KISWAHILI - THE BASICS OF SWAHILI GRAMMAR

KISWAHILI ?
HAKUNA MATATA !
KISWAHILI GRAMMAR - TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 00 CHAPTER 01 CHAPTER 0 CHAPTER 0# CHAPTER 0) CHAPTER 0+ CHAPTER 0, CHAPTER 01 CHAPTER 03 CHAPTER 04 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 1# CHAPTER 1) CHAPTER 1+ CHAPTER 1, CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 14 CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER # ) + , 1 3 4 0 1 INTRODUCTION Swahili Spelling and pronunciation !reeting" $er%" & The In'initi(e $er%" & The I*perati(e No*inal Cla""e" Noun" & The -./0A. !ender Su%2ect Pronoun" $er%" & Pre"ent De'inite Ten"e Noun" & The -./-I. !ender $er%" & Pre"ent Inde'inite Ten"e Concordant Ad2ecti(e" In(aria%le Ad2ecti(e" Noun" & The 5I./-A. !ender $er%" & Pa"t per'ect Ten"e The De*on"trati(e" Noun" & The 6I./$I. !ender The $er% 6U0A 7 to %e The $er% 6U0A NA 7 to ha(e Ad(er%" Noun" & The N. !ender Interrogati(e 0ord" Nu*%er" Ti*e Da8"9 -onth"9 Date" Noun" & The U. !ender Place E*phatic" Prepo"ition" and Con2unction" Po""e""ion O%2ect In'i:e" The Su''i: ;.O; o' Re'erence
CHAPTER #0 CHAPTER #1
INTRODUCTION
Swahili in the w !l"
Swahili is at the 7th rank of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with somewhere between 45 and 100 million people that use it as their first or second language. Swahili, which means "the coast", is at first the mother tongue of the peoples that li e on the !ast coast of "frica, that stretches from the South of Somalia to the #orth of $o%ambi&ue, ia the islands of 'ate, (amu, 'emba, )an%ibar and $afia. *rom !ast to +est, the area of influence of Swahili e,tends from -an%ania and .enya through the interior of /ongo 0e,1)a2re3, up to 4ganda, 5urundi, )ambia and $alawi.
Source 6 the 4/(" language materials pro7ect
What i# Swahili ?
Swahili belongs to the large family of 5antu languages, spoken in all the southern half of the "frican continent. 8owe er, it distinguishes itself from the other 5antu languages by its ocabulary of mi,ed 5antu and "rabic origins. (anguage of contact and communication between the men that came from the outside,
e,plorers, merchants, sla e traders, coloni%ers, missionaries, etc. and the populations of the coast and of the inside of the continent, it de elopped as a lingua franca, and while preser ing its 5antu grammatical structure characteri%ed by a system of nominal classes and an agglutinati e erbal construction, it managed to appropriate &uantity of foreign words, for the greater part of 'ersan and "rabic origins, but also some 'ortuguese, 9erman and mostly !nglish words.
De$el %&ent ' Swahili
Swahili, which was first transcribed in "rabic characters by $oslem men of letters on the islands along the !ast coast from as early as the :;;th through the :;:th century, took a new e,pansion with the arri al of the !nglish missionnaries at the end of the :;: th century, who transcribed it in latin characters, and used it to propagate the teaching of the /hristian faith to hundreds of peoples that each possessed their own tribal language. -he first works of Swahili standardi%ation were begun by the !nglish missionnaries and the go ernors of )an%ibar at the beginning of the ::th century. "t the time of the independence of -anganyika, Swahili naturally imposed itself as a medium of political propaganda and was seen as the language of liberation from the colonial yoke and as an instrument of unity between the local populations 6 indeed, Swahili was nobody<s particular language and it wasn<t tainted with tribalism. ;n 1=74, -an%ania took a further step when making Swahili its official and national language, spoken in the parliament and in the go ernment. > ernight, its leaders imposed the eradication of all the !nglish names from the streets and the buildings by renaming them with Swahili names, thus erasing all written traces of the colonial era from its districts, a enues, schools, businesses, banks, hotels, cooperati es and all other official and pri ate amenities. ;n the educati e system, -an%anian pupils and students begin their primary schooling in Swahili, and are only gradually e,posed to !nglish, which has henceforth the status of first foreign language, 7ust before *rench.
Lea!nin( Swahili
Swahili is certainly one of the easiest "frican languages to learn, for it doesn<t contain any unpronounceable sounds for westerners, no "tones" as in (ingala, the other lingua franca of "frica. ;ts grammar, pu%%ling at first, works like a linguistic "meccano", and has made the delights of professional linguists since long. "s for its ocabulary, there lies the only true difficulty of Swahili, for e erything is new and must be memori%ed by heart, apart from a few words of !nglish origin. +e ad ise our students to dedicate an a erage daily hour to learning the grammar and memori%ing the ocabulary, and guarantee that this effort will produce its first fruit after only si, months< learning. -herefore, on the threshold of your apprenticeship we ha e the pleasure to wish you 6
ALL THE BEST AND GOOD LUCK !
Cha%te! ) - Swahili S%ellin( an" *! n+n,iati n

A - THE SWAHILI AL*HABET -
-he basic principle which was retained to establish the Swahili alphabet, is that e ery distinct sound or phoneme should always be transcribed by the same distinct written form 0either a single letter, or a cluster of letters3, and con ersely. -he Swahili alphabet includes 6 ?@ single letters 6 a. /. ". e. '. (. h. i. 0. 1. l. &. n. . %. !. #. t. +. $. w. 2. 34 -he letters & and , are not used. -he letter ,, although present, is ne er used alone. = digraphs 6 ,h. "h. (h. 1h. n(5. n2. #h. th. t#4
1. A>+!((S 6
S*ELLING
A. a E. e I. i O. U. + BaC BeC B iC BoC BuC
*HONEME
E6AM*LE
/a/a 0father3 "e/e 0gallon3 1iti 0chair3 & t 0fire3 1+1+ 0chicken3
En(li#h e7+i$alent
far, but cut short bed kit off, lot too, to
"s you can see in this table, Swahili contains 5 owels. -hese are pronounced openly, without diphtongs, like in Spanish or in ;talian. -hey must always be kept short.
?. /(4S-!D >* A>+!(S 6
4nlike in !nglish, two 0or three3 written owels that follow each other ne er merge together to form a single sound. !ach keeps its own sound. *or e,ample 6 + is pronounced "o1oo" as in "go", a+ is pronounced "a1oo" as in "cow", ei is pronounced "e1ee" as in "bay", ai is pronounced "a1ee" as in "tie", etc. ;n theory, any owel can be in succession with any other one. ;t is not unfre&uent to meet two similar owels in succession 6 they must be pronounced as one long owel 6 Naa& ! 9ii ! 0E Fes G 3 0E Hown I 3 8++ M3ee 0E on top3 0E old3 K++ 8 ( 0E principal3 0E cock3
@. S!$;A>+!(S 6
S*ELLING
W. w :. 2 BwC BjC
*HONEME
E6AM*LE
wewe 0you3 2e2e 0he, she3
En(li#h E7+i$alent
why, week yes, you
4. S;$'(! />#S>#"#-S 6
S*ELLING
B. / D. " F. ' G. ( H. h 8. 0 K. 1 L. l M. & N. n *. % R. ! S. # T. t ;. $ 9. 3 B bC B dC BfC Bg C BhC
*HONEME
E6AM*LE
/a/a 0father3 "a"a 0sister3 1+'aa 0to suit3 (a!i 0car3 ha2a ! 0>... I3 0++ 0on top3 1+1+ 0chicken3 lala ! 0sleep I3 Ma&a 0mother3 na 0and, with3 %a%a 0shark3 !an(i 0colour3 #aa 0clock, time3 taa 0lamp3 1+$aa 0to wear3 -3+!i 0nice, good3 bad do far got hat
En(li#h E7+i$alent
BC Bk C B lC Bm C BnC B pC B rC B sC Bt C BvC Bz C
John kid, cat lot man no pot rat soap toy ery %oo, easy
+hile most of the consonants are similar to the !nglish ones and do not offer any difficulty, special care must be paid to 6 ' 6 it has always the sound of the "f" in "fat", ne er that of the "f" in "of". ( 6 it is always hard like in "got". ;t should ne er be pronounced soft like the "g" in "gin". # 6 it has always the sound of the "s" in "sad", ne er that of the "s" in "is" or "easy".
5. />$5;#"-;>#S >* />#S>#"#-S 6
S*ELLING
/h, ch Hh, dh 9h, gh .h, kh #g<, ng< #y, ny Sh, sh -h, th
*HONEME
B C B C BRC B C BC B C B C BC ,hai 0tea3
E6AM*LE
En(li#h E7+i$alent
chat, church this, that in *rench 6 "rare" in Scottish 6 "loch" singer new shoe think
"haha/+ 0gold3 (hali 0e,pensi e3 #+/al1he!i 0good morning3 n(5 &/e 0cow3 n2 ta 0star3 #h+le 0school3 thelathini 0thirty3
$ost of the real difficulties of Swahili are concentrated here. ;t is howe er important to try and pronounce these sounds correctly 6 "h and th are both written "th" in !nglish. "h is oiced as in "the", "this", "that", "with" ... +hile th is un oiced as in "think", "thin", "both" ... #ta1a/a"hi 0E a receipt3, ha"ithi 0E a story3. (h and 1h are pronounced at the back of the throat. (h is oiced and close to the *rench "r" in "rare" 6 (hali 0E e,pensi e3, #h+(h+li 0E affair, acti ity3. 1h is un oiced and corresponds to a scraping of the throat 6 #+/al1he!i 0E good morning3. n(5 although similar in sound to the !nglish "ng" in "singing" poses a difficulty, for it usually occurs at the initial of words. ;t is luckily &uite rare 6 n(5a&/ 0E foreign3, n(5 &/e 0E a cow3.
K. -8! SF(("5;/ />#S>#"#- "$" 6
-he syllable M corresponds to the class prefi, MU- 0/lass 1 and /lass @3 whose U has been dropped. 8owe er, the "m" doesn<t merge with the following consonant and should be pronounced somewhat like "humm I". -he M syllabic can be accentuated 0stressed syllable3 in short words such as 6 &t+ 0E a person3, &ti 0E a tree3, &0i 0E a town, a city3, etc..
S*ELLING
M/ M,h M' M( M0 M1 Ml M& Mn M% M# M#h Mt M$ M3
E6AM*LE
M/+2+ M,he3 M'an M(eni M0i M1e Mlan( M&ea Mna!a M%i!a M#a'i!i M#haha!a Mt t M$+$i M3+n(+ game
TRANSLATION
baobab e,ample guest, foreigner town, city wife door plant, crop minaret, tower ball, pipe, tube tra eller salary child fisherman white man
B - S:LLABE. STRESS AND *RONUNCIATION -
-he Swahili syllable is said to be open, for it always ends on a owel sound. *or e,ample 6 KI-SWA-HI-LI 0E Swahili3 8A-MBO 0E hello I3 M-9U-NGU 0E a white man3 NG5O-MBE 0E a cow3 N-NE 0E four3 TA-N9A-NI-A 0E -an%ania3 "n e,tra owel is usually added in loanwords, in order to conform to the open syllable pattern. *or e,ample 6 O-I-LI 0E oil3 SHI-LI-NGI 0E shilling3 BE-NKI 0E bank3 *E-TRO-LI 0E petrol3 NA-NA-SI 0E pineapple3 SHA-TI 0E shirt3 -he stress usually falls on the last but one syllabe of a word. -here are howe er a small number of e,ceptions, on words of "rabic origin. *or e,ample 6 la3i&a 0E it is necessary3 6 L<la%imaL . /ompare also 6 /a!a/a!a 0E a road3 6 Lbara</araL , and /a!a/a!a 0E ery well3 6 Lba<!abaraL .
-o listen to e,amples of words and phrases pronounced in Swahili, we in ite you to isit the following page on 8assan >. "li<s e,cellent Swahili site 6 usefulMswahiliMwords.
EXERCISES
E6ERCISE ) - Dead aloud the following words 6
a4 Kaa. taa. #aa. 0aa. n0aa. &aana. ,hai. 2ai. 3ai"i. 'ai"a. laini. ha . wa . a+. /ila+!i. #a+ti. "a+. &3ee. /ei. ,he . le . n2e+%e. n2e+#i. n0ia. 1ia#i. 1+lia. %ia. #ia(i. !aia. 3ii. hii. 1i+. 1i+&/e. 1+ a. 1+% a. 1+3 ea. ,h . n0 . 0 ( . 1i . n" . #hi1a& . '+a. /a!+a. &$+a. a"+i. 1+3+ia. h+ . + n( . 0++. h++. 1++4 /4 Wewe. wi1i. "awa. /wana. 1i#wahili. 2a. 2a . ha2 . 2e2e. &a2ai4 ,4 Ba/a. /a" . /ata. /a!a/a!a. &a!aha/a. "a"a. "e/e. "+1a. /aa"a. 1+'aa. 'i#i. a'2a. ha'i'+. (+nia. 1+(awa. (a!i. 1+0en(a. ha/a. ha%a. h "i. #ahihi. 0e&/e. 0a&/ . 1+0+a. 0i/+. 0+3i0+3i. 1a1a. 1+1aa. ha!a1a. 1i" ( . 1i/a/a. la. la1ini. 1+lia. 1+/ali. &a&a. &+wa. &a&la1a. na. naa&. nana#i. n+1ta. nen . %a%a. %ana. % le. 1+%a1a. li%a. !+1a. ! / . #ta!ehe. #i#i. #i!i. #a/a/+. a#ante. tat+. tele. ti#a. ta'+ta. &at+ta. 1+$aa. $e&a. 1a$+. $iti. +$i$+4 "4 Ch+i. ,he . ,ha'+. ,ha,he. "ha!a+. 'e"ha. "haha/+. !a&a"hani. (hali. (ha'+la. #h+(h+li. l+(ha. #+/al1he!i. n(5a&/ . n(5 &/e. n(5 a. n2+&a. n2 ta. n2 1a. #hi"a. #hilin(i. #h+le. #a'i#ha. th+&ni. ha"ithi4 e4 M/+. &/wa. &0in(a. &hin"i. &'al&e. &,he3 . &0i. &1ate. &li&a. &na3i. &%a1a. &#aa"a. &#ta!i. &#wa1i. &3+n(+4 '4 Ta'a"hali. &a(ha!i/i. &a#ha!i1i. n2wele. 1+,he&#ha. n2an(5an2a. &a#al1he!i. thelathini. &( n0wa. &aha!a(we4 &,han(an2i1 .
Cha%te! < - G!eetin(#

Swahili people pay a lot of importance to the e,change of greetings. 'oliteness recommends that you dedicate some moments to greeting a person and en&uiring about hisLher health, hisLher acti ities, and possibly about hisLher close relations, especially if you didn<t meet each other for &uite a while. ;t is only after this good humoured though formal e,change that you will brooch into the heart of the matter, or that you<ll take lea e of the person, with abundant goodbyes I
)4 COMMON GREETINGS -
GREETINGS
ANSWERS
- 8a&/ ! E 8ello I - 8a&/ ! E 8ello I - 8a&/ Bwana4 E 8ello, Sir. - 8a&/ ! E 8ello I - 8a&/ Ma&a4 E 8ello, $adam. - 8a&/ ! E 8ello I - Sala&a ? E "re you fine G - Sala&a ! E *ine I - Ma&/ =$i%i> ? E 8ow are things G - * a t+ ! ? Sa'i ! E /ool I 5ut this is 7ust for the tourists I +hene er possible, prefer using these more authentic greetings, that will make you pass for a real @&#wahili@ 6 - H+0a&/ ! - Ha&0a&/ ! - Shi1a& ! E 8ow are you G E 8ow are you G (Plur) E $y respects I (to an elder person) - Si0a&/ ! - Hat+0a&/ ! - Ma!aha/a ! E ; am fine I E +e are fine I E -hank you.
<4 THE E6CHANGE OF NEWS -
-hese simple greetings are often followed by more precise &uestions, on the time of the day, the health, the family, the children, etc... "ll these &uestions start with the word HABARI which means "news". -here are two possibilities 6 either you are e,pecting a precise answer 6 in this case you use Ha/a!i 2a 444 ? 0E +hat<s the news of ... G 3, or you are simply asking out of mere politeness, without any precise intention, in that case you use Ha/a!i 3a 444 ? 0E +hat are the news of ... G 3.
- Ha/a!i ? 1 +hat<s new G - Ha/a!i (ani ? 1 8ow are you G - Ha/a!i 2a1 ? 3a1 ? 1 +hat are your news G - Ha/a!i 2a ? 3a le ? 1 8ow are you today G - Ha/a!i 2a ? 3a a#+/+hi ? 1 8ow are you this morning G - Ha/a!i 2a ? 3a &,hana ? 1 8ow are you this afternoon G - Ha/a!i 2a ? 3a 0i ni ? 1 8ow are you this e ening G - Ha/a!i 2a ? 3a n2+&/ani ? 1 +hat about your home G - Ha/a!i 2a ? 3a 1a3i ? 1 +hat about your work G - Ha/a!i 2a ? 3a &t t ? 1 8ow is the child G - Ha/a!i 2a ? 3a #a'a!i ? 1 8ow isLwas your 7ourney G !,cept in case of misfortune 0death, serious illness, etc...3 you will in ariably answer with 6 - N0e&a ! or - N3+!i ! or - Sala&a ! E *ine I
/hakubanga
- Ha2a ! Bwana Cha1+ ha/a!i (ani ? Ha/a!i ni1++li3e wewe +li2el+n"i1a n(+ 1i,hwani +1aa,ha &a%a0ani 0e +na 1i,haa ? 1 So I $r /haku how are you G 1 ; should return your &uestion, you who piled your skirt on your head, say, are you mad G
A4 OTHER COMMON E6*RESSIONS -
- S+/al1he!i ! 1 9ood morning I (Arabic greeting) - Ma#al1he!i ! 1 9ood e ening I (Arabic greeting) - Ha&0a&/ n2+&/ani ? 1 8ow is the family G - U hali (ani ? 1 8ow are you G - U &3i&a ? 1 Four health is good G - =Ni> &3i&a 1 ; am well. - Na wewe ? 1 "nd you G - Na wewe %ia ? 1 "nd you 0are you well3 G - Ha2a ! 1 So I L >... I L (et<s go I - Naa& ! 1 Fes G (In answer to a call) - N"i2 1 Fes - Si2 ? Ha%ana 1 #o - Aha ! 1 #o I - Ta'a"hali 1 'lease - A#ante =#ana> 1 -hank you 0 ery much3 - Ha&na #hi"a 1 Hon<t mention it L #o problem feels poor or has undergone a berea ement, you tell him L her 6 - * le ! 1 Sorry I - * le na &#i/a wa1 ! 1 $y sincere sympathy I goes on a 7ourney, you can also tell him L her 6 - * le na #a'a!i ! - Sa'a!i n0e&a ! answer is naturally always 6 - A#ante ! 1 5e careful I 1 8a e a good 7ourney I
+hen a person
+hen a person
-he
e,pected
1 -hank you I
B4 ;ISITING SOMEBOD: AT HOME -
-o announce your presence to somebody, you shout in front of the door 6 - H "i ! person anwers 6 - Ka!i/+ ! - Ka!i/+ni ! - Sta!ehe ! always answer 6 - A#ante ! - A#anteni ! 1 "nybody<s home G -o which the
1 Fou<re welcome I 1 Fou<re all welcome I (To several people) 1 *eel at ease I
to
which
you
1 -hank you I 1 -hank you I (To several people)
C4 GOOD-B:ES -
-he word to say goodbye is Kwa he!i ! which means literally 6 blessing, or happiness, or "5est of luck I"
- Kwa he!i ! - Kwa he!ini ! - Kwa he!i 2a 1+ nana ! - T+ta nana ! - T+ta nana 1e#h 4 - A#+/+hi n0e&a4 lea e at night, you can wish 6 - U#i1+ &we&a ! sleeping, you can also wish 6 - Lala #ala&a !
1 9ood bye I (To a single person) 1 9ood bye I (To several people) 1 See you soon I 1 See you again. 1 See you tomorrow I 1 8a e a good morning I
+hen
taking
1 9ood night I
"t the time of
1 Sweet dreams I
#>+, (!"D# -8! S>#9 6 J"$5> 6
Jambo ! Jambo Bwana ! Habari gani ? Nzuri sana !
EXERCISES
E6ERCISE ) - /lick on the lion to get the e,ercise 6
E6ERCISE < - translate into !nglish 6 )4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 - H "i ! - Ka!i/+ ! - Sta!ehe ! - 8a&/ &a&a ! - 8a&/ /wana ! - Ha&0a&/ n2+&/ani ? - N0e&a4 Ha/a!i 3a1 ? - N3+!i #ana4 Ha2a. 1wa he!i ! - A#ante4 Kwa he!i 2a 1+ nana ! - Ha2a ! T+ta nana 1e#h 4
E6ERCISE A - -ranslate into Swahili 6 1. ?. @. 4. 5. K. 7. N. 1 8ello I 8ow are you G 1 ; am fine. 1 8ow is work G 1 *ine. 1 +hat about home G 1 *ine. 1 Sorry I 1 -hank you ery much. 1 $y respects 1 -hank you. 1 "nybody<s home G 1 +elcome I 1 8ow is the health G 1 +ell. 1 8ello I 1 8ello I
=. 1 9ood bye. See you tomorrow. 1 >. I
Cha%te! A - The In'initi$e

)4 GENERALITIES
-he main characteristic of the Swahili erb is its agglutinati e aspect. ;n order to be functional, to be con7ugated and be part of the sentence, we must attach to it a certain number of affi,es 6 prefi,es, infi,es and suffi,es, according to the situation. "ll these affi,es possess a precise position and function. -he general position scheme of these affi,es in relation to the erb radical is as follows 6 *!e-*!e'iI J S+/0e,t *!e'iI J Ten#e &a!1e! J O/0e,t In'iI J RADICAL J De!i$ati n J S+''iI J * #t-S+''iI
(uckily enough, it is ery rare for a erb to possess all these affi,es at one and the same time I -hese different affi,es and their functions will all be e,plained along the following chapters.
<4 THE INFINITI;E
;n !nglish, the infiniti e is shown by the word TO placed before ;n Swahili, the infiniti e is marked by the prefi, KU- attached to the erb radical.
the
erb.
6U < RADICA=
!:"$'(!S 6 KU-FIKA KU-FAN:A KU-8UA KU-SIKIA KU-ANGALIA to arri e to do to know to hear to look at KU-*ATA KU-*IGA KU-KAMATA KU-SOMA KU-WEKA to ha e, to find, to get to strike, to hit to catch to read, to learn to put
"s shown through these different e,amples, the radical of the Swahili erbs of 5antu origin ends in -A in the infiniti e. -here are howe er a few e,ceptions, especially with erbs of "rabic origin, which end in -E, -I or -U.
A4 SOME ;ERBS OF ARABIC ORIGIN K+-/a"ili K+-/a1i K+-'a+l+ K+-'i1i!i K+-'+!ahi K+-ha!i/+ to e,change to stay to succeed to think to re7oice to destroy K+-0a!i/+ K+-0i/+ K+-1eti K+-!+"i K+-#a'i!i K+-#a&ehe to try to answer to sit to return, to come back to tra el to forgi e
B4 A LIST OF COMMON ;ERBS K+-an(+1a K+-,h+1+a K+-'aa K+-'+ata K+-'+n(a K+-'+n(+a K+-1aa K+-1ata K+-leta K+-n( 0a K+-n+n+a to fall to sei%e, to take to fit to follow to close to open to stay, to li e to cut, to reduce to bring to wait to buy K+- na K+-%en"a K+-%i1a K+-#a'i#ha K+-#e&a K+-#i&a&a K+-ta'+ta K+-ta1a K+-t+%a K+-+3a K+-we3a to see to lo e to cook to clean to say, to tell to stop to look for to want to throw to sell to be able
C4 MONOS:LLABIC ;ERBS K+-'a K+-0a K+-la K+-n2wa #>-! 6 to die K+-wa to be to come K+-wa na to ha e to eat Kw-en"a to go to drink Kw-i#ha to end -he last two erbs, Kw-i#ha and Kw-en"a, although disyllabic, ha e been included in this table because they beha e like monosyllabic erbs in their con7ugation. +e also note that the U of KU- weakens into W before the owel E or I of the radical.
D4 THE NEGATI;E INFINITI;E -
Swahili possesses a negati e infiniti e. ;t is obtained by inserting the infi, -TO- between the infiniti e prefi, KU- and the radical of the erb. "n e,tra KU-, which is compulsory in the case of monosyllabic erbs, is sometimes added before the radical.
6U < TO >< 6U? < RADICA=
!:"$'(!S 6
A''i!&ati$e
K+# &a K+'an2a K+0i/+ K+!+"i K+la K+'a to read to do to answer to come back to eat to die -K K+t -K K+t -K K+t -K K+t -K K+t -K K+t
Ne(ati$e
=1+># &a =1+>'an2a =1+>0i/+ =1+>!+"i 1+la 1+'a not to read not to do not to answer not to come back not to eat not to die
EXERCISES
E6ERCISE ) - -ranslate into swahili 6
a. -o learn, to catch, to arri e, to try, to wait, to look at, to see, to hear, to think, to answer, to strike, to ha e, to do, to know, to lo e, to go, to come, to drink, to eat, to be, to clean, to want, to sit, to come back, to succeed. b. #ot to find, not to catch, not to do, not to try, not to know, not to come back, not to stay, not to bring, not to wait, not to say, not to buy, not to sell, not to read, not to hear, not to stop.
E6ERCISE < - -ranslate into !nglish 6
a4 K+we1a. 1+/a1i. 1+#a'i!i. 1+#a&ehe. 1+an(+1a. 1+1aa. 1+#i&a&a. 1++3a. 1+n+n+a. 1+%i1a. 1wi#ha. 1+#e&a. 1+'+n(a. 1+'+n(+a. 1+leta. 1+'a. 1+'aa. 1+0i/+. 1+0a!i/+. 1+'+!ahi. 1+/a"ili. 1+we3a. 1+1eti. 1+'+ata. 1+ta'+ta4 /4 K+t 1+wa. 1+t 1+n2wa. 1+t 1+la. 1+t 1+0a. 1+t we1a. 1+t 'i1a. 1+t 'a+l+. 1+t '+!ahi. 1+t #a'i!i. 1+t 'aa. 1+t 1+ na. 1+t 1+%i1a. 1+t ta1a. 1+t 1+we3a. 1+t 'i1i!i4
Cha%te! B - The I&%e!ati$e

)4 The Di!e,t I&%e!ati$e -
-he Hirect ;mperati e is used to gi e an "abrupt" order, as would a boss to an employee, or a parent to a child. ;t is the most simple erbal form, since it is simply made of the erb radical. ;f we take the erb KUFAN:A for e,ample, we simply remo e the infiniti e prefi, KU-, which gi es 6 FAN:A ! E do I -he Hirect ;mperati e possesses only ? persons 6 the second person singular 0E "you" singular3 and the second person plural 0E "you" plural3. -he plural is formed by replacing the ending -A of the radical by the suffi, -ENI. S>$! A!D5S ;# -8! H;D!/- ;$'!D"-;A! 6
<n" %e!# n #in(+la!

Fan2a ! F+n(a ! F+n(+a ! Ka&ata ! N( 0a ! Sa'i#ha ! Si1ia ! S &a ! '"D-;/4("D /"S!S6 do I close I open I catch I wait I clean I hear I read I L learn I Fan2eni ! F+n(eni ! F+n(+eni ! Ka&ateni ! N( 0eni ! Sa'i#heni ! Si1ieni ! S &eni !
<n" %e!# n %l+!al

do I close I open I catch I wait I clean I hear I read I L learn I
$onosyllabic erbs keep the prefi, KU- of the infiniti e 6 K+la ! eat I K+leni ! eat I K+n2wa ! drink I K+n2weni ! drink I Aerbs of "rabic origin, beha e as erbs of 5antu origin in the second person singular. ;n the second person plural, we add -NI at the end of the radical, without modifying the final owel 0E, I ou U3 6
8a!i/+ ! R+"i ! =Ni->#a&ehe ! !:/!'-;>#S 6
try I come back I forgi e01me3 I
8a!i/+ni ! R+"ini ! =Ni->#a&eheni !
try I come back I forgi e01me3 I
-he erb KULETA 0E to bring3 makes LETE ! 0E bring I3 instead of LETA in the second person singular. -he erb KU8A 0E to come3 makes N8OO ! 0E come I3 and N8OONI ! 0E come I3. -he erb KWENDA 0E to go3 makes NENDA ! 0E go I3 and NENDENI ! 0E go I3.
/hakubanga
- Na na hi2 ,hai i&e% a4 Nen"a 1ai%a#he & t tena4 - Cha1+/an(a ! Una 1+n(+ni t+&/ ni #i1+ hi3i ? 1 ; can see the tea is cool. 9o and warm it again. 1 /hakubanga I 8a e you got bugs in your stomach these days G
<4 THE *OLITE IM*ERATI;E -
;n Swahili, as in many other languages, the more you lengthen the erbal formula when gi ing an order, the more you soften its "abruptness", and the more you show yourself polite. /ompare for instance in !nglish 6 /ome I L /an you come I L "re you coming G L +ould you like to come G L ; wish you would come L etc... " common way of easing the rough edge of an order is to use the sub7uncti e. 0See6 /hapter @@ 1 -he Sub7uncti e.3 -his is done by remo ing the prefi, KU- of the infiniti e and by replacing the ending -A with -E. -he second person singular begins with the pronominal prefi, U-. +hile the second person plural begins with the pronominal prefi, M-.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < $ER@ RADICA= < E S>$! A!D5S ;# -8! '>(;-! ;$'!D"-;A! 6
<n" %e!# n #in(+la!

U'an2e ! U'+n(e ! U'+n(+e ! Ulete ! U%i1e ! U#a'i#he ! U0a!i/+ ! U!+"i ! U#a&ehe ! do I close I open I bring I cook I clean I
<n" %e!# n %l+!al

do I close I open I bring I cook I clean I try I come back I forgi e I
M'an2e ! M'+n(e ! M'+n(+e ! Mlete ! M%i1e ! M#a'i#he ! A!D5S >* "D"5;/ >D;9;# 6
try I M0a!i/+ ! come back I M!+"i ! forgi e I M#a&ehe ! $>#>SF(("5;/ A!D5S 6
Uen"e ! U0e ! Ule ! Un2we !
go I come I eat I drink I
Mwen"e ! M0e ! Mle ! Mn2we !
go I come I eat I drink I
A4 THE IM*ERATI;E OF THE )#t *ERSON *LURAL -
So far we ha e studied the imperati e of the ?nd person 0singular and plural3. ;t<s now time to see the imperati e of the 1st person plural 0we3. "ctually, it is built e,actly on the same pattern as the polite imperati e, simply replacing the sub7ect prefi, U- 0E you3 by TU- 0E we3.
TU < $ER@ RADICA= < E
S>$! !:"$'(!S 6
)#t%e!# n %l+!al
T+'an2e ! T+'+n(e ! T+'+n(+e ! T+lete ! T+%i1e ! T+#a'i#he ! let<s make I let<s close I let<sopen I let<s bring I let<s cook I let<s clean I
A!D5S >* "D"5;/ >D;9;# 6 T+0a!i/+ ! T+#a&ehe ! let<s try I let<s forgi e I
$>#>SF(("5;/ A!D5S 6 Twen"e ! T+le ! T+we ! let<s go I let<s eat I let<s be I
B4 THE NEGATI;E IM*ERATI;E -
-here is only one negati e form corresponding both to the direct imperati e and to the polite imperati e. -he negation is formed in the following way 6 Demo e the prefi, KU- of the infiniti e, add the pronominal prefi, U- for the singular and M- for the plural, insert the negati e infi, -SI- between the pronoun and the radical, replace the erb ending -A with -E in the case of erbs of 5antu origin.
!:"$'(!S 6
5antu erb 6 "rabic erb 6 $onosyllabic erb 6
KU-FAN:A 1O -FAN:A 1O U-SI-FAN:-E KU-8IBU 1O -8IBU 1O U-SI-8IBU KU-LA 1O -LA 1O U-SI-L-E SU@5ECT PREAIB < SI < $ER@ RADICA= < E S>$! A!D5S ;# -8! ;$'!D"-;A! 6
<n" %e!# n #in(+la!

U#i'an2e ! U#i'+ate ! U#iha!i/+ ! U#i0i/+ ! U#ile ! U#ilete ! U#in( 0e ! U#in2we ! U#i%i(e ! U#iwe1e ! don<t do I don<t follow I don<t destroy I don<t answer I don<t eat I don<t bring I don<t wait I don<t drink I don<t strike I don<t put I
<n" %e!# n %l+!al

M#i'an2e ! M#i'+ate ! M#iha!i/+ ! M#i0i/+ ! M#ile ! M#ilete ! M#in( 0e ! M#in2we ! M#i%i(e ! M#iwe1e ! don<t do I don<t follow I don<t destroy I don<t answer I don<t eat I don<t bring I don<t wait I don<t drink I don<t strike I don<t put I
EXERCISES
E6ERCISE ) - 'ut these erbs in the Hirect ;mperati e 6
K+#i1ia. 1+!+"i. 1+1a&ata. 1+0a!i/+. 1+an(alia. 1+'i1i!i. 1+la. 1+leta. 1+ta'+ta. 1+#i&a&a. 1+0a. 1wen"a. 1+'+n(a. 1+n( 0a. 1wi#ha4
E6ERCISE < - 'ut these erbs in the 'olite ;mperati e 6
K+/a"ili. 1+'i1a. 1+'an2a. 1+# &a. 1+we1a. 1+/a1i. 1+0a!i/+. 1+#a&ehe. 1+n+n+a. 1+%i1a. 1+'+ata. 1+'+n(+a. 1+0a. 1wen"a. 1+#e&a4
E6ERCICE A - 'ut these erbs in the 1st person plural of the ;mperati e 6
K+/a"ili. 1+'i1a. 1+'an2a. 1+# &a. 1+we1a. 1+/a1i. 1+0a!i/+. 1+#a&ehe. 1+n+n+a. 1+%i1a. 1+'+ata. 1+'+n(+a. 1+0a. 1wen"a. 1+#e&a4
E6ERCISE B - 'ut these erbs in the #egati e ;mperati e 6
K+0a. 1wen"a. 1+leta. 1+%i(a. 1++3a. 1+%en"a. 1+#a'i!i. 1+0i/+. 1+'i1i!i. 1+an(alia. 1+'i1a. 1+1aa. 1+n+n+a. 1+0a!i/+. 1+/a1i4
E6ERCISE C - -ranslate into !nglish 6
a4 b. ,4 "4
N0 ! Nen"a ! F+ata ! Fan2a ! *i(a ! Lete ! R+"i ! 8a!i/+ ! N0 ni ! Fan2eni ! 8a!i/+ni ! Sa&eheni ! Leteni ! F+ateni ! Ta'+teni ! Nen"eni ! U%i1e ! U#a'i#he ! M'+n(+e ! M0a!i/+ ! U0+e ! Uwe1e ! M'a+l+ ! Ule ! U#i0i/+ ! U#i# &e ! U#ien"e ! U#in2we ! U#i#e&e ! U#ian(alie ! U#iwe ! U#i1ae !
e4 M#i'+ate ! M#i/a1i ! M#i!+"i ! M#i'i1i!i ! M#ian(+1e ! M#i'+n(+e ! M#i1eti ! M#i ne !
Cha%te! C - The N &inal Cla##e#

;n swahili, as in any other 5antu languages, substanti es are not di ided into genders of the masculine L feminine L neutral types, but in nominal classes. Swahili includes 1@ nominal classes, plus three e,tra classes called the locati e classes. ;n order to rationali%e the study of the nominal classes, these can be grouped into 7 "genders" 0or categories3 that each include ? classes 6 one class for the singular and another class for the plural. -he Kth "gender" doesn<t possess any specific plural but borrows its plurals from the other classes. -he 7th "gender" is made of substanti ated erbs and has no plural. -hese 7 "genders" loosely correspond to more or less e,tended semantic categories. -he different nominal classes are recogni%ed and definable by their prefi,es, that is to say the first syllable of the noun, which will cause in turn a series of agreements through prefi,es 0and infi,es3 on the ad7ecti es, pronouns, demonstrati es, possessi es, erbs, etc... in the sentence. Swahili doesn<t differentiate between definite or indefinite nouns, and neither does it distinguish between masculine or feminine for names of people.
S+&&a!i3e" ta/le ' the )A n &inal ,la##e# in Swahili. (! +%e" int E (en"e!#. an" the A l ,ati$e ,la##e# GENDERS ? NOMINAL E6AM*LES CLASSES *REFI6ES
M-?WA/l 1 Singular /l ? 'lural M-?MI/l @ Singular /l 4 'lural 8I-?MA/l 5 Singular /l K 'lural KI-?;I/l 7 Singular /l N 'lural N/l = Singular /l 10 'lural U/l. 11, 14 /l 10 'lural KU/l. 15 M-. MWWA-. WM-. MWMI-. ML- or 8IMAKI-. CH;I-. ;:L- or NL- or NU-. WL- or NKU-. KW0person3 MTU WATU 0tree3 MTI MITI 0fruit3 TUNDA MATUNDA 0chair3 KITI ;ITI 0cloth3 NGUO NGUO 0face3 USO N:USO 0reading3 KUSOMA 0place3 MAHALI
SEMANTIC CATEGORIES
#ames of human beings e,clusi ely, P ? names of animals. #o ob7ect. #ames of trees, plants, nature, parts of the human body, human acti ities. #ames of fruits, uncountables, e eryday life ob7ects, persons, augmentati es, nouns of "rabic origin, etc... ! eryday ob7ects, animals, parts of the human body, persons, diminuti es, languages. "bstract and concrete things, persons, animals, natural elements, nouns of foreign origin, etc... #ouns of ob7ects 0/l. 113, Singular abstract nouns 0/l. 143. Substanti ated erbs. " single noun. -hey are present in class agreements.
Cl4 L ,ati$e# /l. 1K, 17, 1N *A-. KU-. M#>-!S 6
-he concept of "gender", which remains contro ersial in the description of 5antu languages, was introduced here for two main reasons 6 *acilitate the study of the nominal classes by grouping them two by two, each "gender" including, in most cases, a singular and a plural. " oid the use of the same word of "class" to designate at the same time the whole and its parts. -hus we won<t say "M-?WA- /lass" but "M-?WA- 9ender" or "/lasses 1 L ?".
-he concept of "gender" far from substituting itself to that of "class", superposes upon it and completes it. -he numbers attributed to the different nominal classes in the abo e table are con entional class numbers, alid for all the 5antu languages. -he U- gender actually includes ? distinct classes of nouns in singular 6 /lasses 11 and 14. >nly the nouns of class 11 possess a plural which is borrowed from class 10, like all the nouns of the N- gender. /lasses 1? and 1@ do not e,ist in swahili. "s for the locati e classes, they include @ classes 6 /lass 1K 0prefi, *A-3, /lass 17 0prefi, KU-3 and /lass 1N 0prefi, M-3, but they possess only one noun 6 MAHALI . Since they can<t be put in the traditional categories of singular and plural, it is difficult to consider them as fully1 fledged "nominal" genders. -hat<s why we ha e chosen not to include them in the different tables of nominal agreements
of this work, but to study them separately.
-8! H!A!(>'$!#- >* ->H"F<S S+"8;(; 6 ;n order to adapt itself to the realities of the modern world, Swahili has to forge new ocables e eryday. *or almost two centuries Swahili speakers naturally borrowed their words from "rabic 0which was the cultural, religious and commercial language3, then later to !nglish 0which was the colonial, cultural, educati e, scientific and technical language3. *or se eral years now, a -an%anian committee has been regularly publishing lists of new scientific and technical ocables, built from 5antu, !nglish or "rabic roots 0the latter being often deemed as more "authentic"3. #e ertheless, the system of nominal classes has been preser ed, for all these new words are assimilated into the e,isting genders.
DEFINITIONS
"ll along this work, we shall use the following terminology to define the different word parts 6 D"H;/"( 6 ;t<s the part of the word that remains unchanged during the different word deri ations, be it a noun, an ad7ecti e or a erb. !,ample 6 SAFARI 0E a 7ourney, 7ourneys3, &SAFIRI 0E a tra eller3, waSAFIRI 0E tra ellers3, +SAFIRI 0E to tra el3. 'D!*;: 6 ;t<s a letter, or a syllable, placed before a noun, a erb or an ad7ecti e. -he prefi, often marks the agreement 0class, person, number, etc...3 !,ample 6 M3+n(+ 0E a !uropean3, WA3+n(+ 0E !uropeans3. KU# &a 0E to read3, U# &e 0E read I3. ;#*;: 6 ;t<s a letter, or a syllable, placed in the middle of a word, usually between the prefi, and the radical of a erb. !,ample 6 naKUa&/ia 0E ; tell you3, aliM%i(a 0E he hit him3. S4**;: 6 ;t<s a letter, or a syllable, added at the end of a word. Sometimes, only the final owell of the word changes. !,ample 6 anan+n+A 0E he buys3, an+n+E 0E let him buy3.
Cha%te! D - The M-?WA- Gen"e!

-he M-?WA- gender 0/lasses 1 L ?3 contains nouns of persons e,clusi ely, plus two generic nouns of animals. ;t<s the class prefi,, i.e. the first syllable of the noun, that distinguishes the singular from the plural. -here is no article in front of the noun, which can either be definite or indefinite 6
/l 1 0Singular3 6 /l ? 0'lural3 6 ;n front of a owel,
prefi, Mprefi, WA-
MTU E a person, the person WATU E people, the people
the singular prefi, M- becomes MWALIMU E a teacher, the teacher MW- 6 -he plural prefi, WA- becomes W- WALIMU E teachers, the teachers 6
)4 SOME NOUNS OF THE M-?WA- GENDER SINGULAR

M"+"+ M'a!an#a M(eni M( n0wa Mhin"i M0e!+&ani M0 &/a M1e M1!i#t M1+li&a Mn2a&a M%i#hi M#i,hana Mt t Mt+ M+&e M$+lana Mwa'!i1a Mwali&+ Mwana Mwana"a&+ Mwana'+n3i Mwana&1e Mwana+&e Mwa!a/+ Mwin(e!e3a Mwi#la&+ Mwitalia Mwi3i M3ee M3+n(+
*LURAL
Wa"+"+ Wa'a!an#a Wa(eni Wa( n0wa Wahin"i Wa0e!+&ani Wa0 &/a Wa1e Wa1!i#t Wa1+li&a Wan2a&a Wa%i#hi Wa#i,hana Wat t Wat+ Wa+&e Wa$+lana Waa'!i1a Wali&+ Wana Wana"a&+ Wana'+n3i Wanawa1e Wana+&e Waa!a/+ Wain(e!e3a Wai#la&+ Waitalia We3i =aJi M e> Wa3ee Wa3+n(+
TRANSLATION
an insect, insects a *rench, the *rench a guest, a foreigner, guests a patient, patients an ;ndian, ;ndians a 9erman, 9ermans an uncle 0maternal3, uncles a spouse, a wife, wi es a /hristian, /hristians a farmer, farmers an animal, animals a cook, cooks a young girl, young girls a child, children a person, people a husband, husbands a young man, young men an "frican, "fricans a teacher, teachers a child, a son, a daughter, children a human being, 0child of "dam3 a student, a pupil, students a woman, women a man, men an "rab, "rabs an !nglish, the !nglish a $uslim, $uslims an ;talian, ;talians a thief, thie es an old man, old men a white man, white men
<4 OTHER NOUNS OF *EO*LE -
"lthough the M-?WA- gender e,clusi ely contains nouns of people, it is not all inclusi e. -hus, a certain number of nouns refering to people can be found in other genders 6 mainly in the Ngender 0/l = L /l 103, the KI-?;I- gender 0/l 7 L N3 and the 8I-?MA- gender 0/l 5 L K3. Fet, the erbs, ad7ecti es, etc. that agree with them must take /lass 1L? prefi, agreements.
Noun" o' the N. !ENDER >Cl 4 / Cl 10?
SINGULAR
Ba/a Ba/+ Da"a Ka1a Ma&a N2an2a Ra'i1i Shan(a3i
*LURAL
Ba/a Ba/+ Da"a Ka1a Ma&a N2an2a Ra'i1i Shan(a3i
TRANSLATION
father, dad grand1father sister brother mother, mum grand1mother friend aunt 0paternal3
Noun" o' the 6I./$I. !ENDER >Cla""e" 1 / 3? &
SINGULAR
Ki/a!+a Ki0ana Ki% '+ Ki3iwi
*LURAL
;i/a!+a ;i0ana ;i% '+ ;i3iwi
TRANSLATION
a day laborer, laborers a youth, youths a blind man, blind men a deaf person, deaf persons
Noun" o' the 5I./-A. !ENDER >Cla""e" + / ,? &
SINGULAR
Bwana Bi/i De!e$a
*LURAL
Ma/wana Ma/i/i Ma"e!e$a
TRANSLATION
Sir, master, gentlemen $adam, ladies a dri er, dri ers
A4 CLASS AGREEMENTS -
1. "d7ecti es 6 the ad7ecti e takes prefi,es of class agreements identical to those of the noun 6 0See 6 /hapter 11.3
/lass 1 6 Mt t a /lass ? 6 Wat t
&1+/wa ? &" ( ? &3+!i ? &/a2a ? &we&a ? ... big L small L pretty L bad L nice L ... wa1+/wa ? wa" ( ? wa3+!i ? wa/a2a ? we&a ? ... big L small L pretty L bad L nice L ...
child children
?. 'ossessi e ad7ecti es 6
/lass 1 6
Mt t E Wat t E
wan(+ ? wa1 ? wa1e ? wet+ ? wen+ ? wa my L your L his 1 her L our L your L their wan(+ ? wa1 ? wa1e ? wet+ ? wen+ ? wa my L your L his 1 her L our L your L their
child
/lass ? 6
children
VOCABULARY
K+-an"i1a K+-,he3a K+-,h !a K+-'a(ia K+-'an2a 1a3i K+-in(ia to write to play to draw to sweep to work to enter, to come in K+-lia K+-li&a K+-%ita K+-!+1a K+-t 1a K+-$+n0a to cry to culti ate to pass to 7ump, to fly to lea e, to come from to break
EXERCISES
E6ERCISE ) - -ranslate into Swahili 6
a. 'lay I Sweep I +ork I /ome in I (ea e I Hraw I /ulti ate I Jump I (ea e 0'lur3 I +ork 0'lur3 I b. Hon<t write I Hon<t play I Hon<t break I Hon<t cry I Hon<t pass I Hon<t write 0'lur3 I Hon<t come in 0'lur3 I Hon<t 7ump 0'lur3 I Hon<t play 0'lur3 I Hon<t lea e 0'lur3 I c. " guest, a child, a young girl, a husband, a man, a woman, a wife, an !nglish, a white man, a $uslim, a cook, a teacher, a thief, an old man, a *rench. d. 8uman beings, "fricans, ;ndians, *rench people, people, young men, children 0sons L daughters3, children, 9ermans, wi es, husbands, pupils, farmers, uncles, animals.
a4 Mt+. &n2a&a. &"+"+. &wana"a&+. &wi#la&+. &1!i#t . &3+n(+. &wa'!i1a. &'a!an#a. &t t . &$+lana. &#i,hana. /a/a. 1a1a. &a&a. "a"a. &0 &/a. #han(a3i. 1i% '+. 1i/a!+a4 /4 Wa1+li&a. wali&+. wana'+n3i. $i/a!+a. wana+&e. wanawa1e. waitalia. wat+. wa(eni. wa( n0wa. waa!a/+. wa%i#hi. we3i. wa3ee. "a"a. 1a1a. !a'i1i. &a/i/i. &a/wana. $i0ana4
E6ERCISE A - 'ut the nouns in the plural 6
Mwana'+n3i. &wi#la&+. &wana. &wi3i. &3ee. &3+n(+. &hin"i. &n2a&a. &+&e. &1e. &wana&+&e. &wana&1e. &(eni. &wa!a/+. &wa'!i1a. &0 &/a. 1i0ana. !a'i1i. 1i% '+. 1i/a!+a. "a"a. #han(a3i. /i/i. /wana. "e!e$a4
Cha%te! E - The S+/0e,t *! n +n#

;n Swahili, the sub7ect pronouns ha e the particularity of being always affi,ed to the erb as prefi,es. ;n the @rd person singular and plural, there is no substitution between the sub7ect noun and the sub7ect prefi,, but complementarity 6 the sub7ect prefi, is there, e en when the sub7ect noun is already e,pressed in the sentence.
)4 AFFIRMATI;E SUB8ECT *REFI6ES GENDERS ? Cla##e#

