← Njem Asụsụ: Ịkụziri Ndị Igbo Asụsụ Bekee
"Then" is an English adverb with three jobs. Igbo does each job with a different word or phrase, so a learner must first decide which job "then" is doing.
1. At that time, in the past or in the future: "I was in Onitsha then." In Igbo this is mgbe ahụ, "that time": Anọ m n'Ọnịcha mgbe ahụ. 2. Next, after that: "We ate rice, and then we went home." Igbo says emesịa, "afterwards": Anyị riri osikapa, emesịa anyị gara ụlọ. 3. In that case, as a result: "Then tell me the truth." Igbo says ya mere, "for that reason": Ya mere, gwa m eziokwu. After "if", English often puts "then" in the main clause ("If you come, then I will go"), but Igbo usually says nothing there: Ọ bụrụ na ị bịa, aga m aga.
Here are three more examples:
- Not then. — Ọ bụghị mgbe ahụ. - Then they left. — Mgbe ahụ, ha pụrụ. - Wash your hands first, then eat. — Buru ụzọ saa aka gị, emesịa rie nri.
Lesson 51 taught "now" (ugbu a), the moment of speaking. "Then" is the same idea moved away from the moment of speaking: it points to another time, or to the next step. Like "now", it can stand at the beginning of a sentence (Then I understood) or at the end (I was in Onitsha then).
English also builds fixed phrases on "then", and they are not translated word by word:
- until then — ruo mgbe ahụ - since then — site mgbe ahụ - from then on — site mgbe ahụ gaa n'ihu - back then — n'oge ahụ - by then — by that time - just then — at that very moment - then and there — at once, in that very place
What does "then" mean in Igbo? It means mgbe ahụ (at that time), emesịa (afterwards) or ya mere (in that case), according to the sentence.
Key Takeaways:
- "Then" = mgbe ahụ (at that time), emesịa (next, afterwards), ya mere (in that case). - "Then" is not a conjunction. To join two clauses about time, English uses "when": "When I was a child, I lived in Aba." Igbo mgbe is "when"; mgbe ahụ is "then". Do not mix them. - "If … then …": Igbo usually leaves "then" out. English may leave it out too: "If you come, I will go." - "Since then" and "up to then" use has / have or had: "Since then, nobody has called me." - "Then" and "than" are different words: "then" /ðen/ is time or sequence; "than" /ðæn/ is for comparing ("taller than me").
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
then — /ðen/ (British), /ðɛn/ (American). One syllable. It rhymes with "ten", "when" and "men".
The first sound, /ð/, is the voiced "th". Igbo has no such sound. Put the tip of the tongue lightly between the teeth and let the voice buzz; put a finger on the throat and feel it vibrate. Do not replace it with d or z:
- then /ðen/ — den /den/ (the home of a wild animal). "Then I left" is not "Den I left". - then /ðen/ — ten /ten/ (the number). The tongue is between the teeth for "then", behind the teeth for "ten". - then /ðen/ — thin /θɪn/ (not fat). Both begin with "th", but "then" is voiced and "thin" is not.
The vowel /e/ is short, like Igbo e in nne. Do not lengthen it.
than — /ðæn/ when stressed, and /ðən/ in ordinary speech. The vowel in /ðæn/ lies between Igbo a and e. "Taller than me" has a different vowel from "and then".
and then — /ənd ˈðen/, with the stress on "then". just then — /dʒʌst ˈðen/, with the stress on "then". back then — /ˌbæk ˈðen/. Say it with a pause after "back". until then — /ənˌtɪl ˈðen/.
English has no tones. "Then" is stressed when it points to a time ("Until THEN") and weak when it only joins two actions ("We ate and then left").
