Ọrụ “Na” Na-Eme N’Ahịrịokwu – Basic 4 Igbo Lesson Note (Third Term)

“Na” is a small Igbo word that joins words and sentences (njikọ), and its short form “n'” shows place or time (mbuuzo).

Behavioural objectives

1. Define njikọ (conjunction) and mbuuzo (preposition) in Igbo.
2. Use “na” to join two nouns and two sentences.
3. Use “n'” to show place in a sentence.
4. Use “n'” to show time in a sentence.
5. Fill in the gaps in sentences with “na” or “n'” correctly.

What are the jobs of “na” in a sentence?

“Na” does two main jobs in an Igbo sentence: it joins words (njikọ) and, as “n'”, it shows place or time (mbuuzo).

• Njikọ (conjunction): “na” joins two words or two sentences, like “and” in English.
• Mbuuzo (preposition): “n'” shows where something is or when something happens, like “in”, “at” or “on”.

What is “na” as njikọ (conjunction)?

Njikọ is a word that joins two or more words or sentences together.

“Na” as njikọ joins three kinds of things:

1. Two names (aha).
2. Two other nouns (things, animals, food).
3. Two short sentences (ahịrịokwu).

1. How does “na” join two names?

• Obi na Ada gara ụlọ akwụkwọ: Obi and Ada went to school.
• Nne na nna m nọ n’ụlọ: My mother and father are at home.
• Ji na ede dị n’ubi: Yam and cocoyam are in the farm.

2. How does “na” join other nouns?

• Akwụkwọ na pensụl dị na table: A book and a pencil are on the table.
• Nkịta na nwamba na-egwu egwuregwu: The dog and the cat are playing.
• Mmiri na nri dị n’ụlọ: Water and food are in the house.

3. How does “na” join two sentences?

• Ọ gụrụ akwụkwọ na ọ dere edemede: He or she read a book and wrote an essay.
• M riri nri na m ṅụrụ mmiri: I ate food and I drank water.
• Ọ gara ahịa na ọ zụrụ ihe: He or she went to the market and bought something.

What is “n'” as mbuuzo (preposition)?

Mbuuzo is a word that shows where something is or when something happens.

• Place: “n'” tells the place of a person or thing.
• Time: “n'” tells the time an action takes place.

How does “n'” show place (igosi ebe)?

• N’ụlọ: in the house.
• N’ahịa: at the market.
• N’ubi: in the farm.
• N’osimiri: in the river.

Examples in sentences:

• Nne m nọ n’ụlọ: My mother is at home.
• Ọ gara n’ahịa: He or she went to the market.
• Nna m rụrụ ọrụ n’ubi: My father worked on the farm.
• Azụ bi n’osimiri: Fish live in the river.

How does “n'” show time (igosi oge)?

• N’ụtụtụ: in the morning.
• N’ehihie: in the afternoon.
• N’abalị: at night.
• N’oge gara aga: in the past.

Examples in sentences:

• Ọ bịara n’ụtụtụ: He or she came in the morning.
• Anyị ga-eri nri n’ehihie: We will eat in the afternoon.
• Ọ na-arahụ ụra n’abalị: He or she sleeps at night.

What is the difference between “na” and “n'”?

“Na” as njikọ joins words, while “n'” as mbuuzo shows place or time.

What should I remember when writing “na” and “n'”?

• Apostrophe: “n'” is written with an apostrophe and joined to the word after it, as in n’ụlọ and n’ahịa.
• Before a consonant: the full “na” is used, as in “dị na table”.
• Verb marker: “na-” written before a verb shows an action going on, as in “na-egwu” (playing).
• Use: use each one carefully in your own sentences.

Practice exercise

Join these words with “na”:

1. Kemi _____ Emeka
2. Nri _____ mmiri
3. Akwụkwọ _____ pensụl

Fill in the gaps with “n'” and the word in brackets:

1. Ọ nọ ____ụlọ (n’ụlọ)
2. Anyị gara ____ahịa (n’ahịa)
3. Ọ bịara ____ụtụtụ (n’ụtụtụ)

Answers:

• Njikọ: 1. na, 2. na, 3. na.
• Mbuuzo: 1. n’ụlọ, 2. n’ahịa, 3. n’ụtụtụ.

Evaluation

1. What is njikọ in Igbo?
2. What is mbuuzo in Igbo?
3. Join these with “na”: Ngozi _____ Chidi.
4. Give two Igbo words with “n'” that show time.
5. Write the Igbo for “in the river” and “at the market”.

Assignment

Write six Igbo sentences: two that use “na” to join two names, two that use “n'” to show place, and two that use “n'” to show time. Underline “na” or “n'” in each sentence.