Diminutive and Augmentative Nouns

Diminutives express smallness; when a noun becomes diminutive, it belongs to the KI-/VI- class and follows the agreement rules for this class.

Augmentatives express largeness; they take ji- and ma- prefixes from the JI-/MA- noun class and follow the agreement rules for this class.

Regular	Diminutive (Singular/ Plural)
Mtoto [Baby]	Kitoto/ Vitoto
Mbwa [Dog]	Kijibwa/ Vijibwa
Nyumba [House]	Chumba/ Vyumba
Mlima [Mountgain]	Kilima/ Vilima
Msichana [Girl]	Kisichana/ Visichana
Kiatu [Shoe]	Kijiatu/Vijiatu
Mto [River]	Kijito/ Vijito
Mwiko [Serving  Spoon]	Kijiko/Vijiko
Kitanda [Bed]	Kijitanda/Vijitanda

Regular	Augmentative (Singular/ Plural)
Mlango [Door]	Lango/Malango
Mbwa [Dog]	Jibwa/Majibwa
Mguu [Leg]	Guu/Jiguu
Mkono [Hand]	Kono/Makono
Kiatu [Shoe]	Jiatu/Majiatu
Kikombe [Cup]	Jikombe/Majikombe
Mtu [Person]	Jitu/Majitu
Nyumba [House]	Jumba/Majumba
Mto [River]	Jito/Majito

 

Mifano

1.      Tuliona vilima vingi [we saw many small mountains/hills]

2.     Visichana vinajificha vivulana vile [the small girls are hiding from those small boys]

3.     Kijiatu hiki ni cha nani? [Whose tiny shoe is this?]

4.    Malango makubwa yamefunguliwa [the big doors have been opened]

5.     Jitu hilo lina maguu mafupi [that huge person/giant has short big legs]

6.    Majito mengi yamekauka [many big rivers have dried up]

 

Exercise

 What is the diminutive form of: Baby

Jitoto

Mtoto

Kitoto

Litoto

What is the diminutive form of: Hand

Kikono

Likono

Jikono 

Mkono

Convert to plural: kitunda

Matunda

Mavitunda

Jitunda

Vitunda

Convert to singular: Visichana

Msichana

Wasichana

Kisichana

Vijisichana

What is the augmentative form of: Knife

Kisu

Kijisu

Visu

Jisu

What is the augmentative form of: Person

Jitu

Mtu

Watu 

Kijitu

What is the augmentative form of: House

Jumba

Nyumba

Linyumba

Kinyumba

Convert to plural: Jito

Mito

Mamto

Majito

Vijito

NARRATIVE -KA- TENSE

It is sometimes called the ‘subsecutive’ tense; it expresses that a second action relies on the first action being carried out.

1.      When narrating a story that happened in the past, you introduce the story by the past tense marker -li- and use the -ka- tense marker subsequently to narrate the story.

2.     Also used with verbs in the subjunctive, following an imperative (going to do something).

3.     ‘Headline’ Ka- is used without a subject prefix and without altering the verb.

 

The Narrative Tense

1.      Jana nilienda dukani nikanunua marashi na nikampelekea rafiki yangu [Yesterday I went to the shop bought perfume and took to my friend]

2.     Mti ulianguka ukaligonga gari likaharibika [A tree fell and hit the car and it was damaged]

3.     Kitabu kilichukuliwa kikachomwa [The book was taken and then burnt]

4.    Nimemwona nikakimbia nikajificha [I have seen him then ran and hid myself]

 

Consecutive Subjunctive

1.      Nenda jikoni ukapike [Go to the kitchen and cook]

2.     Twende tukale [Let us go and sleep]

3.     Mwambie akalete kikombe [Tell him/her to go and bring a cup]

4.    Ukanunue mkate dukani [Would you go and buy bread at the shop]

 

‘Headline’ Ka

1.      Mtoto kazaliwa na miguu mitatu [A baby is born with three legs]

2.     Mbunge kachaguliwa tena [A member of parliament is reelected]

3.     Mwizi kapigwa na umati [A thief is beaten by a crowd]

4.    Gari kapata ajali [A car is an accident]

 

