Lesson 3
Interrogative Sentences (Ahịrịajụjụ)
There are two broad classes of interrogatives; (1) the one that uses a question word (2) the one that is controlled by tone, the low tone. Igbo is a tone language. Tone is important in Igbo because it makes a difference in meaning between two words or more words with the same spelling. When there is no proper noun, the low tone interrogative marker, falls on the pronoun in the subject position.
A - Question Word
A-Question Words are words used to show the interrogative in a sentence. These are words that naturally ask questions, and not tone.
| English | Standard Igbo | Anambra | Imo |
| Where did you go? | Ebee ka ị jere/I jere ebee? Ebee…..where Ka…….that/did i……….you jere………..go | Ebee ka ị jelu/I jelu ebee? Ebee…..where Ka…….that/did i……….you jelu………..go | Ebee ka ị jere/I jere ebee? Ebee…..where Ka…….that/did i……….you jere………..go |
| Where did he/she go? | Ebee ka o jere?/O jere ebee? Ebee…..where Ka……that/did o……….he/she jere……….go | Ebee ka o jelu?/O jelu ebee? Ebee…..where Ka……that/did o……….he/she jelu……….go | Ebee ka o jere?/O jere ebee? Ebee…..where Ka……that/did o……….he/she jere……….go |
| Where did you go? | Ebee ka I jere?/I jere ebee? Ebee……..where Ka……..that/did i…….you jere………..go | Ebee ka I jelu?/I jelu ebee? Ebee……..where Ka……..that/did i…….you jelu………..go | Ebee ka I jere?/I jere ebee? Ebee……..where Ka……..that/did i…….you jere………..go |
| Where did they go? | Ebee ka ha jere? Ha jere ebee? Ebee…….where Ka……..that/did Ha……..they/them Jere………go | Ebee ka ha jelu? Ha jelu ebee? Ebee…….where Ka……..that/did Ha……..they/them Jelu………go | Ebee ka ha jere? Ha jere ebee? Ebee…….where Ka……..that/did Ha……..they/them Jere………go |
| Where did I go? | Ebee ka m jere?/M jere ebee? Ebee……where Ka………that/did m………..me/I jere……….go | Ebee ka m jelu?/M jelu ebee? Ebee……where Ka………that/did m………..me/I jelu……….go | Ebee ka m jere?/M jere ebee? Ebee……where Ka………that/did m………..me/I jere……….go |
| When did you come? | Olee mgbe ị bịara/Ị bịara ole mgbe? Olee……when mgbe……..time ị…………you bịara………came | Kedu mgbe ị bịalụ/Ị bịalụ ole mgbe? Olee……when mgbe……..time ị…………you bịalụ ………came | Olee mgbe ị bịara/Ị bịara ole mgbe? Olee……when mgbe……..time ị…………you bịara………came |
| When did he/she come? | Olee mgbe ọ bịara?/Ọ bịara ole mgbe?
NOTE: ‘Olee’ is used to represent place in a question. ‘ole’ is used to represent number in a question. Example: Olee ebe i na-aga? = Where are you going? Ole ka akpa ahụ dị? = How many is the/that bag? | Kedu mgbe ọ bịalụ?/Ọ bịalụ one mgbe? Olee………when one ….exactly when Mgbe………time ọ………….he/she bịalụ ………..came | Olee mgbe ọ bịara?/Ọ bịara ole mgbe? Olee………when ole ….exactly when mgbe………time ọ………….he/she bịara………..came |
| When did they come? | Olee mgbe ha bịara/Ha bịara ole mgbe? Olee………when mgbe………time Ha……….they/them bịara……….came | Kedu mgbe ha bịalụ /Ha bịalụ ole mgbe? Olee………when mgbe………time Ha……….they/them bịalụ ……….came | Olee mgbe ha bịara/Ha bịara ole mgbe? Olee………when mgbe………time Ha……….they/them bịara……….came |
| When did we come? | Olee mgbe anyị bịara/Anyị bịara ole mgbe? Olee……….when mgbe……….time anyị………..we/our bịara……….came | Kedu mgbe ayị bịalụ /Ayị bịalụ ole mgbe? Olee……….when mgbe……….time ayị………..we/our bịalụ ……….came | Olee mgbe anyị bịara/Anyị bịara ole mgbe? Olee……….when mgbe……….time anyị………..we/our bịara……….came |
| When did I come? | Olee mgbe m bịara/M bịara ole mgbe? Olee…….when mgbe……..time m………..me/I bịara……….came | Kedu mgbe m bịalụ /M bịalụ ole mgbe? Olee…….when mgbe……..time m………..me/I bịalụ ……….came | Olee mgbe m bịara/M bịara ole mgbe? Olee…….when mgbe……..time m………..me/I bịara……….came |
| What are you doing? | Gịnị ka ị na-eme/Ị na-eme gịnị?
