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THE SWAHILI VERB

Structure

1.prefixes

2.root

3.suffixes

1Verb root+affix= verb stem

lala

cheza

soma

andika

amka

2.To form infinitive, add the infinitive prefix KU- to affirmative verb stem

kulala

kucheza

kusoma

kuandika

kuamka

In limited cases the infinitve marker KU- changes to KW as in

Kwenda
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Forms of the Swahili Verb

1. infinitive

2.imperative

3.subjunctive

4.applicative

Uses of the Swahili infinitve marker KU-

1.as a verbal noun- gerund

Kusoma kunaelimisha

Kupiga kelele kunakatzwa

Kuvuta sigara hapa kumepigwa marufuku.

2.as verbal infinitive

Anapenda kusoma Kiswahili.

3.To express manner when preceded by functionalitems like KWA and NA

1.Nilituma barua pepe kwa kutumia kompyuta.

2.Nilikata nyama kwa [kutumia-optional] kisu.

3.Niliandika barua kwa kutumia kalamu.

NA

1.Wanaandika na kuzungumza[huku waki]

2.Wanakula na kunywa.
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4.Negation of KU

to form negative add the particle TO after the infinitive marker KU

and affix to the verb stem

KU+TO+verb stem

kusoma kutosoma

kuandika kutoandika

kusema kutosema

kupika kutopika

The structure of the affirmative and negative form of the infinitive marker KU

Affirmative

KU VERB STEM KU TENSE MARKER CAUSATIVE VERB FORM

ku soma ku na elimisha
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Ku+verb stem forms verb infinitive or gerund

Ku+soma ku na elim-u(noun) - change -u- to -

i- add -sha

Kusoma kunaelimisha

NegativeStructure

KU TO VERB STEM HA KU CAUSATIVE VERB FORM

ku to soma ha ku elimisha (a changes to i) elimishi

gerund marker + to+ verb stem negative marker+ elim-u-(noun) change -u- to
-i-add sha-change verb ending -a- to -i-

Ku+to+soma Kutosoma hakuelimishi

5.The imperative form of the Swahili verb

Singular Plural

soma som-e-ni

kula kul-e-ni

lala lal-e-ni

andika andik-e-ni

amka amk-e-ni
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simama simam-e-ni

Negative Imperative

Singular Plural

usisome msisome

usile msile

andika msiandike

amka msiamke

ondoka msiondoke

tusisome

wasisome

nisisome

asisome

6.The Subjunctive form of the Swahili verb

Form

The Swahili subjunctive is formed by

dropping

1.the KU-prefix ku-soma

2.the infix

3.prefixing an appropriate partcle u-soma

4. changing the suffix of the verb stem from -a to -e usome

uondoke

uandike
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upike

7.Negative subjunctive

Structure

Subject prefix+si+verb stem

Suffix of the verb stem -a changes to -e

Ni-si-ondok-e

Msiandike

Asipike

Wasipike
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8.Uses of negative subjunctive

1.polite prohibition (imperative form)

2.advice

Usikae hapa, ni pachafu

Usipike peke yake ni hatari

3.to express purpose for doing something

1.Nilisoma kwa bidii nisije nikaanguka mtihani (also ili nisianguke)

Tulisoma kwa bidii tusije tukaanguka mtihani(also ili tusianguke)

2.Ulichukua mwavuli usije ukaloa maji mvua ikinyesha

Mlichukua miavuli wasije wakaloa maji mvua ikinyesha

3.Alichukua sweta asije akahisi baridi usiku.

Walichukua sweta wasije wakasikia baridi usiku.

4. To express negative obligation

The verb - enda

1.Obligation marker - Lazima

2.Subject prefix ni- u- a- tu- m-wa-

3.Affixing the negative marker -si-after subject prefix a-si-

4.Dropping the vowel – a suffix -enda ende

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1.Lazima

2.a

3.a-si

4.ende

Lazima a-si-ende

Lazima asiende dukani peke yake

Lazima usimwambie sasa.

Omitting lazima changes the concept from that of negative obligation to

imperative.

Asiende dukani peke yake

Usimwambie sasa.

5.To question a suggestion in a negative form so as to achieve confirmation of

approval or denial

Tusiende sasa?

6.After verbs of prohibition- kataza/zuia/piga marufuku

Alinikataza/zuia nisiende dukani peke yangu

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Classes of Swahili Verbs

1.Main verbs

2.Auxiliary verbs

3.Copular verbs

1.Main verbs

1.Nilikuwa ninasoma kitabu.

