Al-Hikmah University Journal

The verb phrase is an obligatory element of the Nigerian Pidgin sentence structure. However, its different constituents and their functions have either not been fully studied or reported in available literature. This paper presents an analysis of verb usage in the Lagos and Ogun states variety of Nigerian Pidgin. The study sample was taken from selected radio programmes aired on four popular radio stations in Lagos and Ogun States, Nigeria. The verb phrase elements in different clausal and sentence constructions were identified, transcribed and analysed, using the traditional grammar conceptual framework based on their forms and functions. The findings show that the Nigerian Pidgin verb phrase structure, although reflects some features of English language and those of the Kwa language family such as Yoruba, is distinct from those of its superstrate and substrate languages. One of its features is that it has five modal auxiliary verbs. Another is that some of its lexical verbs express synonymy, while some others express polysemy. The paper concludes that considering the absence of a national language in Nigeria, the logical generalisation on the usage of verbs among NP speakers in Lagos and Ogun states in particular and the southern part of Nigeria in general would bring about Language of Wilder Communication (LWC).