How do noun classes affect adjectives, determiners, numerals, pronouns, and verbs?

In Niger-Congo languages, the noun class system functions through a concordial agreement mechanism. When a noun is assigned to a specific class, other elements within the same clause—including adjectives, determiners, numerals, pronouns, and verbs—must typically be marked with an affix that corresponds to that noun's class.1

This agreement process affects the sentence structure in the following ways:

• Noun Phrases: Qualifiers such as adjectives, determiners, and numerals are marked with an affix that matches the class of the noun they modify. This often involves repeating the same syllable used to mark the noun, or using a phonetically similar form.1
• Verbs: The verb frequently carries a prefix or suffix that indicates the class of the noun serving as the subject or object of the sentence.12
• Pronouns: The selection of a pronoun is determined by the class of the noun to which it refers, ensuring grammatical consistency across the clause.1

This system ensures that related elements are linked, creating a cohesive structure where the noun's classification dictates the morphological marking of the surrounding words.12