What does "then" mean in Igbo?
The Igbo word for "then" is mgbe ahụ, said roughly MGBEH AH-hoo. It is an adverb of time and means "at that time" and also "then, next, at that point". It is written as two words, and it is the partner of ugbu a "now", the word of Lesson 51.
The two words are built in the same way. ugbu a is ugbu "time" + a "this", "this time". mgbe ahụ is mgbe "time, when" + ahụ "that", "that time". You met mgbe as "when" in Lesson 43, and the demonstrative ahụ "that" in windo ahụ "that window" (Lesson 51). So mgbe ahụ is, quite literally, "that time". The little word that points to a time near the speaker, a, gives "now"; the word that points away, ahụ, gives "then". The demonstrative always follows the word it points to, as everywhere in Igbo.
Three things differ from English:
1. One word does two jobs. mgbe ahụ can fix a time: "We were at home then" (Anyị nọ n'ụlọ mgbe ahụ). It can also move a story or a list of events on: "Then they remembered his words" (Mgbe ahụ ha chetara okwu ya). In the first job it usually stands at the end of the clause; in the second it stands first. 2. The verb needs no tense word. Igbo does not add a word for "was" to a state. Ahụ m dị mma mgbe ahụ is "I was well then", and the same sentence with ugbu a is "I am well now". mgbe ahụ or ugbu a carries the time. 3. English has other "then" words, and so does Igbo. "Afterwards" is emesịa, "so, for that reason" is ya mere, and "at that time" can also be n'oge ahụ. This lesson teaches mgbe ahụ first and shows the others beside it in Section D.
Igbo is a tonal language, but everyday Igbo spelling does not mark tone, and this lesson does not mark it either; your teacher, a speaker's voice or a dictionary will give you the tones. The dotted vowels ị, ọ and ụ are separate letters and must always be written.
- mgbe ahụ = then, at that time: Anyị nọ n'ụlọ mgbe ahụ, "We were at home then." - At the front of a sentence it means "then, next": Mgbe ahụ ha chetara okwu ya. - With ka, it means "it was then that" or "only then": Mgbe ahụ ka nne m pụrụ. - "When ... then ..." is mgbe + a clause, followed by mgbe ahụ ka + the second clause. - It is the partner of ugbu a (Lesson 51). Other "then" words are emesịa "afterwards" and ya mere "so".
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The IPA in this lesson gives the sounds of each word and leaves tone unmarked, as Igbo spelling does. Igbo is tonal and has no stress accent, so the capitals in respellings such as MGBEH AH-hoo are only a guide for English readers.
- mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/: it begins with a hummed m that is a syllable by itself, then gb, which is one sound made with the lips and the back of the tongue closing together at once. It is not "g" followed by "b". The same opening is in mgbede "evening" (Lesson 51). The final e is the light vowel of "bed" without the glide - ahụ /ahʊ/: the first a is the a of "father", the h is breathed out clearly, and ụ is close to the u of "put". The word ahụ "body" is spelled the same: Ahụ m dị mma mgbe ahụ (52.2) has both, "my body" and "that". Context tells you which - emesịa /emesɪa/: the ị is close to the i of "bit", the final a is the a of "father" - ya mere /ja meɾe/: y is as in English, and r is a light tap, as in Spanish pero - ị /ɪ/, ọ /ɔ/, ụ /ʊ/ are the dotted vowels; o /o/, i /i/, u /u/ are the light vowels. Do not mix them: O na-ehi ụra /o na ehi ʊɾa/ against Ọ bụghị mgbe ahụ /ɔ bʊɣɪ m̩ɡ͡be ahʊ/ - gh /ɣ/ is a voiced sound made at the back of the mouth, in bụghị /bʊɣɪ/ and ụgha /ʊɣa/ "false" - gw /ɡʷ/ and kw /kʷ/ are single sounds with rounded lips: ugwu /uɡʷu/ "mountain", okwu /okʷu/ "word" - kp /k͡p/ and gb /ɡ͡b/ are single sounds: kpọrọ /k͡pɔɾɔ/ "called", gbalaga /ɡ͡balaɡa/ "flee" - nw /ŋʷ/ and ny /ɲ/: nwanyị /ŋʷaɲɪ/ "woman", anyị /aɲɪ/ "we"; ch /t͡ʃ/ as in "church", and j /dʒ/ as in "judge" - m and n can be whole syllables. As a pronoun, m /m̩/ "I, my, me" is a hum between the lips; nri /n̩ɾi/ "food" begins with a hummed n
