Language/Igbo/Grammar/Tenses
Igbo, like many other languages, has several tenses that are used to indicate the time frame of an action or event. In this lesson, we will cover the basic tenses in Igbo, including the present, past, and future tenses, as well as the continuous and perfect aspects.
Present Tense
The present tense in Igbo is used to indicate actions that are currently happening or that occur regularly. The present tense is formed by adding a verb root to the personal prefix that agrees with the subject of the sentence.
For example:
| Igbo | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| A na-ada mma | Ah nah-ah-dah mah | I am doing well |
In the example above, "na-ada" is the present tense of the verb "ada" (to do), and "m" is the personal prefix that agrees with the first person singular subject "I".
Other personal prefixes include:
| Person | Personal Prefix |
|---|---|
| First Person Singular | m- |
| Second Person Singular | ị- |
| Third Person Singular (Masculine) | ụ- |
| Third Person Singular (Feminine) | ị- |
| First Person Plural | anya- |
| Second Person Plural | iyi- |
| Third Person Plural | ha- |
Past Tense
The past tense in Igbo is used to indicate actions that have already occurred in the past. The past tense is formed by adding the suffix "-ghị" to the verb root and then adding the appropriate personal prefix.
For example:
| Igbo | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| A kwado-ghị mma | Ah kwa-doh-ghee mah | I did not do well |
In the example above, "Kwado" is the verb root for "to do", and "-ghị" is the past tense suffix. The personal prefix "m-" is added to indicate the first person singular subject "I".
Future Tense
The future tense in Igbo is used to indicate actions that will occur in the future. The future tense is formed by adding the auxiliary verb "ga" before the verb root and then adding the appropriate personal prefix.
For example:
| Igbo | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| A ga-ada mma | Ah gah-ah-dah mah | I will do well |
In the example above, "ga-ada" is the future tense of the verb "ada" (to do), and "m" is the personal prefix that agrees with the first person singular subject "I".
Continuous Aspect
The continuous aspect in Igbo is used to indicate actions that are currently in progress. The continuous aspect is formed by adding the verb "nwere" (to have) to the verb root and then adding the appropriate personal prefix.
For example:
| Igbo | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| A nwere-ada mma | Ah nweh-reh-ah-dah mah | I am doing well |
In the example above, "nwere-ada" is the continuous aspect of the verb "ada" (to do), and "m" is the personal prefix that agrees with the first person singular subject "I".
Perfect Aspect
The perfect aspect in Igbo is used to indicate actions that have been completed in the past. The perfect aspect is formed by adding the auxiliary verb "bu" (to be) to the verb root and then adding the appropriate personal prefix.
For example:
| Igbo | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| A bu-ada mma | Ah boo-ah-dah mah | I have done well |
In the example above, "bu-ada" is the perfect aspect of the verb "ada" (to do), and "m" is the personal prefix that agrees with the first person singular subject "I".
Summary
In summary, Igbo has several tenses that are used to indicate the time frame of an action or event. The present tense is used to indicate actions that are currently happening or that occur regularly, the past tense is used to indicate actions that have already occurred in the past, and the future tense is used to indicate actions that will occur in the future. The continuous aspect is used to indicate actions that are currently in progress, while the perfect aspect is used to indicate actions that have been completed in the past.
By using the appropriate tense and aspect, you can effectively communicate when an action occurred or will occur in Igbo. In the next lesson, we will cover Igbo adjectives and adverbs.
Videos
Learn Igbo verbs: present, future and past tenses - YouTube
Igbo Language 25 - Verbs and Tenses - YouTube