ABSTRACT
This study presents a comprehensive grammatical analysis of the Yoruba verb system within the framework of Generative Grammar. The investigation aims to uncover the structural complexity, semantic nuances, historical development, and pedagogical implications of Yoruba verbs. Through a mixed-methods approach, linguistic data were collected from proficient Yoruba speakers representing different age groups, facilitating a nuanced examination of verb forms, structures, and usage patterns. Quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed intricate morphological features, syntactic configurations, and semantic properties embedded within the Yoruba verb system. The findings underscore the language's rich expressive capacity and systematicity, highlighting the intricate interplay between syntax, morphology, and semantics. Specifically, the study identifies: Distinct syntactic patterns governing verb phrase structure, including tense, aspect, mood, and agreement markers, reflecting the language's robust syntactic system. The predominance of Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order in declarative sentences, with variations influenced by discourse structure and focus. The semantic precision of Yoruba verbs, enabling speakers to convey nuanced meanings with clarity, and the expression of aspectual and modal meanings through morphological markers. The varying valency of Yoruba verbs, with some verbs necessitating multiple arguments while others may be intransitive, highlighting the language's semantic versatility. By elucidating the grammatical intricacies of the Yoruba verb system, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of Yoruba linguistics and its implications for theoretical linguistics and language education.
