Chapter 30 - Object Infixes

There is no autonomous pronoun object or pronoun attribute in Swahili. The same way as the pronoun subject is integrated into the verbal construction as a subject prefix, the pronoun object or pronoun attribute is inserted into the verb as an object infix. It is located right before the verbal root.

First, here are a few examples, to help understand better this phenomenon :

Pronoun object infixes exist for all nominal classes, with a special series of infixes for the M-/WA- gender. They serve indifferently as pronoun object or pronoun attribute.

 1. ANIMATE AND INANIMATE PRONOUN OBJECT INFIXES : 

You may notice the risk of confusion between the object infix of the 2^nd person plural and that of the 3^rd person plural which are both -WA-.

Thus : Nawaambia can mean : "I tell you" or "I tell them".

To avoid this risk of confusion, we usually add the plural termination -NI at the end of the verb when dealing with the object infix of the 2^nd person plural. The termination -A of Bantu verbs changes into -E. Another possibility is to use the object infix of the 2^nd person singular, together with the plural termination -NI.

EXAMPLES :

Nawaambia Nawaambieni Nakuambieni	= I tell you	Nawaambia	= I tell them
Nawaomba Nawaombeni Nakuombeni	= I ask you	Nawaomba	= I ask them

 2. USE OF THE OBJECT INFIX : 

The object infix replaces or reinforces, either a noun object or a noun attribute. Just as the subject prefix is present in the sentence together with the noun subject, the object infix keeps inserted in the verbal construction, even when the noun object or attribute is present in the sentence. It then reinforces that one.

EXAMPLES :

 3. NOTES : 

1. In the IMPERATIVE, the presence of an object infix involves a modification of the final vowel -A into -E. Thus :

   Nunua !	= buy !	-> Ninunue !	= buy (for) me !
   Saidia !	= help !	-> Wasaidie !	= help them !
   Angalia !	= look !	-> Zingalie !	= look at them !

   However, verbs of Arabic origin do not change their final vowel, hence a slight risk of confusion :

   Bariki !

   = bless !

   -> Tubariki ! -> Wabariki !

   = bless us ! = bless them !

   (Not : let's bless !) (Not : Let them bless !)

   
   

2. Swahili accepts ONLY ONE object infix in the verbal construction. Thus :

   Unacho kitabu changu ? - Ndiyo, Nitakurudisha kesho.
   Have you got my book ? - yes, I will give (it) back to you tomorrow.

   
   

   In this example, the pronoun attribute -KU- (= you) holds the slot of the object infix, the pronoun object corresponding to "it" (= the book) is implicit. The attribute has always precedence over the object for insertion inside the verbal construction.

NOW, LEARN THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF TANZANIA :

VOCABULARY

EXERCISES

EXERCISE 1 : Translate into Swahili :

Call him ! Help me ! Look at them (the children) ! Look at them (things) ! Give me ! Tell me ! Tell us ! I saw you, He saw her, I saw you (plur), they told us, he told me, I told you, I gave it to you, he called me, I called them (the children), I read it (the book), Have you read it (the book) ? Did she take it (the book) ? Did she take them (the books) ?

EXERCISE 2 : Translate into English :

1. Nakuambia.
2. Sikuelewi.
3. Kisu changu kiko wapi ? - Nimekiweka mezani.
4. Mizigo yangu yako wapi ? - Yako nyumbani.
5. Nimwite nani ? - Mwite Ali !
6. Bwana yupo wapi ? - Nilimkutana kazini.
7. Nisaidie na mizigo yangu !
8. Sema polepole kwa sababu Sikuelewi !
9. Mtoto mdogo anamwogopa kaka yake.
10. Usinipe mkate wa jana. Nipe wa leo !