1Q ?Q M-?WA- 9ender 0/l 1 L ?3 @Q M-?MI- 9ender 0/l @ L 43 8I-?MA- 9ender 0/l 5 L K3 KI-?;I- 9ender 0/l 7 L N3 N- 9ender 0/l = L 103 U- 9ender 0/l 11 L 143 KU- 9ender 0/l 153
SINGULAR
NIUAULIKIIUKU-
E7+i$alent *LURAL E7+i$alent

E; E you E he, she E it E he L she L it E he L she L it E he L she L it E it E it E it TUMWAI:A;I9IE we E you E they E they E they E they E they
(>/"-;A! /("SS!S *A-, KU- or M-
>nly the M-?WA- gender 0/lasses 1 L ?3 comprises sub7ect prefi,es for the 1st and ?nd persons singular and the 1st and ?nd persons plural. ;n the @rd person singular 0he L she L it3 and the @rd person plural 0they3, the choice of the sub7ect prefi, depends on the nominal class to which the corresponding sub7ect noun belongs. 8owe er, when the sub7ect noun represents a person, whate er the class it belongs to, we will use a sub7ect prefi, of /lass 1 in the singular and /lass ? in the plural, as for the nouns of the M-?WA- gender.
!:"$'(!S 6
Ana'i1a Ma&a ana'i1a Wa&elala Wat t wa&elala A&e1+'a M( n0wa a&e1+'a M/wa a&e1+'a Ina'aa N(+ ina'aa 9ina'aa N(+ 3ina'aa Lina1wen"a Ba#i lina1wen"a
8e L she arri es $om 0she3 arri es -hey sleep -he children 0they3 sleep 8e L she died -he patient 0he3 died -he dog 0it3 died ;t fits -he cloth 0it3 fits -hey fit -he clothes fit ;t lea es -he bus 0it3 lea es
0/lass 13 0/lass = 1O 13 0/lass ?3 0/lass ?3 0/lass 13 0/lass 13 0/lass = 1O 13 0/lass =3 0/lass =3 0/lass 103 0/lass 103 0/lass 53 0/lass 53
<4 NEGATI;E SUB8ECT *REFI6ES -
-hose result from the combination of the negati e pre1prefi, HA- and the sub7ect prefi,, e,cept in the 1st person singular 0SI-3 and the ?nd person singular 0HU- instead of HAU-3. -hus 6
GENDERS ? Cla##e# SINGULAR

1Q ?Q M-?WA- 9ender 0/l 1 L? 3 @Q M-?MI- 9ender 0/l @ L 43 8I-?MA- 9ender 0/l 5 L K3 KI-?;I- 9ender 0/l 7 L N3 N- 9ender 0/l = L 103 U- 9ender 0/l 11 L 143 KU- 9ender 0/l 153 SIHUHAHAUHALIHAKIHAIHAUHAKU-
E7+i$alent
E ; don<t E you don<t E he L she doesn<t E it doesn<t E he L she L it doesn<t E he L she L it doesn<t E he L she L it doesn<t E it doesn<t E it doesn<t E it doesn<t
*LURAL E7+i$alent
HATUHAMHAWAHAIHA:AHA;IHA9IE we don<t E you don<t E they don<t E they don<t E they don<t E they don<t E they don<t
(>/"-;A! /("SS!S HA*A- , HAKUor HAM!:"$'(!S 6 Si0+i Ha0+i Ha&a"i ha0+i Hawa'an2i 1a3i ;i/a!+a hawa'an2i 1a3i Hawa# &i Wana'+n3i hawa# &i Ha1+na 1a3i Ha&na #hi"a
; don<t know 8e L she doesn<t know 8amadi 0he3 doesn<t know -hey don<t work -he day laborers 0they3 don<t work -hey don<t study -he students 0they3 don<t study -here is no work -here is no problem
0/lass 13 0/lass 13 0/lass 13 0/lass ?3 0/lass N 1O ?3 0/lass ?3 0/lass ?3 0(ocati e /lass3 0(ocati e /lass3
A4 THE AUTONOMOUS *ERSONAL *RONOUNS MIMI WEWE :E:E SISI NIN:I WAO E ;, me E you E he, she, him, her E we, us E you 0'lur3 E they, them
+ith ordinary erbs, the autonomous personal pronoun reinforces the su7ect prefi,, without replacing it. -hus 6 :e2e ana1wen"a D " &a E 8im, he goes to Hodoma Mi&i #i#e&i 1i#wahili E $e, ; don<t speak Swahili >n the other hand, with the erb KUWA 0E to be3 in the present tense, the personal pronoun is essential to mark the person, since the erb is identical for all the persons 6 Mi&i ni &wali&+ E ; am a teacher Wewe ni &'a!ant#a E Fou are *rench :e2e ni &1en2a E 8e is .enyan Si#i ni wana'+n3i E +e are pupils Nin2i ni wa(eni E Fou are the guests Wa ni watan3ania E -hey are -an%anians same in the negati e form, by replacing NI with SI. *or e,ample 6 Mi&i #i &0in(a :e2e #i &1+li&a E ;<m not an idiot E 8e is not a farmer
;t will be the
B4 A *ARTICULAR *RONOUN - @-OTE@ -
-OTE which means 6 "all" can be used as an independant pronoun, or accompany a noun. ;n all cases, it agrees in class with the name to which it refers. 5ecause of its meaning, it is more fre&uently used in the plural than in the singular.
GENDERS ? Cla##e#
M-?WA- 0/l 1 1 ?3 M-?MI- 0/l @ 1 43 8I-?MA- 0/l 5 1 K3 KI-?;I- 0/l 7 1 N3 N0/l = 1 103
SINGULAR
*LURAL
WOTE
WOTE LOTE CHOTE :OTE WOTE
:OTE :OTE ;:OTE 9OTE 9OTE
U- 0/l 11, 14 1 103 !:"$'(!S 6
Mwili w te wani+&a Lete $i#+ $2 te Cha1+la ,h te 1i&eha!i/i1a Wat+ w te wa&e'i1a
"ll the body hurts me 5ring all the kni es "ll the food is damaged ! erybody has arri ed
+e can also associate -OTE with personal pronouns or with numbers. *or e,ample 6 Si#i # te Nin2i n2 te S te wawili N2 te wawili =;ita/+> $2 te $iwili =Miti> 2 te &itat+ 4s all L "ll of us Fou all L "ll of you 4s two L 5oth of us Fou two L 5oth of you 5oth 0books3 "ll three 0trees3
VOCABULARY
M'an2a1a3i =wa-> M(i!i1i =wa-> M0in(a =wa-> M1en2a =wa-> Mle$i =wa-> M&a#ai =wa-> a worker, workers a 9reek, 9reeks an idiot, idiots a .enyan, .enyans a tra eller, tra ellers a -an%anian, -an%anians a mason, masons a liar, liars a )an%ibarian, a drunkard, drunkards M3an3i/a!i =wa-> )an%ibarians a $asai, $asais M3a3i =wa-> a parent, parents M#a'i!i =wa-> Mtan3ania =wa-> Mwa#hi =wa-> Mw n( =wa->
Cha%te! F - The *!e#ent De'inite Ten#e

-he present definite tense in Swahili is primarily used to describe actions which take place at the time when one speaks. ;t is anchored in the present moment and has the same alue as the 'D!S!#- />#-;#4>4S in !nglish.
)4 THE AFFIRMATI;E FORM -
-he tense marker of the present definite is the infi, -NA- which is placed between the affirmati e sub7ect prefi, and the erb radical. -he termination of the erb does not change.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < NA < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 6 KUFAN:A E to make, to do
0/lasse 1, Sing.3
0/lasse ?, 'lur.3 #>-! 6
NI-NA-FAN:A U-NA-FAN:A A-NA-FAN:A TU-NA-FAN:A M-NA-FAN:A WA-NA-FAN:A
-K nina'an2a -K +na'an2a -K ana'an2a -K t+na'an2a -K &na'an2a -K wana'an2a
; am making you are making he L she is making we are making you are making they are making
$onosyllabic erbs keep the infiniti e prefi, KU- 6 KU8A 0E to come3 KWENDA 0E to go3 NI-NA-KU-8A A-NA-KW-ENDA -K nina1+0a -K ana1wen"a ; am coming he L she is going
<4 THE NEGATI;E FORM -
-here is not tense marker on the negati e present definite. " negati e sub7ect prefi, is directly followed by the erb radical. ;n case of a 5antu erb, its termination -A changes into -I. >n the other hand, erbs of "rabic origin keep their final owel without taking -I. "s for monosyllabic erbs, they lose the infiniti e prefi, KU- but take the termination -I.
NE!ATI$E SU@5ECT PREAIB < $ER@ RADICA= < I
$>H!( 1 0Aerb of 5antu origin3 6 KUFAN:A E to make, to do
SI-FAN:-I =HAJU> - HU-FAN:-I =HAJA> - HA-FAN:-I HA-TU-FAN:-I HA-M-FAN:-I HA-WA-FAN:-I
-K #i'an2i -K h+'an2i -K ha'an2i -K hat+'an2i -K ha&'an2i -K hawa'an2i
; am not making you are not making he L she is not making we are not making you are not making they are not making
$>H!( ? 0Aerb of "rabic origin3 6 KU8IBU E to answer
SI-8IBU =HAJU> - HU-8IBU =HAJA> - HA-8IBU HA-TU-8IBU HA-M-8IBU HA-WA-8IBU
-K #i0i/+ -K h+0i/+ -K ha0i/+ -K hat+0i/+ -K ha&0i/+ -K hawa0i/+
; am not answering you are not answering he L she is not answering we are not answering you are not answering they are not answering
$>H!( @ 0$onosyllabic erbs3 6 KU8A E to come
SI-8-I =HAJU> - HU-8-I =HAJA> - HA-8-I HA-TU-8-I HA-M-8-I HA-WA-8-I
-K #i0i -K h+0i -K ha0i -K hat+0i -K ha&0i -K hawa0i
; am not coming you are not coming he L she is not coming we are not coming you are not coming they are not coming
A4 SOME SENTENCES IN THE *RESENT DEFINITE Ma&a ana%i1a Ra'i1i wana1+0a le Wat t wana,he3a &%i!a Una%en"a &%i!a 2a &i(++ ? Nina%en"a &%i!a #ana Hawa0i le Hat+'an2i 1a3i $other is cooking -he friends are coming today -he children are playing ball Ho you like football G ; like football a lot -hey are not coming today +e are not working
VOCABULARY
Na La1ini Sa#a Kila and, with but now each, e ery a+ Le Tena Sana or today again ery, a lot
EXERCISES
a. ; lo e, ;<m writing, ;<m going out, you are breaking, she is crying, they are drawing, they are lea ing, we are working, she is sweeping, you are culti ating 0'lur3, he is 7umping, we are playing, you are cleaning, you are waiting 0'lur3, you are reading 0'lur3. b. -he child is playing, the little child is crying, the men are eating, the women are cleaning, the teacher is working, the pupils are coming in, the dri er is waiting, the youths are coming back, my parents are tra elling, my children are reading, the father is working, the friends are coming back, the drunkard is drinking, the masons are working, the fisherman is coming back. c. ;<m not playing, he is not drawing, we are not trying, you don<t come, he doesn<t stay, ; don<t know, you don<t drink, she is not working, we are not going, you don<t answer, they are not cooking, ; am not tra elling, you don<t hear, he doesn<t sleep, it doesn<t fit.
a4 Ana'i1a. +na1+0a. wana%i(a. t+na'+!ahi. &na#a'i!i. ina'aa. wana0a!i/+. ana/a1i. nina/a"ili. t+na#a'i#ha. &na%i1a. +na1aa. ana'+ata. t+nan( 0a. ninan+n+a4 /4 Si0+i. #i'i1i!i. #i#e&i. h+0+i. h+0i/+. h+# &i. ha#i1ii. ha!+"i. ha#a'i!i. hat+in(ii. hat+'a+l+. ha&wen"i. hawali. hawan2i. hawa'an2i4
E6ERCISE A - -ranslate into !nglish 6
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
Wewe ni &tan3ania4 Una#e&a 1i#wahili4 La1ini h+#e&i 1iin(e!e3a4 Mt t ana%en"a 1+,he3a #ana4 Ba/a na &a&a wana#a'i!i le 4 Mwana'+n3i ana0a!i/+ 1+# &a4 ;i/a!+a hawa'an2i 1a3i le 4 Wa3a3i wan(+ wana1aa 9an3i/a!4 8a!i/+ 1+#e&a 1i#wahili !
)H4 Mi&i ni &win(e!e3a4 Si0+i 1i#wahili #ana4
Cha%te! G - The M-?MI- Gen"e!

-he M-?MI- gender 0/lasses @ L 43 is not as specific as the M-?WA- gender. ;t includes primarily nouns of trees, ob7ects, parts of the human body, elements of nature, etc.. 5ut it doesn<t contain any nouns of human beings.
/l @ 0Singular3 6 /l 4 0'lural3 6 ;n front of a. e. i #>-! 6
prefi, Mprefi, MIthe singular prefi, M- becomes MW- 6
MTI E a tree, the tree MITI E trees, the trees MWILI E a body, the body
;n the singular, nothing distinguishes a noun belonging to the M-?MIgender from a noun of the M-?WA- gender, therefore the &uestion is to guess whether its plural should either be in WA- or in MI-. -he only way to sol e the problem is to know that noun 6 if it represents a person, its plural is in WA-, whereas if it is not a person, its plural is in MI-...
)4 SOME NOUNS OF THE M-?MI- GENDER =Cla##e# A ? B > -
SINGULAR
M/+2+ M,hele M,he3 M,h+n(wa M" & M'an M'e!e0i M'+1 M( &/a M(++ M0i M1ate M1 n Mlan( Mli&a Mna!a Mna3i M #hi M t M 2 M%i!a M#haha!a M#i1iti M#it+ M#wa1i Mti Mtihani Mt M3i(
*LURAL
&i/+2+ &i,hele &i,he3 &i,h+n(wa &i" & &i'an &i'e!e0i &i'+1 &i( &/a &i(++ &i0i &i1ate &i1 n &ilan( &ili&a &ina!a &ina3i &i #hi &i t &i 2 &i%i!a &i#haha!a &i#i1iti &i#it+ &i#wa1i &iti &itihani &it &i3i(
TRANSLATION
a baobab tree, baobab trees husked rice a game, games an orange tree, orange trees a lip, a beak, a mouth, lips an e,ample, e,amples a ditch, a water tap, ditches a pocket, a bag, pockets a banana tree, banana trees a foot, a leg, feet a town, towns a bread, breads a hand, an arm, hands a door, doors a mountain, a hill, mountains a minaret, a lighthouse, a tower, minarets a coconut tree, coconut trees a smoke, smokes a fire, fires a heart, hearts a ball, a pipe, balls a salary, wages a mos&ue, mos&ues a forest, forests a toothbrush, toothbrushes a tree, trees an e,am, e,ams a ri er, a pillow, ri ers a luggage, a load, loads
-he radical starts with a owel 6 Singular prefi, Mw- Mwa1a Mwa$+li Mwe&/e Mwe3i Mwi/a Mwili Mwi#h &ia1a &ia$+li &ie&/e &ie3i &ii/a &iili &ii#h a year, years an umbrella, umbrellas a mango tree, mango trees a month, months a thorn, a thorn1bush, thorns a body, bodies the end, the ends
'articular cases 6 Singular prefi, M+- M+hin"i M+h ( M+wa &ihin"i &ih ( &iwa corn, mai%e cassa a sugar cane
8owe er, many nouns refering to natural elements, to parts of the human body, and to plants, are not included in this gender.
<4 CLASS AGREEMENTS -
1. "d7ecti e 6 -he ad7ecti e takes prefi,es of class agreements identical to those of the noun 6 0See 6 /hapter 11 1 /oncordant "d7ecti es.3
/lass @ 6 /lass 4 6
Mti a Miti
&1+/wa ? &" ( ? &3+!i ? &!e'+ ? &we+#i ? ... big L small L beautiful L high L dark L ... &i1+/wa ? &i" ( ? &i3+!i ? &i!e'+ ? &2e+#i ? ... big L small L beautiful L high L dark L ...
tree trees
/lass @ 6
Mti E Miti E
wan(+ ? wa1 ? wa1e ? wet+ ? wen+ ? wa my L your L his 1 her 1 its L our L your L their 2an(+ ? 2a1 ? 2a1e ? 2et+ ? 2en+ ? 2a my L your L his 1 her 1 its L our L your L their
tree
/lass 4 6
trees
A/i!ia ,h+n(a M9IGO :AKO44 MARADHI UMASIKINI U8INGA - N8AA -ra eller look after F>4D (499"9!.. H;S!"S! 1 '>A!D-F 1 ;H;>/F 1 84#9!D
EXERCISES
a. " ri er, a mountain, a forest, a tree, a baobab tree, a mango tree, a coconut tree, a thorn1bush, an orange tree, a banana tree, cassa a, corn, sugar cane, the smoke, a fire. b. 5reads, balls, tooth1brushes, bags, games, months, years, wages, towns, the hands, the doors, hearts, e,ams, coconut trees, umbrellas.
a4 Mi1 n . &i(++. &i'e!e0i. &we&/e. &na3i. &i/+2+. &,h+n(wa. &ili&a. &it . &iti. &+wa. &i'+1 . &,hele. &,he3 . &ia$+li. &i" & . &i3i( . &#i1iti. &ina!a. &tihani4 /4 Che3a &%i!a ! An(alia &t t &" ( ! Fa+l+ &tihani ! Ch !a & 2 ! Li&a &+hin"i ! F+n(a &lan( ! U#i'+n(+e &lan( ! An(alia &ii/a ! N+n+a &1ate ! U#ile &1ate !
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
Wat t wana%en"a 1+,he3a &%i!a4 M1+li&a anali&a &i,h+n(wa na &i( &/a4 Mt t &" ( ana%en"a 1+la &+wa4 Ba/a ana'+n(a &lan( 4 Nen"a +n+n+e &1ate na &,hele4 Wana'+n3i wanaan"i1a &itihani 2a 4 Wat t wanaan(alia & t 4 Mnali&a &+hin"i a+ &+h ( ? ;i/a!+a wana%ata &i#haha!a 2a le 4
)H4 Ki% '+ hawe3i 1+ na &'e!e0i4
Cha%te! )H - The *!e#ent In"e'inite Ten#e

-his tense is used to describe usual or permanent actions, or to state "scientific" truths, that are not necessarily connected to the present time. -his tense is e&ui alent to the S;$'(! 'D!S!#- in !nglish.
-he tense marker of the 'resent ;ndefinite is the infi, -A- which is inserted between the affirmati e sub7ect prefi, and the erb radical. $onosyllabic erbs lose the infiniti e prefi, KUin the 'resent ;ndefinite, unlike in the 'resent Hefinite.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < A < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 1 6 KUSOMA E to read
NI-A-SOMA U-A-SOMA A-A-SOMA TU-A-SOMA MU-A-SOMA WA-A-SOMA
-K na# &a -K wa# &a -K a# &a -K twa# &a -K &wa# &a -K wa# &a
; read you read he L she reads we read you read they read
$>H!( ? 6 KU8A E to come
#>-! 6
NI-A-8A -K na0a ; come U-A-8A -K wa0a you come A-A-8A -K a0a he L she comes TU-A-8A -K twa0a we come MU-A-8A -K &wa0a you come WA-A-8A -K wa0a they come -he erb KUWA 0E to be3 does not con7ugate in the 'resent ;ndefinite. ;t has only one present tense form 6 NI. 0See 6 /hapter 7 and /hapter 17 1 -he Aerb KUWA.3
-he 'resent ;ndefinite -ense has no specific negati e con7ugation 6 we use the negati e form of the 'resent Hefinite. 0See 6 /hapter N 1 -he 'resent Hefinite -ense3
A4 SOME SENTENCES IN THE *RESENT INDEFINITE Wa'an2a 1a3i (ani ? Na'+n"i#ha 1i'a!ant#a Ma&a a%i1a 1ila #i1+ Wana"a&+ walala +#i1+ N(5 &/e wala &a0ani Wan2a&a wa ( %a & t Si#i ni watan3ania Ki% '+ ha ni 1it+ M( n0wa hali. han2wi. alala t+ Si0+i 1i#wahili +hat work do you do G ; teach *rench $other cooks e eryday 8uman beings sleep at night /ows eat grass "nimals are afraid of the fire +e are -an%anians -he blind man doesn<t see anything -he patient doesn<t eat, doesn<t drink, he sleeps only ; don<t know Swahili
VOCABULARY
K+-,ha'+a K+-'i,ha K+-'+a n(+ K+- ( %a K+- &/a K+-%an"a
to dirty to hide to wash the linen to be afraid to ask, to beg to go up, to climb
K+-%i(a %a#i K+-#h na K+-ta3a&a K+-tia K+-t a K+-+li3a
to iron to sew to stare to put to remo e to ask a &uestion
EXERCISES
E6ERCISE ) - -ranslate into Swahili, using the 'resent ;ndefinite 6 a. ; learn, you sew, she sweeps, she cooks, they wash the linen, they culti ate, he remo es, you listen 0'lur3, they agree, he buys, they sell, they play, she sleeps, we e,change, we are afraid. b. ; don<t read, ; don<t take, he doesn<t make, he doesn<t stop, he doesn<t lea e, ; don<t speak, they don<t play, they don<t ask, you don<t sweep, ; don<t iron, they don<t listen, he doesn<t agree, they are not afraid, they don<t climb, you don<t culti ate 0'lur3. c. -he old man doesn<t work, the fishermen do not culti ate, he doesn<t culti ate cassa a, the youths do not agree, the cow eats grass, the women wash the linen, you are afraid of the fire 0'lur3, the men cut the trees, you culti ate mai%e 0plur3, the child doesn<t like to wash the linen, mother likes sewing, the blind man begs for bread.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
Wa'an2a 1a3i (ani ? Mi&i ni &wali&+4 Si#i ni wana'+n3i watan3ania4 N(5 &/e wa%en"a 1+la &a0ani4 Da"a a'a(ia 1ila a#+/+hi4 ;i0ana wa,he3a &%i!a 1ila 0i ni4 Ki/a!+a a%ata &#haha!a wa1e 1ila #i1+4 Mt t &" ( ha%en"i &+h ( 4 Nan+n+a &1ate 1ila #i1+4
)H4 Wawe wa ( %a &wali&+ wa1 4
Cha%te! )) - C n, !"ant A"0e,ti$e#

"-rue" ad7ecti es are relati ely few in Swahili, but it will be seen later that there are se eral ways of making ad7ecti al concept words. 0See 6 /hapter 44.3 ;n Swahili, unlike in !nglish, the ad7ecti e is always placed "*-!D the noun it &ualifies. +e distinguish two main categories of ad7ecti es 6 1. -hose which take a class prefi, to agree with the noun they &ualify. ?. -hose which remain in ariable 6 they are in their ma7ority loanwords from "rabic.
+e will de ote this first chapter to the study of the ad7ecti es which agree 6 the concordant ad7ecti es. -he ad7ecti es are usually introduced without any prefi, in the lists of therefore ad isable to be able to recogni%e them from their roots. ocabulary. ;t is
-he agreement prefi,es of the ad7ecti es are identical to the class prefi,es of the nouns with which they agree. 8owe er, a few modifications of a phonetic nature can be obser ed, especially with the ad7ecti es whose root starts with a owel. -herefore, for more transparency, we propose to di ide our study of the concordant ad7ecti es into two sub1categories 6 the ad7ecti es whose root starts with a consonant and those whose root starts with a owel.
)4 AD8ECTI;ES STARTING WITH A CONSONANT AD8ECTI;E

-/a2a -/i,hi -/i$+ -/ $+ -,ha,he -,ha'+ -,h+n(+ -" ( -'+%i -(eni -(+&+ -0an0a -1ali -1a$+ -1e -1 ! 'i -1+/wa
TRANSLATION
bad raw, green, unripe ripe rotten a few, some dirty bitter small, little short strange, foreign hard cunning, crafty se ere, sharp, cruel dry female sa age, brutal big
AD8ECTI;E
-1++ -1++1++ -nene -n n -%ana -%2a -!e'+ -#h+%a$+ -ta&+ -t+%+ -$i$+ -wi$+ -3ee -3i&a -3it -3+!i
TRANSLATION
chief, main used, old fat big, fat 0animal3 large new long, high bra e, firm delicious, sweet empty, naked la%y 7ealous old whole, adult hea y pretty, beautiful
-he prefi, agreements for the M-?WA- gender 0/lasses 1 L ?3, the M-?MI- gender 0/lasses @ L 43 and the KI-?;I- gender 0/lasses 7 L N3 are strictly identical to those of the nouns. *or the 8I?MA- gender 0/lasses 5 L K3, only the ad7ecti e -*:A takes the prefi, 8I- in the singular, which makes 6 8I*:A. -he other ad7ecti es do not take any prefi, in the singular. -hey all take the prefi, MA- in the plural. ;t is only with the N- gender 0/lasses = L 103, that matters get a little more tricky 6
1. -he ad7ecti e takes the prefi, N- if the ad7ecti al root starts with D, G ou 9 6
NNN-DOGO -GUMU -9URI 1O NDOGO 1O NGUMU 1O N9URI 0E small, little3 0E hard3 0E beautiful, nice3
2. 3. -he ad7ecti e takes the prefi, M- if the ad7ecti al root starts with B, * ou ; 6
4. 5. -he ad7ecti es whose roots start with other consonants do not take any prefi,, e,cept
for -REFU which makes 6 NDEFU 0E long, high3. S>$! !:"$'(!S 6 Mt t &" ( Wat t wa" ( Mti &!e'+ Miti &i!e'+ T+n"a 0i%2a Mat+n"a &a%2a Cha1+la 1i/a2a ;2a1+la $i/a2a N(+ '+%i N(+ '+%i U# &3+!i N2+# n3+!i K+# &a 1+3+!i a little child little children a high tree high trees a new fruit new fruits a bad food bad foods a short cloth short clothes a beautiful face beautiful faces studying is good 0/lass 13 0/lass ?3 0/lass @3 0/lass 43 0/lass 53 0/lass K3 0/lass 73 0/lass N3 0/lass =3 0/lass 103 0U- 9ender, Sing, "d7 /l @3 0U- 9ender, 'lur, "d7 /l 103 0KU- 9ender3
MMM-
-BA:A -*:A -;I;U
1O MBA:A 1O M*:A 1O M;I;U
0E bad3 0E new3 0E la%y3
<4 AD8ECTI;ES STARTING WITH A ;OWEL -a&ini'+ -an(a$+ -e1+n"+ -e&a -e&/a&/a -e%e#i -e!e$+ -e+%e -e+#i -in(i -in(ine - $+ -+&e honest, faithful bright red good, nice thin light, easy malignant, cunning white, clear black, dark much, many, a lot other, another bad male
-he presence of a owel at the beginning of the ad7ecti al root leads to modifications of a phonetic nature. (et<s e,amine those changes, gender after gender 6 1. -he M-?WA- 9ender 6
2. S;#94("D 0/lass 13
M=+> J A M=+> J E M=+> J I 1O MWA 1O MWE 1O MWI !, 6 Mt+ &wa&ini'+ !, 6 Mt t &we&a !, 6 Mt t &win(ine "n honest person " nice child "nother child
3. '(4D"( 0/lass ?3
WA J A WA J E WA J I 4. -he M-?MI- 9ender 6 1O WA 1O WE 1O WE !, 6 Wat+ wa&ini'+ !, 6 Wat t we&a !, 6 Wat t wen(ine 8onest people #ice children >ther children
5. S;#94("D 0/lass @3
M=+> J E M=+> J I 1O MWE 1O MWI !, 6 Mti &we+#i !, 6 M1ate &win(ine " dark tree "nother bread
6. '(4D"( 0/lass 43
MI J E MI J I 1O M:E 1O MI !, 6 Miti &2e+#i !, 6 Mi1ate &in(ine Hark trees >ther breads
7. -he 8I-?MA- 9ender 6
8. S;#94("D 0/lass 53
8I J E 8I J I 1O 8E 1O 8I !, 6 8+a 0e1+n"+ !, 6 8+a 0in(i " red sun " lot of sun
9. '(4D"( 0/lass K3
MA J E 1O ME !, 6 Ma/a#i &e1+n"+ MA J I 1O ME !, 6 Ma/a#i &en(ine 10. !:/!'-;># 6 8I J INGINE -K LENGINE 0E another3 11. 1?. -he KI-?;I- 9ender 6 Ded buses >ther buses
13. S;#94("D 0/lass 73

KI J E KI J I 1O CHE 1O KI !, 6 Kiti ,he+#i !, 6 Cha1+la 1in(i " black chair " lot of food
14. '(4D"( 0/lass N3

;I J E ;I J I 15. -he N- 9ender 6 1O ;: 1O ;I !, 6 ;iti $2e+#i !, 6 ;2a1+la $in(ine 5lack chairs >ther foods
16. S;#94("D 0/lass =3

NJE NJI 1O N:E 1O N:I !, 6 N(+ n2e+%e !, 6 N(+ N2in(ine " white cloth "nother cloth
17. '(4D"( 0/lass 103

NJE NJI 1N. !:/!'-;># 6 1O N:E !, 6 N(+ n2e+%e 1O N:I !, 6 N(+ N2in(ine N J EMA -K N8EMA 0E good3 +hite clothes >ther clothes
EXERCISES
E6ERCISE ) - -ranslate into Swahili 6 a. 5ig, fat, small, short, hea y, light, dirty, hard, sweet, bitter, new, la%y, red, black, white, malignant, main, raw, bad, good. b. " cunning man, an honest child, a few people, a se ere teacher, a la%y young man, a 7ealous woman, a nice young girl, adult people, a high mountain, sweet sugar cane, beautiful mai%e, a thin body, dirty hands, a whole month, a black umbrella, long legs, a
white smoke, a red fire, a difficult e,am, a good heart.
E6ERCISE < - -ranslate into !nglish 6 a4 M'+%i. n3it . &$i$+. 1a$+. 1i(+&+. 1i" ( . &a,ha'+. &/i,hi. &1ali. 0i%2a. &a1+/wa. n3+!i. n0e&a. len(ine. &3ee. n2e1+n"+. wa&ini'+. &wan(a$+. ,he%e#i. t+%+4 /4 Mt t &$i$+. &'+1 &t+%+. wat+ wa3i&a. wan2a&a wa1ali. wa&a#ai wa1+/wa. n(+ &%2a. &t+ &we+#i. &0i &1++. &i(++ &i'+%i. wa3+n(+ wa(eni. &i1 n &i%ana. &%i!a &" ( . &a(a!i &a,ha,he. 1it+ 1in(ine. ,ha1+la 1ita&+. &+hin"i &/i,hi. &t t &/a2a. wana'+n3i wen(i. &wi3i &w $+. n(+ '+%i4
E6ERCISE A - 'ut the following phrases in the plural 6 Ga!i 0i%2a. n(+ n2e1+n"+. 1iti 1i" ( . +# &we&a. &wana&1e &1ali. &t &%ana. &ti &!e'+. &t+ &3i&a. &$+lana &$i$+. &n2a&a &n n . &0i &1+/wa. &( n0wa &win(ine. &lan( &1++. &#haha!a &" ( . &1ate &win(i. & 2 &3it . &#it+ &we+#i. &1 n &,ha'+. (a!i / $+. ,ha1+la 1i,ha,he4
Cha%te! )< - In$a!ia/le A"0e,ti$e#

$ost of the in ariable ad7ecti es are borrowed from the "rabic. (ike the concordant ad7ecti es, they are always placed "*-!D the noun. " few of them can be both noun and ad7ecti e. *or e,ample 6 &a#1ini E poor, a poor, and ta0i!i 0&a-3 E rich, a rich person.
)4 THE MOST COMMON IN;ARIABLE AD8ECTI;ES AD8ECTI;E

/ !a /+!e (hali ha/a ha'i'+ hai halali ha!a&+ h "a!i i&a!a 1a&ili 1i0ani 1weli laini &aal+&
TRANSLATION
e,cellent, better useless, free e,pensi e few, little weak ali e pure, legitimate forbidden bra e, intelligent, cle er strong complete, e,act green true soft, smooth special
AD8ECTI;E
&an0an &a#1ini &+hi&+ $2 !ahi#i !a#&i #a'i #ahihi #awa #hwa!i ta0i!i ta2a!i tele wa3i
TRANSLATION
yellow poor important bad, alueless cheap, easy official clean correct e&ual, same calm rich ready plenty open, ob ious
<4 SOME E6AM*LES -
Bwana ta0i!i Mt t &a#1ini Ka3i /+!e ? $2 Sa'a!i !a#&i Wana'+n3i h "a!i Ma&/ &+hi&+ Cha1+la ni ha/a Cha1+la ni tele Cha1+la ta2a!i Mlan( ni wa3i Kila 1it+ #awa Ha/a!i (ani ? - Sa'i #ana ! Ha/a!i 3a 1a3i ? - Shwa!i !
" rich man " poor child " useless L slapdash piece of work "n official 7ourney /le er pupils ;mportant matters -here is little food -here is plenty of food -he food 0is3 ready -he door is open ! erything is e&ual L fine 8ow are you G 1 Aery fine I +hat about your work G 1 ;t<s >... I
A4 THE COM*ARATI;E OF SU*ERIORIT: -
-o translate "more than" we use in Swahili the e,pression KULIKO 0E where there is3, or alternati ely KU9IDI 0E to increase3, KU*ITA 0E to o ertake3, or KUSHINDA 0E to defeat3. "ll these different e,pressions are e&ui alent and interchangeable. !:"$'(!S 6 Ali ni &!e'+ 1+li1 8+&a "li is taller than Juma (Ali is tall more than Juma) N(+ 2an(+ ni #a'i 1+%ita 2a1 $y cloth is cleaner than yours (... is clean more than yours) A/"allah ni h "a!i 1+#hin"a O&a!i "bdallah is more intelligent than >mari (... is intelligent more than Omari) 9an3i/a! ni &0i &3+!i 1+3i"i Da! e# Salaa& )an%ibar is a more beautiful town than Har es Salaam (... is a town beautiful more than es !alaam) S"F;#9 6
ar
Damu nzito kuliko maji
VOCABULARY
K+-a&1a K+-an3a K+-'+ta K+-( n(a K+-hita0i K+-li%a to wake up to start, to begin to wipe to hit, to knock to need to pay K+-n+1a K+-n+1ia K+- ta K+-#aha+ K+-t #ha K+-$aa to smell bad to smell good to grow, to dream to forget to be sufficient to wear
EXERCISES
" poor child, rich tra ellers, an e,pensi e car, a useless piece of work, an important 7ob, an open door, forbidden games, a cle er pupil, an official 7ourney, a clean ri er, a weak patient, a ready luggage, an easy 7ob, important matters, forbidden food, cheap bread, plenty of food, better food, complete matters, clean clothes.
Shwa!i. #awa. laini. 1weli. ha!a&+. halali. / !a. /+!e. ta2a!i. ta0i!i. &a#1ini. (hali. !ahi#i. i&a!a. ha'i'+. !a#&i. tele. ha/a. wa3i. &+hi&+. $2 . &an0an . 1i0ani. hai. h "a!i4
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4 )<4 )A4 )B4
Mi3i( 2a1 =ni> ta2a!i4 Mwali&+ anaan3a #a'a!i !a#&i4 Ki% '+ &3ee ana &/a &1ate4 :e2e ni &a#1ini4 Hawe3i 1+li%a4 Ana$aa n(+ #a'i4 U#i'an2e 1a3i /+!e ! Ha&i#i ni &wana'+n3i h "a!i4 Cha1+la =ni> ta2a!i4 Ka!i/+ ,ha1+la ! Kila #i1+ =ni> #awa4 Cha1+la ni ha/a4 Ha1it #hi4 T+nahita0i &i1ate &en(ine4 A&ina ni &#i,hana &we&a 1+li1 Fat+&a4 Nai! /i ni &0i &1+/wa 1+%ita Da! e# Salaa&4 M1ate wa1 ni / !a 1+li1 wan(+4
)C4 Ha/a!i 3a 1a3i ? - Shwa!i !
Cha%te! )A - The 8I-?MA- Gen"e!

-he 8I-?MA- gender 0/lasses 5 L K3 includes nouns of persons, nouns of manufactured ob7ects, of parts of the human body, of fruits and natural products, nouns of built or natural places, abstract concepts, etc.. -hey are often loanwords, particularly of "rabic origin. -his gender is ery particular, for although it is named "8I-?MA-", only a ery small number of nouns take the prefi, 8I- in the singular. -he ma7ority of the nouns of class 5 0singular3 do not ha e a prefi,, while some other nouns
only e,ist in class K 0plural3.
/l 5 0Singular3 6
prefi, 8Iprefi, Lprefi, MA-
8ICHO E an eye, the eye TUNDA E a fruit, the fruit MACHO E eyes, the eyes MATUNDA E fruits, the fruits
/l K 0'lural3 6
)4 NOUNS TAKING THE *REFI6 8I- IN THE SINGULAR NOUN

8i,h . &a,h 8i1 . &e1 8in . &en
TRANSLATION
an eye, eyes a cooker, cookers a tooth, teeth
NOUN
8a&/ . &a&/ 8iwe. &awe
TRANSLATION
a matter, matters a stone, stones
<4 NOUNS WHICH E6IST ONL: IN THE *LURAL NOUN

Maa'a Ma'+ta Mahin"i Ma0ani Ma0i
TRANSLATION
a misfortune oil corn 0on the cob3 grass water
NOUN
Ma0i$+ Matata Mat+#i Ma$i Ma3iwa
TRANSLATION
ashes problems insults e,crement milk
A4 OTHER NOUNS GROU*ED B: TO*ICS -
1C -ANUAACTURED O@5ECTS &
SINGULAR
Blan1eti De/e Di!i#ha Ga!i Ga3eti G " ! G+nia 8e&/e San"+1+ Sh 1a
*LURAL
&a/lan1eti &a"e/e &a"i!i#ha &a(a!i &a(a3eti &a( " ! &a(+nia &a0e&/e &a#an"+1+ &a#h 1a
TRANSLATION
a blanket, blankets a 4 gallon tin can a window, windows a car, cars 0also in classes = L 103 a newspaper, newspapers a mattress, mattresses a coarse bag, a sack a hoe, hoes a bo,, a trunk, bo,es an a,e, a,es
C ARUITS9 NATURA= PRODUCTS &
SINGULAR
Ch+n(wa Da'+ E&/e 8ani Li&a+ Nana#i *a%ai T+n"a :ai
*LURAL
&a,h+n(wa &a"a'+ &ae&/e &a0ani &ali&a+ &anana#i &a%a%ai &at+n"a &a2ai
TRANSLATION
an orange, oranges a coconut with milk, coconuts a mango, mangoes a leaf, lea es a lemon, lemons a pineapple, pineapples a pawpaw, pawpaws a fruit, fruits an egg, eggs
#C NATURA= OR @UI=T P=ACES &
SINGULAR
Ba!a3a Da!a0a D+1a * !i Sha&/a S 1
*LURAL
&a/a!a3a &a"a!a0a &a"+1a &a% !i &a#ha&/a &a# 1
TRANSLATION
a eranda, erandas a bridge, bridges a shop, shops the bush a field, a farm, fields a market, markets
)C NOUNS OA PEOP=E &
SINGULAR
Bi/i Bwana F+n"i Ka!ani Rai# Se!e&ala Shan(a3i Ta0i!i Wa3i!i
*LURAL
&a/i/i &a/wana &a'+n"i &a1a!ani &a!ai# &a#e!e&ala &a#han(a3i &ata0i!i &awa3i!i
TRANSLATION
young lady, grandmother, ladies Sir, master, gentlemen a craftsman, craftsmen a clerk, clerks a president, presidents a carpenter, carpenters an aunt 0paternal3, aunts a rich person, rich people a minister, ministers
+C PARTS OA THE HU-AN @ODD &
SINGULAR
Be(a G ti Si1i T+&/
*LURAL
&a/e(a &a( ti &a#i1i &at+&/
TRANSLATION
a shoulder, shoulders a knee, knees an ear, ears the stomach, the bowells
,C A@STRACT OR CONCRETE CONCEPTS &
SINGULAR
8ina 8+a K #a Nen Sha+!i S & Wa3 9+n(+&3
*LURAL
&a0ina &a0+a &a1 #a &anen &a#ha+!i &a# & &awa3 &a3+n(+&3
TRANSLATION
a name, names the sun, suns a mistake, mistakes a word, words an ad ice, ad ices a lesson, lessons a thought, thoughts a con ersation, con ersations
B4 THE AUGMENTATI;E *REFI6 8I- -
-he prefi, 8I- can possess an augmentati e alue. ;n that case, we replace the normal noun class prefi, with the prefi, 8I- 0or the prefi, L- in some cases3. ;n the plural, the prefi, MA- is placed in front of the augmentati e prefi,.
ORIGIN
M"+"+ Mt+ N2 1a N2+&/a M t 0insect3 0person3 0snake3 0house3 0fire3
SINGULAR *LURAL
-K D+"+ -K 8it+ -K 8 1a -K 8+&/a -K 8 t &a"+"+ &a0it+ &a0 1a &a0+&/a &a0 t
TRANSLATION
a large insect, large insects a giant, giants a large snake, large snakes a building, buildings the heat
C4 CLASS AGREEMENTS -
1. "d7ecti e 6 -he ad7ecti e takes prefi,es of class agreements identical to those of the noun 6 0See 6 /hapter 11 1 /oncordant "d7ecti es.3
/lass 5 6 T+n"a a /lass K 6 Mat+n"a
1+/wa ? " ( ? 3+!i ? /a2a ? 0i%2a ? ... big L small L beautiful L bad L new L ... &a1+/wa ? &a" ( ? &a3+!i ? &a/a2a ? &a%2a ? ... big L small L beautiful L bad L new L ...
fruit
fruits
?. 'ossessi e "d7ecti es 6
/lass 5 6
T+n"a E
lan(+ ? la1 ? la1e ? let+ ? len+ ? la my L your L his 1 her L our L your L their
fruit
/lass K 6 #>-! 6
Mat+n"a 2an(+ ? 2a1 ? 2a1e ? 2et+ ? 2en+ ? 2a E my L your L his 1 her L our L your L their fruits -he ad7ecti e that &ualifies a class 5 L K noun of person, must take class 1 L ? agreements. Ka!ani &3+!i 0instead of 1a!ani 3+!i3 Ma1a!ani wa3+!i 0instead of &a1a!ani &a3+!i3 :+le /wana &1+/wa Wale &a/wana wa1+/wa " good clerk 9ood clerks -hat big man -hose big men
VOCABULARY
T t!an#late - @in. n. at@ - the #+''iI @-NI@
Ba!a3ani D+1ani 8i1 ni M'+1 ni M1 n ni M0ini on the eranda in the shop in the kitchen in the bag in the hand downtown Mlan( ni Mli&ani Mt ni * !ini Sha&/ani S 1 ni at the door on the mountain in the ri er in the bush on the farm at the market
EXERCISES
a. /orn, oil, water, mangoes, lemons, eggs, oranges, pawpaws, milk, a can, a coarse bag, a hoe, newspapers, an a,e, cars, a shop, a market, craftsmen, ministers, clerks. b. ; drink water, ; eat corn, he takes a pawpaw, he sells oil, buy oranges I -ake blankets I Hon<t forget the newspaper I Hrink your milk I -hey work on the farm, they play on the eranda, she eats in the kitchen, mind the large snake I /ook some eggs I /ut the pineapple I -ell your name I
a4 Rai#. #han(a3i. &a1a!ani. &a( ti. t+&/ . &a#i1i . &anen . &awa3 . # 1 ni. #ha&/ani. % !ini. &a0ani. /lan1eti. "i!i#ha. 0e&/e. 0i,h . 0in . 0ina. 0i1 ni. &a1 #a4 /4 Wa3i!i &1++. &a3iwa &a3+!i. ( " ! 0i%2a. /lan1eti &an0an . "a!a0a !e'+. 0+a 1ali. &a3+n(+&3 &a!e'+. &a%a%ai &a" ( . li&a+ / $+. &a2ai &a,ha,he. &ahin"i tele. &at+#i $2 . /i/i &1ali. '+n"i h "a!i. /a!a3a 1+/wa. #ha+!i la1 . 0ina lan(+. &awa3 2an(+. 0 1a &!e'+. &a,h+n(wa &a/i,hi4
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
Nen"a "+1ani +n+n+e &a3iwa ! Ma&a ana1wen"a 0i1 ni 1+%i1a ,ha1+la4 Wat t wa%en"a 1+la &ae&/e &a/i,hi4 Ma#e!e&ala wana'an2a 1a3i /a!a3ani4 Le # 1 ni. &a,h+n(wa ni (hali 1+li1 &ae&/e4 Ninahita0i /lan1eti #a'i na ( " ! 0i%2a4 Ma&a wana+3a &a2ai na &a'+ta # 1 ni4 @Bi/i Ma0i$+@ a'an2a 1a3i ,ha'+ tele4 M1+n2weni &a0i #a'i t+. &#in2we &a0i &a,ha'+ !
)H4 Na ( %a 0 1a 1ali % !ini !
Cha%te! )B - The *a#t *e!'e,t Ten#e

+e use the '"S- '!D*!/- to speak of specific actions that ha e already taken place 0for e,ample 6 ; ha e eaten, ; ha e understood, ; ha e been, etc...3, or to describe a state 0for e,ample 6 he is sitting, he is dead, he is sleeping, etc...3. ;t is usually translated by a 'resent 'erfect in !nglish.
)4 THE *AST *ERFECT - AFFIRMATI;E FORM -
-he marker of the 'ast 'erfect is the infi, -ME- placed between the sub7ect prefi, and the erbal root 6
SU@5ECT PREAIB < -E < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 1 6 KUFAN:A E to do
NI-ME-FAN:A -K ni&e'an2a ; ha e done U-ME-FAN:A -K +&e'an2a you ha e done A-ME-FAN:A -K a&e'an2a he L she has done TU-ME-FAN:A -K t+&e'an2a we ha e done M-ME-FAN:A -K &&e'an2a you ha e done WA-ME-FAN:A -K wa&e'an2a they ha e done #>-! 6 -he erbs of "rabic origin beha e e,actly like the erbs of 5antu origin R while the monosyllabic erbs, keep the KU- of the infiniti e. $>H!( ? 6 KWENDA E to go
NI-ME-KWENDA U-ME-KWENDA A-ME-KWENDA TU-ME-KWENDA M-ME-KWENDA WA-ME-KWENDA D!;#*>D/!$!#- 6
-K ni&e1wen"a -K +&e1wen"a -K a&e1wen"a -K t+&e1wen"a -K &&e1wen"a -K wa&e1wen"a
; ha e gone L been you ha e gone L been he L she has gone L been we ha e gone L been you ha e gone L been they ha e gone L been
-o insist on the fact that the action already took place, we can insert the erbal root #ha 0from the erb 1wi#ha E to finish3 between the tense marker of the past perfect and the erb radical. !:"$'(!S 6 Ni&e#ha1wen"a Tan3ania4 Wa&e#ha'an2a &tihani wa 4 ; ha e already been to -an%ania. -hey ha e already done their e,am.
<4 THE *AST *ERFECT - NEGATI;E FORM -
-he negati e form of the 'ast 'erfect describes a situation which has not yet taken place, or a state which has not been carried out yet. -he marker of the 'resent 'erfect negati e is the infi, -8A- placed between the negati e sub7ect prefi, and the erbal root.
NE!ATI$E SU@5ECT PREAIB < 5A < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 1 6 KUFAN:A E to do
SI-8A-FAN:A -K #i0a'an2a ; ha en<t done HU-8A-FAN:A -K h+0a'an2a you ha en<t done HA-8A-FAN:A -K ha0a'an2a he L she hasn<t done HATU-8A-FAN:A -K hat+0a'an2a we ha en<t done HAM-8A-FAN:A -K ha&0a'an2a you ha en<t done HAWA-8A-FAN:A -K hawa0a'an2a they ha en<t done #>-! 6 /ontrary to what occurs in the 'ast 'erfect affirmati e, the monosyllabic erbs lose the KU- of the infiniti e in the negati e form. $>H!( ? 6 KWENDA E to go
SI-8A-ENDA HU-8A-ENDA HA-8A-ENDA HATU-8A-ENDA HAM-8A-ENDA HAWA-8A-ENDA D!;#*>D/!$!#- 6
-K #i0aen"a -K h+0aen"a -K ha0aen"a -K hat+0aen"a -K ha&0aen"a -K hawa0aen"a
; ha en<t gone L been yet Fou ha en<t gone L been yet 8e L she hasn<t gone L been yet +e ha en<t gone L been yet Fou ha en<t gone L been yet they ha en<t gone L been yet
-o insist on the fact that the action hasn<t taken place yet, we can use the word /a" , which will be placed before or after the erb in the 'ast 'erfect negati e.
!:"$'(!S 6
A&ina E 8as
a&e!+"i ? "mina come
- A0a!+"i back G 1 eaten G
/a" 4 or 6 Ba" ! She hasn<t come back yet. 1 ; Si0ala ha en<t eaten /a" 4 yet.
U&e#ha1+la E 8a e you
? already
Ba" hat+0a%an"a &li&a wa E +e ha e not yet climbed on $ount .iliman7aro.
Kili&an0a!
VOCABULARY
K+-a,ha K+-,helewa K+-,h 1a K+-i/a K+-i$a K+-1 #a to lea e, to abandon to be late to be tired to steal to ripen, to be cooked to miss, to be mistaken K+-&ali3a 1+- n" 1a K+-% na K+-% tea K+-$+na K+-3 ea to finish to lea e, to go away to get better to lose to reap, to har est to be accustomed
EXERCISES
a. ; am cured, he is sitting, he has gone, they ha e come, you are accustomed, he is lost, she has arri ed, you ha e come back, we ha e stayed, ; am tired, you ha e fallen, she has cleaned, we ha e finished, he is dead, he has stopped, you ha e said, it<s finished 0/l =3, he has damaged, you are mistaken, we are late. b. 8e hasn<t arri ed yet, ; ha en<t seen yet, he hasn<t gone yet, ;<m not cured yet, they are not yet ripe 0/l K3, ; am not accustomed yet, she hasn<t swept yet, they ha en<t stollen yet, you ha en<t done yet, you ha en<t been yet.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4
Wat t wa&ea&1a a#+/+hi4 D+"+ a&ein(ia 0i1 ni4 Si0an+n+a &1ate le 4 Mwi3i a&ei/a &ahin"i #ha&/ani +#i1+4 Ba" #i0a%ata &#haha!a wan(+4 M( n0wa a&elala. a0a% na /a" 4 Wa3a3i wan(+ wa&e1eti /a!a3ani4 Cha1+la ta2a!i ? Wa(eni hawa0ala ! Ma&a a&e1wi#ha %i1a ,ha1+la a#+/+hi4 Si0+i 1i#wahili #ana4 Si0aen"a Tan3ania /a" 4 M&e1wen"a 9an3i/a! ? - N"i2 !
)<4 La1ini hat+0a%an"a &li&a wa Kili&an0a! 4
Cha%te! )C - The De& n#t!ati$e#