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
52.1a Mgbe time ahụ that gaa go
52.1b Mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM gaa /ɡaa/ go.IMP
52.2a Ahụ body m my dị is mma good mgbe time ahụ that
52.2b Ahụ /ahʊ/ body m /m̩/ 1SG.POSS dị /dɪ/ be mma /mma/ good mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM
52.3a Anyị we nọ are-at n'ụlọ in-house mgbe time ahụ that
52.3b Anyị /aɲɪ/ 1PL nọ /nɔ/ be.at n'ụlọ /nʊlɔ/ LOC-house mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM
52.4a Ọ it bụghị is-not mgbe time ahụ that
52.4b Ọ /ɔ/ 3SG bụghị /bʊɣɪ/ be.NEG mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM
52.5a Mgbe time ahụ that soro follow m me
52.5b Mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM soro /soɾo/ follow.IMP m /m̩/ 1SG.OBJ
52.6a Nne mother m my na-ehi is-sleeping ụra sleep mgbe time ahụ that
52.6b Nne /nne/ mother m /m̩/ 1SG.POSS na-ehi /na ehi/ PROG-sleep ụra /ʊɾa/ sleep mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM
52.7a Mgbe time ahụ that aga will m I adị be njikere ready
52.7b Mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM aga /aɡa/ FUT m /m̩/ 1SG.SUBJ adị /adɪ/ be njikere /ndʒikeɾe/ ready
52.8a Ebee where ka FOC ị you nọ are-at mgbe time ahụ that
52.8b Ebee /ebee/ where ka /ka/ FOC ị /ɪ/ 2SG nọ /nɔ/ be.at mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM
52.9a Kedu which ihe thing ị you na-eme are-doing mgbe time ahụ that
52.9b Kedu /kedu/ which ihe /ihe/ thing ị /ɪ/ 2SG na-eme /na eme/ PROG-do mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM
52.10a Mgbe time ahụ that ka FOC nne mother m my pụrụ left
52.10b Mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM ka /ka/ FOC nne /nne/ mother m /m̩/ 1SG.POSS pụrụ /pʊɾʊ/ leave.PST
52.11a Mgbe time ahụ that ka let ndị people nọ are-at na in Judịa Judea were take ọsọ running gbalaga flee n'elu on-top ugwu mountain
52.11b Mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM ka /ka/ HORT ndị /ndɪ/ PL.people nọ /nɔ/ be.at na /na/ in Judịa /dʒudɪa/ Judea were /weɾe/ take ọsọ /ɔsɔ/ run gbalaga /ɡ͡balaɡa/ flee n'elu /nelu/ LOC-top ugwu /uɡʷu/ mountain
52.12a Mgbe time ahụ that ha they chetara remembered okwu word ya his
52.12b Mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM ha /ha/ 3PL chetara /t͡ʃetaɾa/ remember.PST okwu /okʷu/ word ya /ja/ 3SG.POSS
52.13a Mgbe time ahụ that ọtụtụ many ndị people amụma prophecy ụgha false ga-apụta will-appear
52.13b Mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM ọtụtụ /ɔtʊtʊ/ many ndị /ndɪ/ PL.people amụma /amʊma/ prophecy ụgha /ʊɣa/ false ga-apụta /ɡa apʊta/ FUT-appear
52.14a Mgbe time ahụ that ha they ga-arara will-betray unu you nyefee hand-over n'aka in-hand ndị people ga-ata will-inflict unu you ahụhụ suffering
52.14b Mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM ha /ha/ 3PL ga-arara /ɡa aɾaɾa/ FUT-betray unu /unu/ 2PL.OBJ nyefee /ɲefee/ hand.over n'aka /naka/ LOC-hand ndị /ndɪ/ PL.people ga-ata /ɡa ata/ FUT-inflict unu /unu/ 2PL.OBJ ahụhụ /ahʊhʊ/ suffering
52.15a Oge time na-abịa is-coming mgbe when a one ga-ewepụ will-take-away di husband nwanyị woman ọhụrụ new n'etiti among ha them mgbe time ahụ that ka FOC ha they ga-ebu will-carry ọnụ mouth
52.15b Oge /oɡe/ time na-abịa /na abɪa/ PROG-come mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ when a /a/ IMPERS ga-ewepụ /ɡa ewepʊ/ FUT-take.away di /di/ husband nwanyị /ŋʷaɲɪ/ woman ọhụrụ /ɔhʊɾʊ/ new n'etiti /netiti/ LOC-middle ha /ha/ 3PL mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM ka /ka/ FOC ha /ha/ 3PL ga-ebu /ɡa ebu/ FUT-carry ọnụ /ɔnʊ/ mouth
