ asụsụ iji zipụta mbunuche nke a chọrọ ka mmadụ ghọta, a na-
edekọta mkpụrụokwu ole na ole ọnụ n’ụzọ ha ga-ezipụta echiche na nghọta. E
nwekwara ike jiri naanị otu mkpụrụokwu nwere nghọta gosipụta ya (Anytime we
speak a language to convey the thoughts we want others to understand, words are
written together in a way they would make a thought and meaning. It is possible to
use a meaningful word only to convey the thought.) Ọ bụrụ na otu mkpụrụokwu
ahụ maọbụ mkpụrụokwu ole na ole ndị ahụ zipụtara nghọta na echiche zuru oke
n’ụdị nke na-agaghị enwe mgbagwoju anya n’ịghọta ma ọ bụ ịmata ihe ha kwuru, a
ga-asị na ha bụ ahịrịokwu. E lee anya na nkọwa ndị a, e nweziri ike kọwaa ahịrịokwu
dị ka otu mkpụrụokwu ma ọ bụ mkpụrụokwu ole na ole bịakọtara ọnụ n’ezi usoro,
nwere ngwaa na nghọta zuru oke (If the one word or words that conveyed a
meaningful thought in which there is no difficulty in its understanding to know
what is said, they are said to be sentences. Looking at this explanation, a sentence
can be said to be a word or group of words brought together in a presentable way,
which has a verb and a complete meaning.)
N’iji mee ka ahịrịokwu nwee echiche na nghọta zuru oke, ọ ga-enwerịrị ihe ọ na-
ekwu maka ya, ihe e kwupụtara maka ya. Ihe ahụ ọ na-ekwu maka ya ka a na-akpọ
isiahịrị ebe ihe e kwuputara maka isiahịrị ahụ ka a na-akpọ okwupụta. Lee ọmụmaatụ
iji zipụta akụkụ abụọ ndị ahụ (In view to making a sentence to have a complete
thought and meaning, it must have a topic, and what is being said about it. The
topic it is talking about is called a subject while the statement about the topic is
called predicate. Look at the following examples to see the two parts of a
sentence):
Isiahịrị (Subject) Okwupụta (Predicate)
Chikamso gbara egwu (danced)
Okeke Okafọ kwuru ajọ okwu (said a bad word)
Ndị nkuzi mere ọgbakọ ụnyaahụ (had a meeting yesterday)
gbagharanụ (escaped)
bịa ebe a (come here!)
Pụọ (go!)
Anyị lee anya n’ọmụmaatụ ndị a, anyị ga-achọpụta na atọ zipụtara isiahịrị na
okwupụta doro anya ebe atọ ezipụtaghị, kama o doro anya na o nwere onye e bu
n’obi a na-agwa okwu ndị ahụ, onye ahụ e bu n’obi nọ ọnọdụ isiahịrị. Ọ bụ ngwaa bụ
mkpụrụokwu kacha mkpa a na-enwe n’ahịrịokwu n’ihi na ọ bụ ya na-ekwu maka
isiahịrị. Ahịrịokwu ọ bụla nke e nweghị ngwaa anaghị enwe nghọta na echiche zuru
oke (If we look at these examples, we would find out that three of them conveyed
the subject and predicate which are meaningful while the other three did not
convey the subjects only; but it is clear that those words are meant for somebody,
and that person is in the subject position. The verb is the most important word in a
sentence because it talks about the subject. Any sentence that does not have a
verb cannot have a complete thought and meaning.)
Ezi usoro ahịrịokwu Igbo bụ isiahịrị gatachaa, ngwaa esote, mmeju abịazịa n’ikpeazụ
dị ka ndị a (A good sentence in Igbo language should have a subject first, followed
by a verb, lastly followed by the predicate just like this):
Isiahịrị (Subject) Ngwaa (Verb) Mmeju (Predicate)
Ije gụrụ (was) akwụkwọ (educated)
Obi na Ada bụ (are) enyi (friends)
Ndị nkuzi na ụmụakwụkwọ (The mere njem (went) nchọpụta ihe (for an
teachers and the students) excursion)
Ihe e jiri mara ahịrịokwu Igbo (The features of Igbo sentences):
1. Ahịrịokwu ga-abụrịrị nke ihe mebere ya bụ mkpụrụokwu ole na ole gara
n’ezigbo usoro (The sentence must be gotten from a group of words that is
orderly arranged.)
2. Otu mkpụrụokwu nke zipụtara echiche na nghọta zuru oke bụkwuazị
ahịrịokwu (A word that has a complete thought and meaning is also seen as
a sentence.)
3. Ahịrịokwu ga-enwerịrị nghọta zuru oke (A sentence must have a complete
meaning.)
4. Ahịrịokwu ga-enwerịrị ngwaa nke na-ekwu maka ihe e jiri mara isiahịrị (A
sentence must have verb which says about the subject.)
Ụdịdị Ahịrịokwu Igbo dị iche iche (Different types of sentences in Igbo language)
E nwere ụdịdị ahịrịokwu ndị a n’Igbo (There are different types of sentences in Igbo
language.)
1. Ahịrịmkpụrụokwu (One word sentence)
2. Ahịrịmfe (Simple sentence)
3. Ahịrịnha (Compound sentence)
4. Ahịrịnkwu (Multiple sentence)
5. Ahịrịmgbagwọ (Complex sentence)
Ahịrịmkpụrụokwu (One word sentence): Oge ọ bụla otu mkpụrụokwu zipụtara
echiche na nghọta zuru oke nke na ọ gaghị achọ nkọwa ọzọ iji ghọta nke ọma ihe ọ
na-ekwu, a na-asị na mkpụrụokwu ahụ bụ ahịrịmkpụrụokwu (Whenever a word
conveys a thought and complete meaning in that it does not need any other
explanation on what it conveyed, it is said that the word is a ‘one word sentence’.)
Ọmụmaatụ (Examples): Gbagharanụ (Forgive), Pụtagodu (Come out), Gaa (Go), Bịa,
dgz (Come etc.)
Ahịrịmfe (Simple sentence): Nke a bụ ahịrịokwu na-enwe naanị otu ngwaa ma na-
ezipụtakwa otu echiche maka isiahịrị ọ na-ekwu maka ya (This is the sentence that
has only one verb and conveys one thought about the subject it is talking about.)
a) Uche zara ụlọ (Uche swept the house)
b) Kene bere akwa (Kene cried)
c) Adakụ bụ nwaanyị (Adakụ is a woman)
d) Anyị na-agba ọsọ (We are running)
Ahịrịnha (Compound sentence): Ọ bụ ahịrịokwu abụọ zuru oke nke e jikọtara ọnụ ka