-here is no distinction between demonstrati e ad7ecti es and demonstrati e pronouns in Swahili. -he demonstrati e must agree with the noun to which it refers, but it doesn<t take the same prefi,es as the noun. ;ts prefi,es 0or suffi,es3 of agreement are of pronominal type.
)4 THREE CATEGORIES OF DEMONSTRATI;ES -
-here are three kinds of demonstrati es in Swahili 6 1. -8! H!$>#S-D"-;A! >* 'D>:;$;-F 6 ;t corresponds to 6 this, these, for the demonstrati e and to 6 this one, these ones, for the demonstrati e pronouns. *>D$"-;># 6 !:"$'(!S 6 MTU WATU MTI MITI TUNDA MATUNDA ad7ecti es R
;t starts with H- and ends in the sub7ect prefi, corresponding to the class of the noun with which it agrees. -he intermediate owel is identical to the final owel. 0/lass 13 0/lass ?3 0/lass @3 0/lass 43 0/lass 53 0/lass K3 Sub7ect prefi, :U- 0#>- A-3 Sub7ect prefi, WASub7ect prefi, USub7ect prefi, ISub7ect prefi, LISub7ect prefi, :AH44 - :U -K HU:U H44 - WA -K HAWA H44 - U -K HUU H44 - I -K HII H44 - LI -K HILI H44 - :A -K HA:A
?. -8! H!$>#S-D"-;A! >* H;S-"#/! 6 ;t corresponds to 6 that, those, for the demonstrati e or to 6 that one, those ones, for the demonstrati e pronouns. *>D$"-;># 6 !:"$'(!S 6 MTU WATU MTI MITI TUNDA MATUNDA ad7ecti es R
;t starts with the sub7ect prefi, corresponding to the class of the noun with which it agrees, and ends in -LE. 0/lass 13 0/lass ?3 0/lass @3 0/lass 43 0/lass 53 0/lass K3 Sub7ect prefi, :U- 0#>- A-3 Sub7ect prefi, WASub7ect prefi, USub7ect prefi, ISub7ect prefi, LISub7ect prefi, :A:U - LE -K :ULE WA - LE -K WALE U - LE -K ULE I - LE -K ILE LI - LE -K LILE :A - LE -K :ALE
@. -8! H!$>#S-D"-;A! >* D!*!D!#/! 6 ;t is used to designate the person or the thing which has already been spoken about. ;t can be translated by 6 this, that R >r by 6 this one, that one.
*>D$"-;># 6
;t borrows its first syllable from the demonstrati e of pro,imity, and ends in the suffi, "-O" of reference corresponding to the class of the noun with which it agrees. 0See 6 /hapter @1.3 0/lass 13 0/lass ?3 0/lass @3 0/lass 43 0/lass 53 0/lass K3 "1>" of reference -:O "1>" of reference -O "1>" of reference -O "1>" of reference -:O "1>" of reference -LO "1>" of reference -:O HU - :O -K HU:O HA - O -K HAO HU - O -K HUO HI - :O -K HI:O HI - LO -K HILO HA - :O -K HA:O
!:"$'(!S 6 MTU WATU MTI MITI TUNDA MATUNDA
/("SS!S L NOUNS /lass 1 Mt+ /lass ? Wat+ /lass @ Mti /lass 4 Miti /lass 5 T+n"a /lass K Mat+n"a /lass 7 Kiti /lass N ;iti /lass = N(+ /lass 10 N(+ /lass 11L14 U# /lass 10 N2+#
DEMONSTRATI;ES
'D>:;$;-F HU:U HAWA HUU HII HILI HA:A HIKI HI;I HII HI9I HUU HI9I H;S-"#/! :ULE WALE ULE ILE LILE :ALE KILE ;ILE ILE 9ILE ULE 9ILE D!*!D!#/! HU:O HAO HUO HI:O HILO HA:O HICHO HI;:O HI:O HI9O HUO HI9O
<4 *LACE OF THE DEMONSTRATI;E IN THE SENTENCE -
a. -he Hemonstrati e of pro,imity is usually placed at the end of the nominal group, after the noun and its ad7ecti es. 5ut it can also be placed in the immediate icinity of the noun.
b.
!:"$'(!S 6 Wana'+n3i hawa -hese pupils Wana'+n3i h "a!i hawa -hese intelligent pupils Wana'+n3i h "a!i wa,ha,he hawa -hese few intelligent pupils K+la ,ha1+la hi1i 1i3+!i ! !at this good food I Lete &i3i( hii &i3it ! 5ring this hea y luggage I -he Hemonstrati e of distance is placed before or after the noun. +hen there is a possessi e ad7ecti e, the demonstrati e is placed in front of the noun.
c.
d.
!:"$'(!S 6 Wale wana'+n3i -hose pupils Wana'+n3i wale h "a!i -hose intelligent pupils D+1a lile 1+/wa -hat big shop Lile #h+1a lan(+ $y sheet o er there e. -he Hemonstrati e of reference is placed close to the noun, preferably in front. +hen there is a possessi e ad7ecti e, the demonstrati e must be placed after it.
!:"$'(!S 6 Hil t+n"a 1+/wa Wat t ha wa" ( Wat t wa ha Sh+1a lan(+ hil
-his big fruit -hese small children -heir children here $y sheet here
VOCABULARY
Bawa =&a-> Kaa =&a-> K+ti =&a-> *e!a =&a-> Sh+1a =&a-> Tawi =&a-> a wing, wings charcoal a palm, palms a gua a, gua as a sheet, sheets a branch, branches T 'ali =&a-> T+ta =&a-> Ua =&a-> Win(+ =&a-> 9a =&a-> 9iwa =&a-> a brick, bricks a ridge a flower, flowers a cloud, clouds a crop, crops a lake, lakes
EXERCISES
a. BHemonstrati e of pro,imityC -his child, these youths, this young girl, this teacher, this idiot, these workers, this mountain, this town, that luggage, this bag, these trees, this ditch, this door, this flower, these palms, these bricks, this lake, these gua as, these oranges, these pineapples, this corn, these clothes, these chairs, this food, this face. b. BHemonstrati e of distanceC -hose tra ellers, that drunkard, that man, that uncle, those masais, that grand1mother, that dri er, those friends, that clerk, those banana trees, those coconut trees, that ri er, that year, those sugar canes, those cities, that rice, that window, those cars, that market, those mangoes, that coarse sack, that mattress, those eggs, those fields, those chairs. c. BHemonstrati e of referenceC -his little boy, this rich white man, this old teacher, these intelligent children, this la%y pupil, this important city, this black bag, these large baobab trees, -hese dirty hands of yours, these unpleasant children of theirs, this beautiful car of yours, take this little chair I (ook at this large poisonous snake I -ake these beautiful flowers I 5uy this charcoal I Ho not take our palms here I
Mlan( h++. 1iti hi1i. &t t h+2+. /awa hili. wana+&e hawa. &at+ta ha2a. n(+ hi3i. &a&a h+2+. (a!i lile. &ahin"i 2ale. &i,h+n(wa ile. &'an +le. &ia$+li ile. n(+ ile. 3iwa lil . &at 'ali 2a2 . tawi lil . &awin(+ 2ale. &wi3i h+2 . wa"+"+ ha . &wana"a&+ h+2+. n(+ hi3 . +# h+ . $iti hi$i. ,ha1+la hi1i4
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
Ka&ata &wi3i h+2+ ! N+n+a +le &1ate &3+!i ! U3a lile (a!i la1 / $+ ! Lete &3i( &3it h++ ! K+la &a%e!a ha2a &a3+!i ! Wana'+n3i h "a!i hawa wa&e'a+l+ &tihani4 D+1a lile " ( la+3a &a3iwa #a'i4 U#i#e&e 2ale &anen $2 ! Bwana a&en+n+a (a!i lile 0i%2a4
)H4 An(alia lile 0 1a 1+/wa !
Cha%te! )D - The KI-?;I- Gen"e!

-he KI-?;I- gender 0/lasses 7 L N3 is a gender of things, 7ust like the M-?WA- gender is a gender of people. 8owe er, it is not as e,clusi e, for beside manufactured ob7ects, it also includes nouns of people, parts of the human body, natural products, nouns of places that are built or not, abstract or concrete concepts, etc... ;t is in class 7 0in the singular only3 that the names of languages are to be found, and the prefi, KI- is also used as a diminuti e.
/l 7 0Singular3 6 /l N 0'lural3 6
prefi, KIprefi, ;I-
KITI E a L the chair ;ITI E chairs, the chairs
;n front of a owel, the singular prefi, KI- becomes CHCHAKULA E a L the food 6 the plural prefi, ;I- becomes ;:- 6 ;:AKULA E foods L the foods -here are howe er some e,ceptions to his rule 6 Kiat+ 0E shoe3, Ki 0E mirror3, etc..
)4 NOUNS GROU*ED B: TO*ICS -
1C -ANUAACTURED O@5ECTS &
SINGULAR
Ch &/ Ch+&a Kiat+ Ki/e!iti Ki" n(e Ki0i1 Ki1a%+ Ki1 Ki1 &/e Ki Ki%an"e Ki#+ Kita/+ Kita&/aa Kitan"a Kiti Kit+
*LURAL
$2 &/ $2+&a $iat+ $i/e!iti $i" n(e $i0i1 $i1a%+ $i1 $i1 &/e $i $i%an"e $i#+ $ita/+ $ita&/aa $itan"a $iti $it+
TRANSLATION
a container, a utensil, containers iron, irons a shoe, shoes a match, matches a pill, pills a spoon, spoons a basket, baskets a pipe, pipes a cup, cups a mirror, mirrors a piece, pieces a knife, kni es a book, books a piece of cloth, fabrics a bed, beds a chair, chairs a thing, things
C NATURA= PRODUCTS9 AOOD &
SINGULAR
Cha1+la Kia3i Kit+n(++
*LURAL
$2a1+la $ia3i $it+n(++
TRANSLATION
food, foods a potato, potatoes an onion, onions
#C NATURA= OR @UI=T P=ACES &
SINGULAR
Ch Ch+&/a Ch+ Ki/an"a Ki0i0i Kili&a Ki#i&a Ki#iwa Kiwan0a
*LURAL
$2 $2+&/a $2+ $i/an"a $i0i0i $ili&a $i#i&a $i#iwa $iwan0a
TRANSLATION
a toilet, toilets a room, rooms a school, a college a hut, huts a illage, illages a hill, hills a well, wells an island, islands a piece of land, lands
)C NOUNS OA PEOP=E &
SINGULAR
Ki/a!+a Ki0ana Ki% '+ Kiwete Ki3iwi
*LURAL
$i/a!+a $i0ana $i% '+ $iwete $i3iwi
TRANSLATION
a day laborer, day laborers a youth, youths a blind man, blind men a handicapped person a deaf person, deaf persons
+C NOUNS OA ANI-A=S &
SINGULAR
Ki/ 1 Ki'a!+ Ki%e%e
*LURAL
$i/ 1 $i'a!+ $i%e%e
TRANSLATION
an hippopotamus, hippos a rhinoceros, rhinoceroses a butterfly, butterflies
,C PARTS OA THE HU-AN @ODD &
SINGULAR
Ki,hwa Ki" le Ki" n"a Ki'+a
*LURAL
$i,hwa $i" le $i" n"a $i'+a
TRANSLATION
a head, heads a finger, fingers an ulceration, ulcerations the chest, chests
1C A@STRACT OR CONCRETE CONCEPTS &
SINGULAR
Che Cheti Cha&a
*LURAL
$2e $2eti $2a&a
TRANSLATION
a rank, a row, ranks a certificate, certificates a party, an association, parties
3C NA-ES OA =AN!UA!ES >Cla"" 1 onl8? &
SINGULAR
Kia!a/+ Ki'a!an#a Kihin"i Kiin(e!e3a Ki#wahili
TRANSLATION
"rabic *rench ;ndian, 8indi !nglish Swahili
<4 THE DIMINUTI;E *REFI6 KI- -
-he prefi, KI- can ha e a diminuti e alue. -o that effect the ordinary class prefi, of the noun is replaced by the prefi, KI-. ;n the plural, we simply replace KI- by ;I-.
ORIGINE
Mt t Sahani 0child3 0plate3
SINGULAR *LURAL
Kit t Ki#ahani $it t $i#ahani
TRANSLATION
a little child, little children a saucer, saucers
A4 CLASS AGREEMENTS -
1. "d7ecti e 6 -he ad7ecti e takes prefi,es of class agreement that are identical to those of the noun 6 0See 6 /hapter 11.3
/lass 7 6
Kit+ 1i1+/wa ? 1i" ( ? 1i3+!i ? 1i/a2a ? ,he&a ? ... a big L small L beautiful L bad L nice L ... ;it+ $i1+/wa ? $i" ( ? $i3+!i ? $i/a2a ? $2e&a ? ... big L small L beautiful L bad L nice L ...
thing
/lass N 6
things
/lass 7 6
Kit+ E
,han(+ ? ,ha1 ? ,ha1e ? ,het+ ? ,hen+ ? ,ha my L your L his 1 her L our L your L their
thing
/lass N 6 #>-! 6
;it+ $2an(+ ? $2a1 ? $2a1e ? $2et+ ? $2en+ ? $2a E my L your L his 1 her L our L your L their things -he ad7ecti e that &ualifies a class 7 L N noun of person, must take class 1 L ? agreements. Ki0ana &3+!i 0instead of 1i0ana 1i3+!i3 ;i0ana wa3+!i 0instead of $i0ana $i3+!i3 :+le 1i/a!+a &$i$+ Wale $i/a!+a wa$i$+ " nice young man #ice young men -hat la%y day laborer -hose la%y day laborers
EXERCISES
a. " spoon, a cup, a saucer, a knife, a illage, a well, a hut, an hippopotamus, a rhinoceros, a head, a certificate, *rench, Swahili, !nglish, "rabic, a basket, a pill, a pipe, a hill, food. b. >nions, matches, shoes, fabrics, containers, books, things, young people, day laborers, handicapped people, butterflies, potatoes, rooms, beds, baskets, mirrors, islands, huts, deaf persons, fingers. c. -his ustensil, these spoons, this chair, this mirror, these beautiful things, this large book, this sharp knife, this beautiful cup, these many hyppopotamuses, this new pipe, this good food, these big potatoes, these intelligent young people, those la%y day laborers, this wild rhinoceros.
E6ERCISE < - -ranslate into !nglish and gi e the plural, whene er possible 6
Ki0i1 . 1i1 &/e. 1i#wahili. 1i/ 1 . 1i1a%+. 1iat+. 1ia!a/+. 1i . ,h . ,heti. ,h+&a. 1i'a!ant#a. 1i%an"e. 1ita/+. 1itan"a. 1i'+a. 1iin(e!e3a. 1i#iwa. 1i#i&a. ,he 4
)4 Wat t hawa wana1+la ,ha1+la 1i3+!i hi1i4
<4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
S &a 1ita/+ 1ile 1i3+!i ! Ki#wahili ,ha1 ni 1i3+!i #ana4 Ma&a a&en+n+a 1i1a%+ 1i%2a # 1 ni4 U#it+%e $ia3i $i" ( $ile ! Ki#+ hi1i ni 1i1ali #ana4 U#i1ate 1i" le ,ha1 na 1i#+ hi1i ! T+na%en"a hi,h 1i0i0i ,het+4 An(alia 1i'a!+ 2+le &1+/wa !
)H4 Kit t ha0ala ,ha1+la ,ha1e /a" 4
Cha%te! )E - The ;e!/ KUWA M t Be

-he erb KUWA 0E -> 5!3 is by far the most disconcerting erb in Swahili 6 it is a polymorphic erb that possesses no less than @ different principal radicals 6 -WA-, -L- and -LI-. *irst of all, it is ad isable to distinguish clearly the two distinct uses of the erb "to be" in Swahili, which are often confused in !nglish 6 1. "-o be" descripti e 6 this erb allots a statute or a &uality to somebody or something 6 ; am !nglish, he is rich, dad is a teacher, ;<m not sick, etc. ?. "-o be" locati e 6 this erb signifies the presence or the absence of somebody or something in a place 6 ; am in -an%ania, he is at home, she is not there, $afia is in the south, etc.
)4 @TO BE@ DESCRI*TI;E -
AC PRESENT &
-here are two con7ugations of the erb "to be" in the present tense 6 an old one, which is no longer used in the negati e form, but still sur i es in the affirmati e form in some set phrases, and a modern one which has the merit of simplicity, since it possesses only two forms 6 NI in the affirmati e, and SI in the negati e, for all persons and all nominal agreements.
"**;D$"-;A! *>D$ OLD

NI U :U TU M WA
MODERN
NI NI NI NI NI NI
T!an#lati n
; am you are he L she L it is we are you are they are
#!9"-;A! *>D$ OLD

SIWI HUWI HAWI HATUWI HAMWI HAWAWI !:"$'(!S 6 U &3i&a ? 8ow are you G Ni &3i&a ;<m well :+ ta2a!i ? ;s he L she ready G Wewe ni &win(e!e3a ? ? U &win(e!e3a "re you !nglish G ? Mt t wan(+ ni &( n0wa $y child is sick Uh+!+ ni 1a3i *reedom is work Wa #i wana'+n3i -hey are not pupils Mn2a&a h+2+ #i &1ali -his animal is not dangerous #>-! 6 NI is often omitted and merely implied, particularly when there is a demonstrati e or a possessi e in the sentence. !:"$'(!S 6 Mi&i &win(e!e3a U &3i&a ? - M3i&a ! Mt t wan(+ &( n0wa Cha1+la ta2a!i ! Sahani hi3i #a'i Mn2a&a h+2+ &1+/wa "ot to confuse with # Mn2a&a &1+/wa h+2+ @C PAST & ; am !nglish 8ow are you G 1 *ine I $y child is sick *ood is ready I -hese plates are clean -his animal is big -his big animal
MODERN
SI SI SI SI SI SI
T!an#lati n
; am not you are not he L she L it is not we are not you are not they are not
AFFIRMATI;E
NILIKUWA ULIKUWA ALIKUWA TULIKUWA MLIKUWA WALIKUWA CC AUTURE &
T!an#lati n
; was you were he L she was we were you were they were
NEGATI;E
SIKUWA HUKUWA HAKUWA HATUKUWA HAMKUWA HAWAKUWA
T!an#lati n
; was not you were not he L she was not we were not you were not they were not
AFFIRMATI;E
NITAKUWA UTAKUWA ATAKUWA TUTAKUWA MTAKUWA WATAKUWA
T!an#lati n
; will be you will be he L she will be we will be you will be they will be
NEGATI;E
SITAKUWA HUTAKUWA HATAKUWA HATUTAKUWA HAMTAKUWA HAWATAKUWA
T!an#lati n
; won<t be you won<t be he L she won<t be we won<t be you won<t be they won<t be
DC SU@5UNCTI$E / I-PERATI$E &
AFFIRMATI;E
NIWE UWE AWE TUWE MUWE WAWE !:"$'(!S 6
T!an#lati n
; be you be he L she be we be you be they be
NEGATI;E
NISIWE USIWE ASIWE TUSIWE MSIWE WASIWE
T!an#lati n
; be not you be not he L she be not we be not you be not they be not
Fan2a ha!a1a +we ta2a!i &a%e&a4 Ha1i iwe n(a na &lin3i4 T+we ta2a!i 1+ilin"a n,hi 2et+4 Che&#ha &a0i 1a/la 2a 1+n2wa. t+#iwe &( n0wa4 U#iwe na wa#iwa#i ! EC OTHER TENSES &
8urry up to be ready early. (et 7ustice be a shield and a guard. (et<s be ready to defend our country. 5oil the water before drinking, so that we be not sick. Hon<t be in doubt I
'"S- '!D*!/- 6 '"S- '!D*!/- #!9"-;A! 6 1.;1 -!#S!6 'D!S!#- />#H;-;>#"( 6 '"S- />#H;-;>#"( 6
Ni&e1+wa A&e1+wa Si0awa Ha0awa Ni1iwa A1iwa Nin(e1+wa An(e1+wa Nin(ali1+wa An(ali1+wa
E ; ha e become E he L she has become E ; was not yet E he L she was not yet E if ; were E if he L she were E ; would be E he L she would be E ; would ha e been E he L she would ha e been
<4 @TO BE@ LOCATI;E -
+hen "-o be" means "to be somewhere", a locati e suffi, is added to the con7ugation of the erb KUWA. -here are three locati e suffi,es that correspond to three "areas" that can be delineated on the following pattern 6
+hat is "8!D!" or "-8!D!", that is a precise, definite place. -hat translates in the suffi, -*O 0/lass 1K3. +hat is "8!D! "5>4-" or ">A!D -8!D!", that is a more or less indefinite place. -hat translates in the suffi, -KO 0/lass 173. +hat is ";#" or ";#S;H!". -hat translates in the suffi, -MO 0/lass 1N3.
-hus, as an e,ample, :+% means 6 he L she is here L there, :+1 E he L she is here aboutL o er there, and :+& E he L she is in. -he negati e con7ugation is not more difficult 6 Ha2+% means 6 he L she is not here L there, Ha2+1 E he L she is not here aboutL o er there Ha2+& E he L she is not in L inside. (et<s now see the con7ugation of the principal tenses of the locati e erb KUWA 6
AC PRESENT &
;n the affirmati e, the appropriate locati e suffi, is simply added to the "old" con7ugation of the erb KUWA. ;n the negati e, the negati e pre1prefi, is added in front of the sub7ect. 0SI replaces NI in the first person singular3.
AFFIRMATI;E
NI*O U*O :U*O TU*O M*O WA*O
T!an#lati n
; am here you are here he L she is here we are here you are here they are here
NEGATI;E
SI*O HU*O HA:U*O HATU*O HAM*O HAWA*O
T!an#lati n
; am not here you are not here he L she is not here we are not here you are not here they are not here
-aking again the abo e model, we 7ust ha e to replace the suffi, -*O by -KO or -MO to say 6 "; am here about", "; am inside", etc. Just like the descripti e erb KUWA, the locati e erb KUWA accepts the sub7ect prefi,es of all nominal classes 6 !:"$'(!S 6 M,he3 +1 &0ini Mi3i( i% /a!a3ani Ma&a ha2+% ? :+1 # 1 ni :+% 0i1 ni Wat t hawa% ? Wa& ,h+&/ani Ki#+ 1i1 wa%i ? ;i0i1 $i" ( $i1 wa%i ? Wa(eni wa% &0ini Ma2ai 2a& 1i1a%+ni -he match takes place in town -he luggages are on the eranda $other L $adam is not here G She is at the market She is in the kitchen -he children are not here G -hey are in the bedroom +here is the knife G +here are the little spoons G -he guests are in town -he eggs are in the basket
@C PAST &
AFFIRMATI;E
NILIKUWE*O ULIKUWE*O ALIKUWE*O TULIKUWE*O MLIKUWE*O WALIKUWE*O
T!an#lati n
; was there you were there he L she was there we were there you were there they were there
NEGATI;E
SIKUWE*O HUKUWE*O HAKUWE*O HATUKUWE*O HAMKUWE*O HAWAKUWE*O
T!an#lati n
; wasn<t there you weren<t there he L she wasn<t there we weren<t there you weren<t there they weren<t there
-aking again the abo e model, we 7ust ha e to replace the suffi, -*O by -KO or -MO to say 6 "; was here about", "; was inside", etc.
CC AUTURE &
AFFIRMATI;E
NITAKUWE*O UTAKUWE*O ATAKUWE*O TUTAKUWE*O MTAKUWE*O WATAKUWE*O
T!an#lati n
; will be here you will be here he L she will be here we will be here you will be here they will be here
NEGATI;E
SITAKUWE*O HUTAKUWE*O HATAKUWE*O HATUTAKUWE*O HAMTAKUWE*O HAWATAKUWE*O
T!an#lati n
; won<t be here you won<t be here he L she won<t be here we won<t be here you won<t be here they won<t be here
-aking again the abo e model, we 7ust ha e to replace the suffi, -*O by -KO or -MO to say 6 ";<ll be here about", ";<ll be inside", etc.
EC OTHER TENSES &
KUWA locati e can be con7ugated in the same way in all tenses, pro ided the suitable suffi, -*O, -KO or -MO is added at the end of the erb.
'D>A!D5 6
Dawa ya moto ni moto
VOCABULARY
M1+!+(en3i =wa-> a director Mlin3i =wa-> a watchman M#ai"i3i =wa-> an assistant, a second M#i&a&i3i =wa-> a foreman, a manager Mtawala =wa-> a ruler, a go ernor Mt+&i#hi =wa-> a ser ant
M+n(+ Mwana,ha&a =w-> Mwanan,hi =w-> Mwen2e0i =w-> Mwen2e3i M+n(+ Mwin"a0i =wa->
9od a member, a partisan a citi%en a illager, an inhabitant the (ord 9od a hunter
EXERCISES
a. -hey are students, they are day laborers, this tree is a mango tree, you are a teacher, it<s an island, this basket is empty, this book is e,pensi e, we are foreigners, this e,amination is difficult, this food is delicious, this animal is not dangerous, ; am not !nglish, 8amisi is not a pupil, this knife is not sharp, "rabic is not easy, this luggage is not hea y, these pupils are not bright, *atuma is not nice, these are not good potatoes, they are not -an%anian. b. +here are the teachers G +here is the cook G +here are the women G +here is the city G +here are the toilets G +here is the knife G +here are the hippopotamuses G +here is the car G +here are the young people G -he old man is at the market, the knife is on the chair, mum is in the kitchen, the onions are in the basket, the luggage is at the door, the animals are in the bush, the robber is in the field, the chairs are on the eranda, the guests are not there, mother is not at home, the luggage is not on the chair, the eggs are not in the basket, he is not in the room, the blanket is on the bed, the car is not downtown.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4 )<4 )A4 )B4 )C4
U hali (ani ? - M3i&a4 M ta2a!i ? - Si#i #i ta2a!i ? Hat+ ta2a!i4 Cha1+la ta2a!i ? - Ta2a!i4 Ka!i/+ ,ha1+la ! M1+!+(en3i wet+ ni &tan3ania4 H+2 &t+&i#hi ni &w n( 4 Wa(eni wa1 wa%i ? Wa% 9an3i/a!4 Wa&e'i1a a#+/+hi4 Bwana ha2+% 4 A&e1wen"a #a'a!i4 Ha&i#i 2+1 wa%i ? :+1 "+1ani4 Anan+a &1ate na &a3iwa4 ;i/a!+a wa1 &0ini ? Ha%ana. wa1 #ha&/ani4 Wana'an2a &at+ta4 Ma&a ha2+% ? - Ni% ! ;i0i1 na $2 &/ $i& 0i1 ni4 Mli&a wa Kili&an0a! ha+& Ken2a4
)D4 U& Tan3ania4
Cha%te! )F - The ;e!/ KUWA NA M t Ha$e
*or want of a genuine erb "to ha e" in Swahili, we use the e,pression KUWA NA, which litteraly means "to be with". ;n the absence of a erb radical, the particle @NA@ is directly coupled to the sub7ect prefi, 6 this is the case in the 'resent Hefinite. ;t will remain separated from the erb in the other tenses and forms, including the infiniti e.
)4 CON8UGATION OF THE ;ERB @KUWA NA@ -
AC PRESENT &
;n the affirmati e form, the affirmati e sub7ect prefi,es are directly followed by the particle "NA", in the absence of any erb radical. 0+e speak of a S radical3. -he same applies to the negati e form, where the negati e sub7ect prefi,es are directly followed by the particle "NA".
CLASS
1 ? /l 1 Mt+ @ 1 ? /l ? Wat+ @
AFFIRMATI;E
NINA UNA ANA TUNA MNA WANA
T!an#lati n
; ha e you ha e he L she has we ha e you ha e they ha e it has they ha e it has they ha e it has they ha e it has they ha e it has they ha e
NEGATI;E
SINA HUNA HANA HATUNA HAMNA HAWANA HAUNA HAINA HALINA HA:ANA HAKINA HA;INA HAINA HA9INA HAUNA HA9INA
T!an#lati n
; ha en<t you ha en<t he L she hasn<t we ha en<t you ha en<t they ha en<t it hasn<t they ha en<t it hasn<t they ha en<t it hasn<t they ha en<t it hasn<t they ha en<t it hasn<t they ha en<t
/l @ Mti UNA /l 4 Miti INA /l 5 Ga!i LINA /l K Ma(a!i :ANA /l 7 Kiti KINA /l N ;iti ;INA /l = N(+ /l 10 N(+ /l 11 U# /l 10 N2+# !:"$'(!S 6 INA 9INA UNA 9INA
Nina $ita/+ $in(i Mt t h+2+ ana +# &3+!i Wat+&i#hi wana &i#haha!a &i" ( Mti +le +na &atawi &en(i Kili&a hi1i 1ina &iti &i!e'+ Sina n(+ n2in(i Hat+na ,ha1+la 1in(ine Ha&i#i hana $iat+ @C PAST &
; ha e many books -his child has a pretty face -he ser ants ha e small wages -hat tree has many branches -his hill has tall trees ; ha en<t many clothes +e ha en<t much food 8amisi has no shoes
AFFIRMATI;E
NILIKUWA NA ULIKUWA NA ALIKUWA NA TULIKUWA NA MLIKUWA NA WALIKUWA NA CC AUTURE &
T!an#lati n
; had you had he L she had we had you had they had
NEGATI;E
SIKUWA NA HUKUWA NA HAKUWA NA HATUKUWA NA HAMKUWA NA HAWAKUWA NA
T!an#lati n
; didn<t ha e you didn<t ha e he L she didn<t ha e we didn<t ha e you didn<t ha e they didn<t ha e
AFFIRMATI;E
NITAKUWA NA UTAKUWA NA ATAKUWA NA TUTAKUWA NA MTAKUWA NA WATAKUWA NA EC OTHER TENSES &
T!an#lati n
; will ha e you will ha e he L she will ha e we will ha e you will ha e they will ha e
NEGATI;E
SITAKUWA NA HUTAKUWA NA HATAKUWA NA HATUTAKUWA NA HAMTAKUWA NA HAWATAKUWA NA
T!an#lati n
; won<t ha e you won<t ha e he L she won<t ha e we won<t ha e you won<t ha e they won<t ha e
'"S- '!D*!/- 6 '"S- '!D*!/- #!9"-;A! 6 S45J4#/-;A! 6 1.;1 -!#S! 6 'D!S!#- />#H;-;>#"( 6 '"S- />#H;-;>#"( 6
Ni&e1+wa na A&e1+wa na Si0awa na Ha0awa na Niwe na awe na Ni1iwa na A1iwa na Nin(e1+wa na An(e1+wa na Nin(ali1+wa na An(ali1+wa na
E ; ha e had E he L she has had E ; ha en<t had yet E he L she hasn<t had yet E that ; ha e E that he L she ha e E if ; ha e E if he L she has E ; would ha e E he L she would ha e E ; would ha e had E he L she would ha e had
<4 TO TRANSLATE @THERE IS@. @THERE ISN5T@ -
4nlike in !nglish, we use in Swahili the erb "to ha e" 0KUWA NA3 to translate the concept of
"-8!D! ;S". -he ordinary nominal sub7ect prefi,es are simply replaced by a series of three locati e sub7ect prefi,es. -he distinction between singular and plural 0there is L there are3 is not marked in Swahili 6 *AKUM0class 1K3 0class 173 0class 1N3 for a definite place for an indefinite place for an interior place -here is here L there -here is o er here L there -here is inside -here isn<t here L there -here isn<t o er there -here isn<t inside
AFFIRMATI;E T!an#lati n NEGATI;E T!an#lati n

*ANA KUNA MNA !:"$'(!S 6 K+na $ita/+ $in(i K+na &a3iwa ? - Ha1+na /a" Una#e&a 1i#wahili ? - Ha%ana *ana wan2a&a wa1ali % !ini K+na C ,a-C la ? - Ha&na Ha1+na &atata ! ? Ha1+na &atati3 ! Ha&na #hi"a ! ? Ha&na ta/+ ! -here are many books 0here3 -here is milk G 1 -here isn<t yet Ho you speak Swahili G 1 #o -here are sa age animals in the bush -here is /oca1/ola G 1 -here isn<t -here is no problem I -here is no problem I HA*ANA HAKUNA HAMNA
VOCABULARY
M/+ni =&i-> M1ata/a =&i-> M1ia =&i-> M1+tan =&i-> Mna!a =&i-> M%a1a =&i-> a coffee tree a contract a tail a meeting a minaret a border, a limit M%an( =&i-> M%+n(a =&i-> M#i1iti =&i-> M#ta!i =&i-> M#+&a!i =&i-> Mtihani =&i-> a plan, a pro7ect rice 0paddy3 a mos&ue a line a nail an e,amination, an e,am
EXERCISES
a. Fou ha e, she has, they ha e, we ha e, ; ha e, you ha e 0plur3, he has, you ha en<t, he hasn<t, they ha en<t, we ha en<t, ; ha en<t, you ha en<t 0plur3, there is 0here3, there isn<t 0here3, there is 0inside3, there isn<t 0inside3, there is 0o er there3, there isn<t 0o er there3. b. 8a e you a book G -he child has a big head, this young man has a knife, there is a book, we ha e many animals, the woman has many children, these children ha e a good teacher, do you ha e pawpaws G Juma has clean shoes, ; ha e a new cup, this illage has many illagers, this animal has many insects, you ha e dirty hands, this mountain has many trees, this bed has a clan shit, we don<t ha e children, do you
ha e eggs G -he dri er has no car, the car has no dri er, the farmer has a large field.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
M3+n(+ ana &i3i( &i3it 4 Sina =0a&/ > la 1+#e&a4 M1ate +% ? - Ha&na4 Mie&/e ile ina &ae&/e &en(i4 Mt t &a#1ini h+2+ hana ,hah+la 1ila #i1+4 Mna wen2e0i wen(i Nai! /i4 Ga!i lile lina &atati3 &en(i4 Wana,ha&a wana &1+tan le 4 Kitan"a hi1i ha1ina #h+1a4
)H4 T+na &tihani wa 1i#wahili le 4
Cha%te! )G - A"$e!/#
D!$;#H!D 6 "n ad erb is an in ariable word that says how an action proceeds 0&uickly, slowly, etc... 3, with which fre&uency 0often, sometimes, ne er, etc... 3. ;t e,presses possibility or certainty 0maybe, certainly, etc... 3, or &ualifies an ad7ecti e 0 ery large, &uite small, etc... 3 ;n Swahili, the ad erb is placed after the erb, e,cept in some particular cases.
)4 COMMON AD;ERBS Ba"ala B+!e Gha'la Ha1i1a Hali#i Ha!a1a Ha#a Ka/i#a Ka"hali1a Ka&we Kweli La/"a instead of in ain suddenly sure e,actly &uickly especially completely in the same way ne er, at all true perhaps Mn *a& 0a O$2 *en(ine *ia Sana Ta!ati/+ Tena T+ U%e#i U%2a 9ai"i too much together anyhow maybe also, too ery regularly again only &uickly again more
"HA!D5S *>D$!H ># -8! 'D!*;:!S .;1 and A;1 COM*ARISON

Kia#1a!i Ki" ( Kin2a&a Ki%+&/a$+ Ki#ha&/a Ki#hen3i Kit t Ki3+n(+ like a soldier a little like an animal like an idiot like a peasant like a sa age like a child like a white Hi$i Hi$2 ;i/a2a ;i(+&+ ;in(ine ;in(ine$2 ;i$2 ;i3+!i
MANNER
in this way in that way badly difficult in another way in any other way in the same way well
<4 COM*OUND AD;ERBS Hata 1i" ( M/ali &/ali M 0a & 0a *e1e 2a1e * le % le O$2 $2 Sawa #awa ;ile $ile ;i$i hi$i ;i$2 hi$2 not at all differently one by one alone slowly badly similarly e&ually so so e,actly the same
"HA!D5S $"H! 4' +;-8 .+"

Kwa /ahati Kwa (ha'la Kwa ha!a1a Kwa hi2 Kwa 1awai"a Kwa 1i'+%i fortunately suddenly hastily, in haste thus, so usually in short Kwa 1+#+"i Kwa 1+twa Kwa 1weli Kwa #a/a/+ hii Kwa #a+ti Kwa #i!i oluntarily daily really then, therefore loudly secretly
A4 A FEW E6AM*LES Fan2a ha!a1a ! Wa&e,h 1a 1a/i#a4 U#i0i/+ $2 ! 8i/+ $i3+!i ! N( 0a 1i" ( ! Nen"a % le % le ! N0 ha!a1a ! Ni&e,helewa 1i" ( 4 Mt t anat+&ia 1i#+ $i/a2a4 Se&a 1wa #a+ti ! Ninata1a &1ate && 0a t+4 K+#e&a 1i#wahili #i $i(+&+4 :e2e #i &%i#hi. hata 1i" ( 4 8urry up I -hey are really tired. Hon<t answer badly I "nswer correctly I +ait a little I 9o slowly I /ome &uickly I ; am a little late. -he child uses his knife wrongly. Speak aloud I ; want one bread only. Speaking Swahili is not difficult. 8e is not a cook, not at all.
VOCABULARY
Chan"a!+a =$2-> Ch+!a =$2-> Ki/a/a =$i-> Kin+ =$i-> Ki/+2+ =$i-> Ki' =$i->
a mos&uito net a frog a measure a mortar a calabash, a gourd death
Ki'+ni1 =$i-> Ki1 i =$i-> Ki%i& =$i-> Kitana =$i-> Kiwan"a =$i-> Ki3i/ =$i->
a co er, a lid a loin cloth a measure a comb a workshop a cork
EXERCISES
a. Suddenly, together, maybe, only, more, too much, abo e all, truly, &uickly, in ain, again, ery, not at all, alone, one by one, fortunately, oluntarily, in short, then, this way. b. 8e speaks like an idiot, he lea es suddenly, we work daily, they hit like sa ages, this luggage is ery hea y, this one is too hea y, the rhinoceros is coming again, hurry up I -he master is maybe coming back today, the little child is eating slowly, this pupil studies regularly, ; ha e one child only, ; am completely tired, the guests are a little late, here are the news in brief.
* le % le. $ile $ile. &/ali &/ali. #awa #awa. hi$2 . $i$2 . %en(ine. la/"a. ha1i1a. 1a&we. 1wa 1weli. /+!e. $2 . %a& 0a. %e1e 2a1e. ha#a. 1i3+n(+. 1in2a&a. 1i" ( . 1wa 1awai"a4
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4
8e. ,ha1+la ta2a!i ? - Ba" 1i" ( . /wana4 U#i#e&e +%e#i. #e&a % le % le t+4 Ha#e&i 1it+. hata 1i" ( 4 Kwa /ahati &3+!i. ni&e na 1i'a!+ && 0a % !ini4 Kwa 1awai"a. &%i#hi wet+ ana,helewa 1a3ini4 Fa(ia ,h+&/a hi1i. na 1ile $ile $ile4 U#in'+n(e &lan( (ha'+la. ta'a"hali4 Mt t a&et+%a 0iwe lile 1wa 1+#+"i4 Wat t wana#i&a&a 1ia#1a!i4 Ga!i lile ni (hali &n 4 Kwa 1weli. ,han"a!+a hi1i 1ina'aa 1a/i#a4
)<4 Ni&e% tea 1itana ,han(+ tena4
Cha%te! <H - The N- Gen"e!

