Chapter 33 - The Subjunctive

Unlike in English, the Subjunctive is very widely used in Swahili, after words of obligation, advice, suggestion, prohibition, etc. or after a first verb expressing will or not, where English commonly uses an infinitive.

 1. AFFIRMATIVE FORM : 

There is no tense marker in the Subjunctive. The subject prefix is directly followed by the verbal root. The ending -A of verbs of Bantu origin changes into -E, while verbs of Arabic origin ending in -I, -E, -U do not change. Monosyllabic verbs drop the KU- of the infinitive.

MODEL 1 (Verbs of Bantu origin) :         KUSOMA = to read, to study

MODEL 2 (Verbs of Arabic origin) :         KUJARIBU = to try

MODEL 3 (Monosyllabic verbs) :         KUJA = to come

 2. NEGATIVE FORM : 

The negative infix SI is inserted between the subject prefix and the verbal root. This negative infix replaces the negative pre-prefix commonly used in the negative forms of other tenses.

MODEL :         KUSOMA = to read, to study

As in the affirmative form, verbs of Arabic origin preserve their final vowel :

Ku-fikiri	-> NI-SI-FIKIRI	that I don't think
Ku-jibu	-> WA-SI-JIBU	that they don't answer
Ku-samehe	-> U-SI-SAMEHE	that you don't forgive

Monosyllabic verbs drop the KU- of the infinitive :

Kw-enda	-> A-SI-ENDE	that he / she don't go
Ku-ja	-> WA-SI-JE	that they don't come
Ku-wa	-> U-SI-WE	that you don't be

 3. DIFFERENT USES OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE : 

1. The Polite Imperative :

   
   

   (See : Chapter 4 : The Polite Imperative.)

   EXAMPLES :

   Tafadhali unisaidie !	Please, help me !
   Mjaribu kusema kiswahili !	Try (plur.) to speak Swahili !

   
   
   

2. The Imperative of the 1st person plural :

   
   

   (See : Chapter 4 : The Imperative of the 1st person plural.)

   EXAMPLES :

   Twende kazini !	Let's go to work !
   Tujenge taifa letu !	Let's build our nation !
   Tusifanye fujo !	Don't let's make disorder !

   
   
   

3. Expressing a suggestion, a wish, a request :

   
   

   It is used for all persons except the 2^nd person singular and plural.

   EXAMPLES :

   Tujifunze kwa bidii