mgbe ole: Asking When

Mgbe Ole: When

Level 2

Mgbe ole ka + the rest.

How It Works

Mgbe means “time” and ole asks “how many”, so mgbe ole asks “what time” or “when”.

ExampleMeaning
Mgbe ole ka ị ga-abịa?When will you come?
Mgbe ole ka ọ bịara?When did he or she come?
Mgbe ole ka anyị ga-eri nri?When will we eat?

Answer with a time word: echi “tomorrow”, taa “today”, or a clock time. The word mgbe alone also starts a clause such as “when I came”, taught later.

Examples (3)

  1. Mgbe ole ka ị ga-abịa?

    When will you come?

    Ga- gives the future.

  2. Mgbe ole ka ọ bịara?

    When did he or she come?

    A past form.

  3. Mgbe ole ka anyị ga-eri nri?

    When will we eat?

    Anyị as subject.

How It Connects

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

mgbe ole: Asking WhenLevel 2Mgbe Ole: When

Learn This First

Mgbe ole is ole used for time, so ole comes first.

Words in This Pattern

mgbe ole