-he N- gender 0/lasses = L 103 is one of the broadest genders 6 it comprises nouns of people, animals, plants, food, ob7ects used in e eryday life, natural elements, abstract nouns, etc.. $any nouns borrowed from !nglish are absorbed in the N- gender. -his gender is ery particular in that it contains a large number of nouns which do not start with the prefi, N- 0we speak of a L- prefi,3. Fet it<s the only gender that comprises nouns starting with N-. *or phonetic reasons the prefi, N- changes into M- in front of B, * and ;. 8owe er the main characteristic of this class is that the noun is identical in the singular and the plural.
/l = Singular 6
prefi, Nprefi, Lprefi, Nprefi, L-
NGUO E a L the cloth KA9I E a L the work NGUO E clothes L the clothes KA9I E works L the works
/l 10 'lural 6
;n the absence of any distincti e prefi,es of class, it is indeed the class agreements inside the sentence 0 erbal, demonstrati e or possessi e prefi,es, etc..3 that make it possible to distinguish between singular and plural. -hus 6 Sin(+la! NGUO ILE E that cloth NGUO :ANGU E my cloth *l+!al NGUO 9ILE E those clothes NGUO 9ANGU E my clothes
)4 NOUNS OF THE N- GENDER GROU*ED B: TO*ICS -
1C PEOP=E &
A#1a!i Ba/a Ba/+ Da"a Ka1a
a soldier father, dad grandfather sister brother
Ma&a N"+(+ N2an2a Ra'i1i She&e0i
mother, mum brother, comrade grandmother friend brother1in1law, sister1in1law
C -ANUAACTURED O@5ECTS &
Ba!+a Ch+%a Dawa Kala&+ Ka!ata#i #C NATURE &
a letter a bottle a drug, a medicine a pen a paper
N( &a Sa/+ni Sahani S+'+!ia S+!+ali
a drum soap a plate a pan trousers
A!"hi Baha!i Ba!i"i Ba!a'+
ground, earth sea cold ice
Hewa N+!+ M$+a N0ia
air, atmosphere light rain a way
)C A@STRACT CONCEPTS &
A0ali Bahati F+!aha Ha#a!a Hata!i +C ANI-A=S &
an accident luck 7oy a loss a danger
H+3+ni N(+$+ R+h+#a Shi"a Tha&ani
sadness strength permission difficulties alue
K+1+ M/+ M/+3i M/wa N"e(e
a chicken a mos&uito a goat a dog a bird
N(5 &/e N2 1a *a1a Sa&a1i Si&/a
a cow a snake a cat a fish a lion
,C AOOD9 ARUITS9 $E!ETA@=ES &
Chai Ch+&$i Kahawa M/ (a Na3i
tea salt coffee a egetable a coconut
N"i3i N2a&a *ili%ili Sia(i S+1a!i
a banana meat pepper butter, margarine sugar
<4 CLASS AGREEMENTS -
1. "d7ecti o o o o
e 6 -he ad7ecti e takes the prefi, N- and follows the same rules as the noun 6 ;t takes N- in front of a radical that starts with D. G or 9. ;t takes M- in front of a radical that starts with B. * or ;. ;t takes N:- in front of a radical that starts with a owel. ;t doesn<t take any prefi, in all other cases.
0See 6 /hapter 11 1 /oncordant "d7ecti es.3
/lass = 6
N(+ a N(+
1+/wa ? n" ( ? n3+!i ? &/a2a ? n2e+#i ? ... large L small L beautiful L bad L dark L ... 1+/wa ? n" ( ? n3+!i ? &/a2a ? n2e+#i ? ... large L small L beautiful L bad L dark L ...
cloth
/lass 10 6
clothes
/lass = 6
N(+ E N(+ E
2an(+ ? 2a1 ? 2a1e ? 2et+ ? 2en+ ? 2a my L your L his1her1its L our L your 0plur3 L their 3an(+ ? 3a1 ? 3a1e ? 3et+ ? 3en+ ? 3a my L your L his1her1its L our L your 0plur3 L their
cloth
/lass 10 6
clothes
#>-! 6
+hen the noun it refers to is a person, the possessi e ad7ecti e takes agreements of the N- gender, instead of the usual M-?WA- gender agreements, which makes it possible to distinguish between the singular and the plural.
!:"$'(!S 6 Nina,he3a &%i!a na !a'i1i 2an(+ Nina,he3a &%i!a na !a'i1i 3an(+ A&e1wen"a # 1 ni na "a"a 2a1e N2an2a 2an(+ &1ali ; play football with my friend ; play football with my friends She has gone to the market with her sister $y grandmother is se ere
EXERCISES
a. Salt, pepper, a banana, a coconut, a dog, a cat, a fish, a goat, a danger, a loss, sadness, the alue, ice, cold, rain, a way, a bottle, a drug, soap, a plate. b. $y grandmother, my grandfather, my friend, my friends, this sister1in1law, these sisters1in1law, my trousers, my clothes, my pen, this large lion, this little cat, this fierce dog, my tea, your coffee, a great sadness, a great danger, bad luck, delicious bananas, rotten coconuts, a long way.
a4 Kahawa. ,hai. #ia(i. #+1a!i. tha&ani. &/+3i. &/wa. &/+. n(+$+. &$+a. n+!+. hewa. a!"hi. /aha!i. &/ (a. n2a&a. 1a!ata#i. n( &a. #ahani. n"+(+. !a'i1i. a#1a!i. ha#a!a. !+h+#a. n"e(e4 /4 Ra'i1i 3a1 . &a&a 2an(+. "a"a 2a1e. 1a1a 2et+. n2an2a 2a1 . n(+ 3an(+. #+!+ali 2a1e. ,h+%a 3et+. /a!+a 2an(+. 1ala&+ 2a1 . #ahani 3a1e. !+h+#a 2a1 . &/wa 2an(+. 1+1+ 3a . '+!aha 2a1e. #hi"a 3et+. n"i3i 3a . na3i 3an(+. %a1a
2a1 . ha#a!a 2en+4
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4
M%i#hi a&e%i1a ,hai na 1ahawa4 Wana'+n3i wana 1a!ata#i na 1ala&+4 Unata1a n2a&a a+ #a&a1i ? Mna3i h++ +na na3i n2in(i4 Ga!i la1 ni hata!i 1+/wa n0iani4 Mt t ana1+la &1ate na ,hai a#+/+hi4 K+na n2a&a le ? - Ha1+na4 Ni&e% tea %a1a 2an(+ &" ( 4 * le #ana 1wa ha#a!a 2a1 4 Mi&i &( n0wa #ana4 Sina n(+$+ hata 1i" ( 4 Le t+na1+la 1+1+ na #+%+ na &/ (a &/ali &/ali4
)<4 Chai hi2 /a!i"i &n 4 Tia & t tena !
Cha%te! <) - Inte!! (ati$e W !"#

+hen asking a &uestion in Swahili, we don<t use any au,iliary erb, or in ert the position of the sub7ect and the au,iliary, as is often practiced in !nglish. Since the sub7ect prefi, remains attached to the erb root, it is indeed the intonation, and possibly the presence of an interrogati e word in the sentence that signal it is a &uestion. -he interrogati e word is usually located before or after the erb.
*RINCI*AL INTERROGATI;E WORDS -
1. NANI ? E +ho G
- Mt t h+2+ =ni> nani ? - Nani h+2 ? - 8ina la1 nani ? - Nani anata1a 1ita/+ hi1i ? - U&e na nani ? - Nani ali2e1+%i(a ? ?. NINI ? E +hat G
+ho is this child G +ho is he L she G +hat<s your name G ($ho your name % ) +ho wants this book G +ho ha e you seen G +ho hit you G
- Unata1a nini ? - Nini hii ? - Una#e&a nini ? - Ni,h+1+e nini na nini ?
+hat do you want G +hat is it G +hat do you say G +hat should ; take G
@. GANI ? E +hat G L +hat sort G L +hat kind G L +hich G
- Unata1a 1it+ (ani ? - K+na # "a (ani ? - Una'an2a 1a3i (ani ? - ;it+n(++ 1ia#i (ani ? - Manana#i /ei (ani ? - U&e%ata a0ali na&na (ani ? 4. WA*I ? E +here G
+hat do you want G +hat kind of soda is there G +hat sort of work do you do G 8ow much are the onions G +hat price are the pineapples G 8ow ha e you got an accident G
5.
- Wa(eni wa&e1wen"a wa%i ? - Bwana 2+1 wa%i ? K. -NGA*I ? E 8ow much G L 8ow many G +here ha e the guests gone G +here is the master G
-n(a%i ? works like an ad7ecti e. ;t is placed after the name and agrees in class with it.
/l ? - Wat+ wan(a%i ? /l 4 - Mia1a &in(a%i ? /l K - Ma,h+n(wa &an(a%i ? /l N - ;i0i1 $in(a%i ? /l 10 - N2+&/a n(a%i ? !:"$'(!S 6 - Wa1 wat+ wan(a%i 9an3i/a! ? - Ki1a%+ hi1i #hilin(i n(a%i ? - Ba#i lina n" 1a #aa n(a%i ? - U&e1wen"a La&+ &a!a n(a%i ? 7. LINI ? E +hen G
8ow many people G 8ow many years G 8ow many oranges G 8ow many spoons G 8ow many houses G
8ow many people in )an%ibar G 8ow much is this basket G +hat time does the bus lea e G 8ow often ha e you been to (amu G
- Uta!+"i lini ? - Tan(+ lini +&e1+wa &( n0wa ? - M$+a ita1wi#ha lini ? - Lini wata1wen"a M &/a#a ?
+hen will you come back G Since when ha e you been ill G +hen will the rain stop G +hen will they go to $ombasa G
N. 8E ? or -8E ? affi,ed to the erb E +hat G L 8ow G
- 8e. +na1wen"a Nai! /i le ? - 8e 1a3i i&e1wi#ha ? - ;iat+ hi$i +na+3a0e ? - Una#e&a0e ? - T+'an2e0e ? - Na1wen"a # 1 ni4 Wewe 0e ? =. -*I ? E +hich one L +hich ones G
; say, are you going to #airobi today G !h I ;s work finished G 8ow much do you sell these shoes G +hat do you say G +hat should we do G ;<m going to the market. +hat about you G
-%i ? works like a pronoun. ;t can be used by itself or after a noun with which it agrees, taking pronominal prefi,es of agreement.
/l 1 - Mt+ 2+%i ? /l ? - Wat+ wa%i ? /l @ - Mti +%i ? /l 4 - Miti i%i ? /l 5 - T+n"a li%i ? /l K - Mat+n"a 2a%i ? /l 7 - Kit+ 1i%i ? /l N - ;it+ $i%i ? /l = - N(+ i%i ? /l 10 - N(+ 3i%i ? /l 11 - U#i1+ +%i ? !:"$'(!S 6 - T+#hi1e n0ia i%i ? - U&eleta i%i ? - Unata1a 3i%i ? - Uta'an2a $i%i ? 10. KWA NINI ? E +hy G
+hich person G +hich people G +hich tree G +hich trees G +hich fruit G +hich fruits G +hich thing G +hich things G +hich cloth G +hich clothes G +hich night G
+hich way should we take G +hich one ha e you brought G +hich ones do you want G 8ow will you do G
- Kwa nini +na,helewa 1ila #i1+ ? - Kwa nini +nata1a 1a3i ? - Kwa nini ha1+na #+1a!i ?
+hy are you late e ery day G +hy do you want a 7ob G +hy is there no sugar G
11. KWA SABABU GANI ? E *or what reason G
- Kwa #a/a/+ (ani +na,helewa 1ila #i1+ ?
*or what reason are you late e ery day G
VOCABULARY
A1ili Fai"a Fe"ha Fi1i!a Ha/a!i Ha#i!a
intelligence profit money a thought a news anger
Mali Ma!1iti Me3a N,hi N2+&/a Sh+le ? S1+li
fortune the market 0in )<bar3 a table a country a house a school
EXERCISES
1. ?. @. 4. 5. K. 7. N. =. 10. 11. 1?. 1@. 14. 15.
+ho is that man G +hose are these clothes G +ho threw this stone G +hat do you sell G 8ow much do you sell these oranges G +hat kind of animal is it G +hat kind of fruit is it G +hat wages do you want G 8ow many day laborers do you need G 8ow many luggages are there at home G +hat<s your name G +hat sort of meat is there at the market G 8ow many fruit ha e you bought G +here do these egetables come from G 8ow many eggs should ; buy G
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4 )<4 )A4 )B4
Mwali&+ 2+1 wa%i ? - :+1 n2+&/ani4 Wat t wa1 wa%i ? - Wa1 #h+leni4 K+na wan2a&a (ani Se!en(eti ? Una'an2a nini #ha&/ani ? Nitawe3a0e 1+/e/a &3i( h++ ? Wa&e'i1a Nai! /i lini ? Ki#+ ,han(+ 1i%2a 1i1 wa%i ? Kwa nini +&e%i1a 1+1+ na &/ (a tena ? 8e. +&e# &a 1ita/+ hi1i ? 8ina la1 nani ? - 8ina lan(+ I"i Ki/ ( 2 4 M1+tan +naan3a #aa n(a%i ? Wat t wan(a%i wa&e1 #a 1+0a #h+leni le ? Kwa nini +na,helewa 1a3ini 1ila #i1+ ? Una#e&a0e ? - Sina la 1+#e&a4
)C4 Chai i1 wa%i ? - I1 &e3ani4
Cha%te! << - N+&/e!#
)4 NUMBERS FROM ) TO <H ) < A B C D E F G )H -MO8A -WILI ? MBILI -TATU -NNE -TANO SITA SABA -NANE TISA KUMI )) )< )A )B )C )D )E )F )G <H KUMI NA -MO8A KUMI NA -WILI ? MBILI KUMI NA -TATU KUMI NA -NNE KUMI NA -TANO KUMI NA SITA KUMI NA SABA KUMI NA -NANE KUMI NA TISA ISHIRINI
#umbers in Swahili beha e like ad7ecti es, and like all ad7ecti es, they are placed after the noun, but before the demonstrati e. >ne characteristic of the numbers is that some of them are in ariable while others are concordant. -hus 6 #umbers K, 7, =, 10, ?0 are in ariable and do not take class prefi,es. #umbers 1, ?, @, 4, 5, N agree with the noun and take a class prefi,. #>-! 6 5y their nature, number 1 0-& 0a3 takes only class agreements in the singular, whereas numbers ? 0-wili3, @ 0-tat+3, 4 0-nne3, 5 0-tan 3 and N 0-nane3 take only plural agreements. ;n the case of a composite number 011, 1?, 1@, 14, 15, 1N, etc.3 only the concordant part of the number takes a prefi, of class.
AGREEMENTS OF THE NUMBERS - <. A. B. C. F CLASS ? NOUN

/l ? Wat t /l 4 Mi1ate /l K Mat+n"a /l N ;iti /l 10 N(+ !:"$'(!S 6 ) ) ) ) ) A D F F )) )< )A )B )F <C Mt t && 0a M1ate && 0a T+n"a & 0a N(+ & 0a Ki0i1 1i& 0a Mia1a &itat+ Mat+n"a #ita Mat+n"a &anane Wat+ wanane ;i0i1 1+&i na 1i& 0a ;i0i1 1+&i na $iwili Mat+n"a 1+&i na &atat+ Miti 1+&i na &inne Wat+ 1+&i na wanane Wat+ i#hi!ini na watan >ne child >ne bread >ne fruit >ne cloth >ne spoon -hree years Si, fruits !ight fruits !ight people !le en spoons -wel e spoons -hirteen fruits *ourteen trees !ighteen people -wenty1fi e people
<
wawili &iwili &awili $iwili &/ili
A
watat+ &itat+ &atat+ $itat+ tat+
B
wanne &inne &anne $inne nne
C
watan &itan &atan $itan tan
F
wanane &inane &anane $inane nane
<4 TENS )H <H AH BH CH KUMI ISHIRINI THELATHINI AROBAINI HAMSINI
DH EH FH GH
SITINI SABINI THEMANINI TISINI
+hen a ten is followed by a unit, the unit is introduced by the word NA E and. !:"$'(!S 6 <) AB D) EF Wat t i#hi!ini na && 0a Wat+ thelathini na wanne ;iti #itini na 1i& 0a ;iti #a/ini na $inane -wenty1one children -hirty1four people Si,ty1one chairs Se enty1eight chairs
A4 HUNDREDS )HH <HH AHH BHH CHH MIA =MO8A> MIA MBILI MIA TATU MIA NNE MIA TANO
DHH EHH FHH GHH
MIA SITA MIA SABA MIA NANE MIA TISA
+hen a hundred is followed by tens and units, we use the word NA 0E and3, but only once, between the last two numbers. !:"$'(!S 6 )H) ))H ))) AHF A<F Mia na & 0a Mia na 1+&i Mia 1+&i na & 0a Mia tat+ na nane Mia tat+ i#hi!ini na nane
B4 THOUSANDS )HHH <HHH AHHH BHHH CHHH ELFU =MO8A> ELFU MBILI ELFU TATU ELFU NNE ELFU TANO
DHHH EHHH FHHH GHHH
ELFU SITA ELFU SABA ELFU NANE ELFU TISA
;n numbers containing thousands, the word NA introduces the tens or the units, but it is ne er used between the thousands and the hundreds. !:"$'(!S 6
)HH) )DHH )EAC BAC< BCHH EFHH FGHA
El'+ & 0a na & 0a El'+ & 0a &ia #ita El'+ & 0a &ia #a/a thelathini na tan El'+ nne &ia tat+ ha&#ini na &/ili El'+ nne &ia tan El'+ #a/a &ia nane El'+ nane &ia ti#a na tat+
C4 TENS OF THOUSANDS -
+hen handling numbers with tens of thousands, some care must be taken to a oid confusions. *or e,ample 6 #umber )C4HHH should read 6 El'+ 1+&i na tan , which can also be interpreted as 6 )H)C I -hus, to a oid any risk of confusion, the word el'+ will be placed "*-!D the number that &uantifies it, and the number will read 6 )C4HHH M K+&i na tan el'+. -his rule must be obser ed e ery time the tens of thousands are not followed by any other number. !:"$'(!S 6 )D4HHH K+&i na #ita el'+ AH4HHH Thelathini el'+ BF4HHH A! /aini na nane el'+ >n the other hand, when the tens of thousands are followed by hundreds, tens, or units, there is no such risk of confusion, and the words retain their normal order. !:"$'(!S 6 )D4HAH AH4<HH BF4H<C #>-! 6 El'+ 1+&i na #ita na thelatini El'+ thelathini &ia &/ili El'+ a! /aini na nane i#hi!ini na tan -here is a Swahili word to designate the hundreds of thousands 6 LAKI E lakh, lac. -hus 6 La1i &/ili E ?00.000, La1i #ita E K00.000, etc. $illion is 6 MILIONI.
D4 FRACTIONS )?< )?B )?F N+#+ R / Th+&ni a half a &uarter an eighth
E4 DECIMALS -
-he figure "%ero" -he word "point" is 6 NUKTA or *OINTI.
is
SIFURI.
Hecimal numbers are read in Swahili as in !nglish, i.e. by separating each figure after the
point. !:"$'(!S 6 H4C Si'+!i n+1ta tan )H4<C K+&i n+1ta &/ili. tan <H4)<C I#hi!ini n+1ta & 0a. &/ili. tan
F4 ORDINAL NUMBERS -A KWAN9A -A *ILI -A TATU -A NNE -A TANO -A SITA -A SABA -A NANE -A TISA -A KUMI Mt t wa 1wan3a Ga!i la %ili Ma!a 2a tat+ M1ate wa nne N2+&/a 2a tan Mn2a&a wa #ita Si1+ 2a #a/a Mti wa nane Mwe3i wa ti#a Mt+ wa 1+&i -he first child -he second car -he third time -he fourth bread -he fifth house -he si,th animal -he se enth day -he eighth tree -he ninth month -he tenth person
/hakubanga
- Le ni #i1+ 2a ti#a #i0alewa. inaele1ea nata1a 1+a,ha +le$i4 - Bila #ha1a hi3 #i1+ ti#a h+na %e#a ! Mi&i na0+a4 1 -oday is the ninth day since ; ha en<t drunk, ;<m certainly going to stop drinking. 1 +ithout a doubt you had no money during those nine days I ;<m sure of this.
VOCABULARY
E1a F+ti Gal ni Hat+a In,hi Kil an acre a foot a gallon a step an inch a kilo Kil &eta Lita Maili Mita Ratili :a"i ? wa!i a kilometer a liter a mile a meter a pound a yard
EXERCISES
E6ERCISE ) - +rite these numbers in letters in Swahili 6 0R =R 10.05K R ??R @1 R N= R =@ R 157 R ?@5 R K=5 R 7K? R 104= R ??0@ R 10.=14 R 14.000 R 14.005 R 1@4.000 R @00.000 R 75?.@?K . 7.000 R
E6ERCISE < - +rite these numbers in figures 6 K+&i na tan N 1+&i na ti#a N i#hi!ini na #a/a N thelathini na & 0a N a! /aini na nne N ha&#ini na nane N #a/ini na tat+ N the&anini na tan N &ia &/ili N &ia nne N &ia #a/a N &ia tat+ 1+&i na #ita N el'+ tan N el'+ 1+&i N el'+ 1+&i na &/ili &ia tan #a/ini na nne N 1+&i na tan el'+ N a! /aini na &/ili el'+ N la1i & 0a N la1i #a/a N &ili ni &/ili4
E6ERCICE A - -ranslate into Swahili, writing the numbers in letters 6 1? cups R @0 trees R 11 chairs R ?4 years R @ children R ? dogs R @ cats R 10 cows R 115 islands R ?1 people R 4 fruits R N oranges R 4 spoons R 1? houses R @ young people R 14 lessons R 1N animals R 4 bananas R ??5 pupils R ?? teachers.
Cha%te! <A - Ti&e

-an%ania and .enya being located close to the e&uator, there are few ariations during the year in the hours of sunrise and sunset. -he sun rises around si, o<clock in the morning and sets around si, o<clock in the e ening. -herefore 7 o<clock in the morning is the first hour of the day, and se en o<clock in the e ening is the first hour of the night 6 +e may consider that there is a si, hour shift between +estern time and "Swahili" time.. 8owe er, while time is read and e en written according to the Swahili system, the clocks are always set +estern fashion... So one always has to add or substract mentally K hours, to read time correctly I
)4 THE HOUR -
;n Swahili, the word SAA 0E hour3 precedes the figure. -hus 6
SWAHILI TIME
SAA MO8A SAA MBILI SAA TATU SAA NNE SAA TANO SAA SITA SAA SABA SAA NANE SAA TISA SAA KUMI SAA KUMI NA MO8A SAA KUMI NA MBILI !:'D!SS;># 6 one o<clock two o<clock three o<clock four o<clock fi e o<clock si, o<clock se en o<clock eight o<clock nine o<clock ten o<clock ele en o<clock twel e o<clock
WESTERN TIME
7 o<clock in the morning N o<clock n the morning = o<clock in the morning 10 o<clock in the morning 11 o<clock in the morning 1? o<clock in the morning 1 o<clock in the afternoon ? o<clock in the afternoon @ o<clock in the afternoon 4 o<clock in the afternoon 5 o<clock in the e ening K o<clock in the e ening
Sa#a ni #aa #a/a 1a&ili E ;t is now one o<clock sharp (now is seven o&cloc' completely)
Deading the time o er a ?4 hour period is not common in Swahili. -herefore, to distinguish between the hours of the night and the hours of the day, we must use different e,pressions marking the moment of the day 6 ":A ASUBUHI" 0E in the morning3 ":A MCHANA" 0E in the afternoon3 ":A 8IONI" 0E in the e ening3 ":A USIKU" 0E at night3 Saa & 0a 2a a#+/+hi Sa nane 2a &,hana Saa & 0a 2a 0i ni Saa tat+ 2a +#i1+ E one o<clock in the morning E eight o<clock in the afternoon E one o<clock in the e ening E three o<clock at night (( ) am) (( * pm) (( ) pm) (( + pm), etc...
!:"$'(!S 6
<4 SOME MINUTES *AST -
-he word "minute" is 6 DAKIKA. >ne will mention the additional minutes while counting as follows 6 na "a1i1a tan na "a1i1a 1+&i na ! / na "a1i1a #hi!ini "&uarter" is -he word "half" is 6 NUSU. Saa tat+ na ! / Saa tat+ + n+#+ Saa 1+&i na &/ili + n+#+ Saa & 0a444 fi e past ten past &uarter past twenty past 6 ...se en
-he word ROBO.
Tuarter past three 8alf past three 8alf past twel e
(( + h ,-) (( + h ./) 0E K h @03
#ote that to add minutes and a &uarter, we use the word NA 0E and3, while to add a half we use the word U 0from the "rabic "+"" E and3
A4 SOME MINUTES TO -
'ast the half, we count the missing minutes to reach the following hour. +e use the e,pressions 6 KASORO DAKIKA 444 E ... minutes to R and KASOROBO E &uarter to. !:"$'(!S 6 Saa nane 1a# ! "a1i1a 1+&i Saa ti#a 1a# ! "a1i1a i#hi!ini Saa ti#a 1a# ! / ten to eight twenty to nine &uarter to nine (( ten to two) (( twenty to three) (( 0uarter to three)
B4 DIFFERENT *ERIODS OF THE DA: AND OF THE NIGHT -
! ery ?4 hour period can be di ided as follows 6
KUCHA ASUBUHI MCHANA 8IONI MACHWA USIKU USIKU KUCHA USIKU WA MANANE KUCHA KUTWA
Sunrise from K am to 1? am appro,imately from 1 pm to 4 L 5 pm appro,imately from 4 pm to K pm appro,imately Sunset from K pm to 5 am from K pm to 5 am around ? am ?4 hours
Hawn $orning -he day ! ening -he twilight #ight -he whole night -he dead of the night -he whole day and whole night
C4 *RA:ER TIMES -
;n strongly islami%ed places such as )an%ibar, (amu 0an island north of kenya3, etc., the fi e $uslim prayers gi e its rythm to the day and constitute for the local population temporal reference points, almost like "hours" 6
ALFA8IRI ADHUHURI ALASIRI MAGHARIBI ALESHA
around 5.45 am L K.@0 am around 1? am L 1?.@0 am around @ pm L 5 pm around K pm L K.@0 pm around N pm and after
-he dawn prayer -he noon prayer -he afternoon prayer -he sunset prayer -he night prayer
VOCABULARY
Bata Fa!a#i 8 ( K n" N(+!+we N0iwa a duck a horse a cock a sheep a pig a pigeon *an2a *+n"a M/wa &wit+ S+n(+!a Te&/ ? N" $+ Twi(a a rat, a mouse a donkey a wolf, a wild dog a hare, a rabbit an elephant a giraffe
EXERCISES
7 h 15, K h @0 in the e ening, ? h 10, noon, half past three, what time ha e you got G -wenty1 fi e to four, 17 h, fi e past one, nine o<clock, eight o<clock at night, three o<clock in the morning, sunset, e ening, dawn.
Al'a0i!i. ala#i!i. &a(ha!i/i. a#+/+hi. &,hana. +#i1+. 0i ni. #aa ti#a + n+#+. #aa tat+ na "a1i1a 1+&i. #aa #ita 1a# ! "a1i1a tan . #aa 1+&i na &/ili 2a +#i1+. #aa #a/a 1a# ! / . #aa ti#a. #aa tan na "a1i1a 1+&i na &/ili. #aa #a/a 1a&ili
Cha%te! <B - Da2#. M nth#. Date#

)4 DA:S OF THE WEEK -
-he names of the days of the week in Swahili are a curious mi,ture of two languages, "rabic and 5antu. -hus, the fi e first days of the week ha e got 5antu names, from 8+&a& #i 0E Saturday3, i.e. first day of the week, until 8+&atan 0E +ednesday3, i.e. fifth day of the week. -he system would be perfect if one went on with "Jumasita" and "Jumasaba", e,cept that instead of those, Swahili borrowed its two last names from the "rabic 6 Alha&i#i 0E -hursday3, i.e. "fi e" in "rabic 0so that we ha e now got two "fifth" days in the week I 3 and I0+&aa 0E *riday3 which means the assembly 0of faithful, for the *riday prayer at the mos&ue3.
8UMAMOSI 8UMA*ILI 8UMATATU 8UMANNE 8UMATANO ALHAMISI I8UMAA
0-he 1st day of the week3 0-he ?nd day of the week3 0-he @rd day of the week3 0-he 4th day of the week3 0-he 5t day of the week3 0fi e3 0assembly3
Saturday Sunday $onday -uesday +ednesday -hursday *riday
<4 THE GREGORIAN CALENDAR -
-here are two ways for naming the months in Swahili 6 either by gi ing them an ordinal number 6 first month, second month, etc... or by gi ing them their !nglish names, with an adapted spelling.
Mwe3i wa 444
MWE9I WA KWAN9A MWE9I WA *ILI MWE9I WA TATU MWE9I WA NNE MWE9I WA TANO MWE9I WA SITA MWE9I WA SABA MWE9I WA NANE MWE9I WA TISA MWE9I WA KUMI MWE9I WA KUMI NA MO8A MWE9I WA KUMI NA MBILI 8ANUARI FEBRUARI MACHI A*RILI MEI 8UNI 8ULAI AGOSTI SE*TEMBA OKTOBA NO;EMBA DESEMBA January *ebruary $arch "pril $ay June July "ugust September >ctober #o ember Hecember
A4 HOW TO READ A DATE -
1. -he date of today 6 8+&atat+ ) De#e&/a <HHF ?. Hay 6 +e use the word Ta!ehe 0E date3 followed by the ordinal number of the day in the month. !:"$'(!S 6 Ta!ehe & #i Ta!ehe %ili Ta!ehe tat+ Ta!ehe 1+&i @. Hay and $onth 6 +e can use the word Ta!ehe followed by the number of the day and the number of the month, or simply use the !nglish name of the month followed by the ordinal number of the day. the first the second the third the tenth
!:"$'(!S 6 Ta!ehe #a/a. &we3i wa #a/a Ta!ehe & #i. &we3i wa tan Ta!ehe ti#a. &we3i wa 1+&i na &/ili 4. Hay, $onth and Fear 6 !:"$'(!S 6 Ta!ehe i#hi!ini na #ita. &we3i wa nne ? &we3i wa A%!ili. &wa1a wa el'+ &/ili na &/ili ?Kth "pril ?00? 8+lai #a/a Mei & #i De#e&/a ti#a 7th July 1st $ay =th Hecember
B4 THE MUSLIM CALENDAR -
"lthough the 9regorian calendar is used by a ma7ority, yet the $uslim calendar is still in use for all that relates to religious life and the $uslim festi als. ;n Swahili, the year is based on Damadan, the month of fasting, and the following months are counted M'+n(+ & #i. M'+n(+ %ili. M'+n(+ tat+. 444 0E first opening of the fast, second opening, third opening, etc...3. >nly the two months that precede Damadan ha e proper "rabic names known by all. ;t is impossible to establish a strict correspondance between the months of the 9regorian calendar and those of the $uslim one since this last follows a lunar calendar, which produces year after year an incremental shift of 10 days between the two calendars. 8ere are the names of the months in the $uslim calendar corresponding to the Swahili names 0there may e,ist local ariants3 6
MFUNGUO NNE MFUNGUO TANO MFUNGUO SITA MFUNGUO SABA MFUNGUO NANE MFUNGUO TISA
$uharram Safar Dabi1ul1awwal Dabi1us1saani Jamadi1ul1awwal Jamadi1us1saani
RA8ABU SHAABANI RAMADHANI MFUNGUO MOSI ? SHAWALI MFUNGUO *ILI MFUNGUO TATU
Da7ab Shaban Damadan Shawwal )i&a<ad )ilha7
C4 HOLIDA:S IN TAN9ANIA -
*ew and far between during the socialist era 0when e en #ew Fear was a working day3, holidays in -an%ania, and particularly public holidays, ha e multiplied as the years went by 6
NAME OF THE HOLIDA:

Mwa1a M%2a Si1+ 2a Ma%in"+3i 2a 9an3i/a! Si1+1++ K+/wa ? I"i-el-Ha0i I0+&aa K++ *a#a1a Si1+ 2a M++n(an wa Tan(an2i1a na 9an3i/a! Si1+ 2a Wa'an2a1a3i Ma+li"i 2a M'+n(+ Sita
st
DATE
1 January 1?th January ariable date ariable date ariable date ?Kth "pril 1st $ay ariable date
What5# /ehin"444
#ew Fear )an%ibar De olution Hay ;dd1el1.ebir, last day of the pilgrimage, celebrates the sacrifice of "braham 9ood *riday !aster 0? days off3 /elebrates the 4nion of -anganyika and )an%ibar +orkers Hay $aulid, commemorates both the birth and the death of prophet $uhamad (!.A.$. ( peace be upon him), 01? Dabi1ul1awwal.3 ;nternational -rade *air 0e,1festi al of Sa/a Sa/a celebrating the creation of TANU 0-anganyika "frican #ationalist 4nion3 *armers< Hay /ommemorates the death of Julius .. #yerere and /lima, of "4huru -orch Dace" ;dd1el1*itr, celebrates the end of the month of Damadan 0? days off3 /elebrates the ;ndependence of the Depublic of -anganyika /hristmas 0? days off3
Inte!nati nal T!a"e Fai!
7th July
Si1+ 2a Wa1+li&a Si1+ 2a Mwali&+ N2e!e!e Si1+1++ N" ( ? I"i-el-Fit!i Si1+ 2a Uh+!+ K!i#&a#i
Nth "ugust 14th >ctober ariable date =th Hecember ?5th Hecember
D4 E6*RESSIONS RELATED TO TIME -
Baa"a2e Ba" Ba" 1i" ( B+1+ la ta!ehe Dai&a Hala'+ Ha% 1ale Hati&a2e 8ana 8+3i 8+3i 0+3i Ka/la Kalen"a Ka&a 1awai"a Ka!ne Kati 1ati Ke#h Ke#h 1+twa Kila #i1+ Ki#ha Kwan3a Le Lini ? Ma%e&a Ma!a 1wa &a!a
after not yet in a little while a diary continuously then a long time ago finally yesterday day before yesterday the other day before a calendar as usual a century ;n between tomorrow day after tomorrow e eryday and then first today when G early from time to time
Ma!a & 0a Ma!a n2in(i M/ele Milele M%a1a Mt n" M+"a (ani ? Mwe3i +0a Mwe3i +li %ita Mwi#h N2+&a *ale %ale *a% ha% *en(ine Saa n(a%i ? Sa#a Sa#a hi$i ? hi$i #a#a Si1+1++ Si1+3 te Tan(+ Ta!ehe Wa1ati (ani ? Wi1i ili2 %ita 9a&ani 9a&ani 3a 1ale
at once often before, earlier for e er till, until in three days 8ow long G ne,t month last month finally, at the end later at this ery moment immediately sometimes 0at3 what time G now immediately, at once a holiday always since a date at which moment G last week formerly a long time ago
VOCABULARY
A#ali Bia Bilin(ani M/e(+ M$in2 N(an honey beer an egg plant a seed wine wheat N2an2a * &/e Sa&li S+%+ Ten"e T+n(+le a tomato local beer fat 0ghee3 soup a date 0fruit3 a tomato 0in )<bar3
EXERCISES
1. Sunday, $onday, -uesday, +ednesday, -hursday, *riday, Saturday, January, June, July, >ctober, #o ember, "pril, $ay, 9ood *riday, !aster, /hristmas, )an%ibar De olution Hay, ;dd1el1*itr, ;dd1el1.ebir. ?. 1st, ?nd, @rd, 1Nth, @1st, 1st January, ?0th $ay, ?nd "pril, 1=th "ugust, =th Hecember, 1?th January ?00?, 5th *ebruary 1==7, ?5th Hecember 1===, 7th July 1=77, 11th September ?001.
)4 Le . 0ana. 0+3i. 0+3i 0+3i. 1e#h . 1e#h 1+twa. 3a&ani. #a#a. &a%e&a. 1ila #i1+. #i1+3 te. &a!a 1wa &a!a. &ilele. /a" 1i" ( . hati&a2e. 1a/la. /aa"a2e. 1a!ne. %en(ine. &wi#h 4 <4 8+&a& #i. 0+&anne. alha&i#i. i0+&aa. &we3i wa 1wan3a. &we3i wa %ili. &we3i wa #a/a. &a,hi. &ei. 0+ni. "e#e&/a. a( #ti. !a0a/+. #haa/ani. !a&a"hani. #hawali. *a#a1a. K!i#&a#i. Si1+ 2a Wa1+li&a. Si1+1++ n" (
Cha%te! <C - The U- Gen"e!

-he U- gender is actually composed of ? distinct classes of nouns, that 7ointly share the nominal prefi, U- in the singular. -his gender has no specific plural. -hese ? classes are 6 /lass 11, that contains nouns of concrete ob7ects that make their plural in class 10, and more rarely in class K. /lasse 14, that countains abstract singular nouns.
)4 NOUNS IN CLASS )) -
a? Concrete noun" with (ariou" plural" &
SINGULIER
Ua Ua U/a U"e$+ U'a U'+n(+ U( &$i U( n0wa U1 U1+ta Uli&i U&a Un2wele U%an"e U%an(a U%e% U#i1+ U# Uta&/i U$+&/i U3i Wa1ati We&/e Wi&/
*LURIEL
&a+a n2+a /a n"e$+ n2+'a '+n(+ &a( &$i &a( n0wa 1 1+ta n"i&i n2+&a n2wele %an"e %an(a %e% #i1+ n2+# ta&/i $+&/i n2+3i n2a1ati n2e&/e n2i&/
Cla##e
/l K /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l K /l K /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10 /l 10
T!a"+,ti n
a flower, flowers a courtyard, courtyards a board, boards a hair of beard, a beard a crack, cracks a key, keys a &uarrel, &uarrels a disease, diseases a clan, clans a wall, walls the tongue, tongues a fork, forks a hair, the hair a side, sides a machete, machetes wind, bad spirits the night, the day a face, faces a wick, wicks a grain of dust, dust a thread, threads time, times a ra%or blade, ra%or blades a song, songs
%? uncounta%le noun"9 without plural &
NOUN
U" n( U(ali U0i U1i&wi Uli&wen(+ U&e&e U&!i Un(a U#in(i3i Uw n( Win
T!an#lati n
the soil, the ground mai%e paste porridge ";HS the world electricity age flour sleep a lie ink
<4 NOUNS IN CLASS )B -
$ost of them are formed from an ad7ecti al, nominal or erbal root.
a? Ad2ecti(al root &
AD8ECTI;E
-/a2a -,ha'+ h+!+ -0in(a -& 0a -!e'+ #a'i -#awa -ta0i!i -$i$+ -3+!i
T!an#lati n
bad dirty free stupid one long clean e&ual rich, wealthy la%y beautiful
NOUN
U/a2a U,ha'+ Uh+!+ U0in(a U& 0a U!e'+ U#a'i U#awa Uta0i!i U$i$+ U3+!i
T!an#lati n
maliciousness dirtiness freedom stupidity unity length cleanliness e&uality wealth la%iness beauty
%? No*inal root &
NOUN
8a&aa Ki0ana Ma#1ini M,hawi M'al&e Mt t M3ee c? $er%al root &
T!an#lati n
a group of people a young person a poor a witch a king a child an old man
NOUN
U0a&aa U0ana U&a#1ini U,hawi U'al&e Ut t U3ee
T!an#lati n
a community youth po erty witchcraft a kingdom childhood old age
;ERB
K+i/a K+1 #a K+la K+%en"a K+we3a K+#aha+
T!an#lati n
to steal to miss to eat to lo e, to like to be able to forget
NOUN
Uwi3i U1 #e'+ Wali U%en" Uwe3 U#aha+li'+
T!an#lati n
theft lack cooked rice lo e capacity forgetfulness
d? Na*e" o' countrie" &
NAME OF COUNTR:
U'a!an#a U(an"a Uha/e#hi Uhin"i Uin(e!e3a U0e!+&ani Ula2a Un(+0a U!en U!+#i U#+1+&a
T!an#lati n
*rance 4ganda !thiopia ;ndia !ngland 9ermany !urope ;sle of )an%ibar 'ortugal Dussia Sukumaland
A4 CLASS AGREEMENTS OF THE AD8ECTI;E -
;n the singular, the ad7ecti e agrees with the noun by taking the class @ singular prefi, M-. ;n the plural, the ad7ecti e usually agrees with the noun by taking the class 10 prefi, N- or L-, or more rarely the class K prefi, MA-.
Sin(+la!
*l+!al
U1+ta &!e'+ a high wall K+ta n"e'+ high walls U3i &we+%e a white thread N2+3i &we+%e white threads U%an"e && 0a one side *an"e &/ili two sides U'+n(+ &win(ine another key F+n(+ n2in(ine other keys U( &$i &1ali a se ere &uarrel Ma( &$i &a1ali se ere &uarrels #>-! 6 -he names of countries that start with the prefi, U- beha e like the names of countries of the N- gender 6 Tan3ania. Ken2a. Mi#!i 0E !gypt3, etc. and take class = agreements with the erbs, ad7ecti es, possessi es and demonstrati es. -"#)"#;"# S(>9"# 6
Uhuru ni Kazi
$>--> >* -"#)"#;" 6
UHURU NA UMO8A
VOCABULARY
U/i#hi U,ha,he U'a(i . 'a(i U1+ni. 1+ni U1+!a#a. 1+!a#a Un n a &uarrel scarcity a broom, a brush firewood a page wellbeing, comfort U%ana U#hi. n2+#hi U#hi!i1a Uta. n2+ta We&a Wi$+ width an eyebrow a cooperati e an arc kindness 7ealousy
EXERCISES
a. " key, a board, a side, a tongue, the face, dust, a song, porridge, time, a beard, the hair, firewood, machetes, dust, wicks, diseases, sleep, ink, electricity, the ground. b. *reedom, beauty, unity, cleanliness, dirtiness, childhood, old age, lack, lo e, capacity, forgetfulness, po erty, wealth, the length, stupidity, *rance, !ngland, 9ermany, the
;sle of )an%ibar, 'ortugal.
U'a(i &" ( . +1+ta &!e'+. +# &3+!i. 1+ni n2in(i. +3i &we+#i. %an"e &/ili. +'+n(+ &%2a. &a( n0wa &a1+/wa. +li&i &,ha'+. n2+&a #a'i. wi&/ &3+!i. n2wele n2e+#i. +" n( &3+!i. win &we1+n"+. +n(a &3+!i. +%en" &1+/wa. n2e&/e 1ali. &/a n3it . n"e$+ n"e'+. +#i1+ &we+#i4
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4 )<4 )A4 )B4
Taa hi3i &/ili 3ata1a ta&/i &%2a4 M/a hi3i n"e'+ &n 4 ;i/a!+a wanahita0i %an(a tat+ na 'a(i nne4 Ni%i1e nini le - Wali a+ +(ali ? U0i h++ &3+!i #ana4 M#i,hana h+2+ ana n2wele n"e'+ n2e+#i4 Ni&e% tea '+n(+ 3an(+ - #iwe3i 1+'+n(+a &lan( ! Wa1ati h++ 1+na +%e% &1ali 1a/i#a4 M3ee 2+le a&elala +#in(i3i +ani4 K+ni 3 te 3i&e1wi#ha4 Lete n2in(ine ! Mwali&+ anat+&ia +/a &we+#i #h+leni4 Lete n2+&a. $i#+ na $i0i1 &e3ani4 Ana +( &$i &1ali na 0a&aa 3a1e4 D+1a la +#hi!i1a lina+3a +n(a wa n(an 4
)C4 Tan(an2i1a i&e%ata +h+!+ wa1e &wa1a wa el'+ & 0a &ia ti#a #itini na & 0a4
Cha%te! <D - *la,e

)4 THE LOCATI;E SUFFI6 -
-here e,ists in Swahili a ery con enient way to translate "inside", "in", "on" or "at" 6 in order to do this, we simply add the suffi, -NI at the end of a noun. !:"$'(!S 6 Baha!i Ban"a!i Me3a N0ia N2+&/a Sha&/a Sh+le E the sea E the harbour E the table E the way E the house E the farm E the school -K Baha!i-ni -K Ban"a!i-ni -K Me3a-ni -K N0ia-ni -K N2+&/a-ni -K Sha&/a-ni -K Sh+le-ni E on the sea L at sea E in the harbour E on the table E on the way E in the house L at home E at the farm L in the country E at school
-his system has also gi en proper names of districts or illages 6 Bwawa Da!a0a F ! "ha M( &/a M1+na3i M#a#a Mt E marsh E bridge E customs E banana tree E 7u7ub tree E rough plant E ri er -K Bwawa-ni -K Da!a0a-ni -K F ! "ha-ni -K M( &/a-ni -K M1+na3i-ni -K M#a#a-ni -K Mt -ni E on the marshes E by the bridge E at the customs E where there is a banana tree E where there is a 7u7ub tree E where there are rough plants E by the ri er
8owe er, proper names of cities and countries, as well as some common place nouns 0 * #ta E the post1office, Ba!a E a continent, Ma!1iti E a market3 do not take that suffi,, thus 6 Na1wen"a D " &a Wa&e'i1a 9an3i/a! Wa3a3i wan(+ wana1aa I!in(a :+1 * #ta ; go to Hodoma -hey arri ed in )an%ibar $y parents li e in ;ringa 8e is at the post1office (I go odoma) (They have arrived 1an2ibar) (3y parents live Iringa) (4e is post5office)
<4 Whe!e ? -
-o ask 6 "where G", we use the interrogati e ad erb 6 WA*I ? 0See 6 /hapter ?1 1 ;nterrogati e +ords.3 Una1wen"a wa%i ? M/e2a i1 wa%i ? +here do you go G +here is $beya G
A4 AD;ERBS ? *RE*OSITIONS OF *LACE-
0See also 6 /hapter 45 1 -he /onnecti es "'"", "$+"" and ".+"".3 Baina =2a> Chini =2a> 8++ =2a> Kan" =2a> Ka!i/+ =na> Kati =2a> Kati1a Kati1ati =2a> M/ali =na> M/ele =2a> Mi n( ni &wa N"ani =2a> N(5a&/ =2a> N0e =2a> N2+&a =2a> T 1a ? K+t 1a between under, below on top, abo e beside, along near, close to between, in the middle of in, inside, on among far, far from in front of among in, inside on the other side of outside behind from
!:"$'(!S 6 Cha(+a 1i& 0a /aina 2a $it+ hi$i *a1a a&elala ,hini 2a 1itan"a We1a 1i1a%+ 0++ 2a 1iti Wana'+ata &'e!e0i 1an" 2a /a!a/a!a Si&a&a 1a!i/+ na & t Ha&i#i 2+% 1ati 2a Ali na 8+&a *an2a a&ein(ia 1ati1a #hi& Ana%an"a 1ati1a &ti &1+/wa +le M( n0wa a&e n" 1a 1ati1a 1itan"a Mwe&/e && 0a +na#i&a&a 1ati1ati 2a +a U#ien"e &/ali na n2+&/a Wali&+ wa&e1eti &/ele 2a wana'+n3i Mi n( ni &wa wat t . && 0a ana#i&a&a Nina#a'i!i &%a1a Mwan3a K+na $it+ &/ali&/ali n"ani 2a #an"+1+ Siwe3i 1+'i1a n(5a&/ 2a &t +le Ali%ata &1ate t 1a ? 1+t 1a &0ini /hoose one of these things -he cat is sleeping under the bed 'ut the basket on the chair -hey follow the ditch along the road Stand close to the fire 8amisi is between "li and Juma -he mouse has entered (inside) the hole 8e is climbing on that big tree -he patient has left the bed " mango tree stands in the middle of the courtyard Hon<t go far from the house -he teachers are sitting in front of the pupils "mong the children, one is standing ;<m tra elling up to $beya -here are arious things inside the trunk ; can<t reach the opposite bank of that ri er 8e got bread from the city
B4 DEMONSTRATI;ES ? AD;ERBS OF *LACE -
-hey are usually placed after the noun. -here are = ad erbs of place, which are used according to the degree of pro,imity and the nature of the place. -hese are deri ed from the locati e prefi,es *A. KU. MU.
DEMONSTRATI;ES ? AD;ERBS OF *LACE

*RO6IMIT: 'D!/;S! '("/! A"94! '("/! ;#-!D;>D '("/! !:"$'(!S 6 U#iwe1e &3i( ha%a4 We1a &3i( %ale ! Mt t 2+1 wa%i ? - A&e1wen"a 1+le ! Lile 0 1a li&ein(ia &le #hi& ni4 H+&+ n2+&/ani ha&1ai &t+4 Hon<t put the luggage here. 'ut the luggage o er there I +here is the child G 1 8e has gone somewhere o er there I -his large snake has entered (inside) the hole. #obody li es in this house. HA*A E here HUKU E around here HUMU E here inside DISTANCE *ALE E o er there KULE E by o er there MLE E there inside REFERENCE HA*O E there HUKO E there around HUMO E inside
VOCABULARY
Chat+ Ch+i D+&a Fi#i Ma&/a N(a&ia
a python a leopard a cheetah a hyena a crocodile a camel
N2ani N2ati ? M/ ( *aa Swala Tai T+&/ili
a baboon a buffalo an impala a ga%elle a ulture a monkey
EXERCISES
a. "t home, on the way, at sea, at school, at the market, on the plantation, in the bush, on the table, on the chair, in the basket, in the trunk, at work, in bed, at the door, on the eranda, by the bridge, at the customs, by the ri er, on the marshes, at the banana plantation. b. ; go to #airobi, they climb $ount .iliman7aro, they are in Har es Salaam, ; ha e arri ed in )an%ibar, they li e in ;ringa, the gentleman is at the post1office, where do you go G ; go to town, where do you all go G +e are going to !ngland, he comes from $beya, my house is near the post1office, they li e on the other bank of the ri er, the child is behind the tree, put the basket o er there.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4 )<4 )A4 )B4
Mna1wen"a wa%i ? - T+na1wen"a * #ta4 Wa3a3i wa1 wana1aa wa%i ? Wana1aa &0ini 9an3i/a!4 N2+&/a 2a i1 1a!i/+ na &#i1iti &1++4 We1a $ia3i na $it+n(++ 1ati1a 1i1a%+4 Wat t wa1 wa%i ? - Wa1 #h+leni4 Mwali&+ ana#i&a&a &/ele 2a wana'+n3i4 K+na %an2a 1+/wa ,hini 2a 1itan"a4 Bwana 2+% ? - Ha2+% . ana'an2a #a'a!i 1wen"a Se!en(eti4 Wa(eni wana1aa H teli 2a Kati. h+1 I!in(a4 Kit t a&e n" 1a 1ati1a 1itan"a4 Ba#i hili lina1wen"a &%a1a Nai! /i4 Wa3an3i/a!i wa%en"a 1+te&/ea F ! "hani 0i ni. 1an" 2a /aha!i4 N2ani && 0a ana#i&a&a 1+le. 1ati1ati 2a &iti4
)C4 An(alia $i3+!i ! Ma&/a wen(i wanalala h+1+. 1a!i/+ na &t 4
Cha%te! <E - E&%hati,#

H!*;#;-;># 6 "n emphatic is a word used to stress or reinforce an element in the speech. >ne can roughly translate the Swahili emphatic by the words "indeed" or "the ery" in !nglish. -he Swahili emphatic is a word whose root is NDI- and whose termination changes according
to the noun to which it agrees.
)4 SIM*LE EM*HATICS EM*HATICS GENDERS L /lasses M-?WA- 0/lasses 1 L ?3 M-?MI- 0/lasses @ L 43 8I-?MA- 0/lasses 5 L K3 KI-?;I- 0/lasses 7 L N3 N- 0/lasses = L 103 U- 0/lasses 11, 14 L 103 *A 0(ocati e /lass 1K3 KU 0(ocati e /lass 173 MU 0(ocati e /lass 1N3 !:"$'(!S 6 M%i#hi 2+le n"i2e h "a!i -hat cook is indeed gifted Hawa n"i wat+ wali nii/a &i3i( -hey are the ery people who stole us our 2an(+ luggage H++ n"i &1 /a wan(+ ;t<s indeed my bag Hi,h n"i,h 1it+ nili,h 1ita'+ta -his is the ery thing ; was looking for Dawa hii n"i2 n3+!i #ana -his medicine is indeed ery good. Saa & 0a n"i% ali% 'i1a 8e arri ed actually at 7 o<clock #>-! 6 >ne often comes across erbs with the relati e 0wali nii/a. nili,h 1ita'+ta. ali% 'i1a3 in this type of speech. Se eral lessons will be de oted to the relati e tenses further on. 0See 6 /hapter 5? et /hapter 5@.3 - T+1 1wen2e #he!ehe 3a wi1i 2a &a0i. la1ini &a0i 2a 1+ (a ili t+#he!ehe1ee t+1iwa wa#a'i ha2at #hi ! Hii n"i B n( ! E +e are commemorating "-he week of water" but bathing water so that we can be clean to celebrate is not enough I -hat<s how it is in 5ongo I 0E Har es Salaam3 Sin(+la! n"i2e n"i n"il n"i,h n"i2 n"i n"i% n"i1 n"i& *l+!al n"i n"i2 n"i2 n"i$2 n"i3 n"i3
-he emphatics possess a negati e form. ;n order to achie e this, the affirmati e root NDI- is replaced by the negati e root SI- 6 it<s actually the negati e form of the erb KUWA 0E to be3 in the present tense.
EM*HATICS GENDERS L /lasses M-?WA- 0/lasses 1 L ?3 M-?MI- 0/lasses @ L 43 8I-?MA- 0/lasses 5 L K3 KI-?;I- 0/lasses 7 L N3 N- 0/lasses = L 103 U- 0/lasses 11, 14 L 103 *A 0(ocati e /lass 1K3 KU 0(ocati e /lass 173 MU 0(ocati e /lass 1N3 !:"$'(!S 6 H+2+ #i2e &t+ ali2enii/a #aa 2an(+ Si$2 nili$2 #e&a Nani ali,h+1+a 'e"ha 3an(+ ? - Si &i&i -his is not the person who stole me my watch -his is not what ; said +ho took my money G 1 #ot me Sin(+la! #i2e #i #il #i,h #i2 #i #i% #i1 #i& *l+!al #i #i2 #i2 #i$2 #i3 #i3
A4 EM*HATIC *RONOUNS -
-he autonomous sub7ect pronouns possess emphatic forms. -he three persons singular are often contracted, the three persons plural more rarely so.
F+ll ' !&

N"i2e &i&i N"i2e wewe N"i2e 2e2e N"i #i#i N"i nin2i N"i wa !:"$'(!S 6
C nt!a,te" ' !&

N"i&i N"iwe N"i2e =N"i#i> =N"in2i> =N"i >
T!an#lati n
;t<s me ;t<s you ;t<s him L her ;t<s us ;t<s you 0'lur3 ;t<s them
Nani ata1wen"a &0ini ? - N"i&i +ho will go to town G 1 -hat<s me Nani a&e$+n0a 1i hi,h ? - N"i2e. Ma&a +ho has broken this mirror G 1 ;t<s him, $um !mphatic pronouns in the third person singular and plural possess a contracted negati e form
F+ll ' !&

