-KI- TENSE

       i.            Conditional or hypothetical –ki- (if)

    ii.            Simultaneous –ki- (while doing x)

 

Conditional or hypothetical –ki- (if)

Ukienda nyumbani, utamwona [if you go home, you will see him]

Wakinywa kahawa wataburudika [if they drink coffee, they will be refreshed]

Nikimwona Kojo nitamsalimia [if I see Kojo, I will greet him]

 

The words ‘kama’ or ‘ikiwa’ (both mean ‘if’) may be used in hypothetical situations.

Kama utaenda nyumbani/ Ikiwa utaenda nyumbani [if you will go home]

Kama watakunywa kahawa/ikiwa watakunywa kahawa [if they drink coffee]

Kama nitamwona/ Ikiwa nitamwona [if I see him]

 

Negating conditional or hypothetical –ki- (if not/ unless)

1.      Using the word ‘kama’

Kama hutaenda nyumbani [if you will not go home]

Kama hawatakunywa  kahawa [if they do not take coffee]

Kama sitamwona Kojo [If I do not see Kojo]

 

2.     Replacing-ki- with –sipo-

Usipoenda nyumbani [if you will not go home]

Wasipokunywa  kahawa [if they do not take coffee]

Nisipomwona Kojo [If I do not see Kojo]

 

 

Present participle or simultaneous –ki- (while doing x)

Tuliwaona wakikimbia [we saw them (while they were) running]

Nilimsikia akiimba [I heard him (while he was) singing]

Alianguka akishuka gari [he fell when alighting from the car]

 

Present participle –ki- with kuwa, the verb ‘to be’

Alikuwa akicheka [he was laughing]

I will be sleeping [nitakuwa ninalala]

Tumekuwa tukicheza [we have been playing]

 

Exercise 1

Translate: If he has no money, then he cannot travel

Ikiwa ana pesa, basi hawezi kusafiri

Ikiwa hana pesa, basi anaweza kusafiri

Ikiwa hana pesa, basi hawezi kusafiri

Ikiwa na pesa, basi hawezikusafiri

Translate: If you have some time, pass by

Ukiwa na nafasi, pitia

Uko na nafasi, pitia

Una nafasi, pitia

Ikiwa na nafasi, pitia

Translate: If the hand hurts, go to the hospital

Mkono ikiuma, nenda hospitalini

Mkono ukiuma, nenda hospitalini

Mkono akiuma, nenda hospitalini

Mkono unauma, nenda hospitalini

Translate: If he comes home, I will be happy

Ukija nyumbani, nitafurahi

Akija nyumbani, utafurahi

Akija nyumbani, nitafurahi

Akienda nyumbani, nitafurahi

Translate: I saw them walking

Niliwaona wanatembea

Niliwaona wakitembea

Niliwaona wakatembea

Niliwaona walitembea

Translate: We saw the lion sleeping

Tuliona simba akila

Tuliona simba analala

Tuliona simba alilala

Tuliona simba akilala

Translate: He saw us hiding

Alituona tukijificha

Alituona tunajificha

Alituona tulijificha

Aliniona tukijificha

Translate: If you don't work, don't eat

Ukifanya kazi, usile

Usipofanya kazi, ule

Usipofanya kazi, usile

Ukifanya kazi, usile

Exercise 2

      i.            Translate

ii.            Negate  

a)    If you like, we will visit Kenya

b)    If he drinks, he sleeps

c)     He was singing

d)   They will run if they see the car coming

e)    She was waiting

f)      If you go to school now, you will see the teacher

g)    If she comes tomorrow, I will not be happy

h)   I cut my finger while cleaning the glass

i)      We saw the children playing

j)      They say him steal the car