Subjunctives

Subjunctives are verbs used to express suggestions, wishes, uncertainty, possibility, commands, or things that could or should happen.

The subjunctive form is very common in Kiswahili and is used in everyday speech.

How to Form the Subjunctive

To form the subjunctive;  

1. The verb normally ends in -e instead of -a. 
2. Tense markers are usually removed.

Note:Some verbs do not end with -a, such as fikiri and jibu. In these cases, the final vowel usually remains unchanged in the subjunctive form.

Ninafikiri → Nifikiri

[I think → I should think]
Unajibu → Ujibu
[You answer → You should answer]

Mifano (Examples)

• Anasoma → Asome
  [She or he is reading → She or he should read]

• Anakula → Ale
  [She or he is eating → She or he should eat]

• Tutakuja → Tuje
  [We will come → We should come]

• Ninafikiri → Nifikiri
  [I think → I should think]

• Atakuja → Aje
  [She or he will come → She or he should come]

• Nala → Nile
  [I am eating → I should eat]

• Analala → Alale
  [She or he is sleeping → He or she should sleep]

When to Use Subjunctives

1. Giving Indirect Commands

(For ‘you’ to do something to someone else)

• Mpatie chakula
  [Give him food]

• Mwitishe kitabu
  [Ask him for the book]

2. Making Suggestions

• Ulale
  [You should sleep]

• Apumzike
  [He should rest]

3. Second Part of Two Commands

• Chukua kalamu uandike
  [Take a pen and write]

• Fungua kitabu usome
  [Open the book and read]

Words Commonly Used with Subjunctives

• Lazima [It’s a must]

• Afadhali [It is better that]

• Tafadhali [Please]

• Ni bora [It is better]

• Ili [So that]

Mifano katika Sentensi

(Examples in Sentences)

• Ni bora ulale.
  [It is better that you sleep.]

• Afadhali tusome.
  [We should read.]

• Ni lazima uende shuleni.
  [You must go to school.]

• Ni bora twende nyumbani.
  [We should go home.]

• Alikuja ili nimsaidie.
  [He/she came so that I could help her/him.]

Negating Subjunctives

When negating subjunctives, we insert the infix si between the subject prefix and the verb.

• Uende → Usiende
  [You should go → You should not go]

• Acheke → Asicheke
  [He should laugh → He should not laugh]

• Mlale → Msilale
  [You should sleep → You should not sleep]

• Tutembee → Tusitembee
  [Let us walk → We should not walk]

Exercises

A. Write the subjunctive verbs of the following words.

1. Analala

2. Anaandika

3. Unakuja

4. Anasoma

5. Unajibu

6. Asiende

7. Asikuje

8. Atakula

B. Translate the Following Sentences into Kiswahili

1. Take a pen and write.

2. Write, and do not ask me questions.

3. Close the door, and do not go out.

4. Do not ask him questions.

5. Enter so that we may talk.

6. Don’t let anyone open this door.

7. I ask you to be patient.

8. I would like you to sing.

9. I will sit down so I can have some rest.