QUICK NOTES: “TO BE” (kuwa) and “TO HAVE” (kuwa na)

1. “TO BE” — kuwa

A. Present tense: NI (am / is / are)

In Kiswahili, ni is used to talk about:

• who someone is
• what something is
• what something is like

Examples you may use while travelling:

• Mimi ni mgeni.
  (I am a visitor.)
• Mimi ni rafiki wa Asha.
  (I am Asha’s friend.)
• Huyu ni rafiki yangu.
  (This is my friend.)
• Huu ni mradi wa wanawake.
  (This is a women’s project.)
• Chakula hiki ni kitamu.
  (This food is delicious.)
• Wanawake ni wachapa kazi.
  (The women are hardworking.)

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B. Past and Future (for understanding)

• alikuwa = was
• atakuwa = will be

Examples:

• Mradi ulikuwa mzuri.
  (The project was good.)
• Chakula kitakuwa tayari kesho.
  (The food will be ready tomorrow.)

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C. Negative “to be” — SI

• Mimi si mtalii.
  (I am not a tourist.)
• Hii si hoteli.
  (This is not a hotel.)
• Wao si wauzaji.
  (They are not sellers.)

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2. “TO HAVE” — kuwa na

This verb is very useful for travel.

Structure:

Subject + na + thing

Examples you may use:

• Nina pasipoti.
  (I have a passport.)
• Nina rafiki Tanzania.
  (I have a friend in Tanzania.)
• Tuna chakula.
  (We have food.)
• Wanawake wana mradi.
  (The women have a project.)
• Wanawake wana chakula endelevu.
  (The women have sustainable food.)

Negative:

• Sina pesa nyingi.
  (I do not have much money.)
• Hatuna muda.
  (We do not have time.)

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3. COMMON PHRASES YOU CAN SAY

• Mimi ni mgeni, lakini nina rafiki hapa.
  (I am a visitor, but I have a friend here.)
• Tunatembelea mradi wa wanawake.
  (We are visiting a women’s project.)
• Wanawake wana chakula cha watalii.
  (The women have food for tourists.)

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4. PRACTICE EXERCISE

Use NI / SI / NINA / TUNA / WANA

1. Mimi ___ mgeni.
2. Mimi ___ rafiki Tanzania.
3. Huu ___ mradi wa wanawake.
4. Wanawake ___ chakula endelevu.
5. Chakula hiki ___ kitamu.
6. Mimi ___ mtalii.
7. Sisi ___ chakula cha kuuza.
8. Wao ___ pesa nyingi.

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Make your own sentences

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