ha bụrụzịa otu ahịrịokwu (They are two complete sentences which are joined
together to be one sentence.) Ọmụmaatụ (Examples):
a) Ogechi siri nri ma o teghị ofe (Ogechi cooked food but she did not make the
soup)
b) Ngozi jere ahịa kama ọ zụtaghị ihe ọbụla (Ngozi went to the market yet she
did not buy anything)
c) Mmiri ruru mana o zoghị (The weather changed but it did not rain)
d) Ụzụ tụrụ n’elu, tụọ n’ala (There was uproar)
Ahịrịukwu (Multiple sentence): Ụdị a bụ nke a na-enwe mgbe e jikọtara ahịrịokwu
karịrị abụọ ọnụ mee ka ha bụrụ otu ahịrịokwu. Ihe na-egosi ahịrịokwu ole e nwere na
ya bụ ngwaa ole na echiche ole o zipụtara (This type is gotten when more than two
sentences are joined together as one sentence. What determine the number of
sentences are the number of verbs and thought it conveys.)
a) Anyị jere ahịa, zụta ji, osikapa na akpụ lọta sie ha (We went to the market,
bought yam, rice and cassava, came back and cooked them.)
b) Ọ bịara be m, ọ hụghị m kama ọ hụrụ ụmụ m (She came to my house, she did
not see me, but she saw my children.)
c) Nne ya tinyeere ya nri, o richaa, tiwaa afere (His mother put some food for
him, he ate and broke the plate.)
d) Udenkwọ kwuru na onye ga-alụ ya ga-ama mma, too ogologo, nwee ego, na-
agba ụgbọala, nọrọkwa n’ọkwa dị elu (Udenkwo said that the suitor that
would marry her should be handsome, tall, rich, have a car and also attain a
high position.)
Ahịrịmgbgwọ (Comples sentence): N’ụdị ahịrịokwu a, a na-enwe echiche abụọ ma ọ
bụ karịa na-adaberesị n’onwe ha. A na-enwe nkebiahịrị dị iche iche n’ime ya ma
naanị otu bụ isinkebiahịrị nwere ike ikwuzu akwuzu ebe ndị ọzọ na-adaberesị
n’isinkebiahịrị ahụ iji nweta nghọta (In this sentence, there are two or more
thoughts that are dependent on each other. There are also clauses in the sentence
in that one of them is an independent clause that stood on itself while the rest are
dependent on the independent clause in order to have meaning.)
a. Ogbuanụ gbagburu enwe ahụ nke mabatara n’ụlọ ya (The hunter shot a
monkey that jumped into his house.)
b. Anyị bịara be ya mana ahughị ya n’ihi na ọ mara ụzọ wee pụọ (We came to his
house but we did not see him because he ran away through the other hand.)
c. Nkịta a zụrụ nke ọma na-echekwa ụlọ (A well-trained dog could look after a
house)
d. Ha akpọchighị ụzọ n’oge nke mere na ndị ohi bịara bukọrọsịa ihe ha ma
merụkwaa ha ahụ (They did not lock the door when the robbers robbed and
beat them.)
O nwere ihe ndị ọzọ ahịrịokwu Igbo na-ezipụta. Ha gụnyere ụfọdụ na ndị a (There are
other things sentences convey. They are):
a) Ahịrịnkwe
b) Ahịrịnjụ
c) Ahịrịnkwusa
d) Ahịrịajụjụ
e) Ahịrịnchọ
f) Ahịrịntimiwu
g) Ahịrịmbụrụna
h) Ahịrịndụmọdụ
i) Ahịrịmkpu
Ahịrịnkwe bụ ahịrịokwu nke na-ezipụta nkwenye ma ọ bụ nnabata ihe a na-ekwu
maka ya (Ahịrịnkwe is the sentence that shows agreement or acceptance of what is
being said.) Ọmụmaatụ (Examples):
i. Anyị ga-abịa akwụkwọ (We will come to school)
ii. Ngozi bụ ezigbo mmadụ (Ngozi is a good person)
iii. Ibe toro ogologo (Ibe is tall)
Ahịrịnjụ bụ ahịrịokwu na-ezipụta ekwenyeghị ma ọ bụ anabataghị ihe a na-ekwu
maka ya. Ọ na-ezipụta mfufe isi ma ọ bụ ọjụjụ ihe e kwuru. Ọ bụkarị nsonaazụ njụ
‘ghị’ ka e ji ezipụta ya (Ahịrịnjụ is the sentence that shows disagreement or
unacceptance of what is being said. It shows disbelief or indifference. The suffix
‘ghị’ is used to show disagreement.) Ọmụmaatụ (Examples):
i. Nkịta anaghị ata ọkpụkpụ a nyabara ya n’olu (A dog does not eat the bone
hung around its neck (Proverb)
ii. Anyị agaghị abịa akwụkwọ (We will not come to school)
iii. Ibe etoghị ogologo (Ibe is not tall)
Ahịrịnkwusa bụ nke na-ezipụta nkwe na-abụghị nchọ ma ọ bụ ajụjụ nke na-ekwu ma
ọ bụ na-akọpụta maka ihe (Ahịrịnkwusa shows agreement without question about
something.) Ọmụmaatụ (Examples):
i. Ude kwuru eziokwu (Ude said the truth)
ii. Uche ga-eje Abakaliki echi (Uche will go to Abakaliki tomorrow)
iii. Onye gburu mmadụ mere arụ (Who took a soul committed an abomination)
Ahịrịajụjụ bụ nke na-ezipụta ajụjụ. Ọ bụ ahịrịokwu e ji ajụ ajụjụ n’asụsụ Igbo. Ọ dị
mkpa ịmata na akara ajụjụ ‘?’ ga-esoriri ajụjụ ahụ n’azụ ozigbo ọjụụ deturu ya
n’akwụkwọ (Ahịrịajụjụ is a sentence that asks questions. It is a sentence used to ask
questions in Igbo language. It is important to know that the question mark ‘?’ must
follow that question immediately the asker puts it down on a paper.)
i. Ọ bụ gịnị ka ị na-eme? (What are you doing?)
ii. Kedụ onye nọ n’ụlọ ahụ? (Who is in that house?)
iii. Obi ọ bịara akwụkwọ taa? (Has Obi come to school today?)
Ahịrịnchọ bụ nke na-ezipụta ọchịchọ obi mmadụ n’ụdị ịgọ ọfọ ma ọ bụ ịrịta ihe n’aka
mmadụ. E jikwa ya ezipụta ihe mmadụ chọrọ ka o mere onye ọzọ nke nwere ike ịbụ
ihe ọma maọbụ ihe ọjọọ (Ahịrịnchọ conveys the intention of someone in form of
saying blessings or asking for help from someone. It is also used to tell what one
wants to do to another person which might be good or bad.)
i. Ka Chineke gọzie gị nye gị amara n’uju (May God bless you, give you
abundant grace)
ii. Achọrọ m ka e mere Ada ebere na mpụ o mere (I want Ada to be forgiven on
the wrong she committed)
iii. Ka egbe igwe gbagbuo onye ọjọọ ahụ gburu nkịta m (Let thunder strike the
