Infinitive Verbs in Igbo Language: a Grammatical Perspective
In this article, we are going to discuss infinitive in Igbo language. What is infinitive?
Infinitive is the basic form of a verb, without an inflection binding it to a particular subject or tense.
In this article, we are going to discuss infinitive in Igbo language. What is infinitive?
Infinitive is the basic form of a verb, without an inflection binding it to a particular subject or tense.
In Igbo language, infinitive comes in form of prefix attached before a verb root. The letters used to represent infinitive in Igbo language are:
* i and
* ị
* i and
* ị
These two letters are attached as a prefix before a verb root (isingwaa) and vowel harmony known as ndakọrịta ụdaume must be observed. So, "i" or "ị" must follow vowel harmony thereby corresponding with the same class as any vowel making up the verb root. Example.
Verb root prefix Infinitive
Ga ị+ ga ịga = to go
Ṅụ ị+ ṅụ ịṅụ = to drink
Chụ ị+ chụ ịchụ = to pursue
Je i+ je ije = to go
De i+ de ide = to write
Ga ị+ ga ịga = to go
Ṅụ ị+ ṅụ ịṅụ = to drink
Chụ ị+ chụ ịchụ = to pursue
Je i+ je ije = to go
De i+ de ide = to write
Gụ ị+ gụ ịgụ = to read
Nwụ ị+nwụ ịnwụ = to die
Kpọ ị+ kpọ ịkpọ = to call
Ri i+ ri iri = iri
Nwụ ị+nwụ ịnwụ = to die
Kpọ ị+ kpọ ịkpọ = to call
Ri i+ ri iri = iri
Anywhere you see either "i" or "ị" attached before a verb root, just understand that the grammatical function there is Infinitive verb. It shows what you want to do in Igbo. The action you or someone else are about to carry out.
It is imperative too, to know these terms in Igbo language.
* Verb root= Isingwaa
* Prefix= Mgbakwunye nganihu/ nganihu
* Infinitive= mfinitiivu
* Derivational verb= Nsinangwaa
* Vowel harmony= Ndakọrịta ụdaume
* Verb root= Isingwaa
* Prefix= Mgbakwunye nganihu/ nganihu
* Infinitive= mfinitiivu
* Derivational verb= Nsinangwaa
* Vowel harmony= Ndakọrịta ụdaume
How do we notice infinitives in Igbo sentences? The asterisks in the following sentences indicate infinitive verb.
— Achọrọ m *iri* nri ugbua
( I want to eat food now)
— Ọ na-achọ *izu* m ohi
(He wants to steal from me)
— Achọrọ m *iri* nri ugbua
( I want to eat food now)
— Ọ na-achọ *izu* m ohi
(He wants to steal from me)
— Ị chọrọ *ịṅụ* mmiri?
(Do you want to drink water)
— *Ịnwụ* anwụ kaara ya mma
(To die is better for him)
— Ọ gara *ịnyụ* nsị
(He or she went to defecate/toilet)
— Achọrọ m *ịma* gị aka ntị
(I want to slap you)
(Do you want to drink water)
— *Ịnwụ* anwụ kaara ya mma
(To die is better for him)
— Ọ gara *ịnyụ* nsị
(He or she went to defecate/toilet)
— Achọrọ m *ịma* gị aka ntị
(I want to slap you)
—Achọrọ m *ịṅụ* mmiri
(I want to drink water)
Most often, we speak without giving much attention to the grammatical functionality of our language, but we are always careful not to make mistake while speaking or writing a foreign language—English language.
I pause!
(I want to drink water)
Most often, we speak without giving much attention to the grammatical functionality of our language, but we are always careful not to make mistake while speaking or writing a foreign language—English language.
I pause!
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