Exercise 1

 Translate: Go and bring

Nenda ukalete

Nenda uchukue

Nenda na usilete

Nenda ukampatie

Translate: He stood and the tree fell

Alisimama na mti ukaanguka

Alisimama na mti ikaanguka

Alisimama na mti ilianguka

Alisimama na mti alianguka

Translate: Let me go and bring

Wacha niende nitalete

Wacha nienda nikalete

Wacha aende akalete

Wacha niende nililete

Translate: Let us go and eat

Twende tukanywe

Nenda ukale 

Twende tule

Twende tukale

Translate: We went and bought some new clothes

Tulienda tukanunua nguo mpya

Tulienda tulinunua nguo mpya

Tulienda hatukununua nguo mpya

Tulienda mkanunua nguo mpya

Translate: Go and call the police

Nitaenda kuita polisi

Alienda kuita polisi

Ulienda ukaita polisi

Nenda ukaite polisi

Translate: The cup fell and cracked

Kikombe alianguka na akapasuka

Kikombe ulianguka na kikapasuka

Kikombe kilianguka na kikapasuka

Vikombe vilianguka na vikapasuka

Translate: The house caught fire and burnt down

Nyumba ilishika moto na ikachomeka

Nyumba alishika moto na akachomeka

Nyumba ilishika moto na akachomeka

Nyumba zilishika moto na zikachomeka

Exercise 2

a)    She saw him in town, told him the news and then boarded a bus

b)    Would you go and bring the book

c)     Let them run and look for him

d)   An aeroplane crashes

e)    I did not go to the market; I stayed at home and watched tv

f)      They invited us to the house, and they cooked, and we ate

g)    Let me go and tell them we have returned

h)   The basketball team goes to the Olympics

i)      Six people die when a drunk driver crashes into a bus

j)      The bird flew, landed on his head and sang.

RECIPROCAL FORM OF THE VERB

Reciprocal verbs convey the meaning of “doing something to, with or against each other; reciprocating actions on each other.

This category of verbs ends with the suffix -na.

 

Direct Reciprocal Form

oa [marry]	oana [marry each other]
Kopa [borrow]	Kopa [borrow from each other]
Tafuata [search]	Tafuata [search for each other]
Penda [like/love]	Penda [like/love each other]
Salimia [greet]	Salimia [greet each other]

Reciprocal with Prepositional

Nunua [buy]	Nunulia [buy for]	Nunuliana [buy for each other
Piga [beat]	Pigia [beat for]	Pigiana [beat for each other]
Soma [read]	Somea [read for]	Someana [read for each other]
Andika [write]	Andikia [write to/for]	Andika [write to/for each other]

 

 

Exercise 1

Select a reciprocal verb

Fanyiana

Sukuma

Sema

Ona

Wachezaji wali________ waliposhindwa 

Laumu

Laamu

Lauma

Laumiana

Ina_______ kuwa watu hupenda ufisadi

Inasema

Inaseeka

Inasemeka

Inasemekana

Maadui _____________

Walipiga

Walipigania

Walipigila

Walipigana

Select a sentence that does not have reciprocal verb

Wapishi walilishiana watoto

Watoto walirushiana matusi

Watalii hushauriana kuhusu mengi

Juma alichukua kitabu cha Hadija

Translate: Wavulana walisomeana kitabu

The boys read the book on behalf of each other

The books read the books for each other

Books were read for each other

Books were read but not by the boys

Select a sentence that contains reciprocal verb

Wapenzi walifichuliana siri

Baba alifika mapema

Kesho Tutaenda shuleni

Madereva huendesha magari

Translate: The boys passed the ball to each other

Wavulana walipiga mpira

Wavulana walipigiana mpira

Wavulana waliacha kumpiga mpira

Mpira ulipigwa na mvulana mmoja

Exercise 2: Translate the following to Kiswahili

a.     The kids are fighting each other.

b.    They love each other very much.

c.     We will read for each other.

d.    We’ve known each other since last year.

e.     They met and ran towards each other.

f.       We like writing to each other.

g.     During holidays, people buy each other gifts.

h.    We met and greeted each other.

PREPOSITIONAL FORM OF THE VERB

A preposition is a word or group of terms used to show direction, location, or time or that introduces an object. Some Swahili verbs can be made into prepositional forms.

They convey the meaning of doing something to, for, or on behalf of someone.

 

Verbs with a, i or u, end with -ia

Lala [sleep]	Lalia [sleep on]
Rudi [return]	Rudia [return to/for]
Jibu [answer]	Jibia [answer to/for]

 

 

Verbs where the 2nd last syllable contains e or o end with -ea

Soma [study]	Somea [read for]
Kopa [borrow]	Kopea [borrow/lend for]
Sema [say/speak]	Semea [say/speak for]
Enda [go]	Endea [go for]

 

 

Verbs with double vowels end with -lia or -lea

Nunua [buy]	Nunulia [buy for]
Pokea [receive]	Pokelea [receive for]
Jua [know]	Julia [know for]
Lia [cry]	Lilia [cry for]

 

Exercise 1

Select a prepositional verb in the following list.