2.Wewe umekwisha pata chanjo ya Covid-19.

3.Yeye alikuwa anatandika kitanda.

The underlined verbs in sentences 1,2,3, are the main verbs.

2.Auxiliary verbs

1.Nilikuwa ninasoma kitabu.

2.Wewe umekwisha pata chanjo ya Covid-19.

3.Yeye alikuwa anatandikakitanda.

4.Wewe utaweza kunisaidia.

5.Mwanafunzi anaweza kuzungumza Kiswahili.

The underlined verbs in sentences 1,2,3,4 are auxiliary verbs

Examples of auxiliary verbs

kuwa/weza/pata/kuja/taka/kwenda/wahi/kwisha

1.Kuwa conjugates to -na-,-li-,-me- and -ta- to denote present tense,past

tense,perfect tense marker and future tense respectively.

The main verb therefore is -ki- and -na-

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1.Mwanafunzi a-li-kuwa a-ki-safisha chumba

2.Mwanafunzi a-li-kuwa a-na-safisha chumba

3.

4.

5.

Negation

1.Mwanafunzi a-li-kuwa a-ki-safisha chumba

Mwanafunzi ha-kuwa akisafisha chumba.

2.Mwanafunzi a-li-kuwa a-na-safisha chumba

Mwanafunzi ha-kuwa anasafisha chumba.

2.Wezana-,-li-,-me- and -ta

Prefix ku+main verb

Affirmative Negative

Mwalimu aliweza kufika mapema Mwalimu hakuweza kufika mapema.

3.Pata- to express experience

Affirmative Negative

Nimepata kumwona Malkia ana kwa ana. Sijapata kumwona Malkia ana kwa ana.

4.Kuja

-near and distant future time reference

-to express prediction based on present evidence

Utakuja anguka mtihani

Utakuja juta
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Mwanafunzi huyu atakuja anguka mtihani.

Negation:

1.Soma kwa bidii usije ukaanguka mtihani.(also Soma kwa bidii au

utaanguka mtihani

2.Nenda dukani sasa usije ukajuta baadaye.

3.

5.Taka

Affirmative Negative

Ninataka kupumzika Sitaki kupumzika.

Tunataka kupumzika Hatutaki kupumzika

Unataka kwenda matembezi. Hutaki kwenda matembezi.

Mnataka kwenda matembezi. Hamtaki kwenda matembezi

Anataka kuvunja serikali Hataki kuvunja serikali.

Wanataka kuvunja serikali. Hawataki kuvunja serikali.

6.Kwenda

Juma amekwenda kununua pombe.

Wanafunzi wamekwenda kunywa pombe.

7.Huenda

Huenda Omari atakuja kesho.

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8.Kwisha

Amekwisha maliza kazi.

Wageni wamekwisha wasili.

Chakula kimwkwisha pikwa.

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SWAHILI COPULAR VERBS

Function:

Copular verbs are used to join an adjective or a noun complement to a subject

Swahili copular verbs are:

ni-,si,ndi,si-,-li,-po,-ko,-mo,-na,yu u wa

ni

Mwalimu huyu nimzuri.

Kitabu changu ni kikubwa.

 niat the beginning of a sentence

Ni rafiki yangu tu aliyekumbuka jina lake.

Ni yeye atakayekuletea habari.

Si negative form of ni

Mwalimu huyu si mzuri

Kitabu change si kikubwa.

Ndi-

 as an emphatic/cleft form of NI or in cases where emphasis/cleft is

desirable
 marker of -o reference
Huyu ni rafiki yangu Huyu ndiye rafiki yangu
Hapa ndipo tulikutana Pale ndipo niliweka kalamu yangu
Huko ndiko kunapendeza
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SI as opposite of NDI-

Huyu ndiye rafiki yangu Huyu siye rafiki yangu

Huyu ndiye mtoto wetu Huyu siye mtoto wetu.

Hapa ndipo tunaishi Hapa sipo tunapoishi.

LI- denotes present time reference

Aliye mwerevu hapa ani Shabia

Walio na tiketi (ndiyo) watakubaliwa kuingia.

-KO

Indefinite location

Wako hapa

Niko kazini

Waliokuwako darasani ni wanafunzi watatu tu.

-MO-

Location: inside,along,within/round

Dada yangu yumo chumbani mwake.

Wanafunzi wamo ukumbini.

NA

Dimension of location

Hapa pana moshi mwingi

Kuna watu wengi mijini.