Si 2e2e Si wa
C nt!a,te" ' !&

Si2e Si
T!an#lati n
;t<s not him L her ;t<s not them
B4 @NDI:O@ O @SI:O@ -
-he emphatics NDI:O and SI:O ha e gi en the words "yes" and "no". - U1+%ata 'e"ha 3a1 ? - N"i2 Bwana4 Sir. Fou ha en<t got your money (have you %) G 1 Fes,
;t should be noted that if someone answers N"i2 to a negati e &uestion, he L she implicitly agrees with what has been said. ;n the present case, the answer N"i2 Bwana means "what you say is true", i.e. 6 ";ndeed, ; didn<t get it". -hat would normally correspond to "#o, ; didn<t" in !nglish I >-8!D !:!$'(!S 6 - Nin+n+e &1ate ? 1 Should ; buy bread G - Nin+n+e &1ate ? 1 Should ; buy bread G - Ni#in+n+e &1ate ? 1 Shouldn<t ; buy bread G 1 Ni#in+n+e &1ate ? 1 Shouldn<t ; buy bread G G - N"i2 . n+n+a ! 1 Fes, buy some I - Si2 . +#in+n+e ! 1 #o, don<t I - N"i2 . +#in+n+e ! 1 Fes ("o), don<t I - Si2 . n+n+a ! 1 #o (6es) buy some I
VOCABULARY
K+-,hin0a K+-1ataa K+-1+/ali K+-nawa K+-%+&3i1a K+-#ai"ia to kill, to sacrifice to refuse to agree to wash one<s hands to rest to help K+-ta'+na K+-+a K+-+&a K+-win"a K+-3i&a K+-3+n(+&3a to chew to kill to hurt to hunt to e,tinguish to speak
EXERCISES
1. -his pupil is ery la%y. ?. 5ut this one is ery cle er.
@. 4. 5. K. 7. N. =. 10. 11. 1?.
-hese people are indeed robbers. -his wine is indeed ery good. +e do come at nine o<clock. -his piece of luggage is indeed mine. ;t ;S the bus to $ombasa. ;t<s the ery thing ; was looking for. -his is not the thief. ;t<s not what ; said. +ho goes to the post1office today G 1 -hat<s me. -ell me who broke that window G 1 -hat<s him.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4
Nin+n+e n2a&a ? - N"i2 . n+n+a 1il & 0a4 Hii n"i2 n2a&a 2a &/+3i4 Si2 n2a&a 2a n(+!+we4 H+1+%ata &#haha!a wa1 ? - n"i2 /wana4 Nani ana,hin0a &/+3i ? - N"i2e M+#a4 Nani alii/a &1 /a wan(+ ? - Si &i&i4 Ga!i hili n"il (a!i lan(+4 M,h+3i h++ n"i &ta&+ #ana4 H+2+ n"i2e &t+ ali2eni#ai"ia4 Wana'+n3i hawa #i wa0in(a4 Kita/+ hi1i #i,h nita1a,h 4
)<4 Mi&i n"i2e &wana . /a/a4 H+2+ #i2e4
Cha%te! <F - *!e% #iti n# an" C n0+n,ti n#

D!$;#H!D 6 " preposition is a word that enables to locate something in space or time. ;n this chapter we are going to re iew the prepositions of time. -he prepositions of place ha e already been studied in a pre ious chapter. 0See 6 /hapter ?K 1 'lace.3 " con7unction is a word that binds ? groups of words, or ? clauses. *or e,ample 6 John and Jane R ; drink because ; am thirsty R ; think that you are nice.
)4 *RE*OSITIONS
1. BAADA :A
after 8e returned home after finishing work.
Ali!+"i n2+&/ani /aa"a 2a 1+&ali3a 1a3i4 ?. HATA E till, until
Ata1aa ha%a hata 1e#h 4 @. KABLA =:A> E before
8e will remain here till tomorrow.
Ka/la h+0a n" 1a. '+n(a &lan( 4 4. KISHA E then , and then
/lose the door before lea ing.
Nen"a &a!1iti. n+n+a &/ (a. 1i#ha !+"i ha%a4 egetables, then come back here. 5. M*AKA E till, until
9o to the market, buy
Ali'an2a 1a3i &%a1a #aa & 0a 2a +#i1+4 K. TANGU ? TOKA E from, since
8e worked until se en in the e ening.
Ata1aa h teli t 1a le &%a1a 1e#h 1+twa4 the day after tomorrow.
8e will stay at the hotel from today till
<4 CON8UNCTIONS
1. AMA
or, nor Fes or no G. either ... or !ither it<s you, or it<s your brother.
N"i$2 a&a #i$2 ? ?. AMA 444 AMA E
A&a ni wewe. a&a ni n"+(+ 2a1 4 @. AU E or
Lete &1ate &we+#i a+ &we+%e4 4. BADALA :A E instead of
5ring brown bread or white bread.
Ali1wen"a A!+#ha /a"ala 2a 1wen"a Da! e# Salaa&4 of going to Har es Salaam. 5. BALI E but rather, on the contrary
8e went to "rusha instead
K+#e&a 1i#wahili #i $i(+&+. /ali ni !ahi#i 1a/i#a4 difficult, on the contrary it<s ery easy. K. BASI E then, well, so, that<s all
Speaking Swahili is not
Nilita1a #ana 1+ na wan2a&a. /a#i nili'i1a ha%a4 so ; came here. Ba#i ? - N"i2 4 ;s that all G 1 Fes.
; really wanted to see animals,
7. BILA
without -he child arri ed without his books. 8e went to -an%ania without seeing
Mt t ali'i1a /ila $ita/+ $2a1e4
Ali1wen"a Tan3ania /ila 1+ na 9an3i/a!4 )an%ibar. N. I8A*O E e en if
I0a% nita1+'a. #ita1+/ali4 =. ILA E e,cept
! en if ; die, ; won<t agree.
Wana'+n3i hawa ni h "a!i. ila ni h+2+4 one. Wat+ w te wa&e'i1a ila &wali&+ t+4 10. ILI ? ILI KWAMBA E
-hese pupils are hard working, e,cept this
! erybody arri ed, e,cept the teacher.
so as, so that, in order to
Na1wen"a /an"a!i ili nin+n+e #a&a1i4 ; go to the harbour so as to buy fish. 11. INGAWA E although, e en though wa1e &( n0wa4 She has come for work, e en
A&e'i1a 1a3ini in(awa &t t though her child is sick. 1?. 8UU :A HA:O E moreo er
Cha1+la ni ha/a. 0++ 2a ha2 e,pensi e. 1@. KAMA E if, around, like
ni (hali &n 4
*ood is scarce, moreo er it is too
Ka&a ata1+0a. nitan( 0a4
;f he must come, ;<ll wait. ; need a trunk like this one. 8ow long will you stay G 1
Ninahita0i #an"+1+ 1a&a hili4
Uta1aa 1wa &+"a (ani ha%a ? - Ka&a &ie3i &itat+4 "round three months. Ali#e&a 1a&a n"i$2 hi$2 4 8e said it was like that. E as if
14. KAMA KWAMBA ? KANA KWAMBA
Ali,he3a %a& 0a na #i&/a 1ana 1wa&/a ni wana&/+3i4 as if they were kids. 15. KISHA E moreo er
8e played with the lions
Mwana'+n3i h+2+ ha# &i #h+leni. 1i#ha ha0+i 1+an"i1a4 -his pupil does not work at school, moreo er he cannot write. 1K. KUSUDI E to, in order to
A&e0en(a n2+&/a 1+/wa 1+#+"i 1+'an2a h teli4 8e has built a big house to
make a hotel. 17. KWA E for, to, by, with 8e works for $r $an7i.
Ana'an2a 1a3i 1wa Bwana Man0i4 Kata nana#i 1wa 1i#+ !
/ut the pineapple with a knife. +e came here by foot. ; will eat rice with sauce.
T+li1+0a ha%a 1wa &i(++4 Nita1+la wali 1wa &,h+3i4 1N. KWA A8ILI :A E
because of 5ecause of the rain, we didn<t come. E so, because of that, in conse&uence
Kwa a0ili 2a 1+n2e#ha &$+a. hat+1+0a4 1=. KWA HI:O ? KWA HI;:O ? KWA ;ILE Si1+%ata ha/a!i. 1wa hi2 #i1+0a4 ?0. KWA KUWA E because
; didn<t get the news, so ; didn<t come.
Hat+1+0a 1wa 1+wa ilin2e#ha &$+a4 ?1. KWA MAANA :A E because of
+e didn<t come because it rained.
Hat+1+0a 1wa &aana 2a &$+a4 ??. KWA SABABU =:A> ? KWANI
+e didn<t come because of the rain. E because +e
T+li1+0a Tan3ania 1wa #a/a/+ t+lita1a 1+%an"a &li&a wa Kili&an0a! 4 came to -an%ania because we wanted to climb $ount .iliman7aro. An(alia $i3+!i 1a/la 2a 1+%ita &t 1wani 1+na $i/ 1 before crossing the ri er because there are many hippos. ?@. KWAMBA ? KUWA E that wen(i4
+atch carefully
M%i#hi ana#e&a 1wa&/a /a/a 2a1e a&e1+'a4 died. Nina na 1wa&/a &n2a&a h+2+ ni &1ali4 Ba!+a 2a1e 2a#e&a 1+wa ni &( n0wa4 ?4. LAKINI ? WALAKINI E but, howe er
-he cook says his L her father has
; see that this animal is sa age.
8is L her letter says that he L she is sick.
Nina# &a 1i#wahili. la1ini #ielewi 1it+4 anything. ?5. NA E and, with
; learn Swahili, but ; don<t understand
Lete 1+1+ na wali na &/ (a &/ali &/ali4 egetables.
5ring chicken and rice and different
?K. *AMO8A =NA>
with, together with wa1e4 $y friend has arri ed with his L
Ra'i1i 2an(+ a&e1+0a %a& 0a na wat t her children.
?7. *AMO8A NA HA:O ? 8UU :A HA:O ? 9AIDI :A HA:O Hana ti1eti 2a1e. 3ai"i 2a ha2 besides he L she has no money. ?N. TENA =NA> E hana 'e"ha4
moreo er, besides
8e L she hasn<t got his L her ticket,
again, moreo er ; don<t know this child, moreo er ; ha e ne er
Si0+i &t t h+2+. tena #i0a&w na4 seen him. ?=. WALA E either, neither
Ha1+na &,hele wala =ha1+na> +n(a4 @0. WALA 444 WALA E neither ... nor
-here is no rice and no flour either.
Si1+wa na. wala 2e2e wala n"+(+ 3a1e4 brothers. @1. :AANI E i.e., that is to say
; didn<t see them, neither him nor his
Hili n"il nen la 1i(eni. 2aani 1iin(e!e3a4 !nglish.
-his is indeed a foreign word, that is,
VOCABULARY
A"+i. &aBa1+li Bina&+ B+n"+1i K 'ia N" an enemy a essel a cousin a gun, a rifle a hat a pail, a bucket Malai1a *an(a. &a*e% Raia Taa :a2a an angel a machete a spirit a citi%en a lamp a nanny
EXERCISES
1. ?. @. 4. 5.
-hese people ha e neither cows nor goats. 8e came yesterday, but he has already left. -he child is crying because he is lost. ! en though the food is good, the child did not eat it. 8e hurries in order to arri e first.
K. 7. N. =. 10.
; ha e no money, so ; can<t buy anything. 8e says he is coming back tomorrow. Hon<t you know that your grandfather is in hospital G Fou work like an ass. +e arri ed at the school by foot.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
Nen hili #i 1weli. /ali ni + n( 1a/i#a4 Analia 1wa #a/a/+ &a&a 2a1e &( n0wa4 Ninahita0i $iat+ $i%2a la1ini #ina 'e"ha4 Mwali&+ ana#e&a 1wa&/a ata,helewa 1i" ( 4 Nina1+0a &a!1iti &a%e&a ili ni%ate n2a&a4 Lete 1ahawa a+ ,hai4 Nina1+la ,ha1+la 1a/la 2a 1wen"a 1a3ini4 Ana%+&3i1a /aa"a 2a 1+!+"i n2+&/ani4 Wat t wa&e1+la wali 1wa &,h+3i4
)H4 T+na1wen"a I!in(a 1wa /a#i4
Cha%te! <G - * ##e##i n

)4 THE CONNECTI;E *ARTICLE @-A@ -
-he !nglish possessi e case "<s", which is often e&ui alent to "of" when it marks possession, is translated in Swahili by a particle whose root is -A. -he connecti e particle -A agrees in class with the noun of the thing 0or person3 possessed.
Cla##
/l 1 /l ? /l @ /l 4 /l 5 /l K /l 7 /l N /l = /l 10 /l 11L14
C nne,ti$e
WA WA WA :A LA :A CHA ;:A :A 9A WA
EIa&%le
Mwana wa /a/a4 Wana wa /a/a4 Mti wa /a/a4 Miti 2a /a/a4 Ga!i la /a/a4 Ma(a!i 2a /a/a4 Kiti ,ha /a/a4 ;iti $2a /a/a4 N(+ 2a /a/a4 N(+ 3a /a/a4 U# wa /a/a4
T!an#lati n
*ather<s child. *ather<s children. *ather<s tree. *ather<s trees. *ather<s car. *ather<s cars. *ather<s chair. *ather<s chairs. *ather<s garment. *ather<s clothes. *ather<s face.
+>DH >DH!D "#H !:"$'(!S 6 -he word order in the Swahili sentence is the same as in !nglish, when possession is con eyed by "of". -he only difference is that the ad7ecti e must follow the noun it &ualifies.
Mt t &" ( wa &a&a4 Mi1 n &i1+/wa 2a &t t &" ( 4 ;iat+ $i,ha'+ $2a &t t 4 Ga!i 0i%2a la /a/a4
-he small child of $other. -he large hands of the small child. -he dirty shoes of the child. -he new car of *ather.
<4 *OSSESSI;E AD8ECTI;ES AND *RONOUNS -
'ossessi e ad7ecti es and pronouns agree in class with the noun of the possessed ob7ect L person. -he class prefi,es, identical to those of the connecti e particle, are affi,ed to the following possessi e markers 6
-ANGU -AKO -AKE -ETU -ENU -AO #>-! 6
my mine your yours his, her his, hers our ours your yours their theirs +hen the possessor is not a human being but a thing, we use the marker -AKE, both in singular and plural 6 N2+&/a na &lan( wa1e -he house and its door Ga!i na &ilan( 2a1e -he car and its doors Mti na &at+n"a 2a1e -he tree and its fruit Miti na &at+n"a 2a1e -he trees and their fruit 1C 0ITH NOUNS OA THE -./0A. !ENDER >Cla""e" 1 / ?&
Mwana wan(+ Mwana wa1 Mwana wa1e Mwana wet+ Mwana wen+ Mwana wa
my child your child his L her child our child your child their child
Wana wan(+ Wana wa1 Wana wa1e Wana wet+ Wana wen+ Wana wa
my children your children his L her children our children your children their children
C 0ITH NOUNS OA THE -./-I. !ENDER >Cla""e" # / )? &
Mti wan(+ Mti wa1 Mti wa1e Mti wet+ Mti wen+ Mti wa
my tree your tree his L her tree our tree your tree 0plur3 their tree
Miti 2an(+ Miti 2a1 Miti 2a1e Miti 2et+ Miti 2en+ Miti 2a
my trees your trees his L her trees our trees your trees 0plur3 their trees
#C 0ITH NOUNS OA THE 5I./-A. !ENDER >Cla""e" + / ,? &
Ga!i lan(+ Ga!i la1 Ga!i la1e Ga!i let+ Ga!i len+ Ga!i la
my car your car his L her car our car your car 0plur3 their car
Ma(a!i 2an(+ Ma(a!i 2a1 Ma(a!i 2a1e Ma(a!i 2et+ Ma(a!i 2en+ Ma(a!i 2a
my cars you cars his L her cars our cars your cars 0plur3 their cars
)C 0ITH NOUNS OA THE 6I./$I. !ENDER >Cla""e" 1 / 3? &
Kiti ,han(+ Kiti ,ha1 Kiti ,ha1e Kiti ,het+ Kiti ,hen+ Kiti ,ha
my chair your chair his L her chair our chair your chair 0plur3 their chair
;iti $2an(+ ;iti $2a1 ;iti $2a1e ;iti $2et+ ;iti $2en+ ;iti $2a
my chairs your chairs his L her chairs our chairs your chairs 0plur3 their chairs
+C 0ITH NOUNS OA THE N. !ENDER >Cla""e" 4 / 10? &
N(+ N(+ N(+ N(+ N(+ N(+
2an(+ 2a1 2a1e 2et+ 2en+ 2a
my garment your garment his L her garment our garment your garment 0plur3 their garment
N(+ N(+ N(+ N(+ N(+ N(+
3an(+ 3a1 3a1e 3et+ 3en+ 3a
my clothes your clothes his L her clothes our clothes your clothes 0plur3 their clothes
,C 0ITH NOUNS OA THE U. !ENDER >Cla""e" 119 1) / 10? &
U# U# U# U# U# U#
wan(+ wa1 wa1e wet+ wen+ wa
my face your face his L her face our face your face their face
N2+# N2+# N2+# N2+# N2+# N2+#
3an(+ 3a1 3a1e 3et+ 3en+ 3a
my faces your faces his L her faces our faces your faces their faces
A4 CONTRACTED FORMS - *ERSON J *OSSESSI;E AD84 -
Ba/a 2an(+ Ba/a 2a1 Ba/a 2a1e Ma&a 2an(+ Ma&a 2a1 Ma&a 2a1e M1e wa1 M1e wa1e M+&e wa1 M+&e wa1e Mwana wan(+ Mwana wa1 Mwana wa1e Mwen3i wan(+ Mwen3i wa1 Mwen3i wa1e Mwen3i wet+ Mwen3i wen+ Mwen3i wa (ikewise in plural 6
-K Ba/an(+ -K Ba/a1 -K Ba/a1e -K Ma&an(+ -K Ma&a1 -K Ma&a1e -K M1e -K M1ewe -K M+&e -K M+&ewe -K Mwanan(+ -K Mwana -K Mwanawe -K Mwen3an(+ -K Mwen3a1 ? -3i -K Mwen3a1e ? -3ie -K Mwen3et+ -K Mwen3en+ -K Mwen3a -K Wen3an(+ -K Wen3a1 ? -3i -K Wen3a1e ? -3ie -K Wen3et+ -K Wen3en+ -K Wen3a -K N"+(+2 -K N"+(+2e -K N"+(+3 -K N"+(+3e
E my father E your father E his L her father E my mother E your mother E his L her mother E your wife E his wife E your husband E her husband E my child E your child E his L her child E my comrade E your comrade E his L her comrade E our comrade E your comrade 0plur3 E their comrade E my comrades E your comrades E his L her comrades E our comrades E your comrades 0plur3 E their comrades E your friend E his L her friend E your friends E their friends
N"+(+ 2a1 N"+(+ 2a1e N"+(+ 3a1 N"+(+ 3a1e
B4 TWO *ARTICULAR *OSSESSI;E AD8ECTI;ES ? *RONOUNS -
1. -he connecti e particle 9A- linked to possessi e markers con eys the meaning "away" and produces the following series of possessi e pronouns 6
Nina1wen"a 9ANGU Una1wen"a 9AKO Ana1wen"a 9AKE T+na1wen"a 9ETU Mna1wen"a 9ENU Wana1wen"a 9AO
; go away Fou go away 8e L she goes away +e go away Fou go away 0plur3 -hey go away
?. -he locati e particles *A-, KU-, MU- linked to possessi e markers con ey the meaning "at home" and produce the following series of possessi e ad7ecti es L pronouns 6
*ANGU *AKO *AKE *ETU *ENU *AO #>-! 1 6
KWANGU MWANGU at my home KWAKO MWAKO at your home KWAKE MWAKE at his L her home KWETU MWETU at our home KWENU MWENU at your home 0plur3 KWAO MWAO at their home -hese are the possessi es we use after nouns suffi,ed in -NI 0E at, in, on, by3 which, in a way, ha e left their nati e noun class to 7oin the locati e classes 6 N2+&/ani 1wet+ at our home N2+&/ani 1wen+ at your home 0plur3 N2+&/ani 1wa at their home
N2+&/ani at my home 1wan(+ N2+&/ani 1wa1 at your home N2+&/ani 1wa1e at his L her home !:"$'(!S 6
Bwana ha2+& ,h+&/ani &wa1e -he master is not in his room Ana!+"i 1i#iwani 1wa1e 1ati1a 3iwa 8e goes back to his island on the lac Wa& n2+&/ani &wa -hey are in their house Kwen+ 1+ wa%i ? +here is your place G Wa&e1wen"a 3a -hey ha e gone away Kwet+ ha1+na &ahin"i &en(i "t our place there is not much corn M1 /a h++ ni wa nani ? - Ni wa 1wan(+ +hose bag is it G 1 ;t<s (of) mine #>-! ? 6 -he plural KWAO 0E their3 is most often used for a collecti e place 0like a house, an office, etc.3, e en when the possessor is singular 6 !:"$'(!S 6 Mt t ha2+1 #1+li. a&e1wen"a 1wa Ma#1ini hana 1wa N( 0a ni+li3e 'i#ini 1wa -he child is not at school, he has gone back home (to their place) -he poor man has no home (at their&s) +ait that ; ask at his office (at their office)
EXERCISES
a. *ather<s child, $other<s children, my mother<s bag, my parents< house, the child<s ball, the children<s plates, my sister<s ustensils, my brother<s garment, the pupils< food, his father<s car, my mother<s drugs, my comrade<s face, my comrades< faces, a illage of fishermen, a charcoal bag, a 4 gallon can of onions, a kilo of meat, the way to the house, the well of the illage, Swahili lessons. b. $y child, my children, my car, my house, my work, your illage, your uncle, your friends, your father, your bag, your dog, her husband, his wife, her comrades, his shop, his money, our comrades, our house, our school, our city, our ministers, your country 0plur3, your car 0plur3, your children 0plur3, your songs 0plur3, your pupils 0plur3, their clothes, their house, their faces, their comrades. c. $ine 0bag3, mine 0mother3, yours 0ball3, mine 0pupils3, his 0field3, yours 0chickens3, ours 0car3, hers 0sheets3, ours 0clothes3, yours 0 illage3, yours 0plur3 0cows3, theirs 0hospital3, theirs 0crops3, his 0blanket3, hers 0cups3.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
Nina1wen"a 3an(+4 Ma&a ha2+& 0i1 ni &wa1e4 Kwen+ 1+ wa%i ? Mt t ha2+1 #1+li. a&e!+"i 1wa 4 Mt+ h+2 &1 ! 'i a&e,h+1+a &1 /a wan(+4 Kwet+ 1+na &ahin"i &en(i4 M1 /a h+ wa nani ? - Ni wa 1wan(+4 Twen"e 3et+ ha!a1a ! H+2 &a#1ini hana 1wa 4
)H4 U1 %e1e 2a1 ? - N"i2 . wen3an(+ wa&e1wen"a 3a 4
Cha%te! AH - O/0e,t In'iIe#

-here is no autonomous pronoun ob7ect or pronoun attribute in Swahili. -he same way as the pronoun sub7ect is integrated into the erbal construction as a sub7ect prefi,, the pronoun ob7ect or pronoun attribute is inserted into the erb as an ob7ect infi,. ;t is located right before the erbal root. *irst, here are a few e,amples, to help understand better this phenomenon 6
)4 U-NA-NI-ONA <4 NA-KU-AMBIA A4 A-NA-M-*IGA
-K Unani na -K Na1+a&/ia -K Ana&%i(a
E you see me. E ; tell you. E he L she hits him L her.
'ronoun ob7ect 'ronoun attribute 'ronoun ob7ect
'ronoun ob7ect infi,es e,ist for all nominal classes, with a special series of infi,es for the M?WA- gender. -hey ser e indifferently as pronoun ob7ect or pronoun attribute.
)4 ANIMATE AND INANIMATE *RONOUN OB8ECT INFI6ES GENDER ? Cla##e#

1 ? M-?WA- 0/l 1 L ?3 @ M-?MI- 0/l @ L 43 8I-?MA- 0/l 5 L K3 KI-?;I- 0/l 7 L N3 N- 0/l = L 103 U- 0/l 11, 14 L 103
SINGULAR
-NI-KU-M- ? -MW-U-LI-KI-I-U-
E7+i$alent
me you him, her it it it it it
*LURAL
-TU-WA- 444 =-NI> -WA-I-:A-;I-9I-9I-
E7+i$alent
us you them them them them them them
Fou may notice the risk of confusion between the ob7ect infi, of the ?nd person plural and that of the @rd person plural which are both -WA-. -hus 6 Nawaa&/ia can mean 6 "; tell you" or "; tell them". -o a oid this risk of confusion, we usually add the plural termination -NI at the end of the erb when dealing with the ob7ect infi, of the ?nd person plural. -he termination -A of 5antu erbs changes into -E. "nother possibility is to use the ob7ect infi, of the ? nd person singular, together with the plural termination -NI. !:"$'(!S 6 Nawaa&/ia E ; tell you Nawaa&/ieni Na1+a&/ieni Nawa &/a E ; ask you Nawa &/eni Na1+ &/eni Nawaa&/ia Nawa &/a E ; tell them E ; ask them
<4 USE OF THE OB8ECT INFI6 -
-he ob7ect infi, replaces or reinforces, either a noun ob7ect or a noun attribute. Just as the sub7ect prefi, is present in the sentence together with the noun sub7ect, the ob7ect infi, keeps inserted in the erbal construction, e en when the noun ob7ect or attribute is present in the sentence. ;t then reinforces that one. !:"$'(!S 6 Mwite ! Mwite "a1ta!i ! Ni%e 1il &/ili 3a $it+n(++ ! Mwanan(+ 2+1 wa%i ? - Si1+&w na 8e. +&e# &a 1ita/+ hi1i ? - Nili1i# &a 8e. +&eleta &i3i( 2an(+ ? - N"i2 . Ni&eiwe1a ,h+&/ani &wa1 /all him L her I /all (him 7 her) the doctor I 9i e me two kilos of onions I +here is my child G 1 ; didn<t see him L her ; say, ha e you read that book G 1 ; ha e read it ; say, ha e you brought my luggage G 1 Fes, ; put it in your bedroom
A4 NOTES -
1. ;n the ;$'!D"-;A!, the presence of an ob7ect infi, in ol es a modification of the final owel -A into -E. -hus 6 ?. N+n+a ! E buy I -K Nin+n+e ! E buy (for) me I Sai"ia ! E help I -K Wa#ai"ie ! E help them I An(alia ! E look I -K 9in(alie ! E look at them I 8owe er, erbs of "rabic origin do not change their final owel, hence a slight risk of confusion 6
3.
-K T+/a!i1i ! E bless us I 0#ot 6 let<s bless I3 -K Wa/a!i1i ! E bless them I 0#ot 6 (et them bless I3 4. Swahili accepts >#(F >#! ob7ect infi, in the erbal construction. -hus 6 Ba!i1i ! E bless I
Una,h 1ita/+ ,han(+ ? N"i2 . Nita1+!+"i#ha 8a e you got my book G 1 yes, ; will gi e (it) back to you tomorrow.
1e#h 4
;n this e,ample, the pronoun attribute -KU- 0E you3 holds the slot of the ob7ect infi,, the pronoun ob7ect corresponding to "it" 0E the book3 is implicit. -he attribute has always precedence o er the ob7ect for insertion inside the erbal construction.
#>+, (!"D# -8! #"-;>#"( "#-8!$ >* -"#)"#;" 6
Mungu ibariki Afrika wabariki viongozi wake Hekima, umoja na amani Hizi ni ngao zetu Afrika na watu wake
VOCABULARY
K+-a(i3a K+-a&/ia K+-elewa K+-ita K+-1ata3a K+-1+ta to order to tell to understand to call to refuse, to forbid to meet K+-%a K+-% 1ea K+-#ali&+ K+-#hi/a K+-#+1+&a K+-3+ia to gi e to recei e to greet to be statisfied L satiated to push to pre ent
EXERCISES
/all him I 8elp me I (ook at them 0the children3 I (ook at them 0things3 I 9i e me I -ell me I -ell us I ; saw you, 8e saw her, ; saw you 0plur3, they told us, he told me, ; told you, ; ga e it to you, he called me, ; called them 0the children3, ; read it 0the book3, 8a e you read it 0the book3 G Hid she take it 0the book3 G Hid she take them 0the books3 G
)4 Na1+a&/ia4 <4 Si1+elewi4
A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
Ki#+ ,han(+ 1i1 wa%i ? - Ni&e1iwe1a &e3ani4 Mi3i( 2an(+ 2a1 wa%i ? - :a1 n2+&/ani4 Ni&wite nani ? - Mwite Ali ! Bwana 2+% wa%i ? - Nili&1+tana 1a3ini4 Ni#ai"ie na &i3i( 2an(+ ! Se&a % le% le 1wa #a/a/+ Si1+elewi ! Mt t &" ( ana&w ( %a 1a1a 2a1e4
)H4 U#ini%e &1ate wa 0ana4 Ni%e wa le !
Cha%te! A) - The S+''iI @-O@ ' Re'e!en,e

-he "-O" of reference is used in many different ways, the common denominator point between all these uses being that it always refers to a noun implicitly present in the speech. ;t helps to form the demonstrati e of reference. 0See 6 /hapter 15.3 ;t helps to form the emphatics of NDI:O and SI:O type. 0See 6 /hapter ?7.3 ;t can be affi,ed to the associati e particle NA 0E and, with3. ;t plays the role of pronoun ob7ect with the erb KUWA NA. ;t can be affi,ed to the ad7ecti e -INGINE 0E other3. ;t constitutes the first element in the e,pression -O -OTE. ;t helps to form locati e prepositions and clauses. 0See 6 /hapter 45.3 "-O" affi,ed to a erb corresponds to a relati e pronoun. 0See 6 /hapter 5?.3
-he suffi, "-O" of reference agrees in class with the noun it refers to, using the series of pronominal prefi,es. >ne e,ception 6 the suffi, of reference for class 1 E -:E.
GENDER ? Cla##e#
M-?WA- 0/l 1L?3 M-?MI- 0/l @L43 8I-?MA- 0/l 5LK3 KI-?;I- 0/l 7LN3 N- 0/l =L103 U- 0/l 11, 14 L103 KU- 0/l 153 L ,ati$e Cla##e# 4P> (;P>
SINGULAR
-:E -=W>O -LO -CHO -:O -=W>O -KO -*O -KO -MO +"P> ;P> F"P> A;P> );P> );P>
*LURAL
-=W>O -:O -:O -;:O -9O -9O
.;P> ;P> 4P> .4P> '"P> .4P> $043P>
)4 The @-O@ ' !e'e!en,e a''iIe" t @NA@ -
-he "-O" of reference clings to the particle NA, respecting noun class agreements.
!:"$'(!S 6 Wa3a3i wan(+ wana1aa &0ini4 Nina1aa 1a!i/+ na 4 U1 &%i!a &%2a4 Wat t wana,he3a na 4 Hi2 1a3i n3+!i4 Uen"elee na2 4 $y parents li e downtown. ; li e close to them. 8ere is a new ball. -he children are playing with it. -his is good work. /arry on with it.
<4 The @-O@ ' !e'e!en,e a# %! n +n /0e,t -
-he erb KUWA NA 0E to ha e3, does not accomodate the usual pronoun ob7ect infi,. ;n this particular instance, it<s the suffi, "-O" of reference that plays the role of pronoun ob7ect. Fet, it can only be used in the affirmati e. !:"$'(!S 6 Una 1ita/+ ? - Nina,h ? Sina4 *+n"a ana2e Ali ? - Ana2e ? Hana4 Ha&i#i ana$2 $ita/+ $2an(+4 ;ita/+ $2an(+ ana$2 Ha&i#i4 8a e you got your book G 1 ; ha e it L ; don<t ha e it. 8as "li got a donkey G 1 8e has got one L 8e hasn<t any. 8amisi has got my books.
A4 The @-O@ ' !e'e!en,e a''iIe" t @-INGINE@ -
-he ad7ecti e -INGINE 0E other3 followed by the suffi, @-O@ takes the particular meaning of "as", "like". !:!$'(!S 6 Wat+ wen(ine 4 Ma&/ &en(ine2 4 ;2 &/ $in(ine$2 4 Mahali %en(ine% 4 >ther people like them. >ther similar matters. >ther tools like those. >ther similar places.
B4 The @-O@ ' !e'e!en,e in the ,la+#e @-O -OTE@ -
-his clause means "+hoe er L whate er L where er L any L anybody L anything L ...". !:"$'(!S 6 Kia#i ,h ,h te4 K 1 te +en"a1 4 Kwa $2 $2 te4 Uli3a &t+ 2e 2 te4 Siwe3i 1+1+%a =1it+> ,h ,h te4 "ny &uantity. +here er you go. ;n any case. "sk anybody. ; can<t gi e you anything.
VOCABULARY
aina a1i/a ala&a a&!i anwani a#ili a species a reser e, an economy a sign, a mark an order, a command an address the origin /aha#ha /en"e!a /ila+!i /i!i1a /+#tani ,ha%a an en elope a flag a glass a tea pot a garden a brand 0commercial3
EXERCISES
1. ?. @. 4. 5. K. 7. N. =. 10. 11. 1?. 1@. 14. 15.
; go with him. ; go with them. -he children are playing with her 0the cat3. the day laborers are lea ing with it 0the car3. -he tra ellers arri e with it 0the luggage3. ; li e close to them. 8a e you got a glass G 1 ; ha e one. 8a e you got a tea pot G 1 ; don<t. 8a e your parents got a garden G 1 -hey ha e one. 8as the hunter got a gun G 1 8e doesn<t. (et<s e,amine similar matters. -hey li e with other people like them. -ake any glass. "sk your way to anybody. 9i e him anything.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4 )<4 )A4 )B4
Kita/+ hi1i n"i,h ni1ita1a,h 4 Kati1a /+#tani 2et+ &na &i,h+n(wa na &iti &en(ine2 4 Wali1+0a a#1a!i na wat+ wen(ine 4 N+n+a ,ha%a 2e 2 te 2a &a'+ta4 U#i&%e 1itan"a &( n0wa 2e 2 te4 Mt t 2e 2 te anawe3a 1wen"a #h+leni4 Una #+1a!i ? - Nina2 4 M( n0wa ana "awa ? - Hana4 S 1 ni 1+na wat+ ? - Ha1+na4 Una3 ha/a!i 3a &wen3et+ 1i0i0ini ? H+& n2+&/ani. 1it+ ,h ,h te ni ,ha1e &wen2ewe4 Wana'+n3i wana 1ala&+ ? - Wana3 4 N2+&/a 2a1 ni i%i ? - Ni hii. na2 %ia ni &/ $+4 Nata1a 1+0en(a n2in(ine. la1ini ha%ana &at 'ali 2 2 te4
)C4 Ninawe3a 1+'an2a 1a3i 2a #e!e&ala na 1a3i n2in(ine3 4
Cha%te! A< - Si&%le *a#t Ten#e

-he Simple 'ast in Swahili marks a clear rupture between the present moment and the past. (ike in !nglish, it is often accompanied by precise marks of time such as 6 date, day, month, year, dated e ent, etc.. -his tense is naturally translated by the Simple 'ast in !nglish.
)4 SIM*LE *AST - AFFIRMATI;E FORM -
-he tense marker of the Simple 'ast affirmati e is the infi, -LI- which is placed between the affirmati e sub7ect prefi, and the erbal root.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < =I < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 6
KUFAN:A E to make, to do
NI-LI-FAN:A U-LI-FAN:A A-LI-FAN:A TU-LI-FAN:A M-LI-FAN:A WA-LI-FAN:A
-K nili'an2a -K +li'an2a -K ali'an2a -K t+li'an2a -K &li'an2a -K wali'an2a
; made you made he L she made we made you made they made
/"S! >* -8! $>#>SF(("5;/ A!D5S 6 $onosyllabic erbs retain the KU of the infiniti e in the Simple 'ast affirmati e. $>H!( 6 KULA E to eat
NI-LI-KULA U-LI-KULA A-LI-KULA TU-LI-KULA M-LI-KULA WA-LI-KULA
-K nili1+la -K +li1+la -K ali1+la -K t+li1+la -K &li1+la -K wali1+la
; ate you ate he L she ate we ate you ate they ate
<4 THE SIM*LE *AST - NEGATI;E FORM -
-he tense marker of the Simple 'ast negati e is the infi, -KU- which is placed between the negati e sub7ect prefi, and the erbal root.
NE!ATI$E SU@5ECT PREAIB < 6U < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 6
SI-KU-FAN:A HU-KU-FAN:A HA-KU-FAN:A HATU-KU-FAN:A HAM-KU-FAN:A HAWA-KU-FAN:A
-K #i1+'an2a -K h+1+'an2a -K ha1+'an2a -K hat+1+'an2a -K ha&1+'an2a -K hawa1+'an2a
; didn<t make you didn<t make he L she didn<t make we didn<t make you didn<t make they didn<t make
/"S! >* -8! $>#>SF(("5;/ A!D5S 6 $onosyllabic erbs drop the KU of the infiniti e in the Simple 'ast negati e. $>H!( 6 KULA E to eat
SI-KU-LA HU-KU-LA HA-KU-LA HATU-KU-LA HAM-KU-LA HAWA-KU-LA
-K #i1+la -K h+1+la -K ha1+la -K hat+1+la -K ha&1+la -K hawa1+la
; didn<t eat you didn<t eat he L she didn<t eat we didn<t eat you didn<t eat they didn<t eat
A4 SOME E6AM*LES Uli1+wa wa%i ? Nili1+wa li1i3 4 Wali1wen"a M &/a#a &wa1a 0ana4 M1+li&a alili&a #ha&/a la1e &we3i +li %ita4 M%i#hi ha1+%ata &#haha!a wa1e4 Si1+'a+l+ &tihani wan(+4 Mt t &( n0wa ha1+we3a 1+la4 +here were you G ; was on holiday. -hey went to $ombasa last year. -he farmer culti ated his field last month. -he cook didn<t get his wages. ; didn<t pass my e,amination. -he sick child couldn<t eat.
VOCABULARY
K+-,h+&a K+-'2e1a K+-in+a K+-0a3a K+-1a+1a K+-n(5 a to pick to cut grass to raise, to lift to fill to dry to uproot K+- n(e3a K+-%an(a K+-% a K+-#itawi K+-te&/ea K+-t+n3a to increase to plan to cool to thri e, to de elop to walk, to go for a walk to care
EXERCISES
a. ; made, ; wrote, ; started, ; hunted, ; got accustomed, you planned, you wiped, you rested, he killed, he left, she arri ed, she took, he refused, we raised, we helped them, we spoke, we sacrificed, you looked at, you filled, you cut the grass, you went for a walk, they culti ated, they hunted, they finished, they ate. b. 8e didn<t make, you didn<t make, he didn<t eat, she did not lea e, we didn<t understand, we didn<t ask, ; didn<t read, ; didn<t agree, ; didn<t rest, you couldn<t, you didn<t listen 0plur3, they didn<t play, they didn<t start, you didn<t help 0plur3, they didn<t come, you didn<t wash your face, they didn<t agree, they didn<t speak, it was not sufficient, it did not hurt. E6ERCISE < - -ranslate into !nglish 6
a4 Nilia,ha. nilita'+ta. nili+a. alini+li3a. ali1ataa. alini na. +liniita. +li#hi1a. ali3 ea. t+li% 1ea. t+li,hin0a. t+li3+n(+&3a. walite&/ea. wali0i'i,ha. ali0i+&a4 /4 Si1+we3a. #i1+n+n+a. #i1+#i1ia. h+1+ni%a. h+1+#e&a. h+1+%ata. ha1+'i1a. ha1+nawa. hat+1+1+/ali. hat+1+%+&3i1a. hat+1+lala. ha&1+3 ea. hai1+t #ha. hawa1+0a3a. hawa1+'2e1a4
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
T+li1wen"a Mi1+&i wi1i ili2 %ita4 T+li na wan2a&a wen(i %ale4 La1ini hat+1+ na 1i'a!+ wala 1i/ 1 4 8e. +li%ata 1+ na 1i1+n"i ,ha #i&/a ? N"i2 . nili na #i&/a "+&e && 0a na #i&/a 0i1e wanne4 8e. &t t ali1+la ,ha1+la ,ha1e a#+/+hi ? La. ha1+la 1it+. ila ni &1ate &" ( t+4 U&e#ha1wen"a 1i#iwani &wa 9an3i/a! ? N"i2 . nili#a'i!i 1+le &wa1a 0ana4
)H4 Nilite&/ea #ehe&+ n2in(i &0ini. 1a&a &a!1iti na ' ! "hani4
Cha%te! AA - The S+/0+n,ti$e

4nlike in !nglish, the Sub7uncti e is ery widely used in Swahili, after words of obligation, ad ice, suggestion, prohibition, etc. or after a first erb e,pressing will or not, where !nglish commonly uses an infiniti e.
)4 AFFIRMATI;E FORM -
-here is no tense marker in the Sub7uncti e. -he sub7ect prefi, is directly followed by the erbal root. -he ending -A of erbs of 5antu origin changes into -E, while erbs of "rabic
origin ending in -I. -E. -U do not change. $onosyllabic erbs drop the KU- of the infiniti e.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < $ER@ RADICA= . E
$>H!( 1 0Aerbs of 5antu origin3 6
KUSOMA E to read, to study
NI-SOME U-SOME A-SOME TU-SOME M-SOME WA-SOME
-K ni# &e -K +# &e -K a# &e -K t+# &e -K &# &e -K wa# &e
that ; read that you read that he L she read that we read that you read that they read KU8ARIBU E to try
$>H!( ? 0Aerbs of "rabic origin3 6
NI-8ARIBU U-8ARIBU A-8ARIBU TU-8ARIBU M-8ARIBU WA-8ARIBU
-K ni0a!i/+ -K +0a!i/+ -K a0a!i/+ -K t+0a!i/+ -K &0a!i/+ -K wa0a!i/+
that ; try that you try that he L she try that we try that you try that they try KU8A E to come
$>H!( @ 0$onosyllabic erbs3 6
NI-8E U-8E A-8E TU-8E M-8E WA-8E
-K ni0e -K +0e -K a0e -K t+0e -K &0e -K wa0e
that ; come that you come that he L she come that we come that you come that they come
<4 NEGATI;E FORM -
-he negati e infi, SI is inserted between the sub7ect prefi, and the erbal root. -his negati e infi, replaces the negati e pre1prefi, commonly used in the negati e forms of other tenses.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < SI < $ER@ RADICA= . E
$>H!( 6
KUSOMA E to read, to study
NI-SI-SOME U-SI-SOME A-SI-SOME TU-SI-SOME M-SI-SOME WA-SI-SOME
-K ni#i# &e -K +#i# &e -K a#i# &e -K t+#i# &e -K &#i# &e -K wa#i# &e
that ; don<t read that you don<t read that he L she don<t read that we don<t read that you don<t read that they don<t read
"s in the affirmati e form, erbs of "rabic origin preser e their final owel 6 K+-'i1i!i -K NI-SI-FIKIRI K+-0i/+ -K WA-SI-8IBU K+-#a&ehe -K U-SI-SAMEHE drop the KU- of the infiniti e 6 Kw-en"a K+-0a K+-wa -K A-SI-ENDE -K WA-SI-8E -K U-SI-WE that ; don<t think that they don<t answer that you don<t forgi e
$onosyllabic
erbs
that he L she don<t go that they don<t come that you don<t be
A4 DIFFERENT USES OF THE SUB8UNCTI;E -
1. The Polite I*perati(e &
0See 6 /hapter 4 6 -he 'olite ;mperati e.3 !:"$'(!S 6 Ta'a"hali +ni#ai"ie ! M0a!i/+ 1+#e&a 1i#wahili ! 'lease, help me I -ry 0plur.3 to speak Swahili I
?. The I*perati(e o' the 1"t per"on plural &
0See 6 /hapter 4 6 -he ;mperati e of the 1st person plural.3 !:"$'(!S 6 Twen"e 1a3ini ! T+0en(e tai'a let+ ! T+#i'an2e '+0 ! (et<s go to work I (et<s build our nation I Hon<t let<s make disorder I
@. E:pre""ing a "ugge"tion9 a wi"h9 a reEue"t &
;t is used for all persons e,cept the ?nd person singular and plural. !:"$'(!S 6 T+0i'+n3e 1wa /i"ii4 Ma&/ ha2a 2ai#he ! (et<s learn with energy. (et these matters cease I
4. A"Fing 'or ad(ice or appro(al &
!:"$'(!S 6 Ni1+#ai"ie ? Aen"e wa%i ? Ni&wa&/ie nini ? 5.

nd
$ay ; help you G +here should he go G +hat shall ; tell him G
(er% in an i*perati(e "entence9 or in indirect "peech &
!:"$'(!S 6 N0 +le ! * 1ea /a!+a 2a1 +i# &e ! Mwa&/ie a0e 1e#h ! /ome and eat I Decei e your letter and read it I -ell him to come tomorrow I
K. A'ter e:pre""ion" o' o%ligation or nece""it8 &
!:'D!SS;>#S >* >5(;9"-;># 6 A'a"hali B !a He!i La3i&a !:"$'(!S 6 0you3 had better 0you3 had rather it<s preferable to 0you3 must Sha!ti :a'aa :a---/i"i :a---%a#a 0you3 must it<s appropriate to 0you3 must 0you3 ha e to
A'a"hali +t+#ai"ie ! B !a t+a&1e &a%e&a ! He!i waen"e n2+&/ani ! La3i&a +en"e h #%itali4 Sha!ti t+1a&ate &wi3i h++4 :a'aa +an3e 1wan3a4 :at+/i"i t+&0+li#he ha/a!i hi3i4 :awa%a#a wah+"h+!ie &1+tan 4 7. E:pre""ing purpo"e or intention &
'lease help us I +e had rather wake up early I -hey should go back home I Fou must go to hospital. +e ha e to catch this thief. ;t<s appropriate that you start first. +e must tell him this news. -hey ha e to attend the meeting.
Ili !:"$'(!S 6
so that
K+#+"i
in order to
Alini#ai"ia ili ni&ali3e 1a3i &a%e&a4 Twa'+(a 1+1+ ili t+%ate &a2ai4 Ali1a!i/ia 1+#+"i awe3e 1+ na $i3+!i4 N. Su%ordinate clau"e &
8e helped me so that ; finish work early. +e breed hens in order to get eggs. 8e came nearer to see better.
"fter the following erbs 6 K+-a&+!+ K+-a,ha K+-'an2a K+-1+/ali !:"$'(!S 6 to order to lea e, to allow to make to agree K+- &/a K+-%en"a K+-#ha+!i K+-ta1a to ask, to beg to like, to wish to ad ise to want
Aliwaa&+!+ wa&!+"i#hie &ali 2a1e4 U&wa,he aen"e 3a1e4 Walini'an2a ni1ate ta&aa4 Wali1+/ali t+'+n(e &a%e&a4 Na&w &/a a0e4 Wa%en"a twen"e wa%i ? Na1+#ha+!i +!+"i n2+&/ani4 Sita1i awe na &awa3 ha2a4 =. A'ter "o*e prepo"ition" &
8e ordered them to return him his property. (et him go away. -hey made me loose heart. -hey accepted that we close early. ; ask him to come. +here do you want us to go G ; ad ise you to go back home. ; don<t want him to ha e such ideas.
"fter the following prepositions 6 Ha"i Hata M%a1a !:"$'(!S 6 till, until till, until till, until Tan(+ Ka!i/+ from, since nearly, almost
At+&ie "awa hii ha"i a% ne4 Utani#+&/+a hata ni1a#i!i1e ? N( 0a &%a1a a!+"i4 Ka!i/+ t+ n" 1e4 Tan(+ t+'i1e hat+0a%ata ,hai4
She must use this drug until she is cured. +ill you annoy me until ; get cross G +ait till he L she comes back. +e are about to lea e. +e ha en<t got tea since we arri ed.
10. Negati(e Su%2uncti(e a'ter (er%" o' re"triction or prohi%ition &
"fter the following erbs 6 K+-1an2a K+-1ata3a K+-lin"a !:"$'(!S 6 to forbid, to pre ent to refuse to protect K+- n2a K+-3+ia to inform to pre ent,to forbid
Wa1an2eni wat t wa#i( &/ane4 Wa3a3i wa&e&1ata3a a#i lewe &wa1a h++4 Cha1+la / !a ,hat+lin"a t+#i%atwe na &a( n0wa4 Na1+ n2a +#i!+"ie 1 #a lile4 A#1a!i alini3+ia ni#i%ite4
're ent the children from &uarrelling. 8er parents refused her to marry this year. 5etter food protects us from catching diseases. ; warn you not to repeat this mistake. " soldier forbid me to pass.
11. Aruitle"" e''ort &
!:"$'(!S 6 Wali&ta'+ta wa#i&w ne4 Nili0a!i/+ 1+'+n(+a &lan( h++ ni#iwe3e4 T+li#a'i!i 1wa ha!a1a t+li$2 we3a t+#i'i1e A!+#ha &a%e&a4 -hey sought him but didn<t find him. ; tried to open this door but ; failed. +e tra elled as &uickly as possible but we failed to arri e early in "rusha.
/hakubanga
- Ni la3i&a t+'an2e 5%la1ati#i5 1ali. na t+1i1 #a 1 &/e la +li&wen(+. /a#i hata la ahe!a t+#ili1 #e4 - La/"a wa#it+,ha(+e ! 1 +e ha e to <practice< hard, and if we miss the world cup, then we shouldn<t miss the regional. 1 $aybe they won<t choose us I
#>+, (!"D# -8! #"-;>#"( "#-8!$ >* .!#F" 6
Ee Mungu nguvu yetu I ete baraka kwetu Haki iwe ngao na m inzi Na tukae na u!ugu Amani na u"uru #a"a tu$ate na ustawi
VOCABULARY
Bai#1eli Ben1i H teli 8ela Ka&%+ni Oili a bicycle a bank a hotel, a restaurant a prison, a 7ail a company motor oil *et! li *i,ha * li#i Si(a!a Sine&a Shati petrol, gasoline a photo, a picture the police a cigarette a cinema a shirt
EXERCISES
a. B-hatC ; plan, ; understand, ; gi e up, you thri e, you breed, you fill, he be satiated, he recei e, he increase, we take a walk, we refuse, you pre ent, you wipe, they meet, they call. b. B-hatC ; don<t ask, ; don<t know, you don<t say, you don<t meet, he don<t push, he don<t lea e, she don<t catch, we don<t call, we don<t make, you don<t read 0plur3, you don<t come 0plur3, they don<t answer, they don<t think, they don<t lea e, they don<t see.
E6ERCISE < - -ranslate into Swahili 6
1. ?. @. 4. 5. K. 7. N. =. 10.
Should he come inG +hen shall we lea e G Should the cook buy meat G $ust ; close the door G /ome and see I -ell 8amisi to go to the market. -ell the cook to do the cooking. 8e must go. She went to the market to buy egetables. ; study this book to learn Swahili.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
Wat t wa,he3e &%i!a le ? - N"i2 . wa,he3e4 Wana'+n3i waen"e 3a ? - Wa#ien"e /a" 4 Mwa&/ie Ha&i#i ani%e ,heti ,ha1e4 Mw &/e &1+!+(en3i at+%e 0i/+4 La3i&a wana'+n3i wa,h+1+e 1+ni 1wa 1+%i1a ,ha1+la4 U1ita1a "awa. #ha!ti +0e na ,h+%a4 Twen"e %wani #a#a ili t+%+&3i1e4 T+li1+0a Tan3ania ili t+ ne wan2a&a4 A#1a!i % li#i wali3+ia wat+ wa#iin(ie 1ati1a /en1i4
)H4 Ma&a a&e&1ata3a &t t a#ien"e #ine&a4
Cha%te! AB - F+t+!e Ten#e