Panga

Cheza

Imba

Lalia

Majeruhi wali______kwenye eneo la ajali.

Okoa

Okota

Okolewa

Okoka

Select a sentence which does not contain a prepositional verb

Mwalimu aliwaandikia wanafunzi maswali

Mgeni aliwachezea wenyeji

Gari lilifika kwa haraka

Mtoto alililia chakula

Mama ali___________ watoto wake pipi

Nunua

Nunuka

Nunuka

Nunulia

Si vizuri kuwa______ wanawake heshima

Vunja

Vunjia

Vunjizi

Vunjufu

Translate: We passed by his place

Tulipita kwake

Tulipitia kwake

Walipitia kwake

Tulimpita kwake

Select a prepositional verb in the following list

Sameha

Salimu

Saliti

Safiria

Tuliwa____ simu polisi tulipovamiwa na majambazi

Pigia

Pigizi

Pigilia

Pigika

Translate: He cut the tree on behalf of the owner

Alimkatia mmiliki mti

Mti ulikatika na mtu

Mti ulikataa na mmiliki

Mti haukukata na mtu

Exercise 2: Translate the following to Kiswahili

a.     Grandpa is cooking for us.

b.    He worked for us.

c.     The teacher is reading for the students.

d.    I will not answer for you.

e.     He bought her a car.

f.       I will not cry for you.

g.     He will speak on our behalf.

h.    She paid for his debt.

CAUSATIVE VERBS

Causative verbs express the meaning of “to make something happen” or “to cause an action to take place”.

 

Verbs ending with a, i or u, use -isha

La [eat]	Lisha [to be fed/to cause to eat]
Rudi [go back]	Rudisha [to cause to return]
Abudu [worship]	Abudisha [to cause to worship]
Fanya [do]	Fanyisha [to cause to do]

 

 

Verbs where the 2nd last syllable contains o or e, use -esha/-eza

Soma [study]	Somesha [cause to study/teach]
Kopa [borrow]	Kopesha [cause to borrow/lend]
Sema [say/speak]	Semesha [to cause to say/speak]
Enda [go]	Endesha [cause to go/drive]
Penda [like/love]	Pendeza [to cause to like/love]
Toka [come out]	Tokeza [to cause to come out]

 

Verbs roots ending with k use -sha

Kumbuka [remember]	Kumbusha [remind]
Chemka [boil]	Chemsha [to cause to boil]
Ruka [jump]	Rusha [make jump/throw]

 

 

Exceptions that use -za

Lala [sleep]	Laza [cause to sleep]
Uma [hurt]	Umiza [to cause to hurt]

 

Causatives from adjectives and nouns use -isha or -esha

Maana [meaning]	Kumaanisha [to mean]
Safi [clean]	Kusafisha [to clean]
Sababu [reason/cause]	Kusababisha [to cause]
Rahisi [simple/easy]	Kurahisisha [to make easy]

 

 

Exercise 1

Select the causative verb

Linda

Lisha

Lingana

Lipa

Translate: He suddenly ended the meeting

Alikatika mkutano kwa ghafla

Mkutano ulikatika kwa ghafla

Alikatiza mkutano kwa ghafla

Alikataa mkutano kwa ghafla

Select the statement that does not contain a causative verb

Yaya alimlaza mtoto kitandani

Polisi walimfukuza mwizi

Bidhaa zote zimenunuliwa

Alinionyenya jinsi ya kupika wali

Mwamu aliwa__________ wageni

karibu

karibia

Karibisha

Karibiana

Tafsiri: Mwendawazimu aliwaogopesha wanafunzi

The madman frightened the children

Children were frightened by the man person

The children and mad person were frightened

Children frightened the mad man.

Pombe nyingi ina________________

Lewa

Lewesha

Leweka

Kulewa

Tafsiri: The parent made the child sit

Mtoto alimkalisha mzazi

Mzazi alikaa na mtoto

Mtoto alikaza mzazi

Mzazi alimkalisha mtoto

Select the statement that does not contain a causative verb

Mama alisali asubuhi na jioni

Mama alimwamsha mtoto

Mwalimu anasomesha wanafunzi

Mlishe mtoto ili anenepe

Exercise 2:Translate the following to Kiswahili

a.     Drivers are told to drive carefully.

b.    I lent him some money.

c.     Work makes a person tired.

d.    The mother is feeding the baby.

e.     He taught her how to drive a car.

f.       He lost the money.

g.     The doctor cured the patient.

h.    They were educated by the government.

i.       He has been told to clean his room.

I am going to put the baby to sleep.