Relative Clauses: ihe, ebe, mgbe
noun + subject + verb: the … that…
How It Works
A clause after a noun can tell which one you mean.
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ihe m chọrọ | the thing I want |
| ebe m bi | the place where I live |
| mgbe m bịara | the time I came |
| Ihe m zụtara dị ụtọ. | What I bought is tasty. |
The subject comes straight after the noun, then the verb. The verb often ends in -rV, as in chọrọ and bịara, but not always, as ebe m bi shows.
Examples (4)
- ihe m chọrọ
the thing I want
Noun, subject, verb.
- ebe m bi
the place where I live
Ebe plus clause.
- mgbe m bịara
the time I came
Mgbe plus clause.
- Ihe m zụtara dị ụtọ.
What I bought is tasty.
The clause is the subject.
How It Connects
Learn This First
These clauses follow ihe, ebe and mgbe, so those words come first.
- mgbe: When
Know mgbe, because mgbe m bịara is one of the three: mgbe m bịara “the time I came”.
Level 3 - Here and There: ebe a, ebe ahụHere and There
Know ebe, because it is the word for place: ebe m bi “the place where I live”.
Level 1 - Thing and Person: ihe, mmadụThing and Person
Know ihe, because it is the word for thing: ihe m chọrọ “the thing I want”.
Level 1
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice Relative Clauses: ihe, ebe, mgbe in Bubblegum
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