Compound Verbs

Level 4

root + root = a new verb.

How It Works

Several common verbs are single words that look like a root plus -ta.

VerbMeaning
ghọtaunderstand
chọtafind
zụtabuy

The meaning is not always the sum of the parts, so learn each one as a word. They take the usual endings: zụtara “bought”, chọtara “found”. Do not try to split them when you read. Look for the joined word in the dictionary first, because the meaning of the whole word is what counts. The command form also needs to be learned for each verb.

Examples (4)

  1. Aghọtara m.

    I understand.

    Ghọta is one verb.

  2. Ọ chọtara akwụkwọ ya.

    He or she found his or her book.

    Chọtara is the past.

  3. Anyị zụtara anụ.

    We bought meat.

    Zụtara is the past.

  4. Chọta ya.

    Find it.

    A command.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Compound VerbsLevel 4

Learn This First

Compound verbs fuse two roots that serial verbs keep apart, so serial verbs come first.

Words in This Pattern

ghọtachọtazụta