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.