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
52.1 I m was anọ in n' Onitsha Ọnịcha then mgbe ahụ
52.2 Not ọ bụghị then mgbe ahụ
52.3 Then Mgbe ahụ they ha left pụrụ
52.4 Then Mgbe ahụ I m understood aghọtara
52.5 What gịnị happened mere then emesịa
52.6 The ahụ house ụlọ was dị small obere then mgbe ahụ
52.7 Wash saa your gị hands aka first buru ụzọ, then emesịa eat rie nri
52.8 If ọ bụrụ na you ị come bịa, then — I m will aga go aga
52.9 He ọ opened meghere the ahụ door ọnụ ụzọ, and then emesịa he o went in banyere n'ime
52.10 We anyị ate riri rice osikapa, and then emesịa we anyị went gara home ụlọ
52.11 Until Ruo then mgbe ahụ, wait chere here ebe a
52.12 Since Site then mgbe ahụ, nobody ọ dịbeghị onye has called kpọrọ me m
52.13 Back then n'oge ahụ, my m father nna was na-arụ ọrụ working in n' Enugu Enugu
52.14 If ọ bụrụ na you ị are dị ready njikere, then — we anyị can nwere ike go ịga
52.15 Then Ya mere tell gwa me m the — truth eziokwu
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
52.1 I was in Onitsha then. Anọ m n'Ọnịcha mgbe ahụ.
52.2 Not then. Ọ bụghị mgbe ahụ.
52.3 Then they left. Mgbe ahụ, ha pụrụ.
52.4 Then I understood. Mgbe ahụ, aghọtara m.
52.5 What happened then? Gịnị mere emesịa?
52.6 The house was small then. Ụlọ ahụ dị obere mgbe ahụ.
52.7 Wash your hands first, then eat. Buru ụzọ saa aka gị, emesịa rie nri.
52.8 If you come, then I will go. Ọ bụrụ na ị bịa, aga m aga.
52.9 He opened the door, and then he went in. Ọ meghere ọnụ ụzọ ahụ, emesịa o banyere n'ime.
52.10 We ate rice, and then we went home. Anyị riri osikapa, emesịa anyị gara ụlọ.
52.11 Until then, wait here. Ruo mgbe ahụ, chere ebe a.
52.12 Since then, nobody has called me. Site mgbe ahụ, ọ dịbeghị onye kpọrọ m.
52.13 Back then, my father was working in Enugu. N'oge ahụ, nna m na-arụ ọrụ n'Enugu.
52.14 If you are ready, then we can go. Ọ bụrụ na ị dị njikere, anyị nwere ike ịga.
52.15 Then tell me the truth. Ya mere, gwa m eziokwu.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
52.1 I was in Onitsha then.
52.2 Not then.
52.3 Then they left.
52.4 Then I understood.
52.5 What happened then?
52.6 The house was small then.
52.7 Wash your hands first, then eat.
52.8 If you come, then I will go.
52.9 He opened the door, and then he went in.
52.10 We ate rice, and then we went home.
52.11 Until then, wait here.
52.12 Since then, nobody has called me.
52.13 Back then, my father was working in Enugu.
52.14 If you are ready, then we can go.
52.15 Then tell me the truth.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
These are the grammar rules for "then" in English:
1. The place of "then". "Then" stands at the beginning of the sentence ("Then they left", 52.3; "Then I understood", 52.4) or at the end ("I was in Onitsha then", 52.1; "The house was small then", 52.6). In writing, a comma often follows "then" at the beginning when a longer clause comes after it. In formal writing "then" may stand before the verb: "He then went in." It does not stand between a verb and its object: not "We ate then rice", but "We ate rice, and then we went home" (52.10).
2. "Then" = at that time. It points to a time that has been named or is understood from the context. It goes with the past ("I was in Onitsha then", 52.1; "Back then, my father was working in Enugu", 52.13, which shows an action in progress at that time) or with the future ("I will be at school then"). It does not go with the present. For this moment, English says "now" (Lesson 51): "I am in Onitsha now". Igbo mgbe ahụ is "that time"; ugbu a is "this time".
3. "Then" = next. In a series of actions, "then" and "and then" join them in the order in which they happened:
- Wash your hands first, then eat (52.7) — Buru ụzọ saa aka gị, emesịa rie nri - He opened the door, and then he went in (52.9) — Ọ meghere ọnụ ụzọ ahụ, emesịa o banyere n'ime - We ate rice, and then we went home (52.10) — Anyị riri osikapa, emesịa anyị gara ụlọ
English often pairs it with "first": "First …, then …". Other words for the same job are "next", "after that", "afterwards" and "later". Igbo emesịa covers most of them. With "and then", the second action has its own subject: "and then we went home". The question "What happened then?" (52.5) or "And then?" asks what came next.