person that killed my dog)
Ahịrịntimiwu: Ụdị ahịrịokwu a bụ nke na-egosi ma ọ bụ mmanye. O nwere ike zipụta
nkwe na njụ (This sentence shows command. It can also be in form of affirmation
and negation.)
Nkwe (Affirmation) Njụ (Negation)
i. Nye m ego m (Give me my money) Enyele m ego m (Do not give me my
money)
ii. Hapụ ya aka ozigbo (Leave him Ahapụla ya aka ozigbo (Do not leave
alone now) him alone now)
iii. Baa n’ụlọ ahụ (Go inside that Abala n’ụlọ ahụ (Do not go inside
house) that house)
Ahịrịmbụrụna: Ahịrịokwu a bụ ụdị nke na-ezipụta ihe ga-eme ma ọ bụ na ihe ọzọ
emee dị ka n’ọmụmaatụ ndị a (This sentence tells what will happen if another thing
happens, just like in these examples):
i. Ọ bụrụ na taa bụ ụbọchị ahịa, aga m Ọ bụrụ na taa bụ ụbọchị ahịa, agaghị m
azụta oroma (If today would be a azụta oroma (If today would be a mar-
market day, I will buy oranges) ket day, I will not buy oranges)
ii. Ọ bụrụ na m bụ akwa, awaa m (If I Ọ bụrụ na m bụ akwa, agaghị m awa (If
am an egg, I will break) I am an egg, I will not break)
iii. Anyị ga-ala ma chi jie (We will go Anyị agaghị ala ma chi jie (We will not
immediately it is dark) go immediately it is dark)
Ahịrịndụmọdụ: Ụdị a bụ nke na-ezipụta ndụmọdụ ma ọ bụ ịtụ alo (This shows advice
or suggestions.) Ọmụmaatụ (Examples):
i. Ka anyị zuo ike (Let us rest) Ka anyị ghara izu ike (Let us not rest)
ii. Ka nne nye unu nri (Let mum give Ka nne ghara inye unu nri (Let mum
you food) not give you food)
iii. Ka anyị kwapụ n’ụlọ a (Let us Ka anyị ghara ịkwapụ n’ụlọ a (Let us
relocate from this house) not relocate from this house)
Ahịrịmkpu: Ọ bụ iti mkpu ke e ji ezipụta ụdị ahịrịokwu nke a (This type of sentence is
made through exclamation.) Ọmụmaatụ (Examples):
i. Ewo! Ọ bụ gịnị bụ nke a? (Ewo! What is this?)
ii. Chei! Ihe emebiela (Chei! Things have fallen apart)
iii. Tụfịa! Ọ bụrụ ọgwụ, ọ gaghị ere (Tụfịa! It will not come to pass.)
1. Ahịrịmkpụrụokwu
2. Ahịrịnkwe
3. Ahịrịnjụ
4. Ahịrịnkwusa
5. Ahịrịajụjụ
6. Ahịrịnchọ
7. Ahịrịntimiwu
8. Ahịrịmbụrụna
9. Ahịrịndụmọdụ
10. Ahịrịmkpu
ISI NKE IRI NA ABỤỌ (CHAPTER TWELVE)
NKEJIOKWU (SYLLABLE), ỤDAOLU (TONE)
by
Daniel Ilechukwu
Nkejiokwu bụ ikeri mkpụrụokwu dị ka ụda, mkpọpụta na ekumume ya si dị. Ihe ndị
mebere nkejiokwu bụ: otu ụdaume, otu myiriụdaume maọbụ otu mgbochiume na
ụdaume gakụrọ ọnụ. Nke a pụtara na otu mkpụrụokwu nwere ike nwee otu
nkejiokwu, abụọ, atọ, anọ, ise wdg (Syllable is the division of words by its sound,
pronunciation and nasal pause. The components of syllable are: one vowel, one
semi-vowel or the consonant and a uniformed vowel. This means that a letter
might have one syllable, two, three, four, five etc.)
Mmewere Nkejiokwu (Parts of syllable)
A. Otu ụdaume ma ọ bụ Myiriụdaume dị ka (One vowel or semi-vowel like):
a, e, i, ị, o, ọ, m
Otu ụdaume maọbụ myiriụdaume ndị dị n’ọmụmaatụ dị n’elu nwere ike ịkwụrụ
onwe ya bụrụ otu nkejiokwu zuru oke. Nke a na-apụtakarị ihe mgbe ha na-arụ ọrụ dị
ka nnọchiaha, nrụaka, maọbụ mgbe ha dị n’ime mkpụrụokwu (The one vowel or
semi-vowel which are in the example above can stand on its own as a complete
syllable. This can be seen when they work as pronoun, demonstrative adjective or
when they are in a word.) Ịmaatụ (Examples):
i. Ọ zụtara ji ahụ n’ahịa (He bought that yam in the market)
ii. A sịrị na ọ nwụrụ (It was said that he died)
iii. E kwuru na ọ gwụla (It was said that it has finished)
iv. Ụlọ m ka ha ji mee mmemme ahụ (They feasted in my house)
v. M/yi/ri/ụ/da/u/me (semi-vowel), n/k/ị/ta (dog), m/m/a (beauty), nwa/ta
(child), kwu/ri/ta/ra (discussed).
N’ọmụmaatụ ndịa dị na ‘v’ n’elu, irighiri okwu nd e kewapụtachara bụcha nkejiokwu
n’otu n’otu. Myiriụdaume nwere nkejiokwu asaa, nkịta nwere anọ, mma nwere atọ,
nwata nwere abụọ ebe kwuritara nwere anọ. Mana ndị a chọrọ ka i ledo anya dịka o
si metụta nke otu ụdaume na otu myiriụdaume dị n’elu gụnyere: m, ụ, u, n, a (In
the ‘v’ example above, the letters that are divided are all syllables. ‘Myiriụdaume’
has seven syllables, ‘nkịta’ has four, ‘mma’ has three, ‘nwata’ has two, while
‘kwuritara’ has four. But the ones that should be focused just as it concerns one
vowel and one semi-vowel above are: m, ụ, u, n, a.)
B. Otu mgbochiume na otu ụdaume dị ka (One consonant and one vowel such
as): cha, kwu, gbu, ṅụ, zụ, nwụ, ta, ri, me, da, kụ, nụ.
E nwere ike izipụta ọmụmaatụ ndị dị na B n’elu na mkpụrụokwu ndị a:
Ṅụ/cha/ra (drank), kwu/te/re (said), gbu/ru (killed), ṅụ/rụ (drank), zụ/rụ
(trained/bought), nwụ/rụ (died)/ ta/kpọ/rọ (ate (meat), ri/ri (ate), me/tụ/rụ
(touched/felt), da/ra (fell), kụ/rụ (hit/knocked), nụ/rụ (heard). Na mkpụrụokwu ndị
dị n’elu, ‘ṅụchara’ nwere nkejiokwu atọ, ‘kwutere’ nwere atọ, ‘gburu’ nwere abụọ,
‘ṅụrụ’ nwere abụọ, ‘zụrụ’ nwere abụọ, ‘takpọrọ’ nwere atọ, ‘riri’ nwere abụọ,
‘metụrụ’ nwere atọ ebe ‘dara’ nwere naanị abụọ (In these words above, ‘nụchara’
has three syllables, ‘kwutere’ has three, ‘gburu’ has two, ‘ṅụrụ’ has two, ‘zụrụ’ has
two, ‘takpọrọ’ has three, ‘riri’ has two, ‘metụrụ’ has three, while ‘dara’ has only
two.)
Mkpụrụokwu na Nkejiokwu Ole Ha Nwere (Words and their number of syllables)

