 | Chapter 14 - The Past Perfect Tense |
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We use the PAST PERFECT to speak of specific actions that have already taken place (for example : I have eaten, I have understood, I have been, etc...), or to describe a state (for example : he is sitting, he is dead, he is sleeping, etc...). It is usually translated by a Present Perfect in English.
1. THE PAST PERFECT - AFFIRMATIVE FORM :
The marker of the Past Perfect is the infix -ME- placed between the subject prefix and the verbal root :
MODEL 1 : KUFANYA = to do
| NI-ME-FANYA | -> nimefanya | I have done |
| U-ME-FANYA | -> umefanya | you have done |
| A-ME-FANYA | -> amefanya | he / she has done |
| TU-ME-FANYA | -> tumefanya | we have done |
| M-ME-FANYA | -> mmefanya | you have done |
| WA-ME-FANYA | -> wamefanya | they have done |
| NOTE : | The verbs of Arabic origin behave exactly like the verbs of Bantu origin ; while the monosyllabic verbs, keep the KU- of the infinitive. |
MODEL 2 : KWENDA = to go
| NI-ME-KWENDA | -> nimekwenda | I have gone / been |
| U-ME-KWENDA | -> umekwenda | you have gone / been |
| A-ME-KWENDA | -> amekwenda | he / she has gone / been |
| TU-ME-KWENDA | -> tumekwenda | we have gone / been |
| M-ME-KWENDA | -> mmekwenda | you have gone / been |
| WA-ME-KWENDA | -> wamekwenda | they have gone / been |
REINFORCEMENT :
To insist on the fact that the action already took place, we can insert the verbal root sha (from the verb kwisha = to finish) between the tense marker of the past perfect and the verb radical.
| EXAMPLES : | Nimeshakwenda Tanzania. |
I have already been to Tanzania. |
| Wameshafanya mtihani wao. | They have already done their exam. |
2. THE PAST PERFECT - NEGATIVE FORM :
The negative form of the Past Perfect describes a situation which has not yet taken place, or a state which has not been carried out yet.
The marker of the Present Perfect negative is the infix -JA- placed between the negative subject prefix and the verbal root.
MODEL 1 : KUFANYA = to do
| SI-JA-FANYA | -> sijafanya | I haven't done |
| HU-JA-FANYA | -> hujafanya | you haven't done |
| HA-JA-FANYA | -> hajafanya | he / she hasn't done |
| HATU-JA-FANYA | -> hatujafanya | we haven't done |
| HAM-JA-FANYA | -> hamjafanya | you haven't done |
| HAWA-JA-FANYA | -> hawajafanya | they haven't done |
| NOTE : | Contrary to what occurs in the Past Perfect affirmative, the monosyllabic verbs lose the KU- of the infinitive in the negative form. |
MODEL 2 : KWENDA = to go
| SI-JA-ENDA | -> sijaenda | I haven't gone / been yet |
| HU-JA-ENDA | -> hujaenda | You haven't gone / been yet |
| HA-JA-ENDA | -> hajaenda | He / she hasn't gone / been yet |
| HATU-JA-ENDA | -> hatujaenda | We haven't gone / been yet |
| HAM-JA-ENDA | -> hamjaenda | You haven't gone / been yet |
| HAWA-JA-ENDA | -> hawajaenda | they haven't gone / been yet |
REINFORCEMENT :
To insist on the fact that the action hasn't taken place yet, we can use the word bado, which will be placed before or after the verb in the Past Perfect negative.
| EXAMPLES : |
Amina amerudi ? - Ajarudi bado. or : Bado !
= Has Amina come back ? - She hasn't come back yet. Umeshakula ? - Sijala bado. = Have you already eaten ? - I haven't eaten yet. Bado hatujapanda mlima wa Kilimanjaro = We have not yet climbed on Mount Kilimanjaro. |
VOCABULARY
| Ku-acha | to leave, to abandon | Ku-maliza | to finish |
| Ku-chelewa | to be late | ku-ondoka | to leave, to go away |
| Ku-choka | to be tired | Ku-pona | to get better |
| Ku-iba | to steal | Ku-potea | to lose |
| Ku-iva | to ripen, to be cooked | Ku-vuna | to reap, to harvest |
| Ku-kosa | to miss, to be mistaken | Ku-zoea | to be accustomed |
EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1 : Translate into Swahili :
I am cured, he is sitting, he has gone, they have come, you are accustomed, he is lost, she has arrived, you have come back, we have stayed, I am tired, you have fallen, she has cleaned, we have finished, he is dead, he has stopped, you have said, it's finished (Cl 9), he has damaged, you are mistaken, we are late.
He hasn't arrived yet, I haven't seen yet, he hasn't gone yet, I'm not cured yet, they are not yet ripe (Cl 6), I am not accustomed yet, she hasn't swept yet, they haven't stollen yet, you haven't done yet, you haven't been yet.
EXERCISE 2 : Translate into English :
- Watoto wameamka asubuhi.
- Dudu ameingia jikoni.
- Sijanunua mkate leo.
- Mwizi ameiba mahindi shambani usiku.
- Bado sijapata mshahara wangu.
- Mgonjwa amelala, ajapona bado.
- Wazazi wangu wameketi barazani.
- Chakula tayari ? Wageni hawajala !
- Mama amekwisha pika chakula asubuhi.
- Sijui kiswahili sana. Sijaenda Tanzania bado.
- Mmekwenda Zanzibar ? - Ndiyo !
- Lakini hatujapanda mlima wa Kilimanjaro.
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