The conjugation of these verbs are similar to the conjugation of the dot verbs above but with a minor difference.
1. Start with desired pronoun.
2. Place ‘na’ before the main verb and join the two with a hyphen
3. Remove the infinitive marker (i) and replace it with the letter ‘e’
4. Place the appropriate complement immediately after the main verbIge nti (to listen)
Pronoun + na - + Main Verb + Complement
M na - ege ntị =
M na ege nti. (I am listening)
Important! : The dotless verbs also have alternative forms for the 1st person singular and 3rd person plural pronouns.
M na-eri nri A na m eri nri
(I am eating food)
M na-ebe akwa A na m ebe akwa
(I am crying)
Ha na ehi ụra A na ha ehi ụra
(They are sleeping)
Ha na echu mmiri A na ha echu mmiri.
(They are fetching water)
Remember!
1. Always use the appropriate pronoun.
2. The sentences above and their alternatives have the same meaning.
3. In order to conjugate the verbs correctly, be sure to maintain vowel harmony (ndakọrịta ụdaụme) to determine what group, each of the infinitive markers belongs to.
ibi (verb: to live)
Verb Subject Pronoun + Preposition + Noun
E bi m na Bọstịn (I live in Boston)
Note: Subject Pronoun “m” ( I ) has an irregular grammar pattern in the above sentence
Subject Pronoun + Verb + Preposition + Noun
i bi na Bọstin (You live in Boston) [singular]
O bi na Bọstin (He/She lives in Boston)
Anyị bi na Bọstin (We live in Boston)
Unu bi na Bọstin (You live in Boston) [plural]
Ha bi na Bọstin (They live in Boston)
Interrogation:
Wh- Question: What place do + you + live?
Kedụ ebe i bi? Or Olee ebe i bi?)
Answer: Ebi m na Bọstin (or) m bi na bọstịn (I live in Boston)
Wh- Question: What + is + the name (of) + your + country? ( or Where are you from?)
Gịnị bụ aha obodo gi?
Answer: Aha obodo m bụ Bọstịn.
Wh - Question Kedụ onye ebe ị bụ?
Answer: Abụ m onye Naijiria. Or m bụ onye Naijiria (I am from Nigeria)
Yes/No Question: ị bụ onye Naijiria? (Are you from Nigeria?)
Answer: Ee, Abụ m onye Naijiria (Yes, I am from Nigeria)
OR
Mba, Abụghị m onye Naijiria (No, I am not from Nigeria)