Mkpụrụokwu ọbụla nwere nkejiokwu ole o nwere. O nwere ndị nwere naanị otu
nkejiokwu, nwee ndị nwere abụọ, nwee ndị nwere atọ, nwee ndị nwere anọ, nwee
ndị nwere ise wdg (Every word has its own syllable. There are those that have only
one syllable, those that have two, those that have three, those that have four,
those that have five etc.)
A. Otu Nkejiokwu (One syllable)
Okwu ndị a nwere naanị otu nkejiokwu (These words have only one syllable):
Ji, di, bu, bụ, chi, me, zụ, rụ, ta, tụ, ṅụ, be, na, wdg.
B. Nkejiokwu Abụọ (Two syllables)
gbu/ru, ta/ra, e/zu, i/ti, ṅụ/rụ, m/gba, m/be, n/na, n/ne, ụ/ka, i/zu, e/ze, i/si, a/da
wdg.
CH. Nkejiokwu Atọ (Three syllables)
Chi/ọ/ma, n/do/kọ, n/chị/kọ, n/zu/ru, n/cha/wa, n/da/be, di/bi/a, di/m/gba,
m/gba/kọ, o/ri/kọ, m/bi/kọ, ọ/kụ/kọ, a/kwụ/kwọ, ọ/tụ/tụ wdg.
D. Nkejiokwu Anọ (Four syllables)
M/gba/n/kwọ, n/da/be/re, m/gba/pụ/ta, n/zu/kọ/ta, m/me/m/me, m/ma/pụ/ta,
e/de/m/e/de, i/te/ghe/te, ị/ma/a/tụ, a/da/m/ma, wdg.
E. Nkejiokwu Ise (Five syllables)
I/ke/me/fu/la, n/da/kọ/rị/ta, m/bi/kọ/rị/ta, n/kọ/wa/pụ/ta, m/gbo/chi/u/me,
A/ha/na/e/ku, n/so/na/a/zụ, n/je/kọ/rị/ta, O/me/re/ọ/ha wdg.
F. Nkejiokwu Isii (Six syllables)
M/ma/dụ/bụ/i/ke, O/si/ta/dị/m/ma, N/ke/m/dị/rị/m, Ọ/nwụ/zu/ru/ọ/ha,
m/me/ka/n/gwa/a, n/nọ/chi/a/hị/rị, a/kpa/a/la/o/kwu, a/ka/ra/m/gba/be,
Ọ/ba/ta/o/bi/e wdg.
G. Nkejiokwu Asaa (Seven syllables)
A/la/kụ/rụ/nwa/ọ/jị, n/nye/ma/ka/n/gwa/a, m/yi/ri/ụ/da/u/me, a/ta/ka/ta/a/gbọ/ọ,
A/gba/now/di/ke/i/zu wdg.
GB. Nkejiokwu Asatọ (Eight syllables)
A/ṅụ/rụ/a/ṅụ/rụ/n/dụ, n/ke/bi/a/hị/rị/o/kwu wdg.
Ụdaolu (Tone)
Ụdaolu bụ ụda pụrụ iche a na-anụ na mkpụrụokwu ọbụla mgbe a na-akpọpụta ya.
Asụsụ Igbo bụ asụsụ ụdaolu. A na-enwebe ọnọdụ ebe mkpụrụokwu ise maọbụ karịa
nwere ike yite onwe ha (Tone is a special sound that is heard in every word
whenever it is called. Tone is Igbo language itself. There is always a situation where
five words or more have similar sounds.)
Ọ bụ ụdaolu ka e ji amata etu otu si dị iche n’ibe ya. Iji maatụ, okwu a bụ àkwà (bed)
nwere ike nwee mpụtara ise dị ka (Through tone, the meaning of a word can be
known from another. For example, the word ‘àkwà’ (bed) can have five meanings
like):
àkwá (egg)
àkwà (bridge)
ákwà (cloth)
àkwà (bed)
ákwá (cry)
Ọ bụ ụdaolu mere ka a ghara inwe mgbagwojuanya na mkpụrụokwu ndị a yiri onwe
ha na nsupe n’elu (It is the tone that helps to avoid confusion in some words that
are similar in the above spelling.)
Akara ụdaolu (Tone mark)
Akara ụdaolu bụ akara ndị eji ezipụta ụdaolu mkpụrụokwu ọbụla nwere. Ha dị atọ e ji
arụ ọrụ n’asụsụ Igbo ndị gụnyere (Tone mark is the symbol used to show the tone of
any word. They are of three types in Igbo language which are):
A. Akara ụdaelu ( / ) (High Tone)
B. Akara ụdaala ( \ ) (Low Tone)
CH. Akara ụdansụda ( - ) (Down Step)
Ọ bụghị na mkpụrụụdaasụsụ niile ka a na-akanye akara ụdaolu. A na-akanye ya
n’ụdaume na myiriụdaume niihi na ha nwere ụda aka ha. A naghị akanye akara
ụdaolu na mgbochiume niihi na o nweghị ụda aka ya (Tone is not used in every
letters. It is used in vowels and semi-vowels because they have a sound of their
own. Tone mark is not used in consonants because they do not have a sound of
their own.) Mkpụrụokwu na-enwe ihe a na-akpọ Ụdachi na Ụdausoro. Ụdachi
mkpụrụokwu bụ ụda mkpụrụokwu na-enwe mgbe ọ kwụụrụ onwe ya iche ebe
ụdausoro bụ ụda mkpụrụokwu na-enwe mgbe ọ dị n’usorookwu. Iji maa atụ: eze
(teeth) nwere ụda elu na ụda ala n’ụda chi ya, ya bụ ézē. Mana ọ bụrụ na otu eze ahụ
kwa abata n’usorookwu, ụda ya ga-agbanwe (Words have Ụdachi and Ụdausoro.
Ụdachi mkpụrụokwu are sounds that can stand on their own while ụdausoro.are
sounds that can be found in the usorookwu. For example: eze (teeth) has a high
tone and a low tone in its ụdachi, that is ézē. But if the word ‘eze’ is present in
usorookwu, its sound will change.)
Ịmaatụ (Example): Eze Ngozi na-acha ụpa ụpa. N’ahịrịokwu a, eze ga-abụzi ụda elu
elu, ya bụ ézé (Ngozi’s teeth is ụpa ụpa. In this sentence, the word ‘eze’ will be high
tone, high tone, that is ézé.)
Usoro Nkanye Akara Ụdaolu (Steps in tone marking)
E nwere mkpụrụokwu ndị nwere ụda ala ala, ụda ala na elu, ụda elu na elu, ụda elu
na ala, ụda elu na nsụda wdg. Lee ọmụmaatụ n’okpuru (There are words that have
low tones, high and low tones, high tones, high and low tones, high and down step
tones etc. See examples below):
Ndị Nwere Ụda Alan a Ala (LL – Low Low)
àlà (land), àgbà (dance), àb`ụbà (flesh), Àtanì (name pf a person), èbùbè (glory),
`ọb`ọgwù (duck), àmàǹsì (sorcery), ǹkàtà (basket.)
Ndị Nwere Ụda Ala na Elu (LH – Low High)
àkwá (egg), èrí (eating), àgbá (running), ègwú (digging), òròmá (orange), àgụ’
(reading), èzú (stealing), ìkó (cup), Ǹkwọ’ (market day), ìgbé (box), `ụbá (wealth.)
Ndị Nwere Ụda Elu na Elu (HH – High High)
ákwá (cry), éhí (cow), éké (python), áfọ’ (stomach), ényí (elephant), ísí (head), ékwé
(gong), élé (antelope), ákwụ’kwọ’ (book), ézígbó (good), áká (hand), ézí (good), ímí
(nose), óbódóbó (wide), áṅụ’rụ’má (drunkard), ḿgbị’rị’ḿgbá (bell), érímérí (feast),
ányá (eye.)
Ndị Nwere Ụda Elu na Ala (HL – High Low)
Ákwà (cloth), ézè (king), ḿbè (tortoise), átụ`màtụ` (initiative), ḿgbádà (down),
ńdàgwùrùgwù (valley), ḿmà (knife), égbè (gun), ụ’dárà (apple), ógè (time), égwù
(fear), óbì (heart), úzúzù (dust), íkè (bottom.)
Ndị Nwere Ụda Elu na Ụda Nsụda (HS – High Step Down)
ézē (teeth), érō (mushroom), égō (money), óhī (thief), átúrū (sheep), ńkị’tā (dog),
úgbō (fram), árụ’sḹ (god.)
1. Ụdachi 2. Ụdausoro 3. Usorookwu 4. Ụdachi mkpụrụokwu
ISI NKE IRI NA ATỌ (CHAPTER THIRTEEN)
EDEMEDE NA AGHỌTAAZAA (ESSAY AND COMPREHENSION)
by
Ifeyinwa Cordelia Isidienu
Gịnị bụ edemede? (What is essay?)
Edemede bụ echiche mmadụ chere gbasara isiokwu ọbụla bịazịa detue ya
n’akwụkwọ. Okafọ na Ewelụkwa (2008:254) kọwara edemede dị ka ‘echiche maọbụ
ọchịchọ mmadụ nke e deturu n’akwụkwọ. Ọ bụ ihe ọbụla e chepụtara ma depụtakwa
n’akwụkwọ nke nwere nghọta na echiche zuru oke’ (Essay is a thought conceived by
man on any topic, and then written down on a paper. Okafọ and Ewelụba
(2008:254) explained essay as ‘a thought or intention of man which is written down
on a paper. It is anything that is conceived and written down on a paper, which has
meaning and complete thought’.) Tupu echiche ọbụla abụrụ edemede, a ga-
edeturịrị ya n’akwụkwọ. Odee na-eji uche miri emi họrọ isiokwu nke ọ ga-eji ezi
nghọta wee zipụta (Before a thought becomes an essay, it must be written down on
a paper. The essayist must think deeply of a topic which will be conveyed with
complete meaning.)
Ngoesi (2000:104) kọwara edemede dịka ‘ihe ọbụla mmadụ ji uche ya chepụta ma
dee dịka o si metụ ya n’obi maka ihe o ji mere isiokwu’. Odee ga-aghọta isiokwu ya
nke ọma iji hụ na o zipụtara ezi amamihe dịka ebumnoobi ya si dị (Ngoesi (2000:104)
explained essay as ‘anything that man conceived and wrote down according to his
feeling on the topic’. The essayist must understand his topic very well in view to
imparting wisdom just as his heart desires.) Dị ka Ọfọmata (2003:132) si kwu ‘a na-
esite n’edemede amata ka mmụta nwata akwụkwọ hadebere n’asụsụ’. Ihe ọ pụtara
bụ na ọ bụ asụsụ ka e ji ede edemede; ọtụtụ ihe dị n’asụsụ dịka atụmatụokwu,
akaraedemede na ihe ndị ọzọ a mụrụ n’asụsụ e ji ede edemede na-apụta ihe mgbe
ode na-ede edemede ya. A na-esitezi n’ihe o dere mara ma o nwere ike iji asụsụ ahụ
