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.