Habari!

Present tense in Swahili

Affirmative Sentences:

• • The present tense conjugation in affirmative sentences involves adding prefixes to the verb root. These prefixes depend on the subject of the sentence.

Subject

Prefix

I -> ni-

You -> u-

He/She/It -> a-

We -> tu-

You (pl) -> mna-

They -> wa-

For example:

• • • "I eat" is "Ninakula" (ni- + -na- + kula).

    • "You read" is "Unasoma" (u- + -na- + soma).

Negative Sentences:

• • To make a negative sentence in the present tense, you add the negative infix "si-" before the subject prefix and the tense marker "-i-."

• Subject

• Prefix

I -> si-

You -> ha-

He/She/It -> ha-

We -> ha-

You (pl) - > ha-

They -> ha-

For example:

• • • "I don't eat" is "Sisomi" (si- + -si- + soma).

    • "You don't read" is "Hasomi" (ha- + -si- + soma).

Now, here's a list of some basic verbs in their infinitive form along with their English translations:

• Kula - to eat

• Kunywa - to drink

• Soma - to read

• Andika - to write

• Chukua - to take

• Piga - to hit

• Cheza - to play

• Fanya - to do/make

• Elewa - to understand

• Penda - to love