kọwaa onwe ya maọbụ na o nweghị (Just like Ọfọmata (2003:132) said ‘From essay,
we check the status of a student’s language’. What it means is that essay is written
from the language; many things in a language like atụmatụokwu, punctuations and
others which are learned from a language used in writing an essay whenever the
essayist is writing his essay. From what the essayist wrote is where he is assessed if
he can used the language to express himself or not.)
Isi ihe a na-ede maka ya ka a na-akpọ isiokwu. Ọ bụ n’isiokwu ka ode ha-agbado
ụkwụ wee na-ewebata echiche ya. Ọ na-eji mkpụrụedemede ndị nnukwu wee
degbado isiokwu ya. O nwere ike iji mkpụrụedemede ndị obere site n’iji
mkpụrụedemede ndị nnukwu malite mkpụrụokwu nke ọbụla ma bịazịa kaa ha ihe
n’okpuru (The main idea of what is being written on is called topic. It is from this
topic that the essayist would take a stand and reveal his thought. He will use
capital letters to write down his topic of discussion. He can also use small letters
but the initial letters must be started with capital letters and then underline them.)
Usoro na Nhazi (Steps and forms)
Edemede dị mma kwesịrị inwe ezigbo usoro. Odee kwesịrị ịhazi edemede ya n’usoro
dabara adaba; nke ga-agbasorịrị iwu metụtara ụdị edemede ọ na-ede (A good essay
should have a nice step. An essayist should arrange his essay in a presentable way;
which would conform to the type of essay he is writing.)
Ọmụmaatụ (Example): Ọ bụghị usoro e si ede maọbụ ahazi edemede mkparịtaụka ka
a na-agbaso na nke leta maọbụ edemede akọmakọ. N’agbanyeghị nke a, edemede
niile nwere ezigbo usoro pụtara ihe ha na-agbaso. Ha bụ Mmalite, Etiti na
Mmechi/Nchịkọta (The way of writing a dialogue is not the same for writing a
narrative essay. Notwithstanding, all essays have a good procedure they follow.
They are the Head, Body and Closure.)
Mmalite Edemede (The Head)
Edemede ọbụla na-enwe isiokwu. Ọ bụ na mmalite edemede ka ode ga-eji nkejiokwu
ole na ole wee kọwaa isiokwu ya. Mmalite edemede achọghị ogologo akụkọ n’ihi na
mmalite edemede ọbụla adịghị mma; ga-eme ka edemede ahụ ghara ịdaba adaba
(All essays have a topic. It is from this topic that the essayist would use few words
to explain his topic. The head of the essay does not require lots of words because it
will make the whole essay unacceptable.)
Etiti Edemede (The Body)
A na-ede edemede na nkeji na nkeji. Ọ bụ ebe a ka ode ga-ewebata ihe nille ọ chọrọ
ide maka isiokwu ya. Nke a mere na o ga-eji nwanyọọ na-ewebata echiche ya na nkeji
edemede. Nkeji ọbụla ga na-ewebata echiche ọhụrụ n’isiokwu a na-ede. Nkeji ọbụla
ga-enwerịrị ihe jikọrọ ya na nkeji ọzọ. Odee kwesịkwara ịhazi isiokwu ya iji hụ na ihe
kwesịrị ibu ụzọ bu ụzọ, ihe kwesịrị ikpe azụ ekpere azụ (An essay is written in parts.
It is in this part that the essayist brings everything he wants to write on that topic.
This is why he has to take it easy in conveying his thought in this part of an essay.
Every paragraph should have a fresh point on the topic of discussion. Each
paragrapgh should be connected to another. The essayist should arrange his topic
to ensure they are in the right position.)
Mmechi/Nchịkọta (The Closure)
Na mmechi edemede ka ode ga-eji otu nkeji edemede n’ahịrịokwu ole naole wee
chịkọta ebumnoobi ya iji kapịa ya ọnụ (In this part would the essayist use the
paragragh to summarize his thought in order to give it a fine end.)
Asụsụ Nka
Odee ga-eji Igbo izugbe wee dee edemede ya. Ọ ga-etinye atụmatụokwu dị iche iche
dị ka ilu, akpaalaokwu, myiri, mbụrụ dgz mgbe ọ na-ede, iji wee chọọ edemede ya
mma. Ọ na-ede ọ na-etinye ha n’ụzọ dabara adaba ka ha ghara ịghasa edemede ya.
Odee ga-akpachapụkwara iwu niile gbasara nsụpe na akaraedemede anya (An
essayist would make use of central Igbo in writing his essay. He should be able to
use different figures of speech like proverb, idioms, simile, metaphor etc when he
is writing, in order to beautify his essay. When he is writing, he should place them
accordingly to avoid confusion. The essayist should be mindful of spelling and
punctuation.)
Nkenụụdị Edemede (Types of essay writing)
a. Edemede akọmakọ (Narrative Essay): Ụdị edemede a bụ nke e ji akọpụta ihe
mere n’oge gara aga. Ọmụmaatụ: Ụbọchị Ọkụ Gbara Ahịa Obodo M (This type of
essay is used to tell what happened in the past. Example: The Day my Village
Market Was Ablaze.)
b. Edemede nkọwa (Descriptive Essay): Nke a na-enye nkọwa etu ihe a na-ede
maka ya dị. Ọmụmaatụ: Ụzọ e si emepụta garị (This describes what we are writing
for looks like. Example: How to make garri.)
c. Edemede mkparịtaụka (Dialogue): Ụdị edemede a bụ nke na-ezipụta nkata
mmadụ abụọ na-akparịta gbasara isiokwu a na-ede make ya. Ọmụmaatụ:
mkparịtaụka dị n’etiti ụmụakwụkwọ abụọ gbasara igwu ojoro n’ule (This essay shows
the discussion of two persons conceiving a topic being written for. Example: A
dialogue between two students concerning exam malpractice.)
d. Edemede nrụrịtaụka (Debate): N’ụdị edemede a ka ode na-egosi nkwenye
maọbụ mgbagha n’isi ihe e ji mere isiokwu. Nrụrịtaụka na-abụkwa n’etiti otu abụọ.
Ịmaatụ: Ịzụ ụmụnwoke n’akwụkwọ ka mma karịa ịzụ ụmụnwanyị (In this essay would
the essayist show his agreement or disagreement on the topic of discussion.
Debate consists of two groups. Example: Sending boys in school is better than
sending girls.)
e. Edemede ilu (Proverbial Essay): A na-esite na nkọwa e nyere gbasara ilu e ji
mere isiokwu kọọ akụkọ dabara adaba iji gosi ezi nghọta na amamihe dị n’ilu ahụ.
Ọmụmaatụ: Ahịa ọma na-ere onwe ya (A story is gotten from the explanation of a
proverb in order to impart wisdom and understanding in that proverb. Example:
Good things has its own reward.)
f. Edemede leta (Letter Writing): Leta bụ ozi a na-ezigara onye na-anọghị nso.
Usoro e si ede leta diwagara iche n’ebe edemede ndị ọzọ dị. Leta na-enwe adressị,
deetị, ekele mmalite na ekele mmechi. E nwere ụdị leta abụọ. Ha bụ leta nkeonye na
leta anamachọọrụ (Letter is a message that is sent to someone that is distant. The
style of letter writing is different from other essays. Letter has an address, date,
open salutation and closing salutation. There are two types of letter writing. They
are informal and formal letters.)
Aghọtaazaa (Comprehension)
Aghọtaazaa maọbụ agụọazaa bụ mmadụ ịghọta akụkọ maọbụ ederede a na-agụ
maọbụ a na-ege ntị na ya iji zaa ajụjụ ga-esi n’ime ya pụta. Nke a pụtara na
aghọtaazaa nwere ike ịbụ ihe a kọrọ n’ọnụ maọbụ ihe e dere ede (Comprehension is
the ability of a person to understand a story or a writing that is read or heard in
order to answer questions that would come from it. This means that
comprehension can be in form of oral or writing.)
N’ihi ya ka ihe ọmụmụ gbasara aghọtaazaa ji chọọ nke ige ntị na ịgụ ihe nke ọma.
Mgbe anyị na-agụ ederede anyị ga-etinye uche anyị nay a iji nwere ike ịza ajụjụ a ga-
ajụ gbasara ihe a gụrụ. Ọ bụrụ nke a kọrọ n’ọnụ anyị ga-ege ntị nke ọma iji ghọta
akụkọ ahụ ma zata ajụjụ niile dị na ya (Because of that, the lessons from
comprehension require a special hearing skill or reading skill. When we are reading
any comprehension we have to put our mind so as to answer the questions
concerning what was read. If it was spoken, we have to listen carefully to
understand that story and answer all questions from it.)
Dị ka n’edemede, aghọtaazaa ọ bụla ga-enwerịrị isiokwu ọ na-ekwu maka ya. Isiokwu

