-ghị and -ghi: Not

Level 2

a-/e- + root + -ghị/-ghi. Pronoun after.

How It Works

The negative uses a prefix and a suffix around the verb.

RootNegativeExample
hụahụghịAhụghị m ya. I did not see him or her.
rierighiErighi m nri. I did not eat.
bịaabịaghịAda abịaghị. Ada did not come.

Vowel harmony picks the ending, so you will see both -ghị and -ghi. In real writing the spelling varies: some writers use -ghị after every verb and others use -ghi after first-group roots. Both are understood. The same ending covers a past event (Ahụghị m ya) and a present state (Amaghị m), and context tells you which. With a name, the subject can come before the verb.

Examples (4)

  1. Ahụghị m ya.

    I did not see him or her.

    A- plus hụ plus -ghị.

  2. Erighi m nri.

    I did not eat.

    E- plus ri plus -ghi.

  3. Ada abịaghị.

    Ada did not come.

    A name as the subject.

  4. Amaghị m.

    I do not know.

    The negative of mara.

How It Connects

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

-ghị and -ghi: NotLevel 2

Learn This First

The negative puts a- or e- in front and the pronoun after the verb, so the vowel after na- and the pronouns after a verb come first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

-ghị