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
52.1 Mgbe ahụ, gaa. → "Then go."
52.2 Ahụ m dị mma mgbe ahụ. → "I was well then." (literally "My body was good that time.")
52.3 Anyị nọ n'ụlọ mgbe ahụ. → "We were at home then."
52.4 Ọ bụghị mgbe ahụ. → "Not then." (literally "It was not that time.")
52.5 Mgbe ahụ, soro m. → "Then follow me."
52.6 Nne m na-ehi ụra mgbe ahụ. → "My mother was sleeping then."
52.7 Mgbe ahụ, aga m adị njikere. → "By then, I will be ready."
52.8 Ebee ka ị nọ mgbe ahụ? → "Where were you then?"
52.9 Kedu ihe ị na-eme mgbe ahụ? → "What were you doing then?"
52.10 Mgbe ahụ ka nne m pụrụ. → "It was then that my mother left."
52.11 Mgbe ahụ, ka ndị nọ na Judịa were ọsọ gbalaga n'elu ugwu. → "Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains."
52.12 Mgbe ahụ ha chetara okwu ya. → "Then they remembered his words."
52.13 Mgbe ahụ ọtụtụ ndị amụma ụgha ga-apụta. → "Then many false prophets will appear."
52.14 Mgbe ahụ ha ga-arara unu nyefee n'aka ndị ga-ata unu ahụhụ. → "Then they will hand you over to those who will make you suffer."
52.15 Oge na-abịa mgbe a ga-ewepụ di nwanyị ọhụrụ n'etiti ha, mgbe ahụ ka ha ga-ebu ọnụ. → "The time is coming when the bridegroom will be taken from among them, and then they will fast." (di nwanyị ọhụrụ is literally "the new woman's husband".)
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
52.1 Mgbe ahụ, gaa.
52.2 Ahụ m dị mma mgbe ahụ.
52.3 Anyị nọ n'ụlọ mgbe ahụ.
52.4 Ọ bụghị mgbe ahụ.
52.5 Mgbe ahụ, soro m.
52.6 Nne m na-ehi ụra mgbe ahụ.
52.7 Mgbe ahụ, aga m adị njikere.
52.8 Ebee ka ị nọ mgbe ahụ?
52.9 Kedu ihe ị na-eme mgbe ahụ?
52.10 Mgbe ahụ ka nne m pụrụ.
52.11 Mgbe ahụ, ka ndị nọ na Judịa were ọsọ gbalaga n'elu ugwu.
52.12 Mgbe ahụ ha chetara okwu ya.
52.13 Mgbe ahụ ọtụtụ ndị amụma ụgha ga-apụta.
52.14 Mgbe ahụ ha ga-arara unu nyefee n'aka ndị ga-ata unu ahụhụ.
52.15 Oge na-abịa mgbe a ga-ewepụ di nwanyị ọhụrụ n'etiti ha, mgbe ahụ ka ha ga-ebu ọnụ.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
These are the grammar rules for mgbe ahụ "then" in Igbo:
Where the examples come from. 52.11, 52.12, 52.13, 52.14 and 52.15 are from the Igbo Contemporary Bible (Biblica, Baịbụlụ Nsọ nʼIgbo Ndị Ugbu a): 52.11 is Matthew 24:16, 52.12 is Luke 24:8, 52.13 is Matthew 24:11, 52.14 is Matthew 24:9 and 52.15 is the last sentence of Matthew 9:15. They are given with the course's apostrophe, n', in place of the Bible's nʼ. Each was checked against the published text of that edition. 52.2 to 52.10 are built by the Institute on the sentences of Lesson 51, with mgbe ahụ in place of ugbu a, and with words already met in this course; they are not quotations. So are all of the sentences of the Action Narrative.
1. Form and spelling. The word is mgbe ahụ: mgbe "time, when" + ahụ "that". Write it as two words. mgbe alone is "when" (Lesson 43); it becomes "then" only with ahụ.