Note: Ka is used as a Conjunction (njikọ). Examples: a. Uche achọghị ka nna ya hụ ya = Uche does not want his father to see him. b. Ọ bịara ka O kelee anyị = He/She came to greet us. ‘O’ is referring to the same person or subject ‘Ọ’. Ka is also used as a Verbroot (Isingwaa). Example: Ọka ahụ kara aka = The/That corn has matured. Ka is also used to express wishes (Ebumnuche). Examples: Ka ihe bụ uche Chukwu mee = Let’s God’s will be done. Ka anyị leba okwu ahụ anya = Let us look into the/that matter. | Gịnị ka ị na-eme/Ị na-eme gịnị? Gịnị…….what ka………. works as a conjunction ị………….you na-eme……is doing | Gịnị ka ị na-eme/Ị na-eme gịnị? Gịnị…….what ka………. works as a conjunction ị………….you na-eme……is doing |
| What is he/she doing? | Gịnị ka ọ na-eme/Ọ na-eme gịnị? Gịnị………what ka……… works as a conjunction ọ………….he/she na-eme……is doing | Gịnị ka ọ na-eme/Ọ na-eme gịnị? Gịnị………what ka……… works as a conjunction ọ………….he/she na-eme……is doing | Gịnị ka ọ na-eme/Ọ na-eme gịnị? Gịnị………what ka……… works as a conjunction ọ………….he/she na-eme……is doing |
| What are they doing? | Gịnị ka ha na-eme/Ha na-eme gịnị? Gịnị………what ka………. works as a conjunction ha……..they/them na-eme…..is doing | Gịnị ka ha na-eme/Ha na-eme gịnị? Gịnị………what ka……… works as a conjunction ha……..they/them na-eme…..is doing | Gịnị ka ha na-eme/Ha na-eme gịnị? Gịnị………what ka………. works as a conjunction ha……..they/them na-eme…..is doing |
| What are we doing? | Gịnị ka anyị na-eme/Anyị na-eme gịnị? Gịnị……….what ka………. works as a conjunction anyị…………we/our na-eme…..is doing | Gịnị ka ayị na-eme/Ayị na-eme gịnị? Gịnị……….what ka……….. works as a conjunction ayị…………we/our na-eme…..is doing | Gịnị ka anyị na-eme/Anyị na-eme gịnị? Gịnị……….what ka………. works as a conjunction anyị…………we/our na-eme…..is doing |
| What am I doing? | Gịnị ka m na-eme/M na-eme gịnị? Gịnị……..what ka………. works as a conjunction m………..me/I na-eme…….is doing | Gịnị ka m na-eme/M na-eme gịnị? Gịnị……..what ka……… works as a conjunction m………..me/I na-eme…….is doing | Gịnị ka m na-eme/M na-eme gịnị? Gịnị……..what ka………. works as a conjunction m………..me/I na-eme…….is doing |
| Who are you looking for? | Onye ka ị na-achọ/Ị na-achọ onye? Onye…….who ka……… works as a conjunction ị…………..you na-achọ…..is looking for | Onye ka ị na-achọ/Ị na-achọ onye? Onye…….who ka………. works as a conjunction ị…………..you na-achọ…..is looking for | Onye ka ị chọga/Ị chọga onye? Onye…….who ka………. works as a conjunction ị…………..you chọga…..is looking for |
| Who is he/she looking for? | Onye ka ọ na-achọ/Ọ na-achọ onye? Onye…….who ka…….. works as a conjunction ọ…………he/she na-achọ……is looking for | Onye ka ọ na-achọ/Ọ na-achọ onye? Onye…….who ka……. works as a conjunction ọ…………he/she na-achọ……is looking for | Onye ka ọ chọga/Ọ chọga one? Onye…….who ka…….. works as a conjunction ọ…………he/she chọga……is looking for |
