1. What is a Verb in Swahili?
A verb (in Swahili: kitenzi) is a word that expresses an action or a state. Just like in English, verbs in Swahili are essential in forming sentences.
Examples:
- kula – to eat
- kupenda – to love
- kucheka – to laugh
- kuamka – to wake up
Most Swahili verbs begin with the prefix “ku-“ in their infinitive form.
2. Verb Structure Basics
Swahili verbs are typically made up of several parts:
[Subject Prefix] + [Tense Marker] + [Verb Root] + [Extensions]
Example:
Ninapika
- Ni- = I
- -na- = present tense marker (am/are/is)
- -pika = to cook
Translation: I am cooking
3. Subject Prefixes (Viambishi vya Nafsi)
English | Swahili Prefix |
---|---|
I | ni- |
You | u- |
He/She | a- |
We | tu- |
You (pl.) | m- |
They | wa- |
4. Tense Markers (Viashiria vya Wakati)
Tense | Marker | Example | Meaning |
---|---|---|---|
Present | -na- | ninakula | I am eating |
Past | -li- | ulikula | You ate |
Future | -ta- | watakula | They will eat |
Negative Present | -si- | sili | I do not eat |
5. Common Verb Examples
Infinitive Form | Meaning | Sentence Example (Present) |
---|---|---|
kusoma | to read/study | Ninasoma kitabu. (I am reading a book.) |
kuandika | to write | Anaandika barua. (He/She is writing a letter.) |
kuimba | to sing | Tunaimba pamoja. (We are singing together.) |
kukimbia | to run | Watoto wanakimbia. (The children are running.) |
6. Forming Negative Verbs
To make a verb negative in the present tense, use a different subject prefix and drop the tense marker.
Positive: Ninakula (I am eating)
Negative: Sili (I do not eat)
Subject | Positive | Negative |
---|---|---|
I | Ninakula | Sili |
You | Unakula | Huli |
He/She | Anakula | Hali |
We | Tunakula | Hatuli |
7. Practice Exercise
Translate the following into Swahili:
- She is reading.
- We are running.
- They will write.
- I do not sing.
Answers:
- Anasoma
- Tunakimbia
- Wataandika
- Siimbi
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