Ngwaa, Tensị na Nkọwapụta Ihe na-eme for JSS 1

Ọrụ ụtọasụsụ na nkọwapụta ihe na-eme n’ọnọdụ dị iche iche

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. iji ngwaa na tensị dabara adaba kọwapụta ihe ha na-eme n’ezinụlọ;
2. iji ngwaa na tensị dabara adaba kọwapụta ihe ha na-eme n’ụlọakwụkwọ;
3. ịmata ngwaa ndị metụtara ọrụ ugbo;
4. iji ngwaa dabara adaba mee nkenke ekwumekwu, ma depụta mkparịtaụka gbasara ‘Ọrụ ugbo’.

Meaning and Types of Verbs (Nkọwa na Ụdị Ngwaa)

Ngwaa (Verb) is a word that shows action, state of being, or occurrence in a sentence.

In Igbo grammar, verbs are the core of any sentence. A sentence cannot express a complete thought without a verb. Verbs describe what people, animals, or things do, what they are, or what happens to them.

Observe the image below to see examples of actions represented by verbs.

Igbo verbs are classified into different types based on their structure and functions. The main types of verbs studied at this level include:

1. Ngwaa Mfe (Simple Verbs): These are verbs made of a single root syllable, usually consisting of a consonant and a vowel. Examples include: ri (eat), ga (go), bịa (come), gụ (read), and za (sweep).
2. Ngwaa Mgbagwoju (Complex or Compound Verbs): These are verbs formed by joining two or more verb roots or adding suffixes to a root to create a new meaning. Examples include: riju (eat to fullness, from ri + ju), gadata (go down, from ga + da + ta), and bata (come in, from bịa + ta).
3. Ngwaa Nsonye or Ngwaa Nnyemaka (Auxiliary Verbs): These are helping verbs that assist the main verb to express tense, aspect, or mood. The most common auxiliary verbs in Igbo are na (used for continuous actions) and ga (used for future actions). Examples include: na-eri (is eating) and ga-aga (will go).

The table below shows examples of these verb types with their English meanings:

Meaning and Types of Tenses (Nkọwa na Ụdị Tensị)

Tensị (Tense) is the grammatical form of a verb that shows the time an action takes place, whether in the past, present, or future.

In Igbo grammar, tenses help to clarify when an event occurred, is occurring, or will occur. This is achieved by modifying the verb root using prefixes, suffixes, or auxiliary verbs.

Look at the diagram below to understand how tenses represent time.

The three primary tenses in Igbo language are:

1. Tensị Ugbu a (Present Tense): This tense describes actions happening right now or actions that occur regularly (habitual). It is formed by using the auxiliary verb na followed by the participle form of the main verb. Examples include: na-ede (is writing) and na-asacha (is washing).
2. Tensị Gara aga (Past Tense): This tense describes actions that have already been completed. It is formed by adding the past tense suffix -ra (where the vowel harmonizes with the verb root vowel) to the verb root. Examples include: riri (ate), gara (went), and zara (swept).
3. Tensị Ọdịnihu (Future Tense): This tense describes actions that are expected to happen in the future. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb ga- followed by the main verb. Examples include: ga-eri (will eat) and ga-ede (will write).

Describing Activities in the Family (Nkọwapụta Emereme n’Ezinụlọ)

Verbs and tenses are used daily to describe various household chores and activities performed by family members. Using the correct tense ensures that the timing of these activities is clear.

Examples of sentences describing family activities in different tenses include:

1. Tensị Ugbu a (Present Tense): Nne m na-esi nri ụtụtụ. (My mother is cooking breakfast.)
2. Tensị Gara aga (Past Tense): Obi zara ụlọ n’ụtụtụ taa. (Obi swept the house this morning.)
3. Tensị Ọdịnihu (Future Tense): Anyị ga-asacha efere ma anyị richaa nri. (We will wash the plates when we finish eating.)
4. Tensị Ugbu a (Present Tense): Nna m na-agụ akwụkwọ akụkọ. (My father is reading a newspaper.)
5. Tensị Gara aga (Past Tense): Ada sachara uwe ya ụnyaahụ. (Ada washed her clothes yesterday.)

Describing Activities in the School (Nkọwapụta Emereme n’Ụlọakwụkwọ)

In the school environment, students and teachers engage in various activities. Verbs and tenses are used to report, describe, or plan these school activities.

Look at the diagram below showing students engaged in school activities.

Examples of sentences describing school activities in different tenses include:

1. Tensị Ugbu a (Present Tense): Onye nkuzi na-akụzi ihe na klas. (The teacher is teaching in the class.)
2. Tensị Gara aga (Past Tense): Ụmụakwụkwọ dere ule ha n’izu gara aga. (The students wrote their exam last week.)
3. Tensị Ọdịnihu (Future Tense): Anyị ga-agba bọọlụ n’egwuregwu echi. (We will play football during recreation tomorrow.)
4. Tensị Ugbu a (Present Tense): Chidi na-aza mbara ụlọakwụkwọ. (Chidi is sweeping the school compound.)
5. Tensị Gara aga (Past Tense): Anyị gụrụ akwụkwọ Igbo ụnyaahụ. (We read an Igbo book yesterday.)