| Who are they looking for? | Onye ka ha na-achọ/Ha na-achọ onye? Onye…….who ka…… works as a conjunction ha……..they/them na-achọ…….is looking for | Onye ka ha na-achọ/Ha na-achọ onye? Onye…….who ka…… works as a conjunction ha……..they/them na-achọ…….is looking for | Onye ka ha chọga/Ha chọga onye? Onye…….who ka…… works as a conjunction ha……..they/them chọga…….is looking for |
| Who are we looking for? | Onye ka anyị na-achọ/Anyị na-achọ onye? Onye…….who ka…… works as a conjunction anyị ……..we/our na-achọ…….is looking for | Onye ka ayị na-achọ/Ayị na-achọ onye? Onye…….who ka…… works as a conjunction ayị ……..we/our na-achọ…….is looking for | Onye ka anyị chọga/Anyị chọga onye? Onye…….who ka…… works as a conjunction anyị ……..we/our chọga…….is looking for |
| Who am I looking for? | Onye ka m na-achọ/M na-achọ onye? Onye…….who ka…… works as a conjunction m ……..me/I na-achọ…….is looking for | Onye ka m na-achọ/M na-achọ onye? Onye…….who ka…… works as a conjunction m ……..me/I na-achọ…….is looking for | Onye ka m chọga/M chọga onye? Onye…….who ka…… works as a conjunction m ……..me/I chọga…….is looking for |
| English | Standard Igbo |
| Where did you go? | Ebee ka ị jere/I jere ebee? Ebee…..where |
| Where did he/she go? | Ebee ka o jere?/O jere ebee? Ebee…..where |
| Where did you go? | Ebee ka I jere?/I jere ebee? Ebee……..where |
| Where did they go? | Ebee ka ha jere? Ha jere ebee? Ebee…….where |
| Where did I go? | Ebee ka m jere?/M jere ebee? Ebee……where |
| When did you come? | Olee mgbe ị bịara/Ị bịara ole mgbe? Olee……when |
| When did he/she come? | Olee mgbe ọ bịara?/Ọ bịara ole mgbe? Olee………when NOTE: ‘Olee’ is used to represent place in a question. ‘ole’ is used to represent number in a question. Example: Olee ebe i na-aga? = Where are you going? Ole ka akpa ahụ dị? = How many is the/that bag? |
| When did they come? | Olee mgbe ha bịara/Ha bịara ole mgbe? Olee………when |
| When did we come? | Olee mgbe anyị bịara/Anyị bịara ole mgbe? Olee……….when |
| When did I come? | Olee mgbe m bịara/M bịara ole mgbe? Olee…….when |
| What are you doing? | Gịnị ka ị na-eme/Ị na-eme gịnị? Gịnị…….what Note: Ka is used as a Conjunction (njikọ). Examples: a. Uche achọghị ka nna ya hụ ya = Uche does not want his father to see him. b. Ọ bịara ka O kelee anyị = He/She came to greet us. ‘O’ is referring to the same person or subject ‘Ọ’. Ka is also used as a Verbroot (Isingwaa). Example: Ọka ahụ kara aka = The/That corn has matured. Ka is also used to express wishes (Ebumnuche). Examples: Ka ihe bụ uche Chukwu mee = Let’s God’s will be done. Ka anyị leba okwu ahụ anya = Let us look into the/that matter. |
| What is he/she doing? | Gịnị ka ọ na-eme/Ọ na-eme gịnị? Gịnị………what |
