Affix is a letter, letters or word that is attached to another word (bound morphemes) to modify, extend or change the meaning of the original word. The process of attaching affixes is called affixation. Affixation in Igbo language is mainly with verbs. The Igbo term for affix is mgbakwunye. Affix could be prefix, interfix or suffix. Affix works with the verb root to modify the meaning of the verb root. The Igbo term for prefix is nganiihu. The Igbo term for interfix is nnọneetiti. The Igbo term for suffix is nsonaazụ. One or more verbs could be suffixed to a root verb to form a compound verb, which is addressed in another lesson.
PREFIX
Prefix could be any of the eight vowels or any of the two syllabic nasal (pseudo vowels). The tables below contain examples of prefix using participle, bound verb complement, infinitive, gerund, agent noun and perfect tense.
| Participle | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Participle | Example | English Translation |
| cook | si | esi | John na-esi nri | John is cooking |
| steal | zu | ezu | a ga-ezuru ya | it will be stolen |
| rear | zụ | azụ | ọ na-azụ ọkụkọ | he rears chickens |
| Bound Verb Complement | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Complement | Example | English Translation |
| cook | si | esi | o siri ji esi | he cooked the yam (he didn't roast it) |
| steal | zu | ezu | o zuru ya ezu | he stole it (he didn't buy it) |
| buy | zụ | azụ | ọ zụrụ ya azụ | he bought it (he didn't steal it) |
| Infinitive | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Infinitive | Example | English Translation |
| cook | si | isi | isi nri dị mma | to cook is good |
| steal | zu | izu | izu oshi adịghi mma | to steal is not good |
| buy | zụ | ịzụ | ịzụ ọkụkọ | to buy chicken |
| rear | zụ | ịzụ | ịzụ ọkụkọ | to rear chicken |
| train | zụ | ịzụ | ịzụ nnwa | to train a child |
| Gerund | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Gerund | Example | English Translation |
| cook | si | isi | isi nri dị mma | cooking is good |
| steal | zu | izu | izu oshi adịghi mma | stealing is not good |
| buy | zụ | ịzụ | ịzụ ọkụkọ | buying chicken |
| rear | zụ | ịzụ | ịzụ ọkụkọ | rearing chicken |
| train | zụ | ịzụ | ịzụ nnwa | training a child |
| Gerund (based on compound verb) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Gerund | Example | English Translation |
| cook | si | osisi | osisi nri mmemme | cooking of party food |
| steal | zu | ozuzu | ozuzu e zuru ọkụkọ m | the stealing of my chicken |
| train | zụ | ọzụzụ | ọ bụ maka ọzụzụ ụmụ akwụkwọ | it's for the training of students |
| Agent Noun | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Agent Noun | Example | English Translation |
| cook | si | osi | osi nri | cook/chef |
| steal | zu | ozu | ozu ọkụkọ | chicken thief |
| train | zụ | ọzụ | ọzụ ọkụkọ | chicken rearer |
| Perfect | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Perfect | Example | English Translation |
| cook | si | esiela | John esiela nri | John has cooked |
| steal | zu | ezuola | ndi oshi ezuola ego m | thieves have stolen my money |
| train | zụ | azụọla | John azụọla ụlọ | John has bought a house |
INTERFIX
Interfix is found between two verbs and results in a verbal derivative. The syntax for such verbal derivative is [prefix][verb root][interfix][verb root].
| Interfix | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Verbal Derivative | Example | English Translation |
| cook | si | esimesi | o siere anyị esimesi dị iche iche | he cooked a variety of food for us |
| eat | ri | erimeri | anyị riri erimeri dị iche iche | we ate a variety of food |
| write | de | edemede | dee edemede gbasara ube | write an article on pear |
| talk | kwu | ekwurekwu | John bụ onye ekwurekwu | John is a talkative |
SUFFIX
Suffix is affixed to the end of a verb. Suffix can either be inflectional suffix or extensional suffix. Inflectional suffix is used to mark tense, aspects, mood or negation (e.g. -ra, -re, -ghi, -rọ). (Note that prefixes can also be inflectional: -e, -a, -o, -ọ). The Igbo term for inflectional suffix is nsonaazụ mgbanwe. The Igbo term for extensional suffix is nsonaazụ mgbatị. Extensional suffix extends the meaning of the verb.
Igbo enclitics are similar to suffixes, but in addition to verbs, they can work with other parts of speech.
Inflectional Suffix
| Stative verbs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Stative Verb | Example | English Translation |
| have | nwe | nwere | o nwere ego | he has money (he is rich) |
| want | chọ | chọrọ | achọrọ m ịṅụ mmiri | I want to drink water |
| think | che | chere | echere m na ọ ga-abịa | I think he will come |
| Simple Past | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Simple Past | Example | English Translation |
| eat | ri | riri | o riri ji | he ate yam |
| go | ga | gara | ọ gara akwụkwọ | he went to school |
| drink | ṅụ | ṅụrụ | aṅụrụ m mmiri | I drank water |
| have | nwe | nweere | o nweere ego | he had money (he was rich) |
| want | chọ | chọọrọ | achọọrọ m ịṅụ mmiri | I wanted to drink water |
| think | che | cheere | echeere m na ọ ga-abịa | I thought he will come |
| Imperative | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Imperative | Example | English Translation |
| eat | ri | rie | rie ji | eat yam |
| go | ga | gaa | gaa akwụkwọ | go to school |
| build | rụ | rụọ | rụọ ụlọ | build a house |
| Negation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Negation | Example | English Translation |
| eat | ri | righi | o righi ji | he didn't eat yam |
| go | ga | gaghi | ọ gaghi akwụkwọ | he didn't go to school |
| build | rụ | rụghi | ọ rụghi ụlọ | he didn't build a house |
| Perfect | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Perfect | Example | English Translation |
| cook | si | esiela | John esiela nri | John has cooked |
| steal | zu | ezuola | ndi oshi ezuola ego m | thieves have stolen my money |
| train | zụ | azụọla | John azụọla ụlọ | John has bought a house |
| Perfect (single letter pronoun) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Perfect | Example | English Translation |
| cook | si | siela | o siela nri | he has cooked |
| steal | zu | zuola | e zuola ego m | my money has been stolen |
| train | zụ | zụọla | ọ zụọla ụlọ | he has bought a house |
Extensional Suffix
| Imperative (towards) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Verb | Verb | Imperative | Example | English Translation |
| fetch | ku | kuru | kuru mmiri | fetch water (for yourself) |
| do | me | meere | meere m ya | do it for me |
| carry | bu | buru | buru nri | carry food (for yourself) |
| Extensional suffix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Verb | Extensional Suffix | English Translation |
| look for | chọ | chọta | find |
| look for | chọ | chọwa | keep looking for |
| live | bi | bikete | live close |
| take | we | weda | take down |
| take | we | wedata | bring down |
| take | we | wetu | bring down |
| take | we | wego | take up |
| take | we | weli | lift up |