2. Then and now. ugbu a points at the moment we are in, mgbe ahụ at a moment away from it, in the past or in the future. Compare 51.8 and 52.2: Ahụ m dị mma ugbu a "I am well now" and Ahụ m dị mma mgbe ahụ "I was well then". Nothing in the verb changes. Likewise 51.6 and 52.3, and 51.10 and 52.8.
3. Two jobs, two places. When mgbe ahụ fixes a time, it normally stands at the end of the clause: Anyị nọ n'ụlọ mgbe ahụ (52.3), Kedu ihe ị na-eme mgbe ahụ? (52.9). When it means "then, next", it stands at the front, with or without a comma: Mgbe ahụ ha chetara okwu ya (52.12), Mgbe ahụ, soro m (52.5). Three sentences of Matthew 24 (52.14, 52.13 and 52.11: verses 9, 11 and 16) each begin with it, and the series of events moves on with each one.
4. The verb. With a state, say nọ "be at" or dị "be", and no tense word is needed (52.2, 52.3, 52.8). For an action that was going on, use na- before the verb: na-ehi ụra "was sleeping" (52.6), na-eme "was doing" (52.9). For a completed action, use the past form of the verb: chetara "remembered" (52.12), pụrụ "left" (52.10). For a future action, use ga-: aga m adị njikere "I will be ready" (52.7), ga-apụta "will appear" (52.13). Note that in 52.7 mgbe ahụ looks forward: "by then".
5. Questions. The question word keeps its place and mgbe ahụ goes to the end: Ebee ka ị nọ mgbe ahụ? (52.8). Compare Olee mgbe? "When?" in Lesson 43: to ask for the time, you ask mgbe; to point to a time already named, you say mgbe ahụ.
6. Only then: mgbe ahụ ka. ka after mgbe ahụ is the focus word, as after ugbu a in Lesson 51. It says that this moment and no other is when the thing happened: Mgbe ahụ ka nne m pụrụ "It was then that my mother left" (52.10). With a future, it is "only then": mgbe ahụ ka ha ga-ebu ọnụ "then they will fast" (52.15).
7. A different ka: let. In 52.11 the same two words are followed by a comma and by ka + a noun + a verb: Mgbe ahụ, ka ndị nọ na Judịa were ọsọ gbalaga. Here ka is the "let" of Lesson 50 (ka anyị lọta ụlọ "that we return home"), a polite command or wish for a third party: "let those in Judea flee". Look at what follows the ka: if a subject and a command-like verb follow, it is "let"; if the sentence is a report of what is or was, it is the focus word.
8. When ... then. Put a clause with mgbe "when" first, and answer it with mgbe ahụ ka: Oge na-abịa mgbe a ga-ewepụ di nwanyị ọhụrụ n'etiti ha, mgbe ahụ ka ha ga-ebu ọnụ (52.15). The first mgbe asks the question "at what time?" and mgbe ahụ answers it. Note that a in mgbe a ga-ewepụ is not the demonstrative "this": it is the small word for an unnamed agent, "one", as in "when one will take". It comes in front of the verb, and it is a form of the unspecified-agent word that appeared as e in tupu e kee ụwa (Lesson 51, Section F).
9. If ... then. The Bible has Mgbe ahụ, ọ bụrụ na onye ọbụla asị unu (Matthew 24:23) "Then, if anyone says to you". The ọ bụrụ na "if" is the conditional marker of the course. Mgbe ahụ at the front says that this "if" is the next thing in the order of events.
10. The other "then" words.
- emesịa "afterwards, later". It follows a time of the present, the way mgbe ahụ follows a time of the past: Ị ghọtaghị ihe m na-eme ugbu a, ma emesịa ị ga-aghọta ya "You do not understand what I am doing now, but afterwards you will understand it" (John 13:7). This is the "now and later" pair, as na mbụ and ugbu a is the "then and now" pair of Lesson 51. - ya mere "so, for that reason". It gives a result, and has nothing to do with time: Ya mere, o kenyere ya oke nke ya site n'ihe o nwere "So he gave him his share from what he had" (Luke 15:12). - n'oge ahụ "at that time", with oge "time": N'oge ahụ akara ngosi nke Nwa nke Mmadụ ga-apụta (Matthew 24:30), "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear". It is the formal cousin of mgbe ahụ.
