In English the verb "to be" is irrregular; I am, you are, he is. In Swahili the verb "to be" in its present tense form is simple, with just one form "ni".
Jina langu ni John.
My name is John
Mimi ni mzungu
I'm a European
Yeye ni Elizabeth na hayu ni Kevin
She is Elizabeth and this is Kevin
Sisi ni wanafunzi
We are students
Showing posts with label verbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label verbs. Show all posts
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Verb Conjugation
Today some practice with basic verb conjugations.
1) Subject pronouns ( I, you, he/she, we, you, they )
Subject prefixes are added before a verb root to represent the subject of the sentence.
The subject prefixes for personal pronouns are:
3) Present tense
The present tense of a verb involves adding a second prefix "-na-" between the subject prefix and the root. The verb construction is hence formed by
[subject prefix] + "na" + [verb root]
For example the verb kutoka means to come from. The root is formed by removing the infinitive part of the verb "ku" leaving the verb root toka. The tense infix na representing present tense is added and the subject prefix is added to the start.
7) More examples
Mimi ninasoma Kiswahili.
I am studying swahili
Mimi ninakaa Indu.
I live in India
Mimi ninapenda bibi yangu.
I love my wife
Wewe unapenda kulala.
You like to sleep.
nyinyi mnalala.
You are sleeping.
mimi ninapenda kuimba na kucheza.
I like to sing and to dance
mimi ninajaribu kuandika Kswahili.
I try to write swahili
mimi ninafikiri wewe unasoma Kiswahili.
I think you are reading swahili
1) Subject pronouns ( I, you, he/she, we, you, they )
- mimi (I)
- wewe (you s.)
- yeye (he, she)
- sisi (we)
- nyinyi (you pl.)
- wao (they)
Subject prefixes are added before a verb root to represent the subject of the sentence.
The subject prefixes for personal pronouns are:
- mimi ni-
- wewe u-
- yeye a-
- sisi tu-
- nyinyi m-
- wao wa-
3) Present tense
The present tense of a verb involves adding a second prefix "-na-" between the subject prefix and the root. The verb construction is hence formed by
[subject prefix] + "na" + [verb root]
For example the verb kutoka means to come from. The root is formed by removing the infinitive part of the verb "ku" leaving the verb root toka. The tense infix na representing present tense is added and the subject prefix is added to the start.
mimi ni-na-toka.... I come from....
wewe u-na-toka.... you come from.... (s.)
yeye a-na-toka.... he/she comes from....
sisi tu-na-toka.... we come from....
nyinyi m-na-toka.... you come from.... (pl.)
wao wa-na-toka.... they come from...
5) Some verbs for practice
kutoka to come from
kusema to speak
kusoma to study/read
kukaa to live/stay
kupenda to like/love
kulala to sleep
kucheka to laugh
kuimba to sing
kucheza to play/dance
kuandika to write
kusikia to hear
kuona to see
kuishi to live
kujibu to answer
kujaribu to try
kurudi to return to
kufikiri to think
6) Examples using kusema
- mimi ninasema Kiswahili
- wewe unasema Kiswahili
- yeye anasema Kiswahili
- sisi tunasema Kiswahili
- nyinyi mnasema Kiswahili
- wao wanasema Kiswahili
7) More examples
Mimi ninasoma Kiswahili.
I am studying swahili
Mimi ninakaa Indu.
I live in India
Mimi ninapenda bibi yangu.
I love my wife
Wewe unapenda kulala.
You like to sleep.
nyinyi mnalala.
You are sleeping.
mimi ninapenda kuimba na kucheza.
I like to sing and to dance
mimi ninajaribu kuandika Kswahili.
I try to write swahili
mimi ninafikiri wewe unasoma Kiswahili.
I think you are reading swahili
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