KISWAHILI FOR BEGINNERS: The Impersonal and the reciprocal forms of verbs

We proceed with our topic The Impersonal and the reciprocal forms of verbs

Useful Expressions

Kuna nini?                                What is the matter?

Hamna kitu,                             There is nothing

Hapakuwa na mtu,                  There was nobody

Pana mtu mbele,                     There is somebody in front

Nani yuko nyuma?                  Who is behind?

Hamna taabu,                         No problem, don’t mind

Nipe kitabu nisome,               Give a book to read.

Nipe maji ninywe,                   Give me some water to drink.

Mpe mtoto ndizi ale.              Give the child banana to eat.

THE RECIPROCAl FORMS OF THE VERBS.

Mutual actions are expressed in Swahili by adding na to the end of the verb.e.g.kupenda, to love, like “,kupendana,” to like each other, “if the verb ends in e add ana;e.g.kusamehe,”to forgive “;kusameheana”to forgive each other.”

If the verb ends in I add ana e.g. kurudi,”to return “;kurudiana” to return to one another “(i.e to be reconciled.)

If a verb ends in u change the u into I and ana, e.g.

Kujibu, to answer,           Kujibizana, to answer to each other.

Kusifu, to praise,              Kusifiana, to praise one another

Here are some of the commonest verbs and their reciprocals;

Ona, see.                          Onana, meet, see each other

Kosa, do wrong, miss       kosana, disagree, quarrel

Jua, sun.                             Kujuana, know each other

Pata, get.                           Patana, agree, be friendly