a nwere ike imetụta ihe ọbụla, ma ihe a na-ahụ anya ma ihe anaghị ahụ anya.
Ebumnoobi aghọtaazaa bụ iji nwalee nghọta, amamihe na ọzịza ọgụụ nwere gbasara
asụsụ na isiokwu dị n’aghọtaazaa (Just like in essay writing, every comprehension
must have a topic of its own. The topic can be of anything, both what we could see
and cannot see. The purpose of comprehension is to test our understanding,
wisdom and the answer of the reader towards the language and the topic of
discussion are all in the comprehension.)
IHE A NA-AGBAKWASA ỤKWỤ MGBE A NA-EME AGHỌTAAZAA (STEPS ON HOW TO

UNDERSTAND COMPREHENSION)
1. Gụda ederede a nyere gị ọsọ ọsọ, iji mata isiokwu na echiche dị na ya (Read
through the comprehension passage give to you to get its topic and thought.)
2. Gụgharịa ederede ahụ ọzọ. Tinye uche gị nay a mgbe ị na-agụ iji chọpụta
ọkpụrụkpụ okwu dị nay a maọbụ okwu ndị tara akpụ, tinyere atụmatụokwu dị ka ilu,
akpaalaokwu dgz. O kwesikwara na ị ga-eji mkpịsịode gị na-aka ihe ndị ahụ ihe
n’okpuru (Read it again. Read along with your mind to find out the hard words,
vocabularies, including the figures of speech like proverbs, idioms etc. It is
advisable to use your pen to underline those words.)
3. Gụọ ajụjụ e nyere gị ma gaghachị azụ n’ederede ahụ iji gụmie ya agụmie,
chọpụta isiokwu ọ na-ekwu maka ya, ma werekwa mkpịsịode gị na-ahụba ndị bụ
ọsịsa ajụjụ ndị ahụ ama (Reda the questions given to you and go back to the
comprehension passage and read through it, find out the topic it has and with your
pen, mark the answers.)
4. Bido zawa ajụjụ gị (Begin to answer your questions.)
5. Ị ga-eji ahịrịokwu na-edepụta azịza gị mana ọ bụrụ ajụjụ chọrọ naanị otu
mkpụrụokwu iji zaa, detuo ya, ihe dị mkpa bụ na ị ga-aza ajụjụ gị dịka ntuziaka e
nyere si dị (You have to use sentences to answer your answers but if the questions
require only one word, write it down, the important thing is that you have answer
your question according to the instructions given to you.)
6. E detula ihe kpọmkwem dịka e si dee ya n’ederede ahụ. Ị ga-eji asụsụ na okwu
nke gị wee na-aza ajụjụ gị. Mgbe e nyere gị ilu maọbụ akpaalaokwu, ị gaghị e ji ilu
maọbụ akpaalaokwu ọzọ wee kọwaa ya, kama zuru oke gbasara atụmatụokwu e
nyere gị (Do not write verbatim just as it is written in the comprehension passage.
Use your own words to answer those questions. When proverbs and idioms are
given to you, you do not answer with another proverbs and idioms to explain
them, but use simple words, to show that you have a clear understanding to the
figures of speech given to you.)
7. Werekwa Igbo izugbe dee aghọtaazaa gị (Use central Igbo to answer your
comprehension.)
8. Chetakwa iwu niile metụtara nsụpe na akaraedemede (Remember the rules
of spelling and punctuations.)
9. Ị desịa, gụgharịa azịza gị n’ime ederede ahụ (When you finish, read what you
have written in that comprehension passage.)
Uru Aghọtaazaa Bara (The importance of comprehension)

