Language/Igbo/Grammar/Questions

Igbo Grammar - Questions

Hi Igbo learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to ask questions in Igbo. Asking questions is an important part of learning any language, and it allows you to know more about the culture and the people who speak the language. So, let's get started!

Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: How to Use "Be", Future Tense, Give your Opinion & Negation.

Basic Questions

In Igbo, questions are formed by adding the word "kè" at the end of a sentence. For example, if you want to ask "Are you happy?", you can say "Ị na-eme kè?" ("kè" is added at the end of the sentence to make it a question). Here is a table with some basic questions:

Igbo	Pronunciation	English
bia kè	bee-ah keh	"Come?" (Literally "Come?")
kee kam gì	keh kahm gee	"What is your name?" (Literally "Name how?")
I ghà-eme kè?	ee ghaa-eh-meh keh?	"Will you go?" (Literally "You go will?")
Keduzi?	keh-doo-zee?	"Where is it?" (Literally "It dey where?")

Verbs and Tenses

In Igbo, tenses are formed by adding particles to the verbs. For example, if you want to form a present tense, you add the particle "na-" to the verb. Here is an example dialogue:

• Person 1: Kedu ihe mere na-eme n'ime ụlọ?

(What do you do in the house?)

• Person 2: Na-eme ndị na-akọrọ n'ezie.

(I work with those who farm in the morning.)

In Igbo, there are three types of verbs: simple, stative, and compound. Simple verbs cannot take any particles while statives and compounds can. Here are some examples:

Simple Verbs

Igbo	Pronunciation	English
bia	bee-ah	"come"
gaa	gah-ah	"go"

Stative Verbs

Igbo	Pronunciation	English
nwere	nweh-reh	"have"
na-eso	nah-eh-soh	"like"

Compound Verbs

Igbo	Pronunciation	English
nwelelee	nweh-leh-leh	"love"
ga-enweghị-echi	gah-ehn-weh-gee-e-chee	"naught"

Examples

Here are some more examples of Igbo sentences with questions:

• Person 1: Mgbe anọ na-eme n'ime ụlọ?

(When do you work in the house?)

• Person 2: Na-eme n'ime ụlọchie Saturday na Sunday.

(I work in the house on Saturdays and Sundays.)

• Person 1: O zuo kè?

(Are you sitting down?)

• Person 2: A, ọ dị kwa.

(No, I am not.)

• Person 1: Biko nye m aka m ka-eme n'ụbọchi.

(Please give me my handbag because I need to work.)

• Person 2: Ha ka-eme ị n'ebe a ma gaa chọrọụ dim n'ire.

(They took it to where they said they would keep it yesterday.)

Conclusion

Congratulations, you have learned how to ask questions in Igbo! To improve your Igbo Grammar, you can also check Polyglot Club. Don't forget to practice with native speakers you can find on the website and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Igbo language - Wikipedia
• Igbo Grammar - Igboguide.org
• Learn Igbo language. Ask questions in Igbo. 'Kedụ?' has a lot of ...

Impressive work on finishing this lesson! Explore these additional pages to enhance your understanding: Say Hello and Greetings in Igbo, Pronouns & Conditional Mood.

Other Lessons

• Plurals
• Pronouns
• Adjectives
• How to Use Be
• How to Use Have
• Future Tense
• Give your Opinion
• Conditional Mood
• Negation