“NA” is one of the most essential words in the Igbo language. Despite its apparent simplicity, “NA” plays a vital role in Igbo Grammar. It is written in different ways depending on its role in the sentence.
NA bu otu n’ime mkpụrụ okwu di ezigbo mkpa n’asụsụ Igbo. Ọ na-arụ nnukwu ọrụ n’ụtọ asụsụ Igbo. Ọ di ụzọ di iche a na-ede ya n’ahiriokwu. Ọrụ na na-arụ n’ahiriokwu gosiri etu a na-ede ya n’ime ahiriokwu.
A. NA could be a main verb. Whenever it plays this role, it is automatically considered a verb.
NA na-aru ọrụ dika Isingwa (main verb). Mgbe ọ bụla na na-aru ọru dika isingwa, ọ na-aghọrọ ngwa.
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- Ọ naa m ihe – he takes something from me. He asks me for something.
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- Naa (laa) be gị – Go to your house!
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- Ọ nara gi oke gị – She took your share.
- Oge nara Ngozi mkpisi ode (mkpisi edemede) – Oke took a crayon from Ngozi.
- A nakwana ekele diri nna gị – Do not take your father’s glory.
- Ọ naghi ekwezi ka anyi gwaa ya eziokwu – He/She no longer allows us to tell him/her the truth
- Ọ nabuzi mgbe m nwụrụ ọnwụ ka ị ga-echeta m? Is it when I die that you will remember me?
- Ọ natara ya ego – S/he collected money from him/her.
Nota bene:
When an action verb follows “NA,” they form new expressions. It is essential to note that, unlike when “Na” plays the role of an auxiliary verb, it takes one more “A” and stands on its own here. “NAA,” in this case, could be translated to “keep,” “go ahead,” or “go on doing.”
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- Naa alu! – Keep working!
- Naa ekwu! — Keep talking.
- Naa aga! — Go ahead!
- Naa eme! – Go on doing. Well done, good work.
In the same way, when some non-action verbs are added to “NAA,” they form new expressions.
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- Naa n’aka – Buy on credit.
- Ọ nara ekwe nti n’aka – He bought a phone on credit.
- Naa azụ – Lags/falls back
- Naa n’iyi – waste, spoil.
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