Language/Yoruba/Grammar/Irregular-Verbs
As a Yoruba language teacher with over 20 years of experience, I am excited to introduce you to irregular verbs in Yoruba! In the previous lesson, we covered regular verbs and their conjugation patterns, so now it's time to tackle the irregular ones. This lesson will help you understand what irregular verbs are, and how to use them correctly in sentences.
Understanding Irregular Verbs
First, let's define what irregular verbs are. Irregular verbs are verbs that don't follow the regular conjugation patterns of adding suffixes to the infinitive form to indicate tense and subject agreement. Instead, irregular verbs either change their stem or adopt completely different forms to show tense and subject agreement. These verbs are often some of the most commonly used verbs in the Yoruba language.
Examples of irregular verbs in English include "go," "eat," and "see." In Yoruba, some common irregular verbs are "ni" (to have), "jeun" (to eat), "bo" (to come), and "mu" (to take).
It can be challenging to remember the different forms of irregular verbs when conjugating them, so I recommend practicing the different forms in context rather than just memorizing them. Let's dive into the different conjugation patterns for irregular verbs in Yoruba.
Conjugation Patterns for Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs in Yoruba have different conjugation patterns depending on the tense and subject agreement. Here are some of the most common patterns to keep in mind:
Present Tense
In the present tense, irregular verbs in Yoruba don't follow the regular pattern of adding suffixes to the infinitive form. Instead, the verb stem changes or adopts a completely different form.
Let's take the example of "ni" (to have):
| Yoruba | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ní | /nee/ | have (1st person singular) |
| níwá | /nee-wah/ | have (2nd person singular) |
| niyóò | /nee-yoh/ | have (3rd person singular) |
| nínáà | /nee-nah/ | have (1st person plural) |
| nínáwá | /nee-nah-wah/ | have (2nd person plural) |
| níwọn | /nee-wohń/ | have (3rd person plural) |
Note how the stem changes from "ni" to "níwá" and "niyóò" in the present tense for the 2nd and 3rd person singular forms, respectively.
For the irregular verb "jeun" (to eat), the present tense follows this pattern:
| Yoruba | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ńjẹ | /njeh/ | eat (1st person singular) |
| jẹ́wá | /jeh-wah/ | eat (2nd person singular) |
| jẹ́yóò | /jeh-yoh/ | eat (3rd person singular) |
| ńjẹ̀ànáà | /njeh-ah-nah/ | eat (1st person plural) |
| jẹ́ànáwá | /jeh-ah-nah-wah/ | eat (2nd person plural) |
| jẹ́yọ́ọ̀ | /jeh-yoh-oh/ | eat (3rd person plural) |
Note how the stem changes from "je" to " ńjẹ" in the 1st person singular present tense form.
Past Tense
In the past tense, the same irregular verbs often adopt completely different forms. For example, the past tense of "ni" (to have) is "ni," which is the same as the present tense in most forms. The past tense of "jeun" (to eat) is "nu," which is a completely different form from the present tense.
Here's how the past tense form of "jeun" (to eat) conjugates:
| Yoruba | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ńnùn | /nnoohń/ | ate (1st person singular) |
| nnúwá | /nooh-wah/ | ate (2nd person singular) |
| nnúyóò | /nooh-yoh/ | ate (3rd person singular) |
| ńnùànrínà | /nnoo-ah-nreen-ah/ | ate (1st person plural) |
| nnùwánáwá | /nooh-wah-nah-wah/ | ate (2nd person plural) |
| nnúyọ́ọ̀ | /nooh-yoh-oh/ | ate (3rd person plural) |
It's important to note that irregular verbs in Yoruba sometimes have multiple past tense forms. For example, "bo" (to come) has the past tense forms "wá" and "rá."
Future Tense
In the future tense, irregular verbs in Yoruba often follow the regular pattern of adding suffixes to the infinitive form. However, some verbs have specific future tense forms. For example, the future tense of "ni" (to have) is "yòòni," which is a combination of the infinitive "ni" and the future tense marker "yòò."
Here's how the future tense form of "jeun" (to eat) will look:
| Yoruba | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| jẹún | /jeh-oon/ | will eat (1st person singular) |
| jẹ́únwá | /jeh-oon-wah/ | will eat (2nd person singular) |
| jẹ́únyóò | /jeh-oon-yoh/ | will eat (3rd person singular) |
| jẹ́únnáà | /jeh-oon-nah/ | will eat (1st person plural) |
| jẹ́únwánáwá | /jeh-oon-wah-nah-wah/ | will eat (2nd person plural) |
| jẹ́úndọ́ọ̀ | /jeh-oon-doh-oh/ | will eat (3rd person plural) |
It's important to note that not all irregular verbs in Yoruba have specific future tense forms.
Prepositions after Irregular Verbs
As we covered previously in the course, prepositions in Yoruba come after the verb, and not before as is the case in English. The same rule applies to irregular verbs.
Here are some examples of prepositions commonly used after irregular verbs in Yoruba:
- Mo nilo (I have arrived)
- O jeun pẹpẹ (He ate fried rice)
- Won bọ (They came)
Tips for Learning Irregular Verbs
Learning irregular verbs in Yoruba can be a little more challenging than learning regular verbs, but with practice, it's definitely doable. Here are some tips to help you improve your understanding of irregular verbs:
- Practice, practice, practice: The more you practice using irregular verbs in different tenses and contexts, the more comfortable you'll become with them.
- Immerse Yourself: Watch Yoruba movies, listen to Yoruba music, and have conversations in Yoruba with native speakers. This will help you become more familiar with how irregular verbs are used naturally in the language.
- Memorize the most common ones: Focus on memorizing the most common irregular verbs in Yoruba, such as the ones covered in this lesson. Practice using them frequently in sentences.
- Use a Yoruba-English dictionary: This will help you identify which verbs are irregular and how they conjugate in different tenses.
Conclusion
Irregular verbs are an important part of the Yoruba language and mastering their conjugation patterns is essential to becoming fluent in the language. By understanding the different conjugation patterns, practicing in context, and immersing yourself in Yoruba culture, you'll be well on your way to becoming proficient with irregular verbs in no time!