Verb conjugation rules will expose you to the way Igbo language verbs Igbo API Verb Types are conjugated in the most basic tenses- Infinitive, Command, Past, Present, Continuous, Future, and a few more as explained in the document. This document also shows the tone patterns of these verb tenses.
This article is based on my academic knowledge of the Igbo language, my meticulous observations, my knowledge as a native speaker, my experience as an Igbo language tutor of five years, and counting, who has helped learners sound better and make clear conversations.
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A Grammar of Contemporary Igbo
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ofF-AwBHfLZkaTfz7V4lchiMlQy7fRs1t8BP2vgxid8/edit?usp=drivesdk
Vowel harmony:
In Igbo language grammar, the eight Igbo language vowels are grouped into two - Light vowels group and Heavy vowels group.
Light vowels: a, ị, ọ, ụ
Heavy vowels: e, i, o, u
Vowel harmony is the likelihood of a vowel in a particular vowel group occurring before a consonant because a vowel of the same group is occurring after the consonant. It is also the likelihood of a vowel in a particular vowel group occurring immediately after a vowel of the same group. This is most prevalent when applying vowel affixes (a-, e-, i-, ị-, -a, -e, -o, -ọ) to verbs and gerunds and also vowel pronouns (I, Ị, O, Ọ) to verbs.
Below are basic patterns to follow when conjugating verbs, in Igbo language, considering proper vowel harmony for the most realistic results.
✅ Infinitive:
To create an infinitive verb, I or Ị is attached to the beginning of a root verb. Which of I (heavy vowel) or Ị (Light vowel) to be attached depends on the group (heavy or light) of the first vowel in the root verb.
Ị + gba = Ịgba
I + root (if first vowel in root verb is heavy vowel)
Eg: I + ri = Iri
Ị + root (if first vowel in root verb is a light vowel)
✅ Past:
Active/Passive/Medial:
To create a past tense for a verb, r and the last letter of the root verb is attached to the end of the root verb.
root + **r** + **last letter of root**.
Eg: ri + r + i = riri
✅ Present continuous/Progressive:
To create a present tense for an active verb, 'Na-' and 'a' are attached to the beginning of the root verb if the root verb has a light vowel as its first vowel while 'Na-' and 'e' are attached to the beginning of the root verb if first vowel in root verb is a heavy vowel. If possible, do not include this tense for Active and Passive because they do not really distinguish between Present continuous(Progressive) and Present continuous(State).
✅ Active/Medial:
Na- + a + root (if first vowel in root is light vowel)
Eg: Na- + a + gba = Na-agba
Na- + e + root (if first vowel of root is heavy vowel)
Eg: Na- + e + ri = Na-eri
✅ Passive:
To create a present tense for a passive verb, simply use the root verb. The root verb of a passive verb is its present form.
root verb.
Eg: bu = bu ; nọ = nọ
Future/Future perfect:
To create a future tense verb, 'Ga-' and 'a' are attached to the beginning of the root verb if the root verb has a light vowel as its first vowel while 'Ga-' and 'e' are attached to the beginning of the root verb if first vowel in root verb is a heavy vowel.
Ga- + a + root (if first vowel in root is light vowel)
Eg: Ga- + a + gba = Ga-agba
Ga- + e + root (if first vowel of root is heavy vowel)
Eg: Ga- + e + ri = Ga-eri
I believe that these conjugation rules will create a more stable natural pattern on all verbs in the dictionary and also serve as a great foundation for any other grammatical manipulation we wish to implement on these verbs in future.
✅ Command:
✅ Active verb/Medial:
To create a command verb for an active verb, a, ọ, e or o is attached to the end of the root verb. Which of a, ọ, e or o to be attached depends on if last vowel in root verb is a or ị, ọ or ụ, e or i, and o or u respectively.
root + **a** (if last vowel in root is **a** or **ị**) Eg: gba + **a** = gba**a** ; rị + **a** = rị**a**
root + **ọ**(if last vowel of root is **ọ** or **ụ**) Eg: chọ + **ọ** = chọ**ọ** ; chụ + **ọ** = chụ**ọ**
root + **e** (if last vowel in root is **e** or **i**) Eg: ge + **e** = ge**e** ; ri ****+ **e =** ri**e**
root + **o**(if last vowel of root is **o** or **u**) Eg: lo + **o** = lo**o** ; lu + **o** = lu**o**
✅ Passive verb:
To create a command tense for a passive verb, r and the last letter of the root verb is attached to the end of the root verb. This looks like conjugating for past tense.
root + **r** + **last letter of root**.
Eg: bu + r + u = buru.
Present continuous:
To create a present tense for an active verb, 'Na-' and 'a' are attached to the beginning of the root verb if the root verb has a light vowel as its first vowel while 'Na-' and 'e' are attached to the beginning of the root verb if first vowel in root verb is a heavy vowel.
✅ Active:
Na- + a + root (if first vowel in root is light vowel)
Eg: Na- + a + gba = Na-agba
Na- + e + root (if first vowel of root is heavy vowel)
Eg: Na- + e + ri = Na-eri
✅ Passive:
To create a present tense for a passive verb, simply use the root verb. The root verb of a passive verb is its present form.
root verb.
Eg: bu = bu ; nọ = nọ
✅ Medial:
To create a present continuous(state) tense for a medial verb, r and the last letter of the root verb is attached to the end of the root verb.
root + **r** + **last letter of root**.
Eg: ma + r + a = mara
✅ Simple present:
Active/Passive/Medial:
To create a simple present verb tense, 'Na-' and 'a' are attached to the beginning of the root verb if the root verb has a light vowel as its first vowel while 'Na-' and 'e' are attached to the beginning of the root verb if first vowel in root verb is a heavy vowel.
Na- + a + root (if first vowel in root is light vowel)
Eg: Na- + a + gba = Na-agba
Na- + e + root (if first vowel of root is heavy vowel)
Eg: Na- + e + ri = Na-eri
Imperative negative:
To create an imperative negative, you attach '-la' after the root of the verb and attach a prefix 'a' or 'e' depending on the first vowel of the root.
a + root + la (if first vowel in root is light vowel).
Eg: a + chọ + la = achọla ego