Verbs Related to Farming (Ngwaa ndị metụtara Ọrụ Ugbo)

Farming is a significant activity in Igbo communities. There are specific verbs used to describe different stages of farming, from land preparation to harvesting.

Observe the illustration below to see farmers performing agricultural activities.

Key verbs related to farming in Igbo language include:

1. ịkọ (ọrụ / ubi): To farm, cultivate, or till the soil.
   
   Ọmụmaatụ: Anyị na-akọ ubi kwa afọ. (We cultivate the farm every year.)
2. ịbọcha (ahịhịa): To clear weeds, grass, or undergrowth.
   
   Ọmụmaatụ: Obi bọchara ahịhịa n’ubi ji ya. (Obi cleared the weeds in his yam farm.)
3. ịkụ (ọka / mkpụrụ): To plant seeds, especially maize or grains.
   
   Ọmụmaatụ: Nne m ga-akụ ọka ma mmiri zoo. (My mother will plant maize when it rains.)
4. ịkọ (ji): To plant yam tubers in soil heaps.
   
   Ọmụmaatụ: Nna m kọrọ ji n’ọgụ ụnyaahụ. (My father planted yams in the heaps yesterday.)
5. ịgwu (ji / ihe ubi): To harvest or dig up tubers from the ground.
   
   Ọmụmaatụ: Anyị ga-agwu ji n’oge ọkọchị. (We will harvest yams during the dry season.)
6. ịgbu (ahịhịa / ọhịa): To cut down thick bush or tall grass using a cutlass.
   
   Ọmụmaatụ: Ụmụ nwoke gburu ọhịa maka ubi ọhụrụ. (The men cleared the bush for a new farm.)

Practical Application (Nka Ekwumekwu na Odide)

Developing speaking and writing skills in Igbo requires practicing dialogues and short speeches using correct verbs and tenses.

Dialogue on Farming (Mkparịtaụka gbasara Ọrụ Ugbo)

The following is a dialogue between two students, Ada and Chidi, discussing their farming activities:

Ada: Chidi, gịnị ka ezinụlọ gị na-eme n’ubi ha ugbu a?

(Chidi, what is your family doing in their farm now?)

Chidi: Anyị na-bọcha ahịhịa ka anyị nwee ike ịkụ ọka. Ụnyaahụ, nna m gburu ọhịa ahụ.

(We are clearing weeds so that we can plant maize. Yesterday, my father cleared the bush.)

Ada: Nke ahụ dị mma. Ezinụlọ m kọrọ ji n’izu gara aga. Anyị ga-agwu ji ndị ahụ n’oge ọkọchị.

(That is good. My family planted yams last week. We will harvest those yams during the dry season.)

Chidi: M ga-abịa nyere gị aka ma oge ịgwu ji rute.

(I will come to help you when the time to harvest yams arrives.)

Ada: Imeela, Chidi!

(Thank you, Chidi!)

Short Speech Model (Nkenke Ekwumekwu)

This model speech demonstrates how to describe daily school activities using different tenses:

Aha m bụ Chidi. Kwa ụtụtụ, m na-aga ụlọakwụkwọ. M zara mbara ụlọakwụkwọ ụnyaahụ tupu klas amalite. Taa, m na-amụ asụsụ Igbo na mgbakọ na mwepụ. Echi, m ga-ede ule m nke ọma.

English Translation: My name is Chidi. Every morning, I go to school. I swept the school compound yesterday before class started. Today, I am learning Igbo language and mathematics. Tomorrow, I will write my exam well.

Questions for Review and Evaluation

The following questions help to evaluate the understanding of verbs, tenses, and farming vocabulary:

1. Kọwaa etu zaa na tensị gara aga si ezipụta ihe e mere n’ezinụlọ, ma nye ọmụmaatụ abụọ n’asụsụ Igbo. (Explain how the verb ‘to sweep’ in the past tense shows what was done in the family, and give two examples in Igbo.)
2. Dee ahịrịokwu abụọ e ji ngwaa na tensị ugbu a kọwapụta ihe a na-eme n’ụlọakwụkwọ. (Write two sentences using verbs and the present tense to describe what is done at school.)
3. Kọwaa etu zaa, gụọ, na ga-ede si nọchite anya tensị atọ dị iche iche na mkparịtaụka. (Explain how ‘swept’, ‘read/reading’, and ‘will write’ represent three different tenses in a conversation.)
4. Depụta tensị atọ e ji ezipụta oge ihe na-eme n’ezinụlọ, ma nye ọmụmaatụ otu ahịrịokwu maka nke ọ bụla. (List three tenses used to show the time actions happen in the family, and give one example sentence for each.)
5. Depụta ngwaa atọ metụtara ọrụ ugbo n’asụsụ Igbo, ma kọwaa ihe ha pụtara n’Inglish. (List three verbs related to farming in Igbo, and explain their meanings in English.)