11. Vowel harmony. The vowels of a word belong to one of two sets: the light vowels e i o u and the heavy vowels a ị ọ ụ. The pronoun in front of the verb follows the verb: Ọ bụghị mgbe ahụ (52.4, heavy bụghị) but O na-ehi ụra (51.7, light ehi). In the Action Narrative, Ọ hụrụ anyị niile (52.26) has the heavy ọ with the heavy hụrụ.
- Using mgbe alone for "then". mgbe is "when". "Then" is mgbe ahụ. Anyị nọ n'ụlọ mgbe is not a complete sentence. - Using ugbu a for a past time. Anyị nọ n'ụlọ ugbu a is "We are at home now". For the past, mgbe ahụ (52.3). - Forgetting the dots. ahụ and ahu are different, and so are ọ and o. Write Ọ bụghị mgbe ahụ with all its dots: ọ, ụ, ị. - Putting a tense word before the state. Ahụ m dị mma mgbe ahụ has no word for "was" (52.2). The time word is enough. - Reading mgbe ahụ ka as "when". Mgbe ahụ ka nne m pụrụ is "It was then that my mother left", not "When my mother left" (52.10). - Using ya mere as a time word. ya mere is "so, therefore". For "afterwards", say emesịa. - Saying gb as g and b. gb in mgbe is one sound, and the word starts with a hum, not with a full vowel.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Then and now. Lesson 51 taught ugbu a, and this lesson gives it a partner. Between them, a speaker can place anything in time without a single tense ending: the verb stays the same and the time word moves. In Lesson 51, na mbụ "before" was set against ugbu a to say how things have changed; mgbe ahụ is the neater, more particular way: not "before" in general, but that moment.
The word in a long telling. The Igbo Contemporary Bible uses mgbe ahụ as the joint of a narrative or a prophecy. In Matthew 24, three sentences begin with it (verses 9, 11 and 16), and each is one more event in a series. In Luke 24:8, Mgbe ahụ ha chetara okwu ya is a turn in the story: the women at the tomb remember what Jesus had said. A storyteller who wants the same effect uses the word in the same place.
Writing the word. mgbe ahụ is written as two words, in the Bible and in this course. The Biblica edition writes the apostrophe in nʼ with a different character, so you may see nʼoge ahụ in one text and n'oge ahụ in another: they are the same word.
Varieties. Igbo has many dialects, and a given dialect may have its own words for "then". The form taught here is the one used in the Bible and in standard writing, and it is understood everywhere Igbo is spoken.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
From Matthew 23, verses 1 and 2, in the Igbo Contemporary Bible (Baịbụlụ Nsọ nʼIgbo Ndị Ugbu a, Biblica, 2020). Mgbe ahụ opens the chapter as a turn in the narrative, and the speech of Jesus follows.
The text is quoted exactly as this edition prints it, including its apostrophe in nʼoche, which the rest of this lesson writes as n'.
F.1a Mgbe time ahụ that Jisọs Jesus gwara told igwe multitude mmadụ person ahụ that niile all na and ndị people na-eso who-follow ụzọ way ya his sị saying
F.1b Mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM Jisọs /dʒisɔs/ Jesus gwara /ɡʷaɾa/ tell.PST igwe /iɡʷe/ multitude mmadụ /mmadʊ/ person ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM niile /niile/ all na /na/ and ndị /ndɪ/ PL.people na-eso /na eso/ PROG-follow ụzọ /ʊzɔ/ way ya /ja/ 3SG.POSS sị /sɪ/ say
F.2a Ndị people ozizi teaching iwu law na and ndị people Farisii Pharisees na-anọ sit nʼoche in-seat Mosis Moses
F.2b Ndị /ndɪ/ PL.people ozizi /ozizi/ teaching iwu /iwu/ law na /na/ and ndị /ndɪ/ PL.people Farisii /farisii/ Pharisees na-anọ /na anɔ/ PROG-be.at nʼoche /not͡ʃe/ LOC-seat Mosis /mosis/ Moses
Mgbe ahụ Jisọs gwara igwe mmadụ ahụ niile na ndị na-eso ụzọ ya sị, "Ndị ozizi iwu na ndị Farisii na-anọ nʼoche Mosis."
→ "Then Jesus said to the whole crowd and to his disciples, 'The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.'"