| What are they doing? | Gịnị ka ha na-eme/Ha na-eme gịnị? Gịnị………what |
| What are we doing? | Gịnị ka anyị na-eme/Anyị na-eme gịnị? Gịnị……….what |
| What am I doing? | Gịnị ka m na-eme/M na-eme gịnị? Gịnị……..what |
| Who are you looking for? | Onye ka ị na-achọ/Ị na-achọ onye? Onye…….who |
| Who is he/she looking for? | Onye ka ọ na-achọ/Ọ na-achọ onye? Onye…….who |
| Who are they looking for? | Onye ka ha na-achọ/Ha na-achọ onye? Onye…….who |
| Who are we looking for? | Onye ka anyị na-achọ/Anyị na-achọ onye? Onye…….who |
| Who am I looking for? | Onye ka m na-achọ/M na-achọ onye? Onye…….who |
B - Tone Question
Tone is very important in Igbo. The low tone ( ̀ ) in ‘ò’ or ‘ọ̀’ is the interrogative marker in Igbo, and it is always present in Standard Igbo usage. The ‘Ò’ or ‘Ọ̀’ is co-referential to the subject.
English | Standard Igbo | Anambra | Imo |
Has Emeka eaten his food? | Emeka ò riela nri ya? Emeka……name Ò………..(pronoun is referring to Emeka riela………has eaten nri………..food | Emeka ò riene nni ya? Emeka……name Ò………..pronoun is referring to Emeka riene………has eaten nni………..food | Emeka ò riela nri ya? Emeka……name Ò……….pronoun is referring to Emeka riela………has eaten nri………..food |
Has he/she eaten his food? | Ò riela nri ya? Ò………He/She riela……….has eaten nri…………food ya…. his/her | Ò riene nni ya? Ò………He/She riene……….has eaten nni…………food ya…. his/her | Ò riela nri ya? Ò………He/She riela……….has eaten nri…………food ya…. his/her |
Have they eaten their food? | Hà ò riela nri ha? Hà……. they /them Ò……pronoun is referring to (hà) riela……..has eaten nri………..food ha …. Their | Hà ò riene nni ha? Hà……. they /them Ò…… pronoun is referring to (hà) riene……..has eaten nni………..food ha …. their | Hà ò riela nri ha? Hà……. they /them Ò…… pronoun is referring to (hà) riela……..has eaten nri………..food ha …. Their |
Have we eaten our food? | Anyị ò riela nri anyị? Anyị ………..we/our ò………… pronoun is referring to (ànyị́) riela………has eaten nri…………food anyị ….. our | Ayị ò riene nni ayi? Ayị ………..we/our ò………pronoun is referring to (àyị́) riela………has eaten nri…………food ayị ….. our | Anyị ò riela nri anyị? Anyị ………..we/our ò…… pronoun is referring to (ànyị́) riela………has eaten nri…………food anyị ….. our |
Do you want to go?/ You want to go? | Ị̀ chọrọ ịla? Ị̀…………you (Low tone ( ̀ ) is an interrogative marker) chọrọ……..want ịla………….to go | Ị̀ chọrọ ịna? Ị̀…………you chọrọ……..want ịna………….to go | Ị̀ chọrọ ịla? Ị̀…………you chọrọ……..want ịla………….to go |
Does he/she want to go? | Ọ̀ chọrọ ịla? Ọ̀ ……….he/she chọrọ……want ịla………..to go | Ọ̀ chọrọ ịna? Ọ̀ ……….he/she chọrọ……want ịna………..to go | Ọ̀ chọrọ ịla? Ọ̀ ……he/she chọrọ……want ịla………..to go |