4. "Then" = in that case. After "if", English puts "then" in the main clause to say "this follows from that": "If you come, then I will go" (52.8); "If you are ready, then we can go" (52.14). The word is not necessary, and English speakers often leave it out: "If you come, I will go." Igbo ọ bụrụ na … usually does not take a word for "then" either. In a conversation, "Then …" at the beginning of a reply means "in that case": "Then tell me the truth" (52.15). Here Igbo says ya mere. Note the verb forms after "if": present in the "if" clause (If you come), will or can in the main clause (I will go).
5. The fixed phrases.
- until then — ruo mgbe ahụ. The verb is often a command or "will": "Until then, wait here" (52.11). - since then — site mgbe ahụ. The verb is has / have + past participle: "Since then, nobody has called me" (52.12). Igbo uses -beghị, "not yet": ọ dịbeghị onye kpọrọ m. Do not say "Since then, nobody called me". - from then on — site mgbe ahụ gaa n'ihu. From that time onwards: "From then on, they walked together." - back then — n'oge ahụ, "in those days": "Back then, there were no phones." - by then — by that time. It often goes with had / will have: "By then, they had left." - just then — at that very moment: "Just then, the phone rang." - then and there — at once and on that very spot: "He paid then and there." - But "now and then" (Lesson 51) means "sometimes" and has nothing to do with a past time.
6. "Then" and "than". These are two words with two spellings and two meanings: "then" is time or sequence, "than" is comparison. "She is taller than me" (not "taller then me"); "First wash, then eat" (not "First wash, than eat").
Common Mistakes:
- "Then I was a child, I lived in Aba." Correct: When I was a child, I lived in Aba. "Then" does not join clauses; "when" does. Igbo mgbe is both "when" and part of mgbe ahụ, which makes the mistake easy. - "He is taller then me." Correct: He is taller than me. - "First wash your hands, than eat." Correct: First wash your hands, then eat. - "Since then, nobody called me." Correct: Since then, nobody has called me. - "If you come, then I go." Correct: If you come, then I will go. The main clause takes will; "then" may be left out. - "We ate rice, after then we went home." Correct: We ate rice, and then we went home (or: after that). - "I am in Onitsha then." for the present. Correct: I am in Onitsha now. "Then" cannot mean this moment. - "Den I left." Correct: Then I left. Put the tongue between the teeth for "th".
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
"Then" is one of the commonest words of English, and the commonest of the "story words". A child's story, a joke, a report of an accident, and the directions to a house are all built on "then": "First you go to the church, then you turn left, and then you see a blue gate." Speakers say "and then" over and over in a spoken story ("and then he said … and then she said …"). In writing, careful writers vary the word: "next", "after that", "afterwards", "later", "finally".
A tale in Igbo also goes one step after another, with emesịa or mgbe ahụ where the steps need a marker. English opens a story with "Once upon a time" or "One day", and "Then …" carries it forward.
In speech, "then" also closes or opens a conversation:
- See you then. — agreed time named earlier; "See you at that time" - Right then, let us begin. — British: a speaker's signal to start or to leave - Well then, what shall we do? — "in that case", opening a decision - Bye then. — a casual goodbye - Then again, … — "on the other hand": "It is expensive. Then again, it is very good." - Now then, … — a teacher's or a chairman's call for attention (compare "Now, …", Lesson 51)
The Bible and "then". The King James Bible (1611) and Matthew's Gospel use "Then" at the head of verse after verse, to move the story on. The Biblica Igbo translation uses two words for it in the same chapter: Mgbe ahụ (Matthew 4:11) and Emesịa (Matthew 4:1). Section F shows this. In modern English you meet this "Then" in news ("Then, in 2016, …"), in recipes ("Then add the salt"), and in instructions of every kind.
Common expressions with "then":
- if so, then … — in that case - then and now — the past compared with the present - what then? — what follows from that? - until then — until that time
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Matthew 4:11. English: King James Version (1611). Igbo: Biblica® Baịbụlụ Nsọ nʼIgbo Ndị Ugbu a, Matiu 4:11.