— Matthew 23:1–2, Baịbụlụ Nsọ nʼIgbo Ndị Ugbu a (Igbo Contemporary Bible), Biblica
Mgbe ahụ Jisọs gwara igwe mmadụ ahụ niile na ndị na-eso ụzọ ya sị, "Ndị ozizi iwu na ndị Farisii na-anọ nʼoche Mosis."
Mgbe ahụ Jisọs gwara is the front position of Rule 3: mgbe ahụ begins the sentence and joins it to what has gone before in the narrative. The English is "Then Jesus said"; the Igbo has the same order, with the time word first, then the subject, then the verb.
igwe mmadụ ahụ niile is "all that crowd": igwe mmadụ is the "multitude" or "crowd", and ahụ niile "that all" follows it, as demonstratives and niile always follow the noun. This is a second use of ahụ "that", here with a person-word, not a time-word. na ndị na-eso ụzọ ya is "and those who follow his way", the Igbo for "his disciples". ndị "those, people" is followed by na-eso, "who follow", and Igbo needs no word for "who": the clause simply follows the noun it describes.
sị "saying" ends the sentence and introduces the quotation, as sịrị m "said to me" does in the Action Narrative (52.23).
Ndị ozizi iwu na ndị Farisii is "the teachers of the law and the Pharisees": ozizi "teaching" and iwu "law" stand together without a joining word. na-anọ nʼoche Mosis is "sit in the seat of Moses": nʼ "in" + oche "seat", and Mosis follows without a word for "of". The na- is the same marker as in na-ehi (51.7), here for a settled, habitual position.
The verse shows in a few words how mgbe ahụ works as a turn in a story: it does not name a clock time, it only says "at that point in the story".
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
A day told in the past, step by step. The narrator fixes each moment with mgbe ahụ, carries the story on with emesịa, and gives the reason for what happened with ya mere.
52.16a Nna father m my gara went n'obodo to-town ọzọ other n'ụtụtụ in-morning
52.16b Nna /nna/ father m /m̩/ 1SG.POSS gara /ɡaɾa/ go.PST n'obodo /nobodo/ LOC-town ọzọ /ɔzɔ/ other n'ụtụtụ /nʊtʊtʊ/ LOC-morning
52.17a Mgbe time ahụ that nne mother m my na-esi was-cooking nri food n'ụlọ in-house
52.17b Mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM nne /nne/ mother m /m̩/ 1SG.POSS na-esi /na esi/ PROG-cook nri /n̩ɾi/ food n'ụlọ /nʊlɔ/ LOC-house
52.18a Nwanne sibling m my nwoke male na-agụ was-reading akwụkwọ book mgbe time ahụ that
52.18b Nwanne /ŋʷanne/ sibling m /m̩/ 1SG.POSS nwoke /ŋʷoke/ male na-agụ /na aɡʊ/ PROG-read akwụkwọ /akʷʊkʷɔ/ book mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM
52.19a Emesịa afterwards mmiri rain dara fell
52.19b Emesịa /emesɪa/ afterwards mmiri /mmiɾi/ water/rain dara /daɾa/ fall.PST
52.20a Ọ it dị was oyi cold mgbe time ahụ that
52.20b Ọ /ɔ/ 3SG dị /dɪ/ be oyi /oji/ cold mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM
52.21a Ya it mere did anyị we mechiri closed windo window
52.21b Ya /ja/ 3SG mere /meɾe/ do.PST anyị /aɲɪ/ 1PL mechiri /met͡ʃiɾi/ close.PST windo /windo/ window
52.22a Nna father m my kpọrọ called nne mother m my n'ekwentị on-phone mgbe time ahụ that
52.22b Nna /nna/ father m /m̩/ 1SG.POSS kpọrọ /k͡pɔɾɔ/ call.PST nne /nne/ mother m /m̩/ 1SG.POSS n'ekwentị /nekʷentɪ/ LOC-phone mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM
