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.