-he tense marker of the *4-4D! is the infi, -TA-.
)4 FUTURE - AFFIRMATI;E FORM -
-he tense marker -TA- is inserted between the sub7ect prefi,, identical to that of the present, and the erbal root 6
SU@5ECT PREAIB < TA < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 6
NI-TA-FAN:A U-TA-FAN:A A-TA-FAN:A TU-TA-FAN:A M-TA-FAN:A WA-TA-FAN:A
-K nita'an2a -K +ta'an2a -K ata'an2a -K t+ta'an2a -K &ta'an2a -K wata'an2a
; will make you will make he L she will make we will make you will make they will make
/"S! >* -8! $>#>SF(("5;/ A!D5S 6 $onosyllabic erbs retain the KU- of the infiniti e in the *uture affirmati e. $>H!( 6 KULA E to eat
NI-TA-KULA U-TA-KULA A-TA-KULA TU-TA-KULA M-TA-KULA WA-TA-KULA
-K nita1+la -K +ta1+la -K ata1+la -K t+ta1+la -K &ta1+la -K wata1+la
; will eat you will eat he L she will eat we will eat you will eat they will eat
<4 FUTURE - NEGATI;E FORM -
-he tense marker -TA- is inserted between the negati e sub7ect prefi,, identical to that of the present, and the erbal root 6
NE!ATI$E SU@5ECT PREAIB < TA < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 6
SI-TA-FAN:A HU-TA-FAN:A HA-TA-FAN:A HATU-TA-FAN:A HAM-TA-FAN:A HAWA-TA-FAN:A
-K #ita'an2a -K h+ta'an2a -K hata'an2a -K hat+ta'an2a -K ha&ta'an2a -K hawata'an2a
; won<t make you won<t make he L she won<t make we won<t make you won<t make they won<t make
/"S! >* -8! $>#>SF(("5;/ A!D5S 6 $onosyllabic erbs retain the KU- of the infiniti e in the *uture negati e. $>H!( 6 KULA E to eat
SI-TA-KULA HU-TA-KULA HA-TA-KULA HATU-TA-KULA HAM-TA-KULA HAWA-TA-KULA
-K #ita1+la -K h+ta1+la -K hata1+la -K hat+ta1+la -K ha&ta1+la -K hawata1+la
; won<t eat you won<t eat he L she won<t eat we won<t eat you won<t eat they won<t eat
VOCABULARY
B+i/+i In3i K+%e M/+n(5 M,hwa N(e a spider a fly a tick a tsetse fly a termit a scorpion N2+1i N2+n(+n2+n(+ N3i(e Sia'+ Si#i&i3i Tan"+ a bee a worm a locust a soldier ant a small ant a centipede
EXERCISES
a. ;<ll see, ;<ll make, ;<ll continue, ;<ll wash, you<ll make, you<ll take, you<ll write, you<ll rest, he<ll come, he<ll e,plain, he<ll read, he<ll learn, we will o ercome, we will go, we will walk, you will make 0plur3, you will understand 0plur3, you will sleep 0plur3, they will say, they will call, they will gi e us, you will push 0plur3, you will recei e 0plur3, they will swipe, they will plan. b. ; won<t see, ; won<t come, ; will not breed, you will not recei e, he will not take, he won<t come, she won<t go, we won<t tra el, we won<t listen, you will not take a walk 0plur3, you will not see 0plur3, they won<t gi e you, they won<t prohibit, they will not o ercome, they will not understand.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
Nitan+n+a n2a&a 1e#h 4 Ali atat+leta ,ha1+la4 Hat+tawe3a 1wen"a 1e#h 4 Wata&ali3a 1a3i hi2 ha!a1a4 T+ta1+la ,ha1+la 1ati1a h teli &0ini4 Mwana'+n3i ataan3a &tihani 1e#h 4 Wa'a!an#a wata%an"a &li&a wa 1ili&an0a! 4 Ki0ana h+2 ata1+wa "a1ta!i4 Wat t wataa&1a 1e#h a#+/+hi4
)H4 Wa(eni watate&/ea 9an3i/a! 1e#h 1+twa4
Cha%te! AC - The Re'leIi$e In'iI @-8I-@

;n !nglish, we use the refle,i e pronoun "oneself" after the erb to mark that an action is refle,i e, i.e. directed towards the sub7ect of the erb. *or e,ample 6 8e sees himself E he looks at his own person 0in a mirror, or in imagination, etc.3 ;n Swahili, we use a particular >5J!/- ;#*;: 6 -8I- inserted between the tense marker and the erbal root. 4nlike in !nglish, this infi, remains the same for all persons. !:"$'(! 6 KUONA E to see 1O KU8IONA E to feel oneself, to be proud of oneself
Nina0i na Una0i na Ana0i na T+na0i na Mna0i na Wana0i na
; feel myself you feel yourself he L she feels himself L herself we feel oursel es you feel yoursel es they feel themsel es
-he refle,i e can be used in all tenses, including the infiniti e, both in the affirmati e and negati e forms 6
;nfiniti e 6 K+0i na #egati e ;nfiniti e 6 K+t 0i na 'resent ;ndefinite 6 Na0i na 'resent Hefinite 6 Nina0i na 'resent Hefinite #egati e 6 Si0i ni 'ast 'erfect 6 Ni&e0i na 'ast 'erfect #egati e 6 Si0a0i na Simple 'ast 6 Nili0i na Simple past #egati e 6 Si1+0i na *uture 6 Nita0i na *uture #egati e 6 Sita0i na /onditional 6 Nin(e0i na /onditional #egati e 6 Ni#in(e0i na 'ast /onditional 6 Nin(ali0i na 'ast /onditional #egati e 6 Ni#in(ali0i na ;mperati e 6 8i ne ! #egati e ;mperati e 6 U#i0i ne ! #>-! 6
to feel oneself not to feel oneself ; feel myself ;<m feeling myself ;<m not feeling myself ; ha e felt myself ; ha en<t felt myself yet ; felt myself ; didn<t feel myself ; will feel myself ; won<t feel myself ; would feel myself ; wouldn<t feel myself ; would ha e felt myself ; wouldn<t ha e felt myself *eel yourself I Hon<t feel yourself I
"s will be seen in the list below, all refle,i e erbs with -8I- in Swahili do not systematically correspond to a refle,i e in !nglish 6
SOME COMMON REFLE6I;E ;ERBS K+-0i/+!+"i#ha K+-0i"ai K+-0i'an2a K+-0i'i,ha K+-0i'+n3a K+-0i( n(a K+-0i na K+-0i%a&/a to refresh oneself to proclaim oneself to claim to hide to learn to knock oneself to feel oneself to adorn oneself K+-0i#ai"ia K+-0i#i'+ K+-0ita3a&a K+-0ite(e&ea K+-0it lea K+-0i+a K+-0i+li3a K+-0i+3+l+ to relie e oneself to praise oneself to look at oneself to be self1reliant to olonteer to commit suicide to wonder to abdicate
VOCABULARY
Ka#1a3i Ka#1a3ini Kian(a3i Ki&/+n(a Ki%+%+e K+#i short rain season #orth the hot season a cyclone, a hurricane the cold season the dry season K+#ini Ma(ha!i/i Ma#ha!i1i Ma#i1a N(+!+& U&e&e South +est !ast the rain season thunder a flash of lightning
EXERCISES
a. ; feel myself, he feels himself, you feel yoursel es, ; knocked myself, he knocked himself, ; hid, he hid, we hid, ; praise myself, she praises herself, ; wonder, she wonders, we wonder, you olunteered, he proclaims himself, ;<m self1reliant, be self1 reliant I Aolunteer I 8e abdicated, they learned, she adorned herself, prepare yourself I (ook at yourself I 8ide I b. Ho not praise yourself I Ho not proclaim yourself I Hon<t look at yourself I Hon<t hide I She doesn<t wonder, they don<t wonder, they don<t proclaim themsel es, ; don<t feel myself, ; don<t praise myself, you don<t feel yourself, we don<t feel oursel es, they don<t olunteer, you didn<t look at yourself, ; didn<t learn, he didn<t commit suicide.
Nina0i'+n3a. ana0it lea. wana0i'an2a. ana0i%a&/a. +na0i#i'+. ana0i'i,ha. wana0ita3a&a. ana0i"ai. a&e0i+a. a&e0i+3+l+. wana0i na. nina0i+li3a. wana0i/+!+"i#ha. 0i+li3e ! 8ita3a&e ! T+0ite(e&ee ! M#i0i'i,he ! M#i0i#i'+ ! U#i0i%a&/e ! U#i0i ne ! T+0i'an2e ! M0i#ai"ie ! T+0i/+!+"i#he ! Ni0i/+!+"i#he ! 8i/+!+"i#he !
Cha%te! AD - ;e!/al De!i$ati n

)4 USE OF ;ERBAL DERI;ATION -
;t is common in Swahili to modify a erb by adding arious suffi,es at the end of its radical. -his phenomenon is called A!D5"( H!D;A"-;>#. 5y way of comparison, we can in !nglish modify the meaning of a erb by adding some prefi,es or associating some prepositions to it. *or e,ample 6 to take, to take back, to take away, to undertake, to o ertake... -his process, howe er common, usually modifies the le,ical aspect of the modifying its function. erb, without
;n Swahili, erbal deri ation has for conse&uence to modify both the meaning and the grammatical employment of the erb in the sentence. -his will translate in !nglish through different processes 6 addition of another erb 0to let, to make, to be3, of a refle,i e pronoun, of a preposition, change of erb, etc. +e gi e the name of "*>D$" to the arious erbal deri ations.
<4 *RINCI*AL ;ERBAL DERI;ATIONS -
1. -he '"SS;A! *>D$ 6 suffi, 6 -WA. -IWA. -EWA
!,ample KUTUMA E to employ 6
1O KUTUMWA E to be employed
?. -he 'D!'>S;-;>#"( *>D$ 6 suffi, 6 -IA. -EA. -ILIA. -ELEA
!,ample KUACHA E to lea e 6
1O KUACHIA E to lea e for L to L with
@. -he /"4S"-;A! *>D$ 6 suffi, 6 -SA. -SHA. -ISHA. -ESHA. -9A. -I9A. -E9A. -:A
!,ample KULA E to eat 6 4. -he D!/;'D>/"( *>D$ 6 suffi, 6 -ANA
1O KULISHA E to feed
!,ample KUSAIDIA E to help 6
1O KUSAIDIANA E to help each other
5. -he S-"-;A! *>D$ 6 suffi, 6 -KA. -IKA. -EKA
!,ample KU*ASUA E to split, to cut 6
1O KU*ASUKA E to split up, able to split
K. -he D!A!DS;A! *>D$ 6 suffi, 6 -UA. -OA. -UKA. -OKA
!,ample KUFUNGA E to close, to fasten 6
1O KUFUNGUA E to unfasten, to open
A4 DOUBLE AND TRI*LE DERI;ATION -
some erbs admit a double, and sometimes a triple deri ation, i.e. the simultaneous addition of ? or @ deri ational suffi,es at the end of the erb radical. -hese double or triple deri ations are always carried out in a determined order 6
013
'repositional P 'assi e 'repositional P 'repositional 'repositional P Stati e 'repositional P Deciprocal /ausati e P 'repositional Deciprocal P /ausati e Stati e P 'repositional Stati e P 'repositional P 'assi e Stati e P /ausati e
suffi, 6 -IWA. -EWA. -LIWA. -LEWA suffi, 6 -ILIA. -ELEA suffi, 6 -KEA suffi, 6 -IANA suffi, 6 -LE9A suffi, 6 -ANISHA suffi, 6 -IKIA suffi, 6 -IKIWA suffi, 6 -IKISHA. -:ESHA
0?3 0@3 043
B4 SOME E6AM*LES -
013 K+-3aa to gi e birth
K+-3alwa K+-3alia K+-3aliwa K+-3ali#ha K+-3aliana K+-ele3a K+-elewa K+-elele3a K+-ele1ea K+-'an2i1a K+-'an2i1ia K+-'an2i1iwa K+-'an2i3a
'ass 'rep 'repP'ass /aus Dec /aus 'ass /ausP'rep 'repPStat Stat StatP'rep StatP'repP'ass /aus 'rep 'ass Stat /aus De Dec /aus Dec Stat /aus StatP/aus 'ass Dec Stat 'ass 'rep 'repP'ass 'repP'rep /aus Dec 'rep 'ass Stat /aus Dec
to be born to bear him a child to be born to deli er a woman to reproduce to e,plain to grasp, to understand to e,plain thoroughly to mo e towards to be made to be made for to thri e to make one do to cloe for, with to be closed to close itself, to be closed to make close to open, to untie to bind together to inform, to let know to know one another to be known to warn to show to be seen to see each other to show up, to be isible to be liked to like for to be liked for to fa or to make support to lo e each other to strike for to be struck can be struck to make beat to fight
0?3 K+-elea to be clear for
0@3 K+-'an2a to make, to do
0@3 K+-'+n(a to close, to fasten K+-'+n(ia K+-'+n(wa K+-'+n(i1a K+-'+n(i#ha K+-'+n(+a K+-'+n(ana 043 K+-0+a to know K+-0+li#ha K+-0+ana K+-0+li1ana K+K+K+K+K+n2a n2e#ha nwa nana ne1ana
053 K+- na to see
0K3 K+-%en"a to like, to lo e
K+-%en"wa 1+-%en"ea 1+-%en"ewa K+-%en"elea K+-%en"ele3a K+-%en"ana K+-%i(ia K+-%i(wa K+-%i(i1a K+-%i(i#ha K+-%i(ana
0@3 K+-%i(a to hit, to strike
-his is but a short outline on erbal deri ation. -he K ne,t chapters will be de oted to a detailed study of these erbal forms.
VOCABULARY
Bati =&a-> Da+ =&a-> F+n" =&a-> F+n(+ =&a-> Gan"a =&a-> Ge!e0i =&a->
corrugated sheet a dhow 0boat3 a knot a heap a hull, skin 0of fruit3 a garage
G ( =&a-> G+!+"+&+ =&a-> 8en( =&a-> K le =&a-> K % =&a-> *i%a =&a->
a log a wheel a building a plier a can a barrel, a drum
Cha%te! AE - The *a##i$e F !&

;t is &uite common to put a erb in the passi e oice in !nglish. -his is done by using the au,iliary erb "to be" followed by the le,ical erb in the past participle.
-hus 6
8e gi es +e beat
1O 8e is gi en 1O +e are beaten
She takes ;t closes
1O She is taken 1O ;t is closed
-he same result is obtained in Swahili by replacing the termination -A of the erb with the suffi, -WA 0or -EWA. -IWA. -LEWA. -LIWA3.
1. +hen the erb radical -A is replaced by the suffi, -WA 6
ends
in
consonant
2.
K+an"i1a to write K+an3a to start K+,he3a to play K+'an2a to make K+'i,ha to hide K+'+n(a to close K+i/a to steal K+1a&ata to catch K+leta to bring K+li&a to culti ate K+li%a to pay K+%ata to get K+%en"a to lo e K+%i1a to cook K+# &a to read K++&a to hurt K+we1a to put K+win"a to hunt @. +hen the erb radical -A is replaced by -LIWA 6 -K 1+an"i1wa to be written -K K+an3wa to be started -K K+,he3wa to be played -K K+'an2wa to be made -K K+'i,hwa to be hidden -K K+'+n(wa to be closed -K K+i/wa to be stolen 0thing3 -K K+1a&atwa to be caught -K K+letwa to be brought -K K+li&wa to be culti ated -K 1+li%wa to be paid -K K+%atwa to be got -K K+%en"wa to be lo ed -K K+%i1wa to be cooked -K K+# &wa to be read -K K++&wa to be hurt, to suffer -K K+we1wa to be put -K K+win"wa to be hunted in the double owel -AA
ends
4.
K+1ataa to refuse K+3aa to gi e birth 5. +hen the erb radical ends -A is replaced by -LEWA 6 -K K+1ataliwa to be refused -K K+3aliwa to be born in the owel se&uence -OA 6
6.
K+n(5 a to uproot K+ a to marry K+ n" a to withdraw K+t a to remo e 7. +hen the erb radical ends -A is replaced by -LIWA 6
-K K+n(5 lewa to be uprooted -K K+ lewa to be married 0woman3 -K K+ n" lewa to be withdrawn -K K+t lewa to be remo ed in the owel se&uence -UA 6
8.
K+,ha(+a to choose -K K+,ha(+liwa to be chosen K+'+n(+a to open, to untie -K K+'+n(+liwa to be opened K+0+a to know -K K+0+liwa to be known =. Aerbs of "rabic origin finishing in -I and -U take the suffi, -IWA 6
10.
K+/a"ili to change -K K+/a"iliwa to be changed K+0i/+ to answer -K K+0i/iwa to be answered K+1+/ali to agree -K K+1+/aliwa to be permitted 11. Aerbs of "rabic origin ending in -AU take the suffi, -LIWA 6
12.
K+#aha+ to forget -K K+#aha+liwa to be forgotten 1@. Aerbs of "rabic origin ending in -E take the suffi, -EWA 6
14.
K+#a&ehe to forgi e -K K+#a&ehewa to be forgi en 15. #>-!S 6 o Some erbs already possess a passi e meaning in their basic form 6 K+lewa to be drunk L tipsy o o o /ase of the monosyllabic erbs 6 suffi, -IWA or -EWA 6 K+la K+n2wa K+%a 'articular cases 6 K+ta1a K++a to want to kill to eat to drink to gi e -K K+liwa to be eaten -K K+n2wewa to be drunk -K K+%ewa to be gi en
-K K+ta1iwa -K K++awa
to be wanted to be killed
E6AM*LES Mt t ali%ewa 3awa"i na /a/a2e4 Cha1+la 1ililiwa na %a1a4 M/+3i ali,hin0wa 1wa 1i#+4 Nilia&/iwa 1wa&/a Fat+&a a&e lewa4 Ha&i#i ali%i(wa na &wali&+ &1++4 -he child was gi en a gift by his father. -he food was eaten by the cat. -he goat was killed with a knife. ; was told that *atuma is married. 8amisi was beaten by the headmaster.
VOCABULARY
Da'ta!i Dini Ha0a Ha1i Hal&a#ha+!i He1i&a a register, a copybook religion a need 7ustice, right an authority wisdom H t+/a I"a!a H+"+&a 8a&h+!i Kan+ni K "i a sermon, a speech a department a ser ice, a help the Depublic a rule, a principle ta,es
EXERCISES
1. ?. @. 4. 5. K. 7. N. =. 10.
-he robber has been caught. -he wages ha e been paid. -he fields are culti ated. -he child was born. -he luggage has been stolen. -he food has been brought. -he door has been closed. $y sister has married. -he bad pupil has been beaten. -he goat was sacrificed.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4
Cha1+la 1i&eliwa na wat t 4 M3+n(+ a&ehi/iwa na &wi3i4 M3i( wa1e +&ehi/wa 0ana4 K+1+ a&e1a&atwa na &/wa4 Mt t h+2+ ana%en"wa na wat+ w te4 M/wa ali%i(wa na &wen2ewe4 N(+ hi3 3i&e%ewa 1wa wat+ &a#1ini4 Cha1+la 1ina%i1wa na wana'+n3i wa #h+le4 Mn2a&a && 0a a&e1a&atwa 1ati1a &te( 4 Ki0ana h+2+ a&elewa4
Cha%te! AF - The *!e% #iti nal F !&

-he prepositional deri ation has an attributi e, instrumental, or locati e alue. ;t also allows a transiti e erb, i.e. a erb which has already got a complement ob7ect, to recei e a ?nd complement or "--D;54-!. -his attribute will be present as an ob7ect infi, inside the erb construction, and be possibly doubled by the noun attribute which will be placed between the erb and the noun ob7ect in the sentence. 8ere is an e,ample to illustrate this phenomenon 6 Ma&a ana%i1a ,ha1+la $other is cooking food Ma&a anawa%i1ia wat t ,ha1+la $other is cooking food for the children ;n !nglish, the noun attribute is introduced by a preposition 0though not always3, hence the term "'D!'>S;-;>#"(" or "'D!'>S;>#"( *>D$" retained to describe this type of deri ation. >thers prefer the term ""--D;54-;A!".
-he prepositional deri ation is characteri%ed by the addition of the suffi, -IA or -EA, 0or e en -LIA. -LEA3, at the end of the erb radical, to replace the termination -A.
)4 SOME ;ERBS IN THE *RE*OSITIONAL FORM -
1. +hen the erb radical ends in a consonant P A 6 0a3 ;f the owel of the radical is A. I or U, the final -A is replaced by the suffi, -IA 6 K+an"i1a K+a,ha K+'an2a K+%ata K+%ita K+t+%a to write to lea e to make, to do to get, to obtain to pass to throw -K K+an"i1ia -K K+a,hia -K K+'an2ia -K K+%atia -K K+%itia -K K+t+%ia to write to L for to lea e to L for to make for to obtain for to go past to throw to
0b3 ;f the owel of the radical is E or O, the final -A is replaced by the suffi, -EA 6 K+leta K+# &a to bring to read -K K+letea -K K+# &ea to bring to L for to read for
?. +hen the erb radical ends in a se&uence of two owels 6 0a3 ;f the owel of the radical is A. I or U, the final -A is replaced by the suffi, -LIA 6 K+3aa K+'a(ia K+1i&/ia K+,ha(+a K+,h+1+a to gi e birth to sweep to run to choose to take -K K+3alia -K K+'a(ilia -K K+1i&/ilia -K K+,ha(+lia -K K+,h+1+lia to bear someone a child to sweep for to run towards L after to choose for to take for
@. 0b3 ;f the owel of the radical is E or O, the final -A is replaced by the suffi, -LEA 6
4.
K+lea to bring up -K K+lelea to bring up for K+% 1ea to recei e -K K+% 1elea to recei e for K+ n" a to withdraw -K K+ n" lea to withdraw for L to 5. Aerbs of "rabic origin ending in -E, -I and -U take the suffi, -IA 6
6.
K+0i/+ to answer -K K+0i/ia K+!+"i to return -K K+!+"ia K+#ali&+ to greet -K K+#ali&ia K+#a&ehe to forgi e -K K+#a&ehea 7. Aerbs of "rabic origin ending in -AU, take the suffi, -LIA 6 to answer to L for to return to to gi e regards to to forgi e to
8.
K+"ha!a+ K+#aha+ =. #>-!S 6 to scorn to forget -K K+"ha!a+lia -K K+#aha+lia to ha e contempt for to forget to
Some erbs already possess a prepositional meaning in their basic form 6
K+a&/ia K+in(ia K+%a K++li3a
to tell 0to3 to enter to gi e 0to3 to ask 0to3
$onosyllabic erbs take the suffi, -IA or -EA. -herefore they become disyllabic erbs and lose the KU of the infiniti e when con7ugated 6 K+la to eat -K K+lia 0smth3 to eat K+n2wa to drink -K K+n2wea 0smth3 to drink Some erbs ac&uire a new meaning in their prepositional form 6 K+a&1a K+'i1a K+ha&a K+n+1a K+ten"a K+t+&a " number of nouns prepositional suffi, 6 Fai"a H+!+&a H+3+ni She!ehe to wake up to arri e to emigrate to smell bad to treat badly to send, to employ of "rabic origin can -K K+a&1ia to greet -K K+'i1ia to reach -K K+ha&ia to mo e in, to immigrate -K K+n+1ia to smell good -K K+ten"ea to treat well -K K+t+&ia to use be made into erbs with the addition of a
profit pity sorrow feast, celebration
-K K+'ai"ia -K K+h+!+&ia -K K+h+3+nia -K K+#he!e1ea
to benefit to ha e pity of to feel sorrow for to celebrate
<4 *ARTICULAR USES OF THE *RE*OSITIONAL FORM -
1. -he prepositional form used in con7unction with MBALI 0E far3 carries the idea of utter separation 6 !:"$'(!S 6 T+%ia &/ali &a1 % ha2a &a/a2a ! :aa,hilie &/ali &awa3 ha2a ! T+li1atie &/ali tawi hili ! 9i n" lee &/ali n(+ hi3i ! -hrow away these bad preser es I 9i e up these ideas I (et<s cut off this branch I 9et rid of these clothes I
?. "n infiniti e erb in the prepositional form, introcuced by the connecti e -A, indicates the purpose or destination of something 0instrumental alue3 6 !:"$'(!S 6 Ki#+ ,ha 1+1atia n2a&a Fe"ha 3a 1+n+n+lia n(+ Ch+&/a ,ha 1+lia Ma0i 2a 1+ (ea " knife for cutting meat $oney to buy clothes -he dining room +ater for the bath
A4 DOUBLE DERI;ATION -
'repositional deri ation P 'assi e deri ation 6
1.
2.
5asic form 6 'repositional form 6 'assi e form 6 'rep P 'ass form 6 @. Ali# &a 1ita/+ Alini# &ea 1ita/+ Kita/+ 1ili# &wa na2e Mi&i nili# &ewa 1ita/+ 8e read the book 8e read me the book -he book was read by him ; was read the book
4.
5asic form 6 'repositional form 6 'assi e form 6 'rep P 'ass 6 5. 5asic form 6 'repositional form 6 'assi e form 6 'rep P 'ass form 6 Mwi3i a&ei/a &1 /a Mwi3i a&ei/ia &3+n(+ &1 /a wa1e M1 /a +&ei/wa M3+n(+ a&ei/iwa &1 /a wa1e -he thief has stolen the bag -he thief has stolen the white man his bag -he bag has been stolen -he white man has been stolen his bag Ni&en+n+a #+1a!i Ni&ewan+n+lia #+1a!i S+1a!i i&en+n+liwa Wa&en+n+liwa #+1a!i ; ha e bought sugar ; ha e bought them sugar -he sugar has been bought -hey ha e been bought sugar
B4 SOME E6AM*LES An"i1a /a!+a ! Mwan"i1ie /a!+a ! Mwan"i1ie &a&a1 /a!+a ! F+n(+a &lan( ! Wa'+n(+lie &lan( ! Wa'+n(+lie wa(eni &lan( ! Ana# &a 1ita/+4 Ana&# &ea &wen3ie 1ita/+4 Nia&/ie ! Mwa&/ie ! Mwa&/ie /a/a1 ! Wat t walit+i&/ia n2i&/ 4 Ma&a alit+%i1ia ,ha1+la4 Nin+n+lie +n(a wa 1+%i1ia &1ate ! +rite a letter I +rite him L her a letter I +rite your mother a letter I >pen the door I >pen the door for them I >pen the door for the guests I 8e reads a book 8e reads a book to his friend. -ell me I -ell him L her I -ell (it) to your father I -he children sang us songs. $other cooked us some food. 5uy me flour to bake bread I
/hakubanga
M+&e 2an(+ Cha1+/an(a ! Le ni&e1+%i1ia ,ha1+la / !a. +1wa0+ na &a%a%ai 1wa &tin" wa 1i#a#a4 - Ka n(e3e n"i&+ na &ali&a+ !e"i i&e#e&a ! 1 /hakubanga my husband I today ;< e cooked for you new cuisine 6 tamarind and papaya of the day. 1 "dd some lemons and limes, they said in the radio I
VOCABULARY
K+-,he1a K+-"ha!a+ K+-0en(a K+-1a#i!i1a K+- (a K+-%i(a &a1 'i to laugh to scorn to build to get angry to bath L bathe to applaud K+-%i(a %i,ha K+-ten(ene3a K+-tia #ahihi K+-t+&aini K+-$+ta K+-3+n(+1a to photograph to repair to sign to hope to draw to go round in circle
EXERCISES
E6ERCISE ) - 'ut the erbs in the prepositional form 6
K+n+n+a. 1+%i1a. 1+'+n(+a. 1+1ata. 1+lia. 1+ta'+ta. 1+ta1a. 1+ na. 1+!+1a. 1+ten(ene3a. 1+#ali&+. 1+i&/ia. 1+tia. 1+1i&/ia. 1+la. 1+0en(a. 1+ha&a. 1+%ata. 1+#h na. 1+ita. 1+"ha!a+. 1+%i(a %i,ha. 1+3+ia. 1+,he1a. 1+ (a4
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4
Ma&a anawa# &ea wat t ha"i#i n3+!i4 Ni1+%i1ie ,ha1+la ? Una1ita1ia nini 1i#+ hi1i ? Nata'+ta 1i#+ ,ha 1+,hin0ia &/+3i4 Ni#ali&ie Ba/a na Ma&a na n"+(+ 3an(+4 N"e(e ali!+1ia +%e#i 0++ 2a &ti4
E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4 )<4 )A4 )B4
Fat+&a a&e&!+"ia &&e wa1e4 Ka&/a hi3i 1a&a ni 3a 1+0en(ea. ha3ita'aa4 Atat+ha!i/ia '+!aha 2et+ na h+3+ni 2a1e4 Bi"ii 2a1 ita1+'ai"ia #i1+ & 0a4 ;i/a!+a wa&e&li&ia #ha&/a la1e4 Lete 1a&/a 2a 1+'+n(ia &/wa4 Unin+n+lie &1ate na &a3iwa4 Mt t &" ( ali&1i&/ilia &a&a wa1e4
)C4 Ha&i#i ali&wen"ea "a1ta!i4
Cha%te! AG - The Ca+#ati$e F !&

-his form corresponds to the !nglish 6 "make someone do something". *or e,ample 6 make someone work, make someone build, make someone understand 0e,plain3, make someone learn 0teach3, make someone eat 0feed3, etc. -he causati e deri ation is characteri%ed by the addition of the suffi, 6 -ISHA. -ESHA. -LISHA. -LI9A. -I9A. -E9A. -9A or -SHA at the end of the erb, replacing the termination -A.
)4 SOME ;ERBS IN THE CAUSATI;E FORM -
1. +hen the radical ends in a consonant P A 6 0a3 ;f the owel of the radical is A. I or U, the final -A is replaced by the suffi, -ISHA or -I9A 6 K+'an2a K+'i1a K+ha&a K+la K+#i&a&a K+%ita K++&a to make, to do to arri e to mo e out to eat to stop, to stand to pass to hurt 0oneself3 -K K+'an2i3a -K K+'i1i#ha -K K+ha&i#ha -K K+li#ha -K K+#i&a&i#ha -K K+%iti#ha -K K++&i3a to make do to make reach to make mo e out to feed to make stop to make pass to hurt 0someone3
0b3 ;f the owel of the radical is E or O, the final -A is replaced by the suffi, -ESHA or -E9A 6 K+,he1a K+en"a K+1 %a K+ 3a K+%en"a K+we3a to laugh to go to borrow to rot to lo e, to like to be able -K K+,he1e#ha -K K+en"e#ha -K K+1 %e#ha -K K+ 3e#ha -K K+%en"e3a -K K+we3e#ha to make laugh to dri e to lend to make rot, to ferment to please to allow
?. +hen the erb radical ends in a se&uence of two owels, the final -A is replaced by the suffi, -9A, -LISHA or -LI9A6
3.
K+elea to be clear -K K+ele3a K+in(ia to enter -K K+in(i3a K+0aa to be filled -K K+0a3a K+% tea to get lost -K K+% te3a K+%+n(+a to be decreased -K K+%+n(+3a K+#i1ia to hear -K K+#i1ili3a K+te&/ea to walk -K K+te&/e3a K+$aa to wear -K K+$ali#ha 4. Aerbs of "rabic origin take the suffi, -ISHA 6
to e,plain to introduce, to let in to fill to lose to decrease, to lower to listen to take for a walk to dress
5.
K+!+"i to come back -K K+!+"i#ha to gi e back K+'+!ahi to be delighted -K K+'+!ahi#ha to delight K+'aha&+ to know -K K+'aha&i#ha to inform, to let know K+1a!i/+ to be welcome -K K+1a!i/i#ha to welcome someone K. Some erbs ending in -KA or -TA change their termination into -SHA 6
7.
K+a&1a to wake up -K K+a&#ha to wake someone up K+an(+1a to fall -K K+an(+#ha to make fall, to drop K+,he&1a to boil -K K+,he&#ha to make boil K+,h 1a to be tired -K K+,h 1e#ha to tire someone K+%ata to get, to obtain -K K+%a#ha to make obtain K+wa1a to burn -K K+wa#ha to light fire N. Some erbs ending in -NA change their termination into -N:A 6
9.
K+ na K+% na 10. #>-!S 6 to see to get cured -K K+ n2a -K K+% n2a to warn to cure someone
>ne case of double causati e deri ation 6 K+ na to see -K K+ n2a to warn -K K+ n2e#ha to show Some erbs possess a causati e meaning in their basic form 6 K+'+n"i#ha to teach K+%a#ha & t to heat Some nouns and ad7ecti es of "rabic origin can be made into erbs with the addition of a causati e suffi, 6 Bahati Ha1i1a Laini Sa'i Sawa Ta2a!i luck a certainty soft, smooth clean e&ual ready -K K+/ahati#ha -K K+ha1i1i#ha -K K+laini#ha -K K+#a'i#ha -K K+#awa3i#ha -K K+ta2a!i#ha to try one<s luck to make sure to soften to clean to put in order to prepare
<4 SOME E6AM*LES -
*a#ha & t ,ha1+la hi1i ! Ma&a a&eli#ha &t t wa1e 8i'+n"i#he =0i'+n3e> 1i#wahili ! U#ini+&i3e ! *+n(+3a /ei ta'a"hali ! Ha/a!i 3a1 3inani'+!ahi#ha #ana T+wa1a!i/i#he wa(eni wet+ ! Ni'aha&i#he 1a&a + ta2a!i ! Dawa hili lita1+% n2a ha!a1a Ni n2e#he n0ia !
8eat this food I -he mother has fed her child (earn Swahili I Hon<t hurt me I (ower the price, please I Four news re7oice me a lot (et<s welcome our guests I (et me know when you<re ready I -his medicine will cure you &uickly Show me the way I
/hakubanga
- H+1+#i1ia 1wen2e !a"i 1a&/a na+li 2a UDA i&e n(e3e1a ? Wa,ha 1+% te3a &+"a n(e3a hela !! - Bwana-N"+(+ 1 n"a1ita hi2 !a"i hai1+#e&a ni lini h++ &#haha!a wet+ +ta n(e3wa ? 1 Fou didn<t hear on the radio that the bus<s fare has increased G Stop wasting my time, increase the money II 1 Sir, brother conductor, this radio didn<t say when our salary will be increased G
VOCABULARY
A"a/+ Ba!a1a Bi"ii Ch+1i De#t+!i Dha!a+ good manners a blessing effort bad mood a custom contempt Dha&/i H '+ H+!+&a I&ani Si'a Si!i sin fear pity faith fame a secret
EXERCISES
a. (ower the price I Stop the car here I *ill this basket I (et the cat in I -ake the children for a walk I Hri e me to town I (ight the fire I +ake up the children I 9i e back the books I +arn your father I 'repare your luggage I /lean the bedroom I Hon<t make me laugh I Hon<t hurt me I 'ass the plate I b. ; teach *rench, the doctor cured the patient, the mother woke the children up, she lit the fire, she boiled the water, she prepared the food, my sister cleaned the dining
room, my father fed the animals, ; lent him money, the pupil lost his books.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
Niele3e &# & h++4 R+"i#ha $ita/+ $2a1 1e#h 4 Ni&e% te3a &wa$+li wan(+4 Nen"a 1+li#ha wan2a&a wale4 *+n(+3a /ei 1i" ( 4 Bei 2a &wi#h n(a%i ? F+n(+a &a#i1i 2a1 na #i1ili3a 1wa &a1ini ! Ha1i1i#ha 1wa&/a &t+ a#i0+e #i!i 2a1 4 Da1ta!i ali% n2a &t t &( n0wa4 Na1+ &/a +ni1 %e#he 'e"ha 1i" ( 4
)H4 Nita1+!+"i#ha hi3 &wi#h wa &we3i4
Cha%te! BH - The Re,i%! ,al F !&

-his form represents a reciprocal or mutual action, and sometimes a collecti e action. ;n !nglish reciprocity is marked by e,pressions such as "each other" or "one another" after the erb. *or e,ample 6 to fight each other to help each other to follow each other +e fight each other. (et<s help each other I -hey follow each other.
+e obtain the same in Swahili by replacing the final owel -A of the erb with the suffi, 6 -ANA.
)4 SOME ;ERBS IN THE RECI*ROCAL FORM -
K+-a,ha to lea e -K K+-a,hana to lea e each other K+-a&/ia to tell -K K+-a&/iana to tell each other K+-a&1ia to greet -K K+-a&1iana to greet each other K+-an"a&a to accompany -K K+-an"a&ana to follow in order K+-an"i1a to write -K K+-an"i1iana to write each other K+-'aa to fit -K K+-'anana to look the same K+-'+ata to follow -K K+-'+atana to follow each other K+-( &/a to &uarrel -K K+-( &/ana to &uarrel with one another K+-0+a to know -K K+-0+ana to know each other K+-1 #a to miss -K K+-1 #ana to &uarrel K+-1+ta to meet -K K+-1+tana to meet one another K+-n( 0a to wait -K K+-n( 0ana to wait for one another K+- a to marry someone -K K+- ana to get married 0together3 K+-%ata to get -K K+-%atana to agree K+-%en"a to lo e -K K+-%en"ana to lo e each other K+-%i(a to fight, to hit -K K+-%i(ana to fight each other K+-#ai"ia to help -K K+-#ai"iana to help each other K+-#hin"a to o ercome -K K+-#hin"ana to compete K+-#+1+&a to push -K K+-#+1+&ana to push each other K+-+a to kill -K K+-+ana to kill one another "rabic origin must first take the prepositional form to accommodate the suffi, -ANA 6 K+-0i/+ K+-!+"i K+-#ali&+ K+-#a&ehe K+-#hi!i1i to answer to come back to greet to forgi e to share -K K+-0i/iana -K K+-!+"iana -K K+-#ali&iana -K K+-#a&eheana -K K+-#hi!i1iana to answer each other to return to each other to greet each other to forgi e each other to cooperate
Aerbs of
<4 A FEW E6AM*LES -
"fter a reciprocal erb, "with" is translated by NA 6 F+atana na n"+(+ 2a1 4 Si%atani na &t+ h+2 4 Nili0+ana na2e 3a&ani #ana4 N0iani nili1+tana na wat+ wawili4 "ccompany your brother. ; don<t get along with that person. ; knew him L her a long time ago. ; met with two people on my way.
Shamasha
44 We *+n"a 1wanini +#ali&ii - 44 Si1+0+a 1a&a /ina"a&+ wana +ta&a"+ni wa KUSALIMIANA ! 1 .. !h you, Honkey, why don<t you 1 .. ; didn<t know that human beings used to 9D!!- !"/8 >-8!D I greet
WAKUBWA
your
!(H!DS
VOCABULARY
Ba!a =&a-> Deni =&a-> D /i =&a-> Ene =&a-> Fi( =&a-> Ini =&a-> a continent a debt a launderer an area a kidney the li er 8a!i/i =&a-> 8e!aha =&a-> 8i%+ =&a-> Ka/ila =&a-> *i( =&a-> Sha!ti =&a-> an e,periment a wound an abscess a tribe a blow an obligation
EXERCISES
1. ?. @. 4. 5. K. 7. N. =. 10. 11. 1?.
-ell them to wait for each other. 're ent these children from fighting. See you tomorrow. -hese animals are following each other into the forest. +e shall wait for each other at fi e in the e ening. -hese people don<t like each other. +e shall compete with you in this game. -hey want to get along. +e must pre ent these people from killing each other. ; met him on the way. +e saw each other in town. +e left each other at one o<clock.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4
Nili nana na2e 0ana4 Wat t wana%i(ana +ani4 T+&ea&/iana ha/a!i 3 te4 Wa&e%atana na#i4 Si&/a watat+ wali'+atana % !ini4 Wana,ha&a wana1+tana ,ha&ani4 Si#i na wen3et+ t+na#hi!i1iana4 Hat+1+we3a 1+1+/aliana hata 1i" ( 4 Mwi3i ali%i(ana na &wen2ewe wa "+1a4 Si1+ 3a'+atana4 Si0+ani na $2e&a4
)<4 Ha%ana 1+( &/ana wala 1+#+1+&ana4
Cha%te! B) - The Stati$e F !&

"t least to a +estern mind, a erb in the stati e form is rather similar in meaning to a erb in the passi e form, e,cept that it doesn<t tell by who or what the action was made. ;t in ariably implies a latent or resulting state, wherefrom the name of S-"-;A!, or S-"-;A! *>D$, gi en to that deri ation. *rom a grammatical point of iew, another effect of the stati e deri ation is to make a transiti e erb become intransiti e. !:"$'(!S 6 'assi e Di!i#ha li&e$+n0wa na &t t h+2+4 -he window has been broken by this child. Stati e Di!i#ha li&e$+n0i1a4 -he window is broken. 'assi e N(+ 3i&eha!i/wa na &$+a4 Stati e N(+ 3i&eha!i/i1a4 -he clothes ha e been ruined by the rain. -he clothes are ruined.
Some erbs already possess a stati e meaning in their basic form, while other erbs are deri ed using the suffi, -KA to produce the stati e form.
)4 SOME ;ERBS IN THE STATI;E FORM -
1. +hen the radical ends in a consonant 6
0a3 ;f the owel of the radical is A. I or U, the final owel of the erb is replaced by the
suffi, -IKA
K+-/a"ili K+-'+n(a K+-ha!i/+ K+-0i/+ K+-1a&ili K+-1ata K+-1+/ali K+-&wa(a K+-#h+t+&+ K+-$+n0a
to change to close to destroy to answer to finish to cut to agree to pour to insult to break
-K K+-/a"ili1a -K K+-'+n(i1a -K K+-ha!i/i1a -K K+-0i/i1a -K K+-1a&ili1a -K K+-1ati1a -K K+-1+/ali1a -K K+-&wa(i1a -K K+-#h+t+&i1a -K K+-$+n0i1a
to be changed to be closed to be destroyed to be answered to be completed, achie ed to be cut to agree together to be poured to be insulted to be broken
0b3 ;f the owel of the radical is E or O, the final owel of the erb is replaced by the suffi, -EKA
K+-,h &a K+-#a&ehe K+-t #ha
to burn to forgi e to be enough
-K K+-,h &e1a -K K+-#a&ehe1a -K K+-t #he1a
to be burned to be forgi en to be sufficient
?. +hen the erb radical ends in a owel 6 0a3 ;f the owel of the radical is -A. -I or -U, the final -A is replaced by -KA or -LIKA
K+-'+n(+a K+-(e+a K+-%a#+a K+-%in"+a K+-#i1ia
to open to change to split, to saw to turn o er to hear
-K K+-'+n(+1a -K K+-(e+1a -K K+-%a#+1a -K K+-%in"+1a -K K+-#i1i1a -K K+-#i1ili1a
to open, to be opened to be changed to be split, to be sawn to be o erturned to be heard
0b3 ;f the owel of the radical is -E or -O, the final -A is replaced by -KA or -LEKA 6
K+-n(5 a
to uproot
-K K+-n(5 1a -K K+n(5 le1a
to be uprooted
0c3 +hen the erb ends in -AU, the suffi, -LIKA is added at the end of the erb 6
K+-#aha+
to forget
-K K+-#aha+li1a
to be forgotten
@. Aerbs in the causati e form ending in -SHA or -9A take the suffi, -IKA or -EKA 6
K+-%en"e3a K+-%+&+3a
to like -K K+-%en"e3e1a to make breath -K K+-%+&3i1a
to be pleasant to rest
4. " number of erbs can be deri ed from nouns, ad erbs or ad7ecti es 6
Ha#i!a I&a!a Sh+(h+li #>-!S 6
anger firm business
-K K+-1a#i!i1a -K K+-i&a!i1a -K K+-#h+(h+li1a
to be in anger to be firm to be busy
1. Some erbs with a stati e meaning are not deri ed from any basic root. -hey do not necessarily end in the suffi, -KA 6
K+-,helewa K+-,h 1a K+-0aa K+-lewa K+-% tea K+-#hi/a Kwi#ha
to be late to be tired to be filled to be drunk to lose oneself to be satiated to be finished
?. Some erbs take a particular meaning in the stati e form 6
K+-n+#a
to smell out
-K K+-n+1a -K K+-n+1ia
to smell bad to smell good
@. Some other erbs ending in -KA ha e an acti e meaning. -hus 6
K+-a&1a K+-an"i1a K+-ani1a K+-/an"i1a K+-'+ni1a K+-%i1a K+-#i1iti1a
to wake up to write to spread in the sun to stick to put a lid to cook to ha e pity
<4 STATI;E ;ERBS E6*RESSING *OTENTIALIT: -
1. $any erbs already referred to abo e can e,press a potentiality. -hus 6
K+-/a"ili1a K+-,h &e1a K+-'+n(i1a K+-'+n(+1a K+-0i/i1a K+-1+/ali1a K+-li1a K+-n2we1a
to be changeable able to burn able to be closed able to be opened to be answerable able to agree to be edible to be drinkable
?. >ther erbs e,pressing a potentiality take the additional suffi, -NA 6
K+-0+li1ana K+- ne1ana K+-%ati1ana K+-we3e1ana
to be known to be isible to be obtained to be possible
A4 USE OF THE STATI;E FORM -
Aerbs in the stati e form are often used in the 'ast 'erfect 0tense marker -ME-3 6 Ga!i lan(+ li&eha!i/i1a4 $y car has a breakdown. Ki1 &/e 1i&e$+n0i1a4 -he cup is broken. Ni&e,h 1a 1a/i#a4 ; am ery tired. Aerbs e,pressing a potentiality are often used in the 'resent Hefinite 0tense marker -NA-3 6 Mli&a wa Kili&an0a! +na ne1ana le 4 $ount .iliman7aro is isible today. Un(a +na%ati1ana &a"+1ani4 *lour is a ailable in the shops. Ma&/ ha2 2anawe3e1ana4 -hese things are possible.
VOCABULARY
B+ni Cha1i Che&,he&i Ch 1aa Den(+ Katani coffee beans chalk a source lime lentils sisal Ka!an(a Ka!ata K 1wa K+t+ M/aa3i *i1i%i1i peanuts playing cards a nut rust peas a motorbike
EXERCISES
1. -he bread is burnt.
?. @. 4. 5. K. 7. N. =. 10. 11. 1?.
-he door is ruined. -he ditch is filled. -he master got angry. -his pipe is broken. -hese hunters are ery well known. ;f the e,am is finished, rest a little. -he children are sleeping because they are tired. Festerday, Juma was completely drunk. Hon<t sit on this chair, it is broken. -he mountain is &uite isible now. 8e didn<t succeed in closing the door because it closes badly.
1. ?. @. 4. 5. K. 7. N. =. 10. 11.
.a%i hii yafanyika. .a%i hii haifanyiki. $achungwa haya hayaliki, bado kui a. .oti langu limepasuka. .ama umeshughulika, nitarudi kesho. -aa ime%imika. Siku un7a kikombe hiki, kime un7ika tu. Sukari hainunuliki leo. Hirisha hili halifunguki. 4%i wangu umekatika. (eo ndi%i ha%ipatikani sokoni.
1?. Jambo hili haliwe%ekani.
Cha%te! B< - The Re$e!#i$e F !&

