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.