Was Doing: nọ na-

Level 3

nọ + na- + verb: was doing.

How It Works

Nọ stays after the subject, and na- shows the action was in progress.

SayMeaning
Ọ nọ na-agụ akwụkwọ.He or she was reading.
Anyị nọ na-eri nri.We were eating.
Ha nọ na-agba ọsọ.They were running.

The hyphen joins na- to the verb as usual. Nọ stays apart. A time clause often explains when: Mgbe m bịara, ọ nọ na-agụ akwụkwọ. “When I came, he or she was reading.”

Examples (4)

  1. Ọ nọ na-agụ akwụkwọ.

    He or she was reading.

    Nọ na- plus agụ.

  2. Anyị nọ na-eri nri.

    We were eating.

    Nọ na- plus eri.

  3. Ha nọ na-agba ọsọ.

    They were running.

    Nọ na- plus agba.

  4. Mgbe m bịara, ọ nọ na-agụ akwụkwọ.

    When I came, he or she was reading.

    With a mgbe clause.

How It Connects

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

Was Doing: nọ na-Level 3

Learn This First

Nọ carries the past and is followed by na-, so both come first.

Words in This Pattern

nọna