-he relati e deri ation concerns only a small number of erbs, for which there is a "re erse" action. ;n !nglish, the "re ersi e" erb is usually formed by placing a prefi, such as "un1" or "dis1" in front of the erb radical. to tie 1O to untie to do 1O to undo to close 1O to disclose ;n Swahili, the re ersi e deri ation consists in replacing the termination -A of the erb by the suffi, -UA 0or -OA, when the owel of the radical is O3. !:"$'(!S 6
)4 SOME ;ERBS IN THE RE;ERSI;E FORM -
K+-/an"i1a K+-,ha K+-,h &a K+-'+&a K+-'+&/a K+-'+n(a K+-'+ni1a K+-ina&a K+-1+n0a K+-%a1a K+-tata K+-te(a K+-$aa K+-3i/a
to stick to rise 0sun3 to prick, to bore to bread, to tie to lock up to bind, to fast to co er to bend to fold to load to muddle to trap to wear to plug, to cork
K+-/an"+1a K+-,hwa K+-,h & a K+-'+&+a K+-'+&/+a K+-'+n(+a K+-'+n+a K+-in+a K+-1+n0+a K+-%a1+a K+-tat+a K+-te(+a K+-$+a K+-3i/+a
to unstick to set 0sun3 to e,tract to fray, to untie to open to untie, to break the fast to unco er to raise to unfold to unload to disentangle to deli er from a trap to undress to unplug, to uncork
VOCABULARY
Ma"a!a1a Maele3 Ma(en" Ma(+(+ Ma1+ti Man2 n2a responsibilities an e,planation smuggling weeds palms feathers Ma!+'+1+ Ma#hin"an Matan"i1 Matata Mat 1e Ma$+n a prohibition a competition bed linen problems results a har est
EXERCISES
Stick the stamp I 'ut on the clothes I 4ncork the bottle I Demo e the thorn I 4nco er the pan I unload the luggage I Shut 0your3 eyes I >pen 0your3 hand I Demo e the hat I -rap I
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4
Mwa&/ie &%i#hi a%a1+e ,ha1+la ! 9i/a ,h+%a hii ! K+&e1+,ha4 8+a li&e1+,hwa4 Mt t ana1+n0a +# 4 Wai#la&+ wa'+n(a &we3i wa Ra&a"hani4 N"e(e ana'+n+a &a/awa 2a1e4 8+a li&e'+ni1a na &awin(+4 Ban"i1a #te&%+ 1ati1a /a!+a 2a1 1a/la 2a 1+i%ele1a4 Ki" le ,han(+ 1ina,h &a4 Ni&e,h & a !a'i1i 2an(+ #hilin(i &ia4
)<4 M1ia wa n2ani ha+&/an"+1i n2ani4
Cha%te! BA - The F !&ati n ' N +n#

Fou ha e probably now noticed that many nouns and erbs come from the same roots. *or memory, let<s gi e here some words we ha e already met with 6 1+-#i1ia to hear 1O #i1i an ear 1+-i&/a to sing 1O wi&/ a song 1+-#a'i!i to tra el 1O #a'a!i a 7ourney +e will re iew in this chapter the arious de ices most commonly used in Swahili to coin new nouns, and the significance of some of the prefi,es and suffi,es used in that process.
)4 NOUNS DERI;ED FROM A ;ERB -
1C Noun ending in .I &
1. -o obtain a noun of trade or occupation, we place a classes 1L? prefi, 0 M-?WAgender3 in front of the erbal root and change the final owel -a into -i 6
2.
1+-( &/a to contradict 1O &( &$i =wa-> a &uarellous person 1+-lea to raise 1O &le3i =wa-> a children<s nurse 1+-lewa to be drunk 1O &le$i =wa-> a drunkard 1+-lin"a to guard 1O &lin3i =wa-> a guard 1+-n+n+a to buy 1O &n+n+3i =wa-> a buyer, a customer 1+-%i1a to cook 1O &%i#hi =wa-> a cook 1+-#h na to sew 1O &#h ni =wa-> a tailor 1+-t+&i1a to be employed 1O &t+&i#hi =wa-> a ser ant 1+-$+a to fish 1O &$+$i =wa-> a fisherman 1+-3aa to father 1O &3a3i =wa-> a parent @. +e can also place a classes 7LN prefi, 0KI-?;I- gender3 in front of the erbal root and change the final owel -a into -i 6
4.
1+-n2 a to sha e 1O 1in2 3i =$i-> a barber 1+- n( 3a to lead 1O 1i n( 3i =$i-> a leader 5. +e can also place a classes 1L? prefi, 0M-?WA- gender3 in front of the erbal root and add the suffi, -0i at the end of the radical 6 1+-,he3a 1+-,hin0a 1+-,h+n(a 1+-i&/a 1+-li&a 1+-#e&a 1+-ta3a&a 1+-+3a to play to slaughter to keep to sing to culti ate to speak to watch to sell 1O &,he3a0i =wa-> 1O &,hin0a0i =wa-> 1O &,h+n(a0i =wa-> 1O &wi&/a0i =wa-> 1O &li&a0i =wa-> 1O &#e&a0i =wa-> 1O &ta3a&a0i =wa-> 1O &w+3a0i =wa-> a player a butcher a shepherd a singer a farmer a speaker a spectator a seller
C Noun ending in .U &
1. +e obtain abstract nouns by placing a class 14 prefi, 0 U- gender3 in front of the erbal root. -he final owel -a changes into -+ 6
2.
1+-ha!i/+ to destroy 1O +ha!i/i'+ 1+-1 #a to miss 1O +1 #e'+ 1+- 1 a to sa e 1O w 1 $+ 1+-%+n(+1a to be reduced 1O +%+n(+'+ 1+-#aha+ to forget 1O +#aha+li'+ 1+-t+lia to be calm 1O +t+li$+ @. +e also obtain nouns of people by placing a classes 1L? front of the erbal root. -he final owel -a changes into -+ 6 1+-a&ini 1+-an(a 1+-t+1+1a 1+-t+lia to belie e to light to be estimated to be calm 1O &wa&ini'+ =wa-> 1O &wan(a$+ =wa-> 1O &t+1+'+ =wa-> 1O &t+li$+ =wa-> destruction lack, shortage sal ation rarefaction forgetfulness calm, peacefulness prefi, 0 M-?WA- gender3 in
a belie er, a faithful person an intelligent person an estimable person a &uiet person
#C Noun ending in .E &
-he termination -e often indicates a person or a thing that has undergone an unspecified action. +e place a class prefi, in front of the erbal root and change the final owel -a into -e 6 1+-1ata 1+-#hin"a 1+-t+&a 1+-+&/a to cut to con&uer to employ to create 1O &1ate =&i-> 1O +#hin"e 1O &t+&e =wa-> 1O 1i+&/e =$i-> a loaf of bread a defeat a messenger, an en oy a creature
)C Noun ending in .O &
-he termination - is &uite common. ;t often indicates an ob7ect or an unspecified action. +e place a class prefi, in front of the erbal root and change the final owel -a into - 6 1+-a3i&+ 1+-'+n(+a 1+-'+ni1a 1+-ita 1+-%atana 1+-#i1ia 1+-#e&a 1+-# &a 1+-te(a 1+-3i/a to propose 1O a3i&i =&a-> 1O +'+n(+ to open ='+n(+ > to co er 1O 1i'+ni1 =$i-> to call 1O &wit =&i-> to agree 1O &%atan =&i-> to hear 1O #i1i =&a-> to say 1O &#e& =&i-> to read, to learn 1O &# & =&i-> to catch 1O &te( =&i-> to stop, to cork 1O 1i3i/ =$i-> a declaration a key a lid a call an agreement an ear a saying a lesson a trap a stopper, a cork
+C Noun" "tarting with the pre'i: N. &
Some classes =L10 nouns 0N- gender3 are simply deri ed from a erb with the addition of the prefi, N- 6 1+-i&/a 1+-0a 1+- a 1+- ta to sing to come to marry to dream 1O n2i&/ 1O n0ia 1O n" a 1O n" t a song a way a marriage a dream
,C Deri(ation 'ro* a (er% o' Ara%ic origin &
#ouns formed from a erb of "rabic origin usually keep the same consonants but change their internal owels, although some, like &#a'i!i =wa-> 0E a tra eller3 follow the 5antu pattern 6 1+-a/+"+ 1+-a&ini 1+-/a!i1i 1+-'+!ahi 1+-#a'i!i 1+-#ali 1+-#i'+ 1+-#+/i!i 1+-ti/a 1+-t+/+ to adore to belie e to bless to re7oice to tra el to pray to praise to wait to cure to repent 1O i/a"i 1O i&ani 1O /a!a1a 1O '+!aha 1O #a'a!i 1O #ala 1O #i'a 1O #+/i!a 1O ta/i/+ 1O t /a worship faith a blessing 7oy a 7ourney a pray a praise patience a doctor repentance
<4 NOUNS DERI;ED FROM OTHER NOUNS -
1C The di*inuti(e pre'i:e" 6I. and 6I5I. &
0See 6 /hapter 1K.3 0iwe =&a-> &0i =&i-> &li&a =&i-> &t =&i-> &t t =wa-> &t+ =wa-> &wana =wa-> &wi1 =&i-> #ahani a stone a town a mountain a ri er a child a person a child a ladle a plate 1O 1i0iwe =$i-> 1O 1i0i0i =$i-> 1O 1ili&a =$i-> 1O 1i0it =$i-> 1O 1it t =$i-> 1O 1i0it+ =$i-> 1O 1i0ana =$i-> 1O 1i0i1 =$i-> 1O 1i#ahani =$i-> a pebble a illage a hill a brook a toddler a dwarf a young person a spoon a saucer
C The aug*entati(e pre'i: 5I. &
0Aoir 6 /hapter 1@.3
&t+ =wa-> &ti =&i-> n2 1a n2+&/a n2+n2i
a person a tree a snake a house a bird
1O 0it+ =&a-> 1O 0iti =&a-> 1O 0 1a =&a-> 1O 0+&/a =&a-> 1O 0+ni =&a->
a giant a large arbre a large snake a building a large bird
#C The collecti(e pre'i: .-A &
Some classes =L10 nouns 0N- gender3 ha e ? plurals 6 an ordinary plural and a class K plural 0prefi, MA-3 that represents a collecti ity. %e#a !a'i1i #a&a1i #i&/a money a friend a fish a lion 1O &a%e#a 1O &a!a'i1i 1O &a#a&a1i 1O &a#i&/a small change a circle of friends a school of fish a pride of lions
A4 ;ERBAL DERI;ATION AND NOMINAL DERI;ATION !:"$'(!S 6 KWENDA E to go
;ERBS
1+-en"a 1+-en"e#ha 1+-en"elea
t!an#lati n
to go to lead to progress
NOUNS
&wen" &wen3i &wen"e#ha0i &aen"ele
t!an#lati n
a mo ement a companion a dri er de elopment
KU*ENDA E to lo e
;ERBS
1+-%en"a
t!an#lati n
to lo e
NOUNS
1i%en" =$i-> &a%en3i &%en3i =wa-> +%en" &%en"wa =wa-> +%en"ele +%en"an
t!an#lati n
mark of affection desire, affection a lo er lo e a lo ed one, a dear inclination, fa ouritism reciprocal lo e
1+-%en"wa 1+-%en"elea 1+-%en"ana
to be lo ed to ha e affection for to lo e each other
KUTUMA E to use
;ERBS
1+-t+&a
t!an#lati n
to use
NOUNS
&t+&e =wa-> =&i->
t!an#lati n
un en oy a messenger un prophet a sla e a ser ant usefulness employment ser ice
1+-t+&wa 1+-t+&i#ha 1+-t+&i3a
to be employed to assign a task to someone to assign a task to someone
&t+&wa =wa-> &t+&i#hi =wa-> +t+&i3i =&a->
EXERCISES
a. " messenger, a belie er, a drunkard, a shepherd, players, spectators, parents, a tailor, a farmer, a ser ant, a creature, a toddler, a dri er, a lo er, a leader. b. " declaration, an agreement, a blessing, a prayer, faith, repentance, patience, sal ation, destruction, a shortage, tran&uility, de elopment, fa ouritism, affection, forgetfulness. c. " song, a way, a dream, a key, a co er, a 7ourney, small change, a illage, a pebble, a spoon, a saucer, a building, a large snake, a large bird, a pride of lions.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4 )<4 )A4
Wai&/a0i walii&/a n2i&/ n3+!i4 Mli&a0i anali&a #ha&/a la1e4 Wa$+$i wa&e1wen"a /aha!ini 1+$+a +#i1+4 H+2+ &le$i ni &( &$i #ana4 K+na walin3i wawili &/ele 2a 0+&/a la !ai#4 Siwe3i 1+'+n(+a n2+&/a 2an(+ 1wa #a/a/+ ni&e% tea +'+n(+ wan(+4 Ki3i/ ,ha ,h+%a hii 1i1 wa%i ? Le +#i1+. ni&e ta n" t n0e&a - nili a &%en3i wan(+4 Ki0i0i ,het+ hi1i 1inaen"ela $i3+!i4 Ta0i!i h+2+ ana wat+&i#hi wa,ha,he na wa%i#hi wawili4 U#i1 #e 1+#i1ili3a h t+/a 2a 1i n( 3i wet+ 1ati1a !e"i 4 Si1+ hi3i hat+na +1 #e'+ wa /i"haa &a"+1ani4 Wata&a3a0i wat+1+'+. #a#a &taan(alia &,he3 wa &%i!a /aina 2a wa,he3a0i wa Tan3ania na Ken2a4 )B4 Ma#i&/a wa&elala &#it+ni. 1an" 2a /a!a/a!a4 )C4 Rai# alit+a&/ia t+0it lee 1wa &aen"ele 2a n,hi 2et+4
Cha%te! BB - C &% +n" A"0e,ti$e#

9enuine ad7ecti es are &uite few in Swahili. 8owe er there are arious means of creating new ad7ecti es from nouns, erbs or other words.
)4 NOUNS OR ;ERBS *RECEDED B: THE CONNECTI;E @-A@ -
>ne of the most common ways of creating an ad7ecti e is to ha e the connecti e -A precede a
noun, which confers to that one an ad7ecti al alue. -he connecti e -A must agree in class with the noun to which it agrees. -hus 6
Ma0i 2a & t Ma0i 2a /a!i"i Fe"ha 2a 1+t #ha Mahali %a +t+li$+
E hot water. E cold water. E enough money. E a &uiet place.
(( water of hot) (( water of cold) (( money of to be enough) (( place of calm)
-he noun or the word placed after the connecti e -A can take the prefi, of manner KI-. -hus 6
Cha1+la ,ha 1i3+n(+ N2+&/a 2a 1i#a#a
E !uropean cooking. E a modern house.
(( food of white) (( house of now)
<4 COMMON AD8ECTI;AL WORDS -
1. "d7ecti es formed with a noun 6 -a /a!i"i cold -a /+!e free -a ha1i right -a hata!i dangerous -a 1awai"a natural, rUgular -a 1+#h t 0on the3 left -a 1weli true -a la3i&a necessary -a & t hot -a &wi#h last -a % !ini wild -a #i!i secret -a tai'a national -a 3a&ani old, ancient 2. @. "d7ecti es formed with a erb in the infiniti e 6 -a 1+'aa con enient -a 1+%en"e3a pleasant, nice -a 1+lia 0on the3 right -a 1+t #ha enough, sufficient 4. 5. 'repositional erbs can also be used to e,press the finality of something 6 -a 1+1atia for cutting -a 1+li&ia for culti ating -a 1+%i&ia for measuring -a 1+#a'i#hia for cleaning -a 1+tilia for putting 6. 7. "d7ecti es formed with a word prefi,ed with KI- 6 -a 1ien2e0i nati e, local -a 1ihin"i ;ndian -a 1i1e female, feminine -a 1i&atai'a international -a 1i#a#a modern -a 1it t childish -a 1i+&e male, masculine -a 1i3+n(+ !uropean 8.
=. "d7ecti es formed with an ad erb 6 Cha1+la ,ha 0ana yesterday<s food De#t+!i 3a 1ale old habits L customs De#t+!i 3a 1wet+ local habits L customs Ma#ha&/a 2a &/ali remote plantations Wat+ wa ha%a local people 10. 11. -he ordinal numbers are formed on this model 0see 6 /hapter ??3 6 -a 1wan3a first -a %ili second -a tat+ third -a nne fourth 12. 1@. ;n common noun associations, the particule -A has all but disappeared 6 A#1a!i 1 ti A#1a!i 1an3+ Bata &a0i Ki0ana &wana&1e M/wa &wit+ Mt+ ta0i!i Mwa1a 0ana Mwana 1 n" ;ia3i +la2a a police officer in uniform a plain clothes policeman a water fowl a young girl a wolf a rich person last year a lamb potatoes
A4 AD8ECTI;AL NOUNS AFTER THE *ARTICLE @-EN:E@ -
-he possessi e particle -EN:E 0E "who L which L that has", "ha ing"3 placed in front of a noun confers to that one an ad7ecti al alue. -hat particle agrees with the possessor by taking a particular prefi, of agreement that is &uite similar to the ob7ect infi, of the corresponding class. -hus 6
Mt+ &wen2e a'2a Wat+ wen2e &ali Mti wen2e &ii/a Miti 2en2e n(+$+ Ch+&/a ,hen2e (i3a Sa&a1i &wen2e &a'+ta
a man in good health rich people a thorny tree igorous trees a dark room. a fat fish
"greements of the ad7ecti al particle -EN:E CLASS

/l 1 /l @ /l 5 /l 7 /l = #>-! 6
NOUNS
Mt+ Mti Ga!i Kiti N(+
-EN:E
MWEN:E WEN:E LEN:E CHEN:E :EN:E
CLASS
/l ? /l 4 /l K /l N /l 10
NOUNS
Wat+ Miti Ma(a!i ;iti N(+
-EN:E
WEN:E :EN:E :EN:E ;:EN:E 9EN:E
-he ad7ecti al particule -EN:E is more generally used to mark possession 6 Mt+ &wen2e n(5 &/e :+le &wen2e 1 'ia Kiti ,hen2e &i(++ &itat+ Chai 2en2e #+1a!i E somebody with cows. E that one with a hat. E a chair with three legs. E tea with sugar
B4 THE RELATI;E USED AS AN AD8ECTI;E -
+e can also, like what is done in !nglish with a past participle, use a erb in a relati e construction or a general relati e. 0See 6 /hapter 5? and /hapter 5@.3 !:"$'(!S 6 Me3a ili2 $+n0i1a Mwa1a +li %ita Mwe3i +0a N,hi i#i2 na &a0i Sa&a1i a#i2e na &a'+ta 'D>A!D5 6 a broken table last year ne,t month an arid country a lean fish (which has no fat)
Penye nia pana njia
VOCABULARY
Dhaha/+ Gi3a Ha!+'+ Hela He!+'i He#a/+ gold darkness an odor money a letter 0alphabet3 a calculation, an account H &a 8a#h 8in#i Ka&+#i Ki&2a O! "ha fe er sweat the manner, the way a dictionary silence a list
EXERCISES
8ot water, an old house, the last day, a usual work, the first time, !uropean food, !nglish money, the left arm, the righ foot, a broken table, a dark room, a rich person, a man in good health, lean meat, old habits, a modern car, a dangerous game, a secret lo e, a right person, a pleasant work, a male child, the second child, a water fowl, potatoes, a lamb.
)4 <4 A4 B4
Mwanan(+ ha%ati ,ha1+la ,ha 1+t #ha4 Na%en"a 1+la ,ha1+la ,ha 1ien2e0i4 La3i&a wa1+li&a wa'+ate 1ili& ,ha 1i#a#a4 Mt t a&e$+n0a &1 n wa1e wa 1+lia4
C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4 )<4 )A4 )B4
Na"hani le ita1+wa #i1+ 2a &wi#h 2a Ra&a"hani4 T+nata1a 1+%i(a %i,ha 3a wan2a&a wa % !ini4 Nina%en"a $ia3i +la2a 1+li1 $ia3i $ita&+4 M/wa &wit+ a&e1+la &wana &/+3i && 0a4 M1e wa1e a&e&3alia &t t wa 1i1e4 Ninahita0i 1a!ata#i 2a 1+an"i1ia /a!+a4 Ni%e ,hai 2en2e #+1a!i4 Sa&a1i &wen2e &a'+ta #i &3+!i 1wa a'2a 2a1 4 Mwa1a +li %ita t+li%ita n,hi i#i2 na &a0i4 Wan2a&a wa%en"a 1+lala 1ati1a &ahali %a (i3a4
)C4 Mwite &t+ &wen2e 1 'ia. nata1a 1+3+n(+&3a na2e4
Cha%te! BC - The L ,ati$e Cla##e#

-here are three distinct locati e classes in Swahili 6 /lasses 1K, 17 and 1N, according to the nomenclature of 5antu languages. /lass 1K is characteri%ed by the class prefi, *-, *A- or *O-. ;t indicates a definite position. ;t contains only one noun 6 MAHALI 0or MAHALA or *AHALI 3, a word which means 6 a place. -his class is especially present in the class agreements which it in ol es, often e en in the absence of the noun "MAHALI ". ;t is also attested by the demonstrati es HA*A, *ALE, HA*O and the connecti e *A. /lass 17 is characteri%ed by the class prefi, KU-. ;t indicates a mo ement from one place to another or an indefinite position. -his class does not comprise any noun, but it is attested by the demonstrati es HUKU, KULE, HUKO and the connecti e KWA. /lass 1N is characteri%ed by the class prefi, M- or MW-. ;t indicates a position inside a place. ;t is attested by the demonstrati es HUMU, MLE, HUMO and the connecti e MWA.
)4 AD8ECTI;ES -
-he ad7ecti e agrees by taking the locati e prefi, *A-. Mahali %a3+!i4 Mahali %a/a2a4 Mahali %a" ( 4 Mahali %e&a4 Mahali %en(ine4 a good place. a bad place. a small place. a nice place. another place.
<4 ;ERBS 0See 6 /hapter 17 and /hapter 1N.3 -here are three locati e sub7ect prefi,es 6 *A-, KU- and MU- corresponding respecti ely to classes 1K, 17 et 1N. -hose e,ist only in the @rd person singular. " point worth noting is that the locati e, which is usually in the position of complement in the !nglish sentence, can easily be the sub7ect of a sentence in Swahili 6 /ompare the word order 6 B n"eni 1+li%an"wa /oconut trees were planted in the alley. &ina3i4
!:"$'(!S 6 Mahali ha%a %a&e0aa wat+4 Me3ani ha%a1+wa na 1ita&/aa N2+&/ani &wet+ &&ewe1wa $2 &/ $i%2a4 Ha1+na 1it+ n2+&a 2a 1a/ati4 Ha%a %ali1+'a #i&/a4 Mwit+ni &&elala wan2a&a4 -his place is full of people. -here was no table cloth on the table. #ew e&uipment was put in our house. -here is nothing behind the cupboard. " lion died here. "nimals are sleeping in the forest.
-hey are fre&uently used with the erb KUWA NA 0E to ha e3 to translate "there is" or "there isn<t"6 !:"$'(!S 6 *ana &t t &lan( ni4 K+na wa(eni #ha&/ani4 Mna 1it+ #an"+1+ni4 Ha%ana &iti ha%a4 Ha1+na &ahin"i &en(i #ha&/ani4 Ha&na &a0i 1i#i&ani4 -here is a child at the door. -here are foreigners in the field. -here is something in the bo,. -here are no trees here. -here is not much corn in the field. -here is no water in the well.
A4 THE CONNECTI;ES @*A@. @MWA@ an" @KWA@ -
0See 6 /hapter ?K and /hapter ?=.3 1. *A is used after the noun MAHALI and also after nouns suffi,ed in -NI. ;t is also used to form compound ad7ecti es 0See 6 /hapter 44.3 6 !:"$'(!S 6 Mahali %a +t+li$+4 Mahali %a hata!i4 Alia,ha 0e&/e &lan( ni %a &3ee4 ?. MWA is used after nouns suffi,ed in -NI 6 !:"$'(!S 6 Wat t wana# &a n2+&/ani &wa &wali&+4 Mi n( ni &wa wat t . && 0a ana#i&a&a4 -he children learn at the teacher<s house. "mong the children, one of them is standing. " &uiet place. " dangerous place. 8e left the hoe at the old man<s door.
@. -he connecti e KWA is certainly one of the most fre&uently employed and it possesses many different meanings 6 at, to, by, for, with, and, etc. 6 !:"$'(!S 6
Ana1aa 1wa Ali4 Nita1wen"a 1wa 0+&/e4 Ali'i1a 1wa (a!i la & #hi4 Cha1+la hi1i ha1i'ai 1wa wa(eni4 Nita1+la wali 1wa &,h+3i4
8e stays at "li<s. ; will go to the chief<s. 8e arri ed by train. -his meal is not appropriate for the guests. ; will eat rice with L and sauce.
B4 *OSSESSI;E AD8ECTI;ES -
'ossessi e ad7ecti es take the prefi,es *A-, KW- or MW- to agree with nouns suffi,ed in -NI 0See 6 /hapter ?=.3 6 !:"$'(!S 6 Ma0i!ani %a1e4 N2+&/ani 1wa1 4 M 2 ni &wan(+4 ;n his neighbourhood. "t your house. ;n my heart.
C4 LOCATI;E AD;ERBS -
0See 6 /hapter ?K.3
D4 THE INTERROGATI;E WORD @WA*I ?@ -
0See 6 /hapter ?1.3
E4 DEMONSTRATI;ES 0See 6 /hapter ?K.3
*LACE
'recise place Aague place ;nterior place
*! Ii&it2
HA*A here HUKU o er there HUMU there
Di#tan,e
*ALE around here KULE by o er there MLE there around
Re'e!en,e
HA*O here inside HUKO there inside HUMO inside
CLASS
/lass 1K /lass 17 /lass 17
-hese demonstrati es can be used by themsel es, or with a noun of place suffi,ed in -NI 0E at, in, on3. !:"$'(!S 6 Mahali %ale4 Itie ha%a &e3ani4 Ana1aa h+1+4 Mi n( ni &wa wat+ wale 1+le4 Tia #ahani hi3i 1a/atini h+& ! -his place o er there. 'ut it here on the table. 8e li es here. "mong these people o er there. 'ut these plates inside this cupboard.
F4 THE RELATI;E INFI6ES @*O-@. @KO-@ an" @MO-@ -
+e insert the relati e infi, "'>1" 0or ".>1" or "$>1"3 between the tense marker and the erbal root to signify "when", "where", "in which". !:!$'(!S 6 T+li+&wa na 1+n(+ni t+li% lala4 Ki% '+ awe3i 1+ na ana1 1wen"a wala a ni ana1 t 1a4 Shi& ni ali& in(ia %an2a4 +e were bitten by insects while we were sleeping. " blind man can<t see where he goes nor where he comes from. -he hole which the mouse entered.
$%ee $eko
M3ee Me1 ali% 'i1a n2+&/ani ali( n(a la1ini &1ewe ali1ataa 1+&'+n(+lia a1alala n0e ha"i a#+/+hi4 +hen $%ee $eko arri ed at home, he knocked at the door but his wife refused to open, and he slept till the morning.
VOCABULARY
Ch+n(+ =$2-> Ki/a =$i-> Ki' =$i-> Kinan"a =$i-> Ki%ini =$i-> Ki!a1a =$i-> a pot a panel death a piano a handle a mending Ki! / t =$i-> Kitana =$i-> Kiten"awili =$i-> Ki+ =$i-> Ki+n( =$i-> Ki3+n(+3+n(+ =$i-> a flea a comb a riddle thirst an articulation a di%%y spell
EXERCISES
" nice place, a dark place, a &uiet place, another place, inside the house, outside, behind the door, on top of the mountain, in front of the shop, in the bo,, in the middle of the city, on the table, in the cupboard, in the teacher<s house, in the "rab<s shop, at the old man<s door, at "li<s, at my father<s, in your house, at that place o er there.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
8e. 2a1 &a0i 1wa1 ? - Ha1+na4 Si&a&a ! Ninatele&1a ha%a4 K+na wat+ wen(i h+1 Da! e# Salaa&4 *a#hia &i3i( 1ati1a (a!i ! Wat+ wa &a1a/ila &en(i wana1aa M &/a#a4 M/wa analala n0e4 U#i&wa,he 1+in(ia n"ani ! Nina1aa 1wa !a'i1i 2an(+ A/"allah4 Ha1+na ,h+n(+ wala $2 &/ $in(ine $2 te 1a/atini4 Nina#i1ia 1i+4 C ,a-C la i1 ? - Ha&na4
)H4 Na nini 1+le. #i n"i2 *e%#i ? - Haa ! - Ba#i. ni%e /wana !
Cha%te! BD - The -KI- Ten#e

-he -KI- tense is a tense that marks the simultaneity of an action in relation to another. ;ts meaning changes slightly according to its position in the sentence 6 if it is the first erb in a sentence, it corresponds to a present conditional in !nglish R if it follows a first erb which is in the present, past or future, then it corresponds to a present participle 0 erb ending in 1ing3 or to an infiniti e in !nglish.
)4 THE @KI@ TENSE - AFFIRMATI;E -
-he tense marker -KI- is placed between the affirmati e sub7ect prefi, and the erbal root. -he meaning of that infi, is "if". -he erb in -KI- is followed by a erb in the future or in the imperati e, in the sentence.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < 6I < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 6 KUFAN:A E to do, to make
NI-KI-FAN:A U-KI-FAN:A A-KI-FAN:A TU-KI-FAN:A M-KI-FAN:A WA-KI-FAN:A
-K ni1i'an2a -K +1i'an2a -K a1i'an2a -K t+1i'an2a -K &1i'an2a -K wa1i'an2a
if ; make if you make if he L she makes if we make if you make if they make
#>-! 6 $onosyllabic erbs drop their infiniti e prefi, KU- 6 $>H!( 6 KWENDA E to go
NI-KI-ENDA U-KI-ENDA A-KI-ENDA TU-KI-ENDA M-KI-ENDA WA-KI-ENDA
-K ni1ien"a -K +1ien"a -K a1ien"a -K t+1ien"a -K &1ien"a -K wa1ien"a
if ; go if you go if he L she goes if we go if you go if they go
!:"$'(!S 6
U1i%an"a &li&a wa Kili&an0a! . la3i&a +,h+1+e n(+ 3a 1+t #ha4 U1ien"a Ula2a. +tanin+n+lia 3awa"i4 M%i#hi a1i,helewa tena le . &'+1+3e4
;f you climb up $ount .iliman7aro, you must take enough clothes. ;f you go to !urope, you will buy me a gift. ;f the cook is late again today, fire him.
<4 THE @KI@ TENSE - NEGATI;E -
-he negati e tense marker -SI*O- is placed between the sub7ect prefi, and the erbal root. Since -SI*O- is a negati e mark of time, affirmati e sub7ect prefi,es must be used in con7unction with it. -hat infi, means "if not" or "unless".
SU@5ECT PREAIB < SIPO < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 6 KUFAN:A E to do, to make
NI-SI*O-FAN:A U-SI*O-FAN:A A-SI*O-FAN:A TU-SI*O-FAN:A M-SI*O-FAN:A WA-SI*O-FAN:A
-K ni#i% 'an2a -K +#i% 'an2a -K a#i% 'an2a -K t+#i% 'an2a -K &#i% 'an2a -K wa#i% 'an2a
if ; don<t make if you don<t make if he L she doesn<t make if we don<t make if you don<t make if they don<t make
#>-! 6 $onosyllabic erbs keep their infiniti e prefi, KU- 6 $>H!( 6 KWENDA E to go
NI-SI*O-KWENDA U-SI*O-KWENDA A-SI*O-KWENDA TU-SI*O-KWENDA M-SI*O-KWENDA WA-SI*O-KWENDA
-K ni#i% 1wen"a -K +#i% 1wen"a -K a#i% 1wen"a -K t+#i% 1wen"a -K &#i% 1wen"a -K wa#i% 1wen"a
if ; don<t go if you don<t go if he L she doesn<t go if we don<t go if you don<t go if they don<t go
A4 THE -KI- TENSE AS A *RESENT *ARTICI*LE -
+hen a erb in -KI- follows a first erb in the sentence, it marks the simultaneity of the second action in relation to the first. "ccording to the conte,t, it will be translated differently in !nglish 6 either by a erb ending in "1ing" 0present participle3, or by an infiniti e. Wali1+wa wa1i,he3a4 Mt t ali%ita a1ii&/a4 ;nfiniti e 6 T+liwa na wa1i,he3a4 Nili&w na a1ilia4 -he first erb can be con7ugated in different tenses 6 Aerb ending in "1ing" 6 -hey were playing. -he child passed singing. +e saw them play. ; saw her cry.
'ast 'erfect 6 A&e1+wa a1i,he3a4 8e L she has been playing. Simple past 6 Ali1+wa a1i,he3a4 8e L she was playing. *uture 6 Ata1+wa a1i,he3a4 8e L she will be playing. 0See /ompound -enses.3
/hapter
54
!:'D!SS;># 6
Ukipenda usipende, ni mamoja kwangu !
VOCABULARY
Ba#t la Che!ehani Fili&/i Fi&/ G+n"i He&a a gun a sewing machine a whistle a walking stick glue a tent Ka&/a Ka!a/ai K+'+li La&i Li%+ Sen(5e #en(5e a rope a pressure lamp a lock tar plaster barbed wire
EXERCISES
a. ;f you like, if they eat, if ; drink, if the tree falls, if she answers, if you think, if they come, if ; gi e you, if he dies, if he tells us, if you get permission, if the food is brought,
if he gets eggs, if you tell me your name, if the letters are brought. b. 8e was reading, ; saw him laugh, ; heard her sing, they will be playing tomorrow, they are tired because they were playing, ; ha e seen the tree fall, they saw the tourists arri e, he was cooking, the food was cooking, ; saw you cry. c. -he teacher was teaching how to read and write, the $asais will dance tomorrow e ening, we worked in the bush, if you come tomorrow ;<ll gi e you money, if you see animals you<ll be lucky.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4
Nili&w na &wali&+ a1i0en(a n2+&/a 2a1e4 T+#i% %ata &$+a. &ihin"i haita ta4 M1ien"a M &/a#a le . &tawa na wat t wet+ wa1i,he3a &%i!a4 Cha1+la 1i#i% i$a. ha1ita'aa4 U1ien"a Nai! /i. nin+lie $it+ 1a"haa4 Ali1+wa a1ien"e#ha (a!i la1e ha!a1a &n 4 T+liwa na wana'+n3i wet+ wa1i,he3a &0ini4 M3ee ali1+wa a1ilala &1+tan ni4 M1ien"a 1+le. &ta&w na &li&a0i a1ili&a #ha&/ani 1wa1e4 U1i0a!i/+ #ana. +tawe3a 1+#e&a 1i#wahili #a'i4 Ni#i% %+&3i1a #a#a. nita,h 1a #ana4
)<4 A1i0a a#i0e. ni &a& 0a 1wan(+4
Cha%te! BE - C n"iti nal Ten#e#

"part from the -KI- tense that may already correspond to the use of the !nglish 'resent /onditional, there are two more conditional tenses in Swahili6 -he 'resent /onditional and the 'ast /onditional. -hese two tenses are used to form assumptions or hypothesis. 0See 6 /hapter 4K 1 -he 1.;1 -ense and /hapter 4N 1 8ypothesis.3
)4 THE *RESENT CONDITIONAL -
A4 AFFIRMATI;E -
-he tense marker of the present conditional is the infi, -NGE-, placed between the sub7ect prefi, and the erbal root.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < N!E < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 6
KU*ENDA E to like, to lo e
NI-NGE-*ENDA U-NGE-*ENDA A-NGE-*ENDA TU-NGE-*ENDA M-NGE-*ENDA WA-NGE-*ENDA
-K nin(e%en"a -K +n(e%en"a -K an(e%en"a -K t+n(e%en"a -K &n(e%en"a -K wan(e%en"a
; would like you would like he L she would like we would like you would like they would like
$onosyllabic erbs keep their infiniti e prefi, KU- 6 NI-NGE-KU-LA A-NGE-KWENDA U-NGE-KUWA WA-NGE-KUWA NA -K nin(e1+la -K an(e1wen"a -K +n(e1+wa -K wan(e1+wa na ; would eat he L she would go you would be they would ha e
B4 NEGATI;E -
;n the negati e form, the negati e infi, -SI- is added in front of the tense marker of the present conditional -NGE-. Since it is a negati e mark, affirmati e sub7ect prefi,es must be used in con7unction with it.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < SI < N!E < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 6
KU*ENDA E to like, to lo e -K ni#in(e%en"a -K +#in(e%en"a -K a#in(e%en"a -K t+#in(e%en"a -K &#in(e%en"a -K wa#in(e%en"a ; wouldn<t like you wouldn<t like he L she wouldn<t like we wouldn<t like you wouldn<t like they wouldn<t like
NI-SI-NGE-*ENDA U-SI-NGE-*ENDA A-SI-NGE-*ENDA TU-SI-NGE-*ENDA M-SI-NGE-*ENDA WA-SI-NGE-*ENDA
$onosyllabic erbs keep their infiniti e prefi, KU- 6 NI-SI-NGE-KU-LA A-SI-NGE-KWENDA U-SI-NGE-KUWA WA-SI-NGE-KUWA NA -K ni#in(e1+la -K a#in(e1wen"a -K +#in(e1+wa -K wa#in(e1+wa na ; wouldn<t eat he L she wouldn<t go you wouldn<t be they wouldn<t ha e
<4 THE *AST CONDITIONAL -
A4 AFFIRMATI;E -
-he tense marker of the past conditional is the infi, -NGALI- 0formed of NGE J LI3, placed between the sub7ect prefi, and the erbal root.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < N!A=I < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 6
KU*ENDA E to like, to lo e -K nin(ali%en"a -K +n(ali%en"a -K an(ali%en"a -K t+n(ali%en"a -K &n(ali%en"a -K wan(ali%en"a ; would ha e liked you would ha e liked he L she would ha e liked we would ha e liked you would ha e liked they would ha e liked
NI-NGALI-*ENDA U-NGALI-*ENDA A-NGALI-*ENDA TU-NGALI-*ENDA M-NGALI-*ENDA WA-NGALI-*ENDA
$onosyllabic erbs retain their infiniti e prefi, KU- 6 NI-NGALI-KU-LA A-NGALI-KWENDA U-NGALI-KUWA WA-NGALI-KUWA NA -K nin(ali1+la -K an(ali1wen"a -K +n(ali1+wa -K wan(ali1+wa na ; would ha e eaten he L she would ha e gone you would ha e been they would ha e had
B4 NEGATI;E -
;n the negati e form, the negati e infi, -SI- is added in front of the tense marker of the past conditional -NGALI-. Since it is a negati e mark, affirmati e sub7ect prefi,es must be used in con7unction with it.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < SI < N!A=I < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 6
KU*ENDA E to like, to lo e ; wouldn<t ha e liked you wouldn<t ha e liked he L she wouldn<t ha e liked we wouldn<t ha e liked you wouldn<t ha e liked they wouldn<t ha e liked
NI-SI-NGALI-*ENDA -K ni#in(ali%en"a U-SI-NGALI-*ENDA -K +#in(ali%en"a A-SI-NGALI-*ENDA -K a#in(ali%en"a TU-SI-NGALI-*ENDA -K t+#in(ali%en"a M-SI-NGALI-*ENDA -K &#in(ali%en"a WA-SI-NGALI-*ENDA -K wa#in(ali%en"a $onosyllabic erbs retain their infiniti e prefi, KU- 6 NI-SI-NGALI-KU-LA -K ni#in(ali1+la A-SI-NGALI-KWENDA -K a#in(ali1wen"a U-SI-NGALI-KUWA -K +#in(ali1+wa WA-SI-NGALI-KUWA NA -K wa#in(ali1+wa na
; wouldn<t ha e eaten he L she wouldn<t ha e gone you wouldn<t ha e been they wouldn<t ha e had
VOCABULARY
K+-a(a K+-a0i!i K+-/e/a K+-,ha'2a K+-,ha&/+a 1+-,hi&/a
to say goodbye to employ, to hire to carry on the back to snee%e to sort to dig
K+-"hani K+-'+1+3a K+-( &a K+-he#a/+ K+-h+#+ K+-1+#an2a
to think to chase, to fire to go on strike to count, to calculate to concern to gather, to heap
EXERCISES
a. ; would like, ; would make, ; would take, ; wouldn<t ha e, ; wouldn<t go, you wouldn<t want, you could, you would come, you wouldn<t eat, you would stop, he would borrow, he would fill, he wouldn<t count, he would fire, he would snee%e, we would not be tired, we wouldn<t know, we would come back, we would wear, we would go by, you would read 0plur3, you would recei e 0plur3, you wouldn<t bring 0plur3, you wouldn<t emigrate 0plur3, you would buy 0plur3, they would laugh, they wouldn<t get angry, they would hope, they wouldn<t despise, they would understand. b. ; would ha e left, ; would ha e done, ; wouldn<t ha e answered, ; wouldn<t ha e seen, you would ha e written, you would ha e met, you wouldn<t ha e known, he would ha e waited, he would ha e got, he wouldn<t ha e agreed, we would ha e come, we would ha e met each other, we wouldn<t ha e been, you would ha e been 0plur3, yoou would ha e swept 0plur3, you wouldn<t ha e chosen 0plur3, they would ha e employed, they would ha e dug, they would ha e looked alike, they wouldn<t ha e liked.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4
U#in(e$+ta #i(a!a4 An(ewe3a 1+0a le 4 Un(eni+li3a4 U#in(ali1+n2wa % &/e ile4 A#in(aliin(ia ,h+&/a 1ile4 T+n(e0+a 1i#wahili4 Mi3i( in(aliletwa ha%a4 M/e(+ 3in(e%an"wa4 M3ee a#in(ali1+'a4 Ni#in(e1+wa &( n0wa4 Un(alit+&a /a!+a4
)<4 T+n(ali%wa &#haha!a4
Cha%te! BF - H2% the#i#

Just like in !nglish, it is possible to e,press @ different hypothetic le els in Swahili 6 +hat is '>-!#-;"(, or 'resent Deal 8ypothesis. +hat is "SS4$'-;A!, or 'ast Deal 8ypothesis.
+hat is S'!/4("-;A!, or 'ast ;rreal 8ypothesis.
)4 *RESENT REAL H:*OTHESIS -
+e speak here of a fact that has not yet taken place, and imagine what will happen if something else is to happen. +e use the -KI- tense to e,press the condition "if...". -he second erb which e,presses the conse&uence is in the *uture or the ;mperati e. 0See 6 /hapter 4K 1 -he 1.;1 -ense.3 !:"$'(!S 6 Wa1in2wa % &/e ile. watalewa4 U1i&w na Ha&i#i. &wa&/ie a0e ha%a4 Ka&a +1ien"a 9an3i/a!. +ta na 0+&/a la S+ltani4 Ba!+a i#i% %ele1wa le . ita,helewa4 ;f they drink that local beer, they will get drunk. ;f you see 8amisi, tell him to come here. ;f you go to )an%ibar, you<ll see the Sultan<s palace. ;f the letter is not sent today, it will arri e late.
<4 *AST REAL H:*OTHESIS -
+e speak here of a fact that has not taken place, but whose probable degree of reali%ation is ery low. +e use the 'resent /onditional to formulate this type of assumption. -he second erb must be con7ugated in the same tense. 0Aoir 6 /hapter 47 1 -he 'resent /onditional.3 $>H!( 6 Nin(e1wen"a #a#a. nin(e&w na4 ;f ; went now, ; would see him. (If I would go now8 I would see him.) !:"$'(!S 6 Nin(e0a!i/+ #ana. nin(ewe3a 1+#e&a ;f ; really tried, ; could speak Swahili. 1i#wahili4 Un(e1+0a le . nin(e1+%i1ia 1e1i4 ;f you came today, ; would cook yopu a cake. Un(e# &a (a3eti ile. +n(e0+a ha/a!i 3 te4 ;f you read that newspaper, you<d know all the news. M$+a in(en2e#ha le . nin(e%an"a &/e(+ ;f it rained today, ; would plant my seeds. 3an(+4 Ni#in(e1+wa &3ee #a#a. nin(ewe3a ;f ; wasn<t an old man now, ; could climb 1+%an"a &li&a wa Kili&an0a! 4 $ount .iliman7aro. Wan(e%+&3i1a. wa#in(e,h 1a4 ;f they rsted, they wouldn<t be tired.
A4 *AST IRREAL H:*OTHESIS -
+e make here an intellectual speculation, a comeback on an action that has already taken
place, and for which we imagine another unfolding. -he degree of reali%ation of that speculation is nil. +e use the 'ast /onditional to formulate this type of hypothesis. -he second erb is in the same tense. 0See 6 /hapter 47 1 -he 'ast /onditional.3 $>H!( 6 Nin(ali0a!i/+ #ana. nin(ali'a+l+4 ;f ; had tried hard, ; would ha e succeeded. (If I would have tried hard8 I would have succeeded.) !:"$'(!S 6 Nin(ali1+0+a. nin(aliwe3a 1+1++li3a4 Un(ali1+0a 0ana. nin(ali1+%i1ia 1e1i4 Mt t an(alian(+1a &tini. an(ali1+'a4 M$+a i#in(alin2e#ha 0ana. ni#in(aliwe3a 1+%an"a &/e(+ 3an(+4 Wan(ali%+&3i1a. wa#in(ali,h 1a4 ;f ; had known you, ; could ha e asked you. ;f you had come yesterday, ; would ha e cooked you a cake. ;f the child had fallen from the tree, he would ha e died. ;f it had not rained yesterday, ; couldn<t ha e planted my seeds. ;f they had rested, they wouldn<t be tired.
B4 MI6ING TENSES -
;t is &uite possible to combine two tenses to formulate hypothesis, so that an assumption formulated in the 'resent /onditional can be followed by its reali%ation in the 'ast /onditional, and con ersely. !:"$'(!S 6 Nin(e1+wa &3ee #a#a. nin(aliwe3a ;f ; was an old man now, ; could ha e told you 1+1+a&/ia 0a&/ lile4 about it. Un(ali# &a (a3eti hili. +n(e0+a ha/a!i 3 te ;f you had read this newspaper, you would #a#a4 know all the news now. Un(ali&wa&/ia ha/a!i. a#in(e1wen"a ;f you had told him the news, he would not #a'a!i4 ha e gone on his 7ourney. I#in(e1+wa &we3i wa De#e&/a. ;f we weren<t in Hecember, you could ha e +n(aliwe3a 1wen"a Uin(e!e3a4 gone to !ngland. 'D>A!D5 6
Usipoziba ufa, utajenga ukuta

#>+, (!"D# -8! S>#9 6 $"(";." 6
Ma aika, naku$en!a Ma aika% Ma aika, naku$en!a Ma aika% Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio, Nas"in!wa na ma i sina, we,
Ningeku"oa Ma aika%
VOCABULARY
U/a(+3i U/a$+ =&/a$+> U/ $+ U" n( +la2a U'+1 Uhai segregation a side rot cement the sea shore life U1 U1+,ha =1+,ha> U&an"e U%in"e U#aha Wa$+ =n2a$+> a clan a claw dew an arc pus a net
EXERCISES
a. ;f ; read, if you climbed, if we had eaten, if they had tried, if ; had the key, if the luggage had come, if the mail was brought, if you had come, if it rained, if you spoke Swahili, if ; had come yesterday, if ; had a motorbike. b. ;f the tree had not fallen, if the house was not here, if you weren<t a teacher, if she wasn<t sick, if the doctor had not come, if it was not dangerous, the old man wouldn<t ha e died, he wouldn<t ha e had an accident, if ; didn<t go to $oshi, we wouldn<t ha e found a hotel, if we hadn<t come late.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
Ka&a +n(e0+a 1+# &a. nin(e1+n+n+lia 1ita/+4 Un(e%ata &#haha!a. +n(e%ata ,ha1+la4 Un(ali%ata 1a3i. +n(ali%ata &#haha!a4 An(e%an"a &ihin"i. an(ewe3a 1+%ata &a$+n &a3+!i4 T+n(alili&a &wa1a h++. t+n(ali%ata &a$+n 4 T+1i%ata #a&a1i. hat+tan+n+a n2a&a4 Ka&a n,hi hii in(e%ata &$+a. wat+ wen(i wan(e0en(a ha%a4 Un(e$aa 1 ti la &$+a. +#in(e#i1ia /a!i"i4 Nin(e1+wa wewe. ni#in(e$aa n(+ ile4
)H4 Un(ali&wa&/ia #hi"a 3a1 . /wana an(aliwe3a 1+1+#ai"ia4
Cha%te! BG - Ha/it+al *!e#ent Ten#e