52.23a Nne mother m my sịrị said m me Nna father gị your na-abịa is-coming
52.23b Nne /nne/ mother m /m̩/ 1SG.POSS sịrị /sɪɾɪ/ say.PST m /m̩/ 1SG.OBJ Nna /nna/ father gị /ɡɪ/ 2SG.POSS na-abịa /na abɪa/ PROG-come
52.24a Mgbe time ahụ that anyị we niile all nọ were-at n'ọnụ at-mouth ụzọ door
52.24b Mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM anyị /aɲɪ/ 1PL niile /niile/ all nọ /nɔ/ be.at n'ọnụ /nɔnʊ/ LOC-mouth ụzọ /ʊzɔ/ door/road
52.25a Emesịa afterwards nna father m my batara came-in n'ụlọ in-house
52.25b Emesịa /emesɪa/ afterwards nna /nna/ father m /m̩/ 1SG.POSS batara /bataɾa/ enter.PST n'ụlọ /nʊlɔ/ LOC-house
52.26a Ọ he hụrụ saw anyị us niile all
52.26b Ọ /ɔ/ 3SG hụrụ /hʊɾʊ/ see.PST anyị /aɲɪ/ 1PL.OBJ niile /niile/ all
52.27a Ya it mere did nne mother m my wetara brought ya him nri food
52.27b Ya /ja/ 3SG mere /meɾe/ do.PST nne /nne/ mother m /m̩/ 1SG.POSS wetara /wetaɾa/ bring.PST ya /ja/ 3SG.OBJ nri /n̩ɾi/ food
52.28a Mgbe time ahụ that ka FOC ọ he nọdụrụ sat ala down rie eat nri food
52.28b Mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM ka /ka/ FOC ọ /ɔ/ 3SG nọdụrụ /nɔdʊɾʊ/ sit.PST ala /ala/ ground rie /ɾie/ eat nri /n̩ɾi/ food
52.29a Emesịa afterwards anyị we niile all gara went ihi sleep ụra sleep
52.29b Emesịa /emesɪa/ afterwards anyị /aɲɪ/ 1PL niile /niile/ all gara /ɡaɾa/ go.PST ihi /ihi/ INF.sleep ụra /ʊɾa/ sleep
52.30a Mgbe time ahụ that obi heart dị was m to-me ụtọ sweet
52.30b Mgbe /m̩ɡ͡be/ time ahụ /ahʊ/ that.DEM obi /obi/ heart dị /dɪ/ be m /m̩/ 1SG.OBJ ụtọ /ʊtɔ/ sweet
52.16 Nna m gara n'obodo ọzọ n'ụtụtụ. → "My father went to another town in the morning."
52.17 Mgbe ahụ nne m na-esi nri n'ụlọ. → "At that time my mother was cooking at home."
52.18 Nwanne m nwoke na-agụ akwụkwọ mgbe ahụ. → "My brother was reading then."
52.19 Emesịa mmiri dara. → "Afterwards it rained."
52.20 Ọ dị oyi mgbe ahụ. → "It was cold then."
52.21 Ya mere anyị mechiri windo. → "So we closed the window."
52.22 Nna m kpọrọ nne m n'ekwentị mgbe ahụ. → "My father called my mother on the phone then."
52.23 Nne m sịrị m, "Nna gị na-abịa." → "My mother said to me, 'Your father is coming.'"
52.24 Mgbe ahụ anyị niile nọ n'ọnụ ụzọ. → "Then we were all at the door."
52.25 Emesịa nna m batara n'ụlọ. → "Afterwards my father came into the house."
52.26 Ọ hụrụ anyị niile. → "He saw us all."
52.27 Ya mere nne m wetara ya nri. → "So my mother brought him food."
52.28 Mgbe ahụ ka ọ nọdụrụ ala rie nri. → "It was then that he sat down and ate."
52.29 Emesịa anyị niile gara ihi ụra. → "Afterwards we all went to sleep."
52.30 Mgbe ahụ obi dị m ụtọ. → "I was happy then." (literally "The heart was sweet to me.")
52.16 Nna m gara n'obodo ọzọ n'ụtụtụ.
52.17 Mgbe ahụ nne m na-esi nri n'ụlọ.
52.18 Nwanne m nwoke na-agụ akwụkwọ mgbe ahụ.
52.19 Emesịa mmiri dara.
52.20 Ọ dị oyi mgbe ahụ.
52.21 Ya mere anyị mechiri windo.
52.22 Nna m kpọrọ nne m n'ekwentị mgbe ahụ.
52.23 Nne m sịrị m, "Nna gị na-abịa."
52.24 Mgbe ahụ anyị niile nọ n'ọnụ ụzọ.
52.25 Emesịa nna m batara n'ụlọ.
52.26 Ọ hụrụ anyị niile.