Do they want to go? | Ha ọ̀ chọrọ ịla? Hà…….they/them ọ̀………….pronoun is referring to (ha) chọrọ……want ịla……..to go | Ha ọ̀ chọrọ ịna? Hà…….they/them ọ̀………….pronoun is referring to (ha) chọrọ……want ịna……..to go | Ha ọ̀ chọrọ ịla? Hà…….they/them ọ̀………….pronoun is referring to (ha) chọrọ……want ịla……..to go |
Do we want to go? | Anyị ọ̀ chọrọ ịla? Anyị ………..we/our ọ̀…………..pronoun is referring to (Anyị) chọrọ………want ịla………..to go | Ayị ọ̀ chọrọ ịna? Ayị ………..we/our ọ̀…………..pronoun is referring to (Ayị) chọrọ………want ịna………..to go | Anyị ọ̀ chọrọ ịla? Anyị ………..we/our ọ̀…………..pronoun is referring to (Anyị) chọrọ………want ịla………..to go |
Has Uche gone to market? | Uche ò jeela ahịa? Uche……. Name ò ……….. Pronoun referring to (Uche) jeela……. has gone ahịa……….market | Uche ò jeene ahịa? Uche……. Name ò ……….. A Pronoun referring to (Uche) jeene……. gone ahịa……….market | Uche ò jeela ahịa? Uche……. Name ò ……….. A Pronoun referring to (Uche) jeela……. has gone ahịa……….market |
Has he/she gone to market? | Ò jeela ahịa? Ò ………..he/she jeela……… has gone ahịa……….market | Ò jeene ahịa? Ò ………..he/she jeene……… has gone ahịa……….market | Ò jeela ahịa? Ò ………..he/she jeela……… has gone ahịa……….market |
Have they gone to market? | Ha ò jeela ahịa? Ha………..they/them ò ……… pronoun is referring to (ha). The low tone is the interrogative marker. jeela……….have gone ahịa………..market | Ha ò jeene ahịa? Ha………..they/them ò ………. Pronoun is referring to (ha). The low tone is the interrogative marker. jeene………have gone ahịa………..market | Ha ò jeela ahịa? Ha………..they/them ò ……… pronoun is referring to (ha). The low tone is the interrogative marker. jeela……….have gone ahịa………..market |
Have we gone to market? | Anyị ò jeela ahịa? Anyị ………..we/our ò ……… pronoun referring to (Anyị). The low tone in ‘ò’ is the interrogative marker. jeela………have gone ahịa………..market | Ayị ò jeene ahịa? Ayị ………..we/our ò ……… pronoun referring to (Ayị). The low tone in ‘ò’ is the interrogative marker. jeene………have gone ahịa………..market | Anyị ò jeela ahịa? Anyị ………..we/our ò ……… pronoun referring to (Anyị). The low tone in ‘ò’ is the interrogative marker. jeela………have gone ahịa………..market |
Do you want to eat? | Ị̀ chọrọ iri nri? Ị̀ ………you (The low tone in ‘Ị̀’ is the interrogative marker.) chọrọ……..want iri……….to eat nri………..food
| Ị̀ chọrọ iri nni? Ị̀ ………you chọrọ……..want iri……….to eat nni………..food | Ị̀ chọrọ iri nri? Ị̀ ………you chọrọ……..want iri……….to eat nri………..food
|
Does he/she want to eat? | Ọ̀ chọrọ iri nri? Ọ̀ …………he/she chọrọ……..want iri………..to eat nri……….food | Ọ̀ chọrọ iri nni? Ọ̀ …………he/she chọrọ……..want iri………..to eat nni……….food | Ọ̀ chọrọ iri nri? Ọ̀ …………he/she chọrọ……..want iri………..to eat
nri……….food |