"Then Mgbe ahụ the — devil ekwensu leaveth hapụrụ him ya (laa — away), and — behold — angels ndị mmụọ ozi came bịakwutere ya and — ministered nọnyere ya, na-ejere ya ozi unto him ya" - Matthew 4:11 (KJV)
"Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." "Mgbe ahụ ekwensu hapụrụ ya laa. Ndị mmụọ ozi bịakwutere ya, nọnyere ya, na-ejere ya ozi." (Matiu 4:11)
In Matthew chapter 4, Jesus has refused the devil three times. Verse 11 closes the whole scene with one word: "Then". It does not mean "at the time of the third temptation"; it means "after all this, as the result of it". The temptation is over, and what follows is the consequence. The King James translators put "Then" first in the sentence, where it weighs most. The Igbo does the same with Mgbe ahụ.
The chapter has the word twice. Verse 1 begins in the same way: "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." The Igbo of verse 1 is: Emesịa, Mmụọ Nsọ duuru Jisọs baa nʼọzara ka ekwensu nwaa ya ọnwụnwa. So the first verse of the chapter is opened with "Then" = emesịa (next, after what came before), and the last scene is closed with "Then" = mgbe ahụ (at that moment). The scene is a frame, and one word marks both ends of it. In Matthew's Greek the same word, tote, stands at the head of both verses.
- "Then the devil leaveth him": "Then" begins the sentence, as in "Then they left" (52.3). Modern English would say "Then the devil left him". - "Leaveth" is the old third-person form, "leaves"; the ending -eth belongs to 1611. Today we say "leaves" or "left". Igbo hapụrụ is the past form. - "Behold" is old English for "look!" or "see!". Modern English says "Look". The Igbo has no word for it here. - "Angels came and ministered unto him": two verbs for one subject, joined by "and". "Ministered" means "served"; "unto" is the old form of "to". Igbo has three verbs: bịakwutere ya (came to him), nọnyere ya (stayed with him), na-ejere ya ozi (were serving him). - "Him" is the object of both "leaveth" and "ministered unto". Igbo ya follows each verb.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
52.16 Chika Chika woke up tetara in n' the — morning ụtụtụ
52.17 Then Emesịa she o washed saara her ya face ihu
52.18 Then Emesịa she o took weere her ya basket nkata
52.19 She Ọ went out pụtara, and then emesịa she o closed mechiri the ahụ door ọnụ ụzọ
52.20 Then Mgbe ahụ she o met zutere her ya friend enyi Obi Obi on n' the — road ụzọ
52.21 Where Ebee are ka you ị going na-aga Obi Obi asked jụrụ
52.22 I Ana m am going aga to — the — market ahịa she o said kwuru
52.23 Then Ya mere I m will aga go eso with — you gị Obi Obi said kwuru
52.24 They Ha were na-aga walking ije; then mgbe ahụ the — rain mmiri began malitere to — fall izo
52.25 Then Emesịa they ha ran gbara ọsọ to gaa a — big ukwu tree n'osisi
52.26 They Ha waited chere, and then emesịa the — rain mmiri stopped kwụsịrị
52.27 Then Mgbe ahụ the — sun anyanwụ came out pụtara
52.28 Then Ya mere let us ka anyị go gaa Chika Chika said kwuru
52.29 At N' the — market ahịa, they ha bought zụrụ yams ji, and then emesịa they ha went back home laghachiri
52.30 Since Site then mgbe ahụ, Chika Chika and na Obi Obi have — always mgbe niile gone na-aga to — the — market ahịa together ọnụ
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
52.16 Chika woke up in the morning. Chika tetara n'ụtụtụ.
52.17 Then she washed her face. Emesịa, o saara ihu ya.
52.18 Then she took her basket. Emesịa, o weere nkata ya.
52.19 She went out, and then she closed the door. Ọ pụtara, emesịa o mechiri ọnụ ụzọ ahụ.
52.20 Then she met her friend Obi on the road. Mgbe ahụ, o zutere enyi ya Obi n'ụzọ.
52.21 "Where are you going?" Obi asked. "Ebee ka ị na-aga?" Obi jụrụ.
52.22 "I am going to the market," she said. "Ana m aga ahịa," o kwuru.
52.23 "Then I will go with you," Obi said. "Ya mere, aga m eso gị," Obi kwuru.