1. A na-esi na aghọtaazaa amụta nka ịge ntị an ịgụ ihe ọsịịsọ (We learn the skills
of hearing and reading from the comprehension.)
2. Ọ na-enyekwa aka ịmụta nka dị n’ịza ajụjụ (It also helps to adopt the skill of
answering questions.)
3. Ọ na-abawanye amamihe site n’ịzụ ụbụrụ n’inwe echiche miri emi na ịghọta
ihe ọsịịsọ (It boosts our wisdom througb brain sharpening in having a deep thought
and quick understanding.)
4. Aghọtaazaa na-enye aka ahazi akparamaagwa ụmụ mmadụ, n’ihi na ọtụtụ
akụkọ, ọ na-ezipụta na akuzi ihe gbasara nd na mmekọrịta mmadụ n’ibe ya
(Comprehension helps in shaping people’s behaviour because in some stories, it
reflects and teaches the things of life and relationship among people.)
5. Ọ na-enye aka na-ịmụta asụsụ (It helps in the art of learning language.)
Ajụjụ Nnwale (Question)

Gụọ ederede a, zaa ajụjụ so ya (Read this passage and answer the following
questions.)
Ọ bụ ihe mwute ịhụ kja asụsụ ala anyị si ala azụ n’ụlọakwụkwọ anyị taa. Ụfọdụ na-
eche na ọ dịghị mkpa ịmụ asụsụ ha n’ụlọakwụlwọ. Ya mere ọtụtụ mmadụ ji eche na
ịmụ Fiziks, Kemịstrị, Bayọlọgị, Mats, Soshịọlọjị na ihe ọmụmụ ndị ọzọ dị na mahadum
ka mkpa karịa ịmụ asụsụ ala anyị (It is painful to see the backwardness of our
language in schools today. Some of them think that it is of no importance to learn it
in the school. That is why many of them think that learning Physics, Chemistry,
Biology, Maths, Sociology and other field of study in the university is important
than learning our native language.)
Nchọpụta ndị ọkammụta na-egosi na ọ bụ naanị n’ala anyị ka a na-ahụ ndị ejighi
asụsụ ha kpọrọ ihe. Biko ndị nne na nna, ka anyị sitenu n’ụlọ mara mma pụwa n’ama
(Researchers have shown that it is only in our tribe that native language is not
considered important. Please parents, let us dress our children so good that they
can be properly addressed.) Anyị ga na-akwado ụmụ anyị ịsụ, ịgụ na ide asụsụ ala
anyị. Nke a ga-eme ka asụsụ anyị nwee ọnọdụ dị mma dị ka ndị obodo ọzọ n’ihi na
onye arachaghị ọnụ ya ụgụrụ arachaara ya (We have to support our children in
speaking, reading and writing our native language. This would make our language
to have a balance just like other tribes because he who fails to plans to fail.)
Ajụjụ (Question)
1. Kedụ isiokwu e nwere ike inye ederede a? (What topic should be given to this
passage?)
2. Ihe na-ewute ode n’ederede a bụ? (What disturbs the writer in the passage?)
3. Gịnị bụ echiche ndị mmadụ gbasara asụsụ ala anyị? (What is the people’s
thought concerning our native language?)
4. Otu uru asụsụ ala anyị bara n’ederede a bụ? (One importance of native language
in this passage is?)
5. Ejighị asụsụ ha kpọrọ ihe pụtara? (‘The people do not consider their language
important’ means?)
6. Gịnị bụ mpụtara ilu a? ‘Onye arachaghị ọnụ ya ụgụrụ arachaara ya’ (What is the
meaning of this proverb? ‘Onye arachaghị ọnụ ya ụgụrụ arachaara ya’)
7. ‘Ndi ọkammụta’ pụtara? (Ndi ọkammụta’ means?)
8. N’ederede a, gịnị bụ ebumnobi odee? (In this passage, what is the thought of
the writer?)
9. ‘Isite n’ụlọ mara mma pụwa n’ama’ pụtara? (‘Isite n’ụlọ mara mma pụwa n’ama’
means?)
10. Olee ndị a na-agụpụtara ederede a? (Who are the listeners of this passage?)
Edensiba (References)
Agu, M. C (2009). Nkuzi Asụsụ Igbo N’ụzọ dị Mfe. Ibadan: Austin Publishers.
Ngoesi (2000). Nchikọta Ọmụmụ Asụsụ Igbo.
Okafọ, C. U & Ewelukwa, U. (2008). Nhazi Asụsụ Igbo. Onitsha: A. C. Global
Publishers.
Ofomata, C. (2003). Jụọ M Igbo. Enugu: Format Publishers.