52.27 Ya mere nne m wetara ya nri.
52.28 Mgbe ahụ ka ọ nọdụrụ ala rie nri.
52.29 Emesịa anyị niile gara ihi ụra.
52.30 Mgbe ahụ obi dị m ụtọ.
The frame. The narrative is the story of the evening of Lesson 51, told once it is over. In 51.21 the father is "not at home now, but will return tonight"; here, he returns. The story goes on in three steps. mgbe ahụ fixes a moment (52.17, 52.18, 52.20, 52.22, 52.24, 52.30), emesịa brings the next event (52.19, 52.25, 52.29), and ya mere gives the result of the one before (52.21, 52.27). Each is placed first or last in its clause.
Vocabulary.
- gara "went" (52.16, 52.29): the past of gaa "go" (51.1). n'obodo ọzọ "to another town": obodo "town", ọzọ "other, another", placed after its noun. n'ụtụtụ "in the morning" (52.16). - na-esi nri "was cooking" (52.17): na- + si "cook" is the progressive of 51.17, and mgbe ahụ sets it in the past. - emesịa "afterwards" (52.19, 52.25, 52.29): see Rule 10. Note that it is followed by the new event in its plain past form. - dara "fell" (52.19): the past of the verb of falling. mmiri dara is "it rained", as in English "rain fell". Compare mmiri na-ezo "it is raining" (51.19). - ya mere "so" (52.21, 52.27): Rule 10. It stands first and is followed by a comma in print when the sentence is longer; in the short narrative sentences, it is not set off. - mechiri "closed" (52.21): the past of the verb "close", whose command form mechie was in 51.22. windo is a borrowing from English. - kpọrọ "called" (52.22): the past of the verb kpọ "call", the same form as in 51.13. n'ekwentị "on the phone": ekwentị is the word for "telephone", and n' "on, in" comes before it. - sịrị m "said to me" (52.23) introduces the words of the speaker, as in 51.23. na-abịa "is coming" is the progressive of bịa "come". - n'ọnụ ụzọ "at the door" (52.24): ọnụ "mouth, opening" + ụzọ "road, way, door", so "at the mouth of the way". The word ụzọ was "road" in 51.6. - batara "came in, entered" (52.25): the past of bata "come in, enter". n'ụlọ "into the house". - hụrụ "saw" (52.26): the past of hụ "see". The same form is in nna ya hụrụ ya "his father saw him" (Luke 15:20). anyị niile "us all" puts niile after the pronoun (51.27). - wetara ya nri "brought him food" (52.27): the past of weta "bring", then the person who receives, ya "him", and then the thing, nri. The order is person first, thing second. - nọdụrụ ala "sat down" (52.28): nọdụ "sit" + ala "ground". The Bible has it in Matthew 24:3 (Mgbe ọ nọdụrụ ala n'elu Ugwu Oliv "when he sat on the Mount of Olives"). After it, rie nri "ate food" is the second verb of the pair. ka is the focus word of Rule 6. - gara ihi ụra "went to sleep" (52.29): gara "went" + ihi ụra "to sleep", the verb with the infinitive prefix i-. In 51.30 the same verb was ana m ehi ụra "I am sleeping". - obi dị m ụtọ "I was happy" (52.30): see 51.28. The heart is the thing that is sweet, and the speaker is m, the object.
The word that moves. In the fifteen sentences of the narrative, mgbe ahụ begins the sentence in four places (52.17, 52.24, 52.28, 52.30) and ends it in three (52.18, 52.20, 52.22). That is the habit to learn: first for "then", last for "at that time". In the same fifteen sentences, emesịa is always first.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
- mgbe ahụ /m̩ɡ͡be ahʊ/ is two words in print and a smooth stretch of sound in speech. Write it as two words, and never write mgbeahụ. - The apostrophe in n'ụlọ, n'obodo, n'ụtụtụ, n'ekwentị, n'ọnụ and n'elu marks the preposition na "in, at, on" whose vowel has dropped before the next word. The Bible edition quoted in Section F writes it as nʼ with a different apostrophe character. The two are the same spelling. - ị ọ ụ (dotted) and i o u (undotted) are always different letters: ahụ "that", ọzọ "other", ụra "sleep". Take care with the dot under the ụ in ahụ, since it is in every example of this lesson. - gb, kp, gw, kw, nw, ny and ch are single sounds, and mgbe, mmiri and njikere begin with a hummed m or n before the consonant. ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
---
Course Index: [latinum.substack.com/p/index](https://latinum.substack.com/p/index)