;n addition to the 'resent Hefinite and the 'resent ;ndefinite, Swahili possesses a third tense in the present, the habitual 'resent. -his tense is used to speak about usual practices or truths
of a general order, without making reference to any specific 0See 6 /hapter N 1 -he 'resent Hefinite and /hapter 10 1 -he 'resent ;ndefinite.3 -he 8abitual 'resent can in many cases be used instead of the 'resent ;ndefinite.
time.
-he tense marker of the 8abitual 'resent is the prefi, HU- which is placed in front of the erbal root. -he termination of the erb does not change. 5ecause the 8abitual 'resent doesn<t take any sub7ect prefi,es, this erbal form is identical for all persons and for all nominal classes. +hen it becomes necessary to identify the person, we use the autonomous personal pronouns. 0See 6 /hapter 7 1 -he "utonomous 'ersonal 'ronouns.3
HU < $ER@ RADICA=
$>H!( 1 6 KU*ENDA E to like, to lo e MIMI WEWE :E:E SISI NIN:I WAO prefi, KU- 6 HU*ENDA HU*ENDA HU*ENDA HU*ENDA HU*ENDA HU*ENDA ; like you like he L she likes we like you like they like
$onosyllabic erbs drop their infiniti e
$>H!( ? 6 KULA E to eat MIMI WEWE :E:E SISI NIN:I WAO !:"$'(!S 6 Da1ta!i h+0a ha%a 8+&anne4 Ki"e(e. h+1+wa3a 1i"e(e4 D+1a lile h++3a &1ate4 N(5 &/e h+la &a0ani4 Ba#i la I!in(a h+'i1a h+1 n0ia%an"a #aa nane4 Mwen2e 1+te(a 1iten"awili h+#e&a @Kiten"awili !@4 Na wa#i1ili3a0i wa1e h+0i/+ - @Te(a !@4 -he doctor usually comes here on -uesday. (ittle bird, ; dream of you little bird. -hat shop sells bread. /ows eat grass. -he ;ringa bus usually comes here at the crossroads at ? p.m. -he one who poses a riddle says 6"Diddle I". "nd his listeners answer 6 "Set it I". HULA HULA HULA HULA HULA HULA ; eat you eat he L she eats we eat you eat they eat
-he 8abitual 'resent has no specific form in the negati e. ;nstead, the negati e form of the 'resent Hefinite tense is used. 0See 6 /hapter N 1 -he 'resent Hefinite, #egati e *orm.3
A4 USE -
-he 8abitual 'resent is fre&uently used in METHALI E Swahili sayings and pro erbs 0See 6 $ethali V01.3, as well as in ;ITENDAWILI E Swahili riddles, for which there is usually no specific time reference 6
!:"$'(!S 6 Ha/a na ha/a h+0a3a 1i/a/a4 (ittle by little fills up the measure. *a1a a1i n" 1a. %an2a h+tawala4 +hen the cat is away, the mice will play. M%an"a $2 . h+la $2 4 8e who sows disorderly fashion will eat likewise. U/i#hi &win(i h+leta &ate# 4 -oo much 7oking brings &uarrel. Kiten"awili ? - Te(a ! H+lala t+lala% . h+a&1a t+a&1a% 4 (jua) 9oes to sleep when we sleep, wakes up when we get up. (the sun) H+wa'an2a wat+ w te walie4 (moshi) $akes e erybody cry. (smo'e)
VOCABULARY
Kan3+ Ka%t+la Maiti Ma#h+a Na'a1a N(+3 a man<s muslim robe shorts a corpse, a body a boat grains a pillar Ra&ani Sa1a'+ Sha/a Sin"an Ste#heni Ta1ata1a a map, a plan the ground, the floor copper a syringe a station refuse, waste
EXERCISES
; go, he arri es, we rest, he starts, you eat, he thinks, she speaks, you like, they die, he goes, we re7oice, she cries, you answer, he drinks, they catch, ; need, he lea es, we wait, she closes, you come back.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
Ma2ai h+%ati1ana ha%a 1ila 0+&atat+4 Mlan( wa #h+le h+'+n(+liwa #aa & 0a4 N(+ h+'+liwa 1ila #i1+ &/ili4 *i1i%i1i h+hita0i %et! li na ili4 Wat+ h+%+&3i1a 8+&a%ili4 M1+li&a h+2 h+%ata &a$+n &a3+!i4 Ba#i h+ n" 1a #te#heni #aa &/ili na n+#+4 Kiten"awili - M3ee K &/e a1ilia. wat+ h+'+!ahi4 =M$+a>4 Kiten"awili - Mwana&1e &'+%i h+ten(ene3a % &/e n3+!i4 =N2+1i>4
)H4 Kiten"awili - H+la la1ini ha#hi/i4 =Sin"an >4
Cha%te! CH - The -KA- Ten#e#

-he tense marker -KA- indicates the consecuti ity of an action in relation to another. +e distinguish @ uses of the infi, marker -KA- 1. -he '"S- #"DD"-;A! 6 ?. -he />#S!/4-;A! S45J4#/-;A! @. -he -!(!9D"'8;/ S-F(!
)4 THE *AST NARRATI;E -
-he 'ast #arrati e e,ists only in the affirmati e. -he infi, -KA- is placed between the afirmati e sub7ect prefi, and the erb radical. -his tense accomodates ob7ect infi,es, but cannot be used in relati e constructions.
A> *AST NARRATI;E - AFFIRMATI;E FORM SU@5ECT PREAIB < 6A < $ER@ RADICA=
NI-KA-FAN:A U-KA-FAN:A A-KA-FAN:A TU-KA-FAN:A M-KA-FAN:A WA-KA-FAN:A
-K ni1a'an2a -K +1a'an2a -K a1a'an2a -K t+1a'an2a -K &1a'an2a -K wa1a'an2a
and ; made and you made and he L she made and we made and you made and they made
#>-! 6 $onosyllabic erbs drop their infiniti e prefi, KU- 6 $>H!( 6 KWENDA E to go
NI-KA-ENDA U-KA-ENDA A-KA-ENDA TU-KA-ENDA M-KA-ENDA WA-KA-ENDA
-K ni1aen"a -K +1aen"a -K a1aen"a -K t+1aen"a -K &1aen"a -K wa1aen"a
and ; went and you went and he L she went and we went and you went and they went
B> USE OF THE *AST NARRATI;E -
-he 'ast #arrati e 0the -KA- tense3 is used for narration, but it is often preceded in speech by a first erb in the Simple 'ast, be it affirmati e or negati e 6 Nili1wen"a 1i0i0ini. ni1a&w na !a'i1i 2an(+. ni1a&w &/a a0e na&i &0ini. a1a1+/ali4 ; went to the illage, ; saw my friend, ; asked him to come with me to town, and he accepted. -his e,ample shows that the word NA 0E and3 is ne er e,pressed 6 this concept is already contained within the tense marker -KA. -o e,press negation, we use the Sub7uncti e negati e instead. 0See 6 /hapter @@ 1 -he Sub7uncti e.3 Nili1wen"a &a!1iti. ni1ata'+ta t+n(+le =n2an2a>. ; went to the market, ; looked for tomatoes and ; didn<t find any. >-8!D !:"$'(!S 6 !:"$'(! 6 ni#i%ate4 !:"$'(! 6
Nili1wen"a 9an3i/a! 0ana ni1a!+"i le 4 ; went to )an%ibar yesterday and ; came back today. Ali'i1a M &/a#a. a1a0a!i/+ 1+%ata ,h+&/a h telini. a#i%ate4 8e arri ed in $ombasa, he tried to find a hotel room, and didn<t get any. Nili&w na &li&a0i #ha&/ani. ni1a&w+li3a - @8e. +&e%ata &a$+n &a3+!i ?@ a1a#e&a - @Bwana. #i1+%ata 1it+@4 ; saw a farmer on his plantation, ; asked him 6 "-ell me, 8a e you got good har ests G" and he answered 6 "#o, ; ha en<t got anything at all". M3+n(+ ali'i1a M #hi. a1a na &li&a &1+/wa #ana. a1a&w+li3a &wen2e0i - @8e. &li&a (ani +le ?@ &wen2e0i a1a&0i/+ - @H++ n"i &li&a wa 1ili&an0a! @4 -he white man arri ed in $oshi, he saw a ery high mountain, then he asked a illager 6 "+hat<s this mountain G" the illager answered him 6 "-his is indeed $ount .iliman7aro".
<4 THE CONSECUTI;E SUB8UNCTI;E -
A> CONSECUTI;E SUB8UNCTI;E - AFFIRMATI;E FORM -
-he tense marker -KA- is inserted in the erbal construction of the sub7uncti e affirmati e.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < 6A < $ER@ RADICA= . E
$>H!( 0Aerbs of 5antu origin3 6
KULETA E to bring
NI-KA-LETE U-KA-LETE A-KA-LETE TU-KA-LETE M-KA-LETE WA-KA-LETE
-K ni1alete -K +1alete -K a1alete -K t+1alete -K &1alete -K wa1alete
and that ; bring and that you bring and that he L she brings and that we bring and that you bring and that they bring
Aerbs of "rabic origin keep their final owel -E, -I, or -U 6 NI-KA-8ARIBU U-KA-8ITAHIDI A-KA-SAMEHE -K ni1a0a!i/+ -K +1a0itahi"i -K a1a#a&ehe and that ; try and that you make an effort and that he L she forgi e
$onosyllabic erbs drop their infiniti e prefi, KU- 6 NI-KA-8E -K ni1a0e and that ; come U-KA-LE -K +1ale and that you eat A-KA-ENDE -K a1aen"e and that he L she goes #>-! 6 5y its ery nature the consecuti e sub7uncti e can only be used with classes 1 L ? 0M-?WA- gender3 sub7ect prefi,es.
B> USE OF THE CONSECUTI;E SUB8UNCTI;E -
-his tense is used in con7unction with the erb KWENDA 6 Twen"e t+1ale ! or 6 T+1ale ! (et<s go and eat I Aen"e a1a&wite ! or 6 A1a&wite ! (et him L her go and call him L her I -he tense marker -KA- can also be used in the imperati e of the second person singular. ;n that case it corresponds to a "sharp" order 6 Kalete ! Ka&wa&/ie ! Ka0itahi"i ! the imperati e in -KA- 6 Nen"a 1alete ! !:"$'(!S 6 +ill you bring I +ill you tell him L her I +ill you make an effort I
Nen"a can also be used in front of
+ill you go and bring I
Twen"e t+1ailete &i3i( 2et+ ha%a4 Nen"a 1a&wa&/ie alete ,hai4 U1an+n+e #i(a!a "+1ani4 Bwana 2+% ? - :+% 4 - Ka&wite /a#i !
(et us bring our luggage here. +ill you tell him to bring tea. +ill you buy cigarettes at the shop. ;s the boss here G 1 8e is here. 1 /all him then I
A4 THE TELEGRA*HIC ST:LE -
-he -KA- tense is probably the only tense 0apart from the imperati e3 that can be used used without a sub7ect prefi,, pro ided that the noun sub7ect has been mentioned once in the sentence. -his process is commonly used to make newspaper headlines in the daily press, but not e,clusi ely, as will be seen in a cartoon e,tracted from 'hilip #dunguru<s comic book, M3ee Me1 .
>NOUN SU@5ECT? 6A < $ER@ RADICA=
!:"$'(!S 6 WA9IRI KAFA H!"-8 >* $;#;S-!D NDEGE KAANGUKA BAHARINI '("#! *"((S ;#-> S!" MWI9I KAKAMATWA D>55!D /"498-
$%ee $eko
:+le /a/a 2a1 1a3i"i 0e+!i &aana 0ana 1a!+"i 1alewa #ana hala'+ ana%i(a 1elele h $2 t+4 Ba#i ni1a&1 &e#ha. #i1+&'+n(+lia a1alala n0e &%a1a a#+/+hi na ha1+#e&a l l te4 Four father has twisted the knife in the wound, for yesterday he came back home completely drunk, then he did a lot of noise, so ; refused to open him and he slept outside until morning and he didn<t say anything.
VOCABULARY
A"a A"ha/+ A'2a Ai/+ A0a/+ A1ina e,penses a punishment health shame a wonder relations A&ani A!+#i Eli&+ Fitina F+lani Ha"ithi peace a marriage teaching, education an argument someone a story
EXERCISES
1. ?. @. 4. 5. K. 7. N. =. 10. 11. 1?.
+ill you call the teacher I (et<s eat now I (et them fetch the pupils I +ill you clean my car I +ould you go and read these books at the library. +ill you go and buy me a bottle of /oke in the shop. (et us rest I (et<s drink coffee now I ;f you don<t know, go and ask I 8e went to fish, he fell into the ri er, and couldn<t get out. -hey went hunting, killed an animal and ate it. +e didn<t go outside, we stayed at home and watched tele ision.
E6ERCISE < - -ranslate into !nglish6
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4
Nen"a 1ata3a&e ! U1anilete &a0i. ta'a"hali ! Wa1aen"e 1+t+letea 1+ni n2in(i A1an+n+a (a!i 0i%2a. a1alileta n2+&/ani. a1ali n2e#ha 1wa 1ila &t+4 Niliwa%a wat t &ae&/e 2an(+4 Wa1ala4 Bwana ali% in(ia. wale wat+ wa1a#i&a&a wa1a&wa&1ia4 Ali% li1ataa #ha+!i let+ t+1an2a&a3a4 Te&/ wali1+0a +#i1+. wa1a+$+n0a +1+ta wa #ha&/a. wa1aliha!i/+ #ha&/a l te4 Mt t 2+1 wa%i ? - :+1 +ani4 - Ka&wite /a#i ! U#i n(ee na &t t h+2+. /ali +en"e +1a&wite &a&a 2a1e4 T+li1wen"a H teli 2a Kati. t+1a'a+l+ 1+%ata ,h+&/a 1i& 0a4
)<4 Nen"a 1a ne 1a&a wa3+n(+ wata1wen"a M #hi 1e#h 4
Cha%te! C) - The In"e%en"ent Relati$e *! n +n
)4 THE RELATI;E *RONOUN @AMBA-@ -
-he relati e pronouns "who", "which", "that", are most often present in Swahili as infi,es or suffi,es attached to the erb. -he relati e infi,es or suffi,es must agree in class with the noun sub7ect or ob7ect to which they refer. 8owe er, there also e,ists an independant relati e pronoun that can be used with all erbs in all tenses. -his relati e pronoun is AMBA- which can be translated in !nglish by "who", "which", "that", or "whose", according to the situation. AMBA- ends with the suffi, -O of reference corresponding to the class of the noun with which it agrees. -he relati e AMBA- is placed between that noun and the erb that re&uires a relati e.
-able of agreements of the Delati e 'ronoun AMBAGENDER ? Cla##e#

M-?WA- 0/l 1L?3 M-?MI- 0/l @L43 8I-?MA- 0/l 5LK3 KI-?;I- 0/l 7LN3 N- 0/l =L103 U- 0/l 11, 14 L 103 KU- 0/l 153 L ,ati$e Cla##e#
SINGULAR
AMBA- -:E AMBA- -O AMBA- -LO AMBA- -CHO AMBA- -:O AMBA- -O AMBA- -KO -*O AMBA- -KO -MO
*LURAL
AMBA- -O AMBA- -:O AMBA- -:O AMBA- -;:O AMBA- -9O AMBA- -9O
!:"$'(!S 6 Mt+ a&/a2e a&e1+0a Wat+ a&/a wa&e1+0a Mti a&/a +lian(+1a Ma(a!i a&/a2 2ana'i1a Kiti a&/a,h 1i&e$+n0i1a N(+ a&/a2 i&e%a#+1a Mahali a&/a1 ha1+na wat+ -he person who has come -he people that ha e come -he tree that fell -he cars which arri e -he chair which is broken -he garment which is torn " place where there is nobody
<4 USE OF THE INDE*ENDANT RELATI;E *RONOUN -
-he independant relati e pronoun AMBA- is often used to clarify a phrase, in sentences where the relati e infi, attached to the erb would make it difficult to understand the message. Since one of its roles is to impro e comprehension, it is increasingly used in modern Swahili, no
doubt influenced by the use of the !nglish relati e pronouns. !:"$'(!S 6 H+2+ ni &t t a&/a2e 1e#h hata1+0a #h+le4 Nen alil #e&a a&/al hat+tali#aha+4 Nalili &/a 0e&/e " ( a&/al &wali&+ halit+&ii ana% li&a #ha&/a la1e4 H+2+ ni 2+le &( n0wa a&/a2e &wanan(+ ali1+%a ha/a!i 3a1e 0ana4 Hi1i ni 1ita/+ a&/a,h n"ani 2a1e nili na %i,ha 2a1 4 8ere is the child who will not come to school tomorrow. -he word which he said which we will not forget. ; asked for the small hoe that the teacher doesn<t use when he culti ates his farm. 8ere is the patient about whom my son spoke to you yesterday. -his is the book inside which ; saw your photo.
VOCABULARY
Na1ala Na#i/+ N(a N(a3i N0aa Nta a copy chance, a lottery a shield a ladder famine, hunger wa, N2+n" *ete * #h Ri% ti Ri#a#i Silaha a hammer a ring a ration a report a bullet a weapon
EXERCISES
1. ?. @. 4. 5. K. 7. N. =. 10.
-hose that came. -he ri er that we saw. -he book which ; read. -he one who was late. -he food that we ate. -hose who don<t know. -he mountain which ; climbed. -he person who is my cook. -he eggs which ; bought. -he child who broke the window.
1. ?. @. 4. 5.
$%ee ambaye alikufa. $ti ambao ulianguka. +ageni ambao walifika 7ana. +atoto ambao wanafundishwa na mwalimu yule. Fule ambaye anaitwa 8amisi.
K. 7. N. =.
Hawa ambayo uliila. +ale ambao watakwenda $oshi wataona mlima wa .iliman7aro. 9ari ambalo nimelinunua ni safi kabisa. $i%igo ambayo ilifika 7ana ni yangu.
10. Aia%i ulaya amba yo uli inunua sokoni ni mbo u.
Cha%te! C< - Relati$e ;e!/al C n#t!+,ti n#

5esides the independant relati e pronoun AMBA- , there is in Swahili a relati e particle that enters the erbal construction and that makes it possible to e,press the relati e in the following tenses 6 'resent Hefinite affirmati e 0tense marker -NA-3. Simple 'ast affirmati e 0tense marker -LI-3. *uture affirmati e 0tense marker -TAKA- 3. " single negati e tense, alid for the present, past and future.
-he relati e infi, is made up with the -O of reference, that agrees in class with the noun it refers to. 0See 6 /hapter @1 1 -he "1>" of Deference.3
)4 THE *RESENT DEFINITE RELATI;E -
-he relati e particle -O is placed between the tense marker -NA- and the erbal root.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < NA < O < $ER@ RADICA=
NI-NA-:E-FAN:A U-NA-:E-FAN:A A-NA-:E-FAN:A TU-NA-O-FAN:A M-NA-O-FAN:A WA-NA-O-FAN:A !:"$'(!S 6
-K nina2e'an2a -K +na2e'an2a -K ana2e'an2a -K t+na 'an2a -K &na 'an2a -K wana 'an2a
that ; do L who do that you do L who do that heLshe does L who does that we do L who do that you do L who do that they do L who do
Mt+ ana2e/a1i Wat+ wana /a1i Mti +na /a1i Miti ina2 /a1i Ga!i linal /a1i Ma(a!i 2ana2 /a1i Kiti 1ina,h /a1i ;iti $ina$2 /a1i N(+ ina2 /a1i N(+ 3ina3 /a1i
-he person who remains -he people who remain -he tree which remains -he trees which remain -he car which remains -he cars which remain -he chair which remains -he chair which remain -he clothing which remains -he clothes which remain
<4 THE SIM*LE *AST RELATI;E -
-he relati e particle -O is placed between the tense marker -LI- and the erbal root.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < =I < O < $ER@ RADICA=
NI-LI-:E-FAN:A U-LI-:E-FAN:A A-LI-:E-FAN:A TU-LI-O-FAN:A M-LI-O-FAN:A WA-LI-O-FAN:A
-K nili2e'an2a -K +li2e'an2a -K ali2e'an2a -K t+li 'an2a -K &li 'an2a -K wali 'an2a
that ; made L who made that you made L who made that heLshe made L who made that we made L who made that you made L who made that they made L who made
A4 THE FUTURE RELATI;E -
;n future, an e,tra syllable -KA- must be inserted between the tense marker -TA- and the relati e infi,. -he origin of this syllable is the erb 1+-ta1a 0E to want3.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < TA6A < O < $ER@ RADICA=
NI-TAKA-:E-FAN:A U-TAKA-:E-FAN:A A-TAKA-:E-FAN:A TU-TAKA-O-FAN:A M-TAKA-O-FAN:A WA-TAKA-O-FAN:A !:"$'(!S 6
-K nita1a2e'an2a -K +ta1a2e'an2a -K ata1a2e'an2a -K t+ta1a 'an2a -K &ta1a 'an2a -K wata1a 'an2a
that ; will make L who will make that you will make L who will make that heLshe will make L who will make that we will make L who will make that you will make L who will make that they will make L who will make
Wa(eni wata1a 'i1a 1e#h wata1wen"a 9an3i/a!4 Miti ita1a an(+#hwa itat+&iwa ha%a4 Ga!i nita1al lin+n+a lita1+wa (hali #ana4 Mwana&1e nita1a2e&w a la3i&a a%en"e3e4
-he guests who will arri e tomorrow will go to )an%ibar. -he trees that will be felled will be used here. -he car that ; will buy will be ery e,pensi e. -he woman that ; will marry will ha e to be attracti e.
/hakubanga
Ha2a ni /ei (ani &anana#i 2a1 - Manana#i #i+3i ila ni 3awa"i 1wa 2+le ata1a2en+n+a &%ini 2a 0e&/e ! ?
1 So how much are your pineapples G 1 -he pineapples ; don<t sell, but they are a gift for the one who will buy a hoe handle I
B4 THE NEGATI;E RELATI;E -
-he negati e form of the relati e doesn<t include any tense marker and can be used as well for the present, past and future. ;t is formed by inserting the negati e infi, -SI- between the sub7ect prefi, and the relati e infi,, which is in turn followed by the erbal root.
SU@5ECT PREAIB < SI < O < $ER@ RADICA=
NI-SI-:E-FAN:A U-SI-:E-FAN:A A-SI-:E-FAN:A TU-SI-O-FAN:A M-SI-O-FAN:A WA-SI-O-FAN:A !:"$'(!S 6 Mt+ a#i2e/a1i Wat+ wa#i /a1i Mti +#i 'aa Miti i#i2 'aa Ga!i li#il 1+0a Ma(a!i 2a#i2 1+0a Cha1+la 1i#i,h t #ha ;iti $i#i$2 $+n0i1a N(+ i#i2 '+liwa N(+ 3i#i3 %a#iwa
-K ni#i2e'an2a -K +#i2e'an2a -K a#i2e'an2a -K t+#i 'an2a -K &#i 'an2a -K wa#i 'an2a
; who do not make you who do not make heLshe who does not make we who do not make you who do not make they who do not make
-he person who doesLdidLwill not remain -he people who doLdidLwill not remain " tree which isLwasLwill not 0be3 appropriate -rees which areLwereLwill not 0be3 appropriate -he car that doesLdidLwill not come -he cars that doLdidLwill not come -he food which isLwasLwill not 0be3 enough /hairs that areLwereLwill not 0be3 broken " garment which isLwasLwill not 0be3 washed clothes which areLwereLwill not 0be3 ironed
C4 THE RELATI;E AS A *RONOUN OB8ECT -
-he child who reads a book -he book that the child reads ;n both cases, "the child" is the sub7ect of "read" R but in the 1st sentence, the relati e pronoun, which is the sub7ect of the erb, refers to the child, while in the ?nd sentence, the relati e pronoun, which is the complement ob7ect, refers to the book. -o translate the ?nd sentence in Swahili, two conditions must be obser ed 6 the relati e infi, must agree with "book", and an ob7ect infi, must be inserted in the erbal construction. !:"$'(!S 6 Mt t ali2e# &a 1ita/+ Kita/+ ali,h 1i# &a &t t M3ee ali2eli&a #ha&/a Sha&/a alil lili&a &3ee Mi&i ni#i2e# &a $ita/+ ;ita/+ ni#i$2 $i# &a -he child who read a book -he book that the child read -he old man who culti ated the field -he field that the old man culti ated ; who doLdid not read books -he books that ; doLdid not read
/ompare 6
VOCABULARY
*a&/a *e&/e *+a *+&3i Raha Si1i cotton a tusk the nose breath 7oy inegar S+&+ S+!a Taa!i'a T 'a+ti T+&/a1 ;i'aa a poison, a to,in figure, appearance a report, a bulletin a difference tobacco e&uipment
EXERCISES
1. ?. @. 4. 5. K. 7. N. =. 10. 11. 1?.
-he knife that ; ga e you. -he books which ; bought. -he tree that fell. -he house which will fall. -he fruit which were collected -he young people who seek work. 'eople who li ed here. -he pupils who will speak Swahili. -he shop which sells arious e&uipment. -he old man who sells tobacco at the market. -he cook who was fired from his 7ob. -he guests who arri ed yesterday.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 )H4 ))4
Mwana'+n3i ali2e# &a $ita$+ $in(i ali%ewa 3awa"i4 Wale wana # &a 1i#wahili wata1wen"a Ken2a &wa1a +0a 4 Mi&i ni#i2e0+a 1iin(e!e3a. la3i&a ni#e&e 1i#wahili4 U#i$ae n(+ 2a#i2 %i(wa %a#i4 M%e &3ee 1iti 1i#i,h $+n0i1a4 Wana'+n3i wata1a 'a+l+ &tihani wata%ewa ,heti4 M%e &a#1ini ,ha1+la 1ina,h /a1i4 H+2+ ni &t+ ana2eta'+ta 1a3i4 Wa(eni wali 'i1a 0ana wata1wen"a 1e#h 9an3i/a!4 Mti && 0a +li an(+1a +&eha!i/+ n2+&/a 2an(+4 Miti 2 te ili2 an(+1a +ani itat+&i1a 1wa 1+0en(a n2+&/a &%2a4
)<4 M#i,hana nita1a2e&w a la3i&a awe &3+!i #ana4
Cha%te! CA - The Gene!al Relati$e

-he 9eneral Delati e is a 'resent ;ndefinite Delati e. ;t is used in sentences of the type 6 "*armers who culti ate plants." "/ows which eat grass."
)4 AFFIRMATI;E FORM -
-his speciali%ed relati e tense does not ha e a tense marker. the sub7ect prefi, is directly followed by the erb radical, while a relati e suffi, 0 -O of reference3 is attached at the end of the end of the erb. -his relati e suffi, agrees in class to the noun it refers to. 0See 6 /hapter @1 1 -he "1>" of Deference.3
SU@5ECT PREAIB < $ER@ RADICA= < O
NI-FAN:A-:E U-FAN:A-:E A-FAN:A-:E TU-FAN:A-O M-FAN:A-O WA-FAN:A-O
-K ni'an2a2e -K +'an2a2e -K a'an2a2e -K t+'an2a -K &'an2a -K wa'an2a
; who make you who make he L she who makes we who make you who make they who make
>-8!D $>H!(S 6 KUFAA E -> 5! />#A!#;!#-
GENDER ? Cla##e#
M- =Cla## )> WA- =Cla## <> M- =Cla## A> MI- =Cla## B> 8I- =Cla## C> MA- =Cla## D> KI- =Cla## E> ;I- =Cla## F> N- =Cla## G> N- =Cla## )H> U- =Cla## ))> %l+!al =Cl )H> #>-!S 6
E6AM*LES
&t+ a'aa2e wat+ wa'aa &ti +'aa &iti i'aa2 (a!i li'aal &a(a!i 2a'aa2 1iti 1i'aa,h $iti $i'aa$2 n(+ i'aa2 n(+ 3i'aa3 +&a +'aa n2+&a 3i'aa3 Aerbs of Ni'i1i!i2e A0i/+2e "rabic E E he origin
TRANSLATION
the person who is suitable people who are suitable a tree which is suitable trees which are suitable a car which is suitable cars which are suitable a chair which is suitable chairs which are suitable a garment which is suitable clothes which are suitable a fork which is suitable forks which are suitable beha e like ; L she ordinary who who erbs 6 think answers
$onosyllabic Ni0a2e T+la Si1+
erbs E E 3i0a3
drop
their ; we E
infiniti e prefi, who who coming
KU6 come eat days
!:"$'(!S 6 Mwe3i +0a Mwa1a +0a Wi1i i0a2 Alha&i#i i0a2 Mt t a# &a2e Sha&/a lit+'aal Mwali&+ a'+n"i#ha2e wat t wa Si1+ 3i0a3 3ita1+wa na &$+a n2in(i Nili'i1a &wa1a 0ana. nita n" 1a &wa1a +0a M1+tan +taan3a 8+&anne i0a2 #e,t month #e,t year #e,t week #e,t -hursday -he child who learns " plantation that suits us -he teacher who teaches these children -he coming days will be ery rainy ; arri ed last year, ; will go ne,t year -he meeting will start ne,t -uesday
<4 NEGATI;E FORM -
-he 9eneral Delati e has no negati e form of its own. ;t is the 9eneral #egati e which is naturally used since it does not include any tense markers either. 0See 6 /hapter 5? 1 -he Delati e Aerbal /onstruction.3
A4 *ARTICULAR CASES - KUWA O KUWA NA -
-he
erbs KUWA 0E to be3 and KUWA NA 0E to ha e3 possess a particular relati e
construction that uses the erbal roots LI in the affirmati e and SI in the negati e.
'D!S!#- 1 "**;D$"-;A! *>D$ KUWA "e#,!i%ti$e

NILI:E ULI:E ALI:E TULIO MLIO WALIO
KUWA l ,ati$e
NILI:E*O ULI:E*O ALI:E*O TULIO*O MLIO*O WALIO*O
T!an#lati n
I wh a& 2 + wh a!e he ? #he wh i# we wh a!e 2 + wh a!e the2 wh a!e
'D!S!#- 1 #!9"-;A! *>D$ KUWA "e#,!i%ti$e

NISI:E USI:E ASI:E TUSIO MSIO WASIO
KUWA l ,ati$e
NISI:E*O USI:E*O ASI:E*O TUSIO*O MSIO*O WASIO*O
T!an#lati n
I wh i# n t 2 + wh a!e n t he ? #he wh i# n t we wh a!e n t 2 + wh a!e n t the2 wh a!e n t
-he erbs KUWA et KUWA NA may also be con7ugated in the Simple 'ast and the *uture affirmati e. 8ere is the con7ugation for the @rd person singular and plural 6
S;$'(! '"S- 1 "**;D$"-;A! *>D$ KUWA "e#,!i%ti$e

ALI:EKUWA WALIOKUWA
KUWA l ,ati$e
ALI:EKUWA*O WALIOKUWA*O
T!an#lati n
he ? #he wh wa# the2 wh we!e
*4-4D! 1 "**;D$"-;A! *>D$ KUWA "e#,!i%ti$e

ATAKA:EKUWA WATAKAOKUWA
KUWA l ,ati$e
ATAKA:EKUWA*O WATAKAOKUWA*O
t!an#lati n
he ? #he wh will /e the2 wh will /e
-o con7ugate the erb KUWA NA 0E a oir3, we simply take up the con7ugation of the erb KUWA descripti e and add the word NA after the erb.
!:"$'(!S 6
Wana'+n3i wali na $ita/+4 ;ita/+ wali$2 na$2 4 ;ita$+ wali$2 1+wa na$2 4 ;ita/+ wata1a$2 1+wa na$2 4 Kwa wa#iwa#i ali 1+wa na . ha1+#e&a nen 4 Ha2a ni &anen 2a#i2 na &aana4 H+ ni &3i( nili na ha%a ? Ha1+na &a#i1a 2a#i2 na &/+4 'D>A!D5 6
-he pupils who ha e books. -he books that they ha e. -he books that they had. -he books that they will ha e. 5ecause of the doubt that he had, he didn<t say a word. -hese are words without meaning. Fou do not see the luggage that ; ha e here G -here is no rain season without mos&uitoes.
Akufaaye kwa dhiki ndiye rafiki
VOCABULARY
K+-,han(an2i1a K+-"an(an2a K+-(awa K+-1a(+a K+-1 "i K+-1wa&a to mi, to mislead to di ide to inspect to rent to break down K+-%a#a K+-%i(a 1+!a K+-%in"+a K+-#hta1i K+-tawala K+-te(e&ea to be appropriate to ote to o erturn to accuse to go ern to depend
EXERCISES
1. ?. @. 4. 5. K. 7. N. =. 10.
; will go to !ngland ne,t year. " child who studies is a child who will succeed in life. ; think that the coming month will be ery rainy. -he e,amination will begin ne,t -hursday. ; seek somebody who sells elephant tusks. ;s there anybody here who speaks *rench G 'eople who ote are not numerous. ; seek to rent a house which is con enient for us. -he teachers who teach these children are !uropeans. +e will see each other ne,t week.
)4 <4 A4 B4 C4
Hawa ni wana'+n3i wa%en"a 1+# &a4 U#inia&/ie &anen 2a#i2 na &aana4 Nita1+li%a &#haha!a +%a#a 4 Ni#ai"ie na &a#an"+1+ nili2 na2 4 Ka&a +0+a$2 . n" $+ wa&eha!i/+ &a$+n 2et+4
D4 E4 F4 G4
Shi"a 3et+ ni 3ile 3ile +3i0+a3 4 Ni%e $i'aa 3ili3 % 1a/atini4 Si !ahi#i 1+%ata $2at+ $i'aa$2 4 Ninata'+ta $i/a!+a wali&a $i3+!i4
)H4 Mt t ali2e h "a!i 3ai"i ata%ewa 3awa"i4
Cha%te! CB - A+Iilia!2 ;e!/#

"part from the erb KUWA 0E to be3 which is employed in the formation of compound tenses, a certain number of Swahili erbs can be used as au,iliaries in front of a second erb which is generally, although not e,clusi ely, con7ugated in the infiniti e. -hese erbs employed as au,iliaries add a precision on the way the action takes place.
)4 KWISHA -
-he au,iliary KWISHA 0E to end, to finish3 shows that an action has already taken place. -hat is why this au,iliary is usually con7ugated in the 'ast 'erfect tense. ;n the affirmati e, the erbal construction with KWISHA has undergone a significant e olution, since beginning from two distinct erbal elements, we ha e arri ed today at a uni&ue contracted erbal form where the particle -SHA- simply reinforces the tense marker -ME- of the 'ast 'erfect. !:"$'(! 6 ? distinct erbs 6 Ni&e1wi#ha 1+%ata ; ha e already got a room. ,h+&/a4 -he ?nd erb drops its KU- Ni&e1wi#ha %ata ,h+&/a4 ; ha e already got a room. 6 -he ? erbs fuse together 6 Ni&e#ha%ata ,h+&/a4 ; ha e already got a room. ;n the negati e form, we simply use the 'ast 'erfect negati e 6 !:"$'(! 6 Si0a%ata ,h+&/a or 6 Si0a%ata ,h+&/a /a" ; ha en<t got a room yet.
;n a relati e clause, the tense marker -MESHA- can be kept thanks to the use of the independant relati e pronoun. "lternati ely, we can use KWISHA J ;e!/ !a"i,al in the Simple 'ast relati e 6 !:"$'(! 6 Delati e pronoun 6 Simple 'ast relati e 6 Mi&i a&/a2e ni&e#ha%ata ,h+&/a4 Mi&i nili2e1wi#ha %ata ,h+&/a4 ; who ha e already got a room. ; who ha e already got a room.
KWISHA can also be used in the -KI- tense and then means "when" or "if" 6 !:"$'(! 6 Ni1ii#ha %ata ,h+&/a. nitaan3a #a'a!i 2an(+ 9an3i/a!4 +hen ; ha e got a room, ;<ll start my 7ourney to )an%ibar.
<4 KU8A -
-he au,iliary KU8A 0E to come3 shows that an action will be carried out in the future. ;t is therefore con7ugated in the *uture and is followed by a ?nd erb in the infiniti e. !:"$'(!S 6 Nita1a% %ata &#haha!a. nita1wen"a 1+n+n+a n(+ &%2a4 T+1i0i'+n3a 1wa /i"ii. t+ta1+0a 1+#e&a 1i#wahili #a'i4 +hen ; get a salary, ; will go to buy new clothes. ;f we study hard, we will succeed in speaking a good Swahili.
A4 KWENDA -
the au,iliary KWENDA 0E to go3 indicates that an action is on the point of being carried out. ;t is usually followed by a passi e erb in the infiniti e. -he au,iliary KWENDA is con7ugated in the 'ast 'erfect 6 !:"$'(!S 6 M( n0wa a&e1wen"a 1+%a#+liwa4 Mwana'+n3i a&e1wen"a 1+itwa4 Cha1+la 1i&e1wen"a 1+letwa4 -he patient is to be operated. -he pupil has 7ust been called. *ood is being brought.
;n the 8abitual 'resent, HUENDA carries the notion of "maybe" 6 !:"$'(!S 6 H+en"a "e!e$a a1a%ata #hi"a n0iani4 H+en"a 2e2e ni &( n0wa4 $aybe the dri er has got a problem on the road. $aybe he is sick.
B4 KU*ATA -
-he au,iliary KU*ATA e,presses the opportunity or the possibility of carrying out something. KU*ATA con7ugated in the future or in the imperati e is followed by a second erb in the infiniti e.
!:"$'(!S 6 F+n(+a "i!i#ha ili hewa #a'i i%ate 1+in(ia4 T+'an2e ha!a1a t+%ate 1+&ali3a &a%e&a4 Nita1a% %ata li1i3 . nita%ata 1wen"a #a'a!i4 >pen the window to let fresh air in. (et<s hurry so that we can finish early. +hen ; get holidays, ;<ll be able to go on a 7ourney.
KU*ATA con7ugated in the present indefinite is used to e,press "about, appro,imately". -hree different erbal constructions can be used 6
Cl G #+/0e,t %!e'iI :A1. ?. @. :a%ata wat+ &ia :a%ata $ita/+ $inane :a%ata &e3a i#hi!ini
*!e'iI a(!eein( with the #+/0e,t

Wa%ata wat+ &ia ;2a%ata $ita/+ $inane 9a%ata &e3a i#hi!ini a
Gene!al Relati$e
Wat+ wa%ata &ia ;ita/+ $i%ata$2 $inane Me3a 3i%ata3 i#hi!ini
1. "bout ?. @. "bout twenty tables.
"bout
hundred N
people. books.
C4 -NGALI -
-NGALI which is already known as the tense marker of the 'ast /onditional 0See 6 /hapter 47 1 -he 'ast /onditional3 can also be used as an autonomous au,iliary erb. ;t can be translated by 6 "always, still". -NGALI is usually con7ugated in the 'resent ;ndefinite, while the second erb is in the 'resent Hefinite or in the -KI- tense. !:"$'(!S 6 T+n(ali t+nan( 0a4 Mwali&+ an(ali ana wa#iwa#i4 An(ali% n2+&/ani4 Ma0i 2an(ali1 1i#i&ani4 +e are still waiting. -he teacher still has doubts. 8e L she is still at home. there is still water in the well.
8owe er, there is a much more simple way of e,pressing the same, with the ad erb /a" 6 Ba" ni &t t 4 Ma0i /a" 2a1 1i#i&ani4 :+& n2+&/ani /a" 4 8e L she is still a child. -here is still water in the well. 8e L she is still at home.
Cha%te! CC - C &% +n" Ten#e#

"lthough the mastership of compound tenses is not essential to speak correct Swahili at a basic le el, yet it is preferable to know the e,istence of these tenses and to be able to
recogni%e their forms as well as the meaning attached to them. -his will be the topic of this last chapter.
)4 ;ERBAL CONSTRUCTION -
/ompound tenses in Swahili are always made up of two erbs 6 -he first erb is the au,iliary erb KUWA E to be. *ollowed by a second erb which is the le,ical erb.
Su%2C Pre'i: < Ten"e < 6U0A // Su%2C Pre'i: < Ten"e < $ER@
5oth erbs must carry the sub7ect prefi, corresponding to the noun they refer to. ;n a negati e sentence, it is usually the au,iliary erb only which is in the negati e, while the le,ical erb remains in the affirmati e. -ense combinations are &uite numerous. +e shall see only the most common here. *or a foreigner, it is often difficult to grasp all the minute shades of meaning implied in the use of the compound tenses, all the more since they are translated roughly the same way in !nglish.
<4 *RESENT COM*OUND TENSES -
AU6ILIAR: ;ERB
NI-NA-*O-KUWA
LE6ICAL ;ERB
NI-NA-FAN:A NI-KI-FAN:A NI-ME-FAN:A
T!an#lati n
when ; make when ; am making when ; ha e made
-he tense marker -NA- of the 'resent Hefinite can only be used with KUWA carrying the locati e relati e *O, to indicate when the action takes place 6 Mt t ana% 1+wa a1i,he3a4 Ana% 1+wa anaten(ene3a (a!i la1e4 Ana% 1+wa a&e&ali3a 1a3i4 +hen the child is playing. +hen he repairs his car. +hen he has finished work.
A4 *AST COM*OUND TENSES -
AU6ILIAR: ;ERB
NI-LI-KUWA NI-KA-WA
LE6ICAL ;ERB
T!an#lati n
; made ; was making ; had done
!:"$'(!S 6
T+li% 1+wa Ula2a t+li1+wa t+nat+&ia +hen we were in !urope we used foreign 'e"ha 3a 1i(eni4 currency. Wat t wali1+wa wa1i,he3a4 -he children were playing. T+li1+wa t+&e1+la4 +e had eaten. -he Simple 'ast in -LI- of the au,iliary erb can be replaced by the -KA- tense 6 Ma#i&/a wali1+wa /a!a/a!ani. 1wa hi$2 -here were lions on the road, therefore we t+lia,ha 1+en"e#ha. t+1awa t+nawaan(alia ceased dri ing and we watched them. t+4 Ali1i&/ia hata a1awa a&e,h 1a4 8e L she ran until he L she was tired.
B4 FUTURE COM*OUND TENSES -
AU6ILIAR: ;ERB
NI-TA-KUWA
LE6ICAL ;ERB
T!an#lati n
; will make ; will be making ; will ha e done
!:"$'(!S 6
Mt t ata1+wa ana,he3a4 Mwa1a +0a t+ta1+wa t+1i1aa 1ati1a n2+&/a 2et+ &%2a4 T+ta1+wa t+&e#hi/a 1a/la 2a 1+&ali3a ,ha1+la4
-he child will play. #e,t year we will be staying in our new house. +e will be satiated before finishing the meal.
C4 CONDITIONAL COM*OUND TENSES -
AU6ILIAR: ;ERB
NI-NGE-KUWA NI-NGALI-KUWA
LE6ICAL ;ERB
NI-KI-FAN:A NI-ME-FAN:A NI-KI-FAN:A NI-ME-FAN:A
T!an#lati n
; would be making ; would ha e been making !:"$'(!S 6
An(e1+wa a1ien"a &0ini nin(e&w &/a li'ti4 Un(e1+wa +&e#i1ia !e"i . +n(ewe3a 1+nia&/ia ha/a!i 3a le 4 An(ali1+wa a1i# &a 1wa &wa1a &3i&a. an(ali'a+l+ &tihani wa1e4 Un(ali1+wa +&e% 1ea /a!+a 2an(+. +n(ali0+a 1wa&/a nilita3a&ia 1+'i1a le 4
;f he was going to town, ; would ask him for a lift. ;f you had listend to the radio, you could gi e me today<s news. ;f he had studied all the year, he would ha e passed his e,am. ;f you had recei ed my letter, you would ha e known ; was coming today.
D4 GENERAL NOTES -
A4 USE OF A RELATI;E -
+hen a relati e is employed with a compound tense, the relati e infi, is inserted in the au,iliary erb 6 Mt t ali2e1+wa a&elala4 -he child who was sleeping. Ali% 1+wa a&e&ali3a 1a3i 2a1e. a1a!+"i +hen he had finished his work, he came back 1wa 4 home. Ha ni we3i wali 1+wa wanai/a h+1+ &0ini4 -hese are the thie es who were robbing downtown.
B4 USE OF AN OB8ECT INFI6 -
+hen a complement ob7ect is used with a compound tense, the ob7ect infi, is inserted in the le,ical erb 6 Nili1+wa ni&e1i# &a4 Niliwa%a ,ha1+la nili,h 1+wa ni&e1i%i1a a#+/+hi4 ; had read it. ; ga e them the food ; had cooked this morning.

KISWAHILI - THE BASICS OF SWAHILI GRAMMAR

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KISWAHILI ?

KISWAHILI GRAMMAR - TABLE OF CONTENTS

Swahili in the w !l"

Source 6 the 4/(" language materials pro7ect

De$el %&ent ' Swahili

ALL THE BEST AND GOOD LUCK !

Cha%te! ) - Swahili S%ellin( an" *! n+n,iati n

?. /(4S-!D >* A>+!(S 6

5. />$5;#"-;>#S >* />#S>#"#-S 6

K. -8! SF(("5;/ />#S>#"#- "$" 6

B - S:LLABE. STRESS AND *RONUNCIATION -

E6ERCISE ) - Dead aloud the following words 6

Cha%te! < - G!eetin(#

<4 THE E6CHANGE OF NEWS -

A4 OTHER COMMON E6*RESSIONS -

B4 ;ISITING SOMEBOD: AT HOME -

1 -hank you I 1 -hank you I (To several people)

"t the time of

#>+, (!"D# -8! S>#9 6 J"$5> 6

Jambo ! Jambo Bwana ! Habari gani ? Nzuri sana !

E6ERCISE ) - /lick on the lion to get the e,ercise 6

=. 1 9ood bye. See you tomorrow. 1 >. I

Cha%te! A - The In'initi$e

<4 THE INFINITI;E

D4 THE NEGATI;E INFINITI;E -

6U < TO >< 6U? < RADICA=

E6ERCISE ) - -ranslate into swahili 6

E6ERCISE < - -ranslate into !nglish 6

Cha%te! B - The I&%e!ati$e

<n" %e!# n #in(+la!

<n" %e!# n %l+!al

8a!i/+ ! R+"i ! =Ni->#a&ehe ! !:/!'-;>#S 6

try I come back I forgi e01me3 I

8a!i/+ni ! R+"ini ! =Ni->#a&eheni !

try I come back I forgi e01me3 I

<4 THE *OLITE IM*ERATI;E -

<n" %e!# n #in(+la!

<n" %e!# n %l+!al

try I M0a!i/+ ! come back I M!+"i ! forgi e I M#a&ehe ! $>#>SF(("5;/ A!D5S 6

Uen"e ! U0e ! Ule ! Un2we !

go I come I eat I drink I

Mwen"e ! M0e ! Mle ! Mn2we !

go I come I eat I drink I

A4 THE IM*ERATI;E OF THE )#t *ERSON *LURAL -

TU < $ER@ RADICA= < E

$>#>SF(("5;/ A!D5S 6 Twen"e ! T+le ! T+we ! let<s go I let<s eat I let<s be I

B4 THE NEGATI;E IM*ERATI;E -

5antu erb 6 "rabic erb 6 $onosyllabic erb 6

<n" %e!# n #in(+la!

<n" %e!# n %l+!al

E6ERCISE ) - 'ut these erbs in the Hirect ;mperati e 6

E6ERCISE < - 'ut these erbs in the 'olite ;mperati e 6

E6ERCISE B - 'ut these erbs in the #egati e ;mperati e 6

E6ERCISE C - -ranslate into !nglish 6

e4 M#i'+ate ! M#i/a1i ! M#i!+"i ! M#i'i1i!i ! M#ian(+1e ! M#i'+n(+e ! M#i1eti ! M#i ne !

Cha%te! C - The N &inal Cla##e#

Cl4 L ,ati$e# /l. 1K, 17, 1N *A-. KU-. M#>-!S 6

of this work, but to study them separately.

Cha%te! D - The M-?WA- Gen"e!

/l 1 0Singular3 6 /l ? 0'lural3 6 ;n front of a owel,

prefi, Mprefi, WA-

MTU E a person, the person WATU E people, the people

<4 THE OLITE IMERATI;E -

A4 THE IMERATI;E OF THE )#t ERSON *LURAL -

<4 OTHER NOUNS OF EOLE -

B4 A ARTICULAR RONOUN - @-OTE@ -