Do they want to eat? | Ha ọ̀ chọrọ iri nri? Ha ….. they/them ọ̀ ………… pronoun is referring to (ha) chọrọ……..want iri………..to eat nri……….food | Ha ọ̀ chọrọ iri nni? Ha ….. they/them ọ̀ ………… pronoun is referring to (ha) chọrọ……..want iri………..to eat nni……….food | Ha ọ̀ chọrọ iri nri? Ha ….. they/them ọ̀ ………… pronoun is referring to (ha) chọrọ……..want iri………..to eat nri……….food |
Do we want to eat? | Anyị ọ̀ chọrọ iri nri? Anyị ….. we/our ọ̀ ………… pronoun is referring to (Anyị) chọrọ……..want iri………..to eat nri……….food
| Ayị ọ̀ chọrọ iri nni? Ayị ….. we/our ọ̀ ………… pronoun is referring to (Ayị) chọrọ……..want iri………..to eat nni……….food
| Anyị ọ̀ chọrọ iri nri? Anyị ….. we/our ọ̀ ………… pronoun is referring to (Anyị) chọrọ……..want iri………..to eat nri……….food
|
| English | Standard Igbo |
| Has Emeka eaten his food? | Emeka ò riela nri ya? Emeka……name Ò………..(pronoun is referring to Emeka riela………has eaten nri………..food |
| Has he/she eaten his food? | Ò riela nri ya? Ò………He/She riela……….has eaten nri…………food ya…. his/her |
| Have they eaten their food? | Hà ò riela nri ha? Hà……. they /them Ò……pronoun is referring to (hà) riela……..has eaten nri………..food ha …. Their |
| Have we eaten our food? | Anyị ò riela nri anyị? Anyị ………..we/our ò………… pronoun is referring to (ànyị́) riela………has eaten nri…………food anyị ….. our |
| Do you want to go?/ You want to go? | Ị̀ chọrọ ịla? Ị̀…………you (Low tone ( ̀ ) is an interrogative marker) chọrọ……..want ịla………….to go |
| Does he/she want to go? | Ọ̀ chọrọ ịla? Ọ̀ ……….he/she chọrọ……want ịla………..to go |
| Do they want to go? | Ha ọ̀ chọrọ ịla? Hà…….they/them ọ̀………….pronoun is referring to (ha) chọrọ……want ịla……..to go |
| Do we want to go? | Anyị ọ̀ chọrọ ịla? Anyị ………..we/our ọ̀…………..pronoun is referring to (Anyị) chọrọ………want ịla………..to go |
| Has Uche gone to market? | Uche ò jeela ahịa? Uche……. Name ò ……….. Pronoun referring to (Uche) jeela……. has gone ahịa……….market |
| Has he/she gone to market? | Ò jeela ahịa? Ò ………..he/she jeela……… has gone ahịa……….market |
| Have they gone to market? | Ha ò jeela ahịa? Ha………..they/them ò ……… pronoun is referring to (ha). The low tone is the interrogative marker. jeela……….have gone ahịa………..market |
| Have we gone to market? | Anyị ò jeela ahịa? Anyị ………..we/our ò ……… pronoun referring to (Anyị). The low tone in ‘ò’ is the interrogative marker. jeela………have gone ahịa………..market |
| Do you want to eat? | Ị̀ chọrọ iri nri? Ị̀ ………you (The low tone in ‘Ị̀’ is the interrogative marker.) chọrọ……..want iri……….to eat nri………..food |
| Does he/she want to eat? | Ọ̀ chọrọ iri nri? Ọ̀ …………he/she chọrọ……..want iri………..to eat nri……….food |
| Do they want to eat? | Ha ọ̀ chọrọ iri nri? Ha ….. they/them ọ̀ ………… pronoun is referring to (ha) chọrọ……..want iri………..to eat nri……….food |
| Do we want to eat? | Anyị ọ̀ chọrọ iri nri? Anyị ….. we/our ọ̀ ………… pronoun is referring to (Anyị) chọrọ……..want iri………..to eat nri……….food |