1. Ahịa ọma na-ere onwe ya
2. Asụsụ nka
3. Ka anyị sitenu n’ụlọ mara mma pụwa n’ama
4. Onye arachaghị ọnụ ya, ụgụrụ arachaara ya

AMỤMAMỤ ỤTỌASỤSỤ IGBO - A guideline for learning the basics of Igbo

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AMỤMAMỤ ỤTỌASỤSỤ IGBO - A guideline for learning the basics of Igbo

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AMỤMAMỤ

Ebe e bipụtara ya (Place of publication): FORMAT

Mbipụta nke mbụ (First published)

Onye tụgharị ya n’olu bekee (English Translator)

Ịmaatụ ohu asụsụ bụ “Esperanto” nke a chọpụtara na ngwụcha senchịrị iri na

NJIRIMARA ASỤSỤ (CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE)

 Asụsụ bụ usoro mmadụ si ezipụta echiche mmetute ahụ na mmasị ya.

 E nweghị myiri n’etiti asụsụ na ihe ọ na-ezipụta. (There is no similarities

 E ji asụsụ ezipụta echiche mmadụ. (Language is used to convey the thought of

WORD THAT NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED

MKPỤRỤ EDIDE IGBO (IGBO ALPHABETS)

OBERE MKPỤRỤ EDIDE (SMALL ALPHABETS)

NNUKWU MKPỤRỤ EDIDE (BIG ALPHABETS)

Ụdaume ndị e nwere bụ (The vowels we have are)

Mgbochiume bụ (Consonants are)

E wezuga ụdamkpị dị na mgbochiume, e nwekwara ndị bụ ụdange ndị gụnyere:

Mmebeokwu Igbo (Word composition in Igbo)

Usoro Mmebeokwu n’asụsụ Igbo (Process of word composition)

Nganiihu (Prefix) Isingwaa (Verb root) Mfinitiv

I de ide (to write)

ị ta ịta (to eat)

I si isi (to cook)

ị ma ịma (to know)

I nwe inwe (to have)

I te ite (to cook/rub)

ị chọ ịchọ (to find)

ị hụ ịhụ (to see)

ị sa ịsa (to wash)

I nye inye (to give)

Mmekangwaa (Auxiliary verb)

Nganiihu (Prefix) Isingwaa (Verb root) Mmekangwaa (Auxiliary

A ga aga (is going)

E je eje (is walking)

E si esi (is cooking)

A ta ata (is eating)

A sa asa (is washing)

E de ede (is writing)

A ma ama (is knowing)

E nye enye (is giving)

A zụ azụ (is buying)

Tensị Ndịnaazụ (Past Tense)

Isingwaa (Verb root) Nsonaazụ (Suffix) Tensị Ndinaazụ (Past

chọ rọ chọrọ (searched)

chụ rụ chụrụ (chased)

je ghị jeghị (not going)

ri ghị righị (not eating)

lụ ghị lụghị (not working)

nwe ghị nweghị (do(es) not have)

sa ghị saghị (not/did not

ma ghị maghị (do(es) not know)

lo ghị loghị (do(es) swallowing)

Isingwaa Nsonaazụ Ntimiiwu

Aha dị iche iche (Other names)

Aha Ome (Occupational name)

Nganiihu (Prefix) Isingwaa (Verb Aha ome Ndebiri ya

O de Ode akwụkwọ Odee (Author)

O si Osi nri Osii (Cook)

Ọ sụ Ọsụ akwụ Ọsụụ

Ọ gụ Ọgụ egwu Ọgụụ

Aha mme (Working tools)

Nganiihu (Prefix) Isingwaa (Verb root) Aha mme (Working tool)

m wa mwa nkụ (Axe)

n Gwu ngwu ala (Digger)

N Si nsi nri (Stove)