A Comparative Investigation of Verbal Group Configurations in English and Okpameri

This study investigated English and Okpameri verbal group structures, focusing on their similarities and differences. Anchored on systemic functional grammar, the study employed a self-structure test instrument containing forty-four verbal groups in English, which were translated into Okpameri to elicit detailed information on verbal group configurations. The translation exercise was carried out by two hundred Okpameri learners of English selected from four secondary schools in the Okpameri linguistic environment. Data collected were analysed descriptively within the Systemic Functional Grammar framework. Findings revealed that while both languages employed lexical verbs as the core element, English exhibits a more complex verbal group structure, incorporating modal verbs, auxiliaries, and particles to express tense, aspect, modality and polarity. In contrast, Okpameri verbal groups tend to consist solely of lexical verbs, with reliance on tone to convey negation, interrogation and temporal distinctions. Furthermore, the study revealed a notable morphological distinction: English verbs exhibit inflectional morphology marking of tense, number and person, whereas Okpameri verbs lack overt inflectional realisations. The study highlights implications for second language pedagogy and predicts difficulties for Okpameri learners in mastering English verbal group usage. It therefore recommends practical demonstration of English verbal group structures in classroom contexts to minimise these challenges.