(Mafunzo ya Kiingereza: Aina za Vitenzi kwa Kiswahili)
Verbs are the heart of every sentence. They describe what someone does, feels, or is. In Swahili, a verb is called a kitenzi, and the plural is vitenzi.
In this lesson, we will look at the main types of verbs in English, how they work, and their translations in Kiswahili (Swahili).
1. Action Verbs – Vitenzi vya Hatua
These are verbs that show what someone or something does. They describe real or mental actions.
Examples:
| English Verb | Swahili Verb | Example (EN) | Mfano (SW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| run | kukimbia | I run every day. | Nakimbia kila siku. |
| eat | kula | We eat together. | Tunakula pamoja. |
| study | kusoma | They study English. | Wanasoma Kiingereza. |
2. Linking Verbs – Vitenzi Viunganishi
These verbs connect the subject of a sentence to more information about the subject. They don’t show action.
Common Linking Verbs:
- is, are, was, were, become, seem
Examples:
| English | Swahili Equivalent | Example (EN) | Mfano (SW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| is | ni / yuko | She is smart. | Yeye ni mwerevu. |
| become | kuwa | He became a teacher. | Alikuwa mwalimu. |
| seems | kuonekana | It seems difficult. | Inaonekana ngumu. |
3. Helping Verbs – Vitenzi vya Kusaidia
These verbs work together with the main verb to show time or condition.
Examples:
| Helping Verb | Swahili Use | Example (EN) | Mfano (SW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| will | -ta- (future) | I will go to school. | Nitakwenda shuleni. |
| have | nime- (perfect) | I have finished the work. | Nimekamilisha kazi. |
| can | naweza | She can swim. | Anaweza kuogelea. |
4. Transitive Verbs – Vitenzi Vinavyohitaji Kitu
These verbs need a direct object to complete their meaning.
Examples:
| English Verb | Swahili Verb | Direct Object | Example (EN) | Mfano (SW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| read | kusoma | a book (kitabu) | He reads a book. | Anasoma kitabu. |
| write | kuandika | a letter (barua) | She writes a letter. | Anaandika barua. |
5. Intransitive Verbs – Vitenzi Visivyo na Kitu
These do not need an object. The action is complete by itself.
Examples:
| English Verb | Swahili Verb | Example (EN) | Mfano (SW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| sleep | kulala | The child sleeps. | Mtoto analala. |
| arrive | kufika | They arrived late. | Walifika kuchelewa. |
6. Regular Verbs – Vitenzi vya Kawaida
Regular verbs form the past tense by adding “-ed”.
| Present Tense | Past Tense | Swahili Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| talk | talked | kuzungumza |
| play | played | kucheza |
| clean | cleaned | kusafisha |
7. Irregular Verbs – Vitenzi Visivyo Kawaida
These verbs form the past tense differently (not with “-ed”).
| Present Tense | Past Tense | Swahili Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| go | went | kwenda |
| eat | ate | kula |
| have | had | kuwa na |
Final Notes for Learners
- Every sentence in English must have a verb.
- Learn which verbs need objects and which don’t.
- Practice using different types of verbs in daily conversation.
Practice Tip (Kidokezo cha Mazoezi):
Try writing five sentences using each type of verb. Then translate them into Swahili.
Example Practice:
English: I will eat.
Swahili: Nitakula.
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