Language/Igbo/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have

Igbo Grammar - How to Use "Have"

Hi Igbo learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "have" in Igbo. "Have" is a very important verb in English and is also used in Igbo. By the end of this lesson, you will understand how to use "have" in Igbo and be able to create your own sentences using this verb. We will also include cultural information and interesting facts to make the lesson more fun and engaging. Let's get started! 😎

Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Questions & Adjectives.

Basic concept of "Have" in Igbo

In English, "have" is used to show possession or ownership, as in "I have a car." In Igbo, "have" is also used to show possession, but it has many more functions than just that.

In Igbo, "have" is translated into the word "nwere" which means "to have" or "to possess". We can use it to express various things, including:

- Possession, as in "I have a car." - Family relations, as in "I have a mother." - Physical and emotional states, as in "I have a headache" or "I have a fear of heights." - To form tenses, as "I have eaten" or "I had eaten." - Obligation, as in "I have to go" or "I have to study."

Now let's dive into each of these functions in more detail.

Possession

In Igbo, we use "nwere" to express possession. Let's look at some examples:

Igbo	Pronunciation	English
Agha nwere obi.	aɣa ŋwèré obì	The lion has a heart.
Anya nwere m.	ànyà ŋwèré m	I have eyes.
Ugo nwere ekwenti.	ùgò ŋwèré èkwèntì	Ugo has a bicycle.

In the first example, we see that the lion has a heart. In the second example, the speaker is talking about themselves, saying "I have eyes". In the last example, we see that Ugo has a bicycle.

Family relations

We use "nwere" to express family relations. Here are some examples:

• Person 1: Nna m nwere aka. (My father has a hand.)
• Person 2: Otu nnoo! Kedu ife ekene m? (Wow! How come you're celebrating?)
• Person 1: Obioma, o nwere afo. (Obioma has money.)

In the first example, the speaker is saying "my father has a hand." In the second example, Person 2 is surprised and asks why Person 1 is celebrating. In the last example, the speaker is telling us that Obioma has money.

Physical and emotional states

We use "nwere" to express our physical and emotional states. Here are some examples:

• Person 1: Emela m nwere anwukwo. (I have a headache.)
• Person 2: Ewu m, o nwere onye isi m? (Excuse me, do you have my hat?)
• Person 1: Maka na-enweghi isi m, nwere obi m. (Because I don't have a hat, I have a headache.)

In the first example, Person 1 has a headache. In the second example, Person 2 is asking for their hat. In the last example, the speaker is telling us that they have a headache because they don't have a hat.

Tenses

We use "nwere" to form tenses. Here are some examples:

• Person 1: A nwere ebe ahu. (I have been there.)
• Person 2: Anaghi ahapu onye na wu ihe m. (Nobody will take what belongs to me.)
• Person 1: A nwere nzuzu. (I have eaten.)

In the first example, the speaker is saying that they have been to the place before. In the second example, Person 2 is confident that nobody will take something that belongs to them. In the last example, the speaker is telling us that they have eaten.

Obligation

We use "nwere" to express obligations. Here are some examples:

• Person 1: A nwere iche. A ma nwee ya. (I have work. I have to do it.)
• Person 2: Ini nwere aka onye isi m? (Do you have my key?)
• Person 1: Anyi nwere otu otu. (We have to unite.)

In the first example, the speaker has work and has to do it. In the second example, Person 2 is asking if they have their key. In the last example, the speaker is saying that they need to unite.

The Negative form

To make the negative form of "nwere", we add "ghara" before it to cancel what one posseses. Here's an example:

Igbo	Pronunciation	English
Agha ghara nwere ututu.	aɣà ghàrà ŋwèré ùtùtù	The lion does not have cold.

In the example, we see that the lion does not have cold. "ghara" is used to negate the possession.

Dialogue

Let's put "nwere" into context by creating a dialogue.

• Person 1: Kedu ihe mere? (What did you buy?)
• Person 2: M mere egbuo nwoke. (I bought a hat for a man.)
• Person 1: Ihe mere ya nwere isi? (Does he have a hat?)
• Person 2: Ekpere ya nwere aha. (His prayer has been answered.)

In the dialogue, we can see that Person 2 bought a hat for a man. Person 1 then asks if he already has a hat. Person 2 replies that his prayer has been answered, meaning that he now has a hat.

Conclusion

Using "nwere" to express possession, tenses, family relations, physical and emotional states, obligations, among others, is important for fluent conversation in Igbo. To fully understand it, one must practice and use it in everyday conversations. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
To improve your Igbo Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Now go and practice what you've learned! 😊

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

With this lesson finished, you may want to explore these additional pages: Pronouns & Negation.

Other Lessons

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

Sources

• Igbo language - Wikipedia
• Igbo Grammar - Igboguide.org
• Learn Igbo