52.24 They were walking; then the rain began to fall. Ha na-aga ije; mgbe ahụ, mmiri malitere izo.
52.25 Then they ran to a big tree. Emesịa, ha gbara ọsọ gaa n'osisi ukwu.
52.26 They waited, and then the rain stopped. Ha chere, emesịa mmiri kwụsịrị.
52.27 Then the sun came out. Mgbe ahụ, anyanwụ pụtara.
52.28 "Then let us go," Chika said. "Ya mere, ka anyị gaa," Chika kwuru.
52.29 At the market, they bought yams, and then they went back home. N'ahịa, ha zụrụ ji, emesịa ha laghachiri.
52.30 Since then, Chika and Obi have always gone to the market together. Site mgbe ahụ, Chika na Obi na-aga ahịa ọnụ mgbe niile.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
52.16 Chika woke up in the morning.
52.17 Then she washed her face.
52.18 Then she took her basket.
52.19 She went out, and then she closed the door.
52.20 Then she met her friend Obi on the road.
52.21 "Where are you going?" Obi asked.
52.22 "I am going to the market," she said.
52.23 "Then I will go with you," Obi said.
52.24 They were walking; then the rain began to fall.
52.25 Then they ran to a big tree.
52.26 They waited, and then the rain stopped.
52.27 Then the sun came out.
52.28 "Then let us go," Chika said.
52.29 At the market, they bought yams, and then they went back home.
52.30 Since then, Chika and Obi have always gone to the market together.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The story is told in the past tense (woke up, washed, took, met, ran), and "then" carries it from one step to the next. Sentences 52.16 to 52.20 are a chain of morning actions: woke up, washed, took, went out, met. Each action is a new sentence, and "then" at the head of the sentence says "next". Igbo emesịa does the same job (Emesịa, o saara ihu ya). In 52.20, 52.24 and 52.27 the Igbo uses mgbe ahụ, because the sense is "at that moment": she met her friend at that moment; the rain began to fall at that moment.
"And then" inside one sentence (52.19, 52.26, 52.29) joins two actions of the same story. A comma comes before "and then". After the comma the second action has its own subject ("and then she closed the door").
The semicolon in 52.24 ("They were walking; then the rain began to fall") puts two linked events side by side. "Were walking" shows the action in progress when the second event came. Igbo na-aga ije is the same: the walking was going on when the rain began.
Inside the quotation marks, "then" has the sense of "in that case": "Then I will go with you" (52.23); "Then let us go" (52.28). Obi hears that Chika is going to the market, and so decides to go too. The second one follows from the first. Igbo ya mere is "for that reason". The verb after it is "will" for a decision made at the moment of speaking, and "let us" for a suggestion.
Questions: "Where are you going?" (52.21). English puts the question word first and the verb are before the subject you. Igbo keeps the order of the statement and adds ka (Ebee ka ị na-aga?).
"Since then" (52.30) ends the story and brings it to the present: the verb is "have … gone", has / have + past participle, with "always" between them. The Igbo habitual na-aga … mgbe niile means "regularly, always".
Other words that can replace "then" in the story: "next" (Next, she took her basket), "after that" (After that, she met her friend), "afterwards", "later". Do not use them all in every sentence; "then" is the plain, normal word.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
- then /ðen/, than /ðæn/, ten /ten/, den /den/, thin /θɪn/: five different words. Practise: then – ten, then – den, then – thin. - Spelling: t-h-e-n. "Than" is t-h-a-n. The "th" of "then" is voiced; the "th" of "thin" is not. - "Then" is also in the words "thence" (from there, old) and "thenceforth" (from that time on); both are rare. "Whence" and "hence" are their relatives. - In "and then" /ənd ˈðen/ the d of "and" is often not heard in quick speech. - "Then" at the beginning of a sentence is followed by a comma only when a longer phrase comes next: "Then, after a long rest, they left." After a short "then" the comma is not necessary: "Then they left." - "Then" takes no apostrophe and no capital except at the start of a sentence. - Igbo learners: write mgbe ahụ as two words. Emesịa may also be written emesia without the dot below, in text without full Igbo marks; the standard form carries the dot (ị).
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
---
Course Index: [latinum.substack.com/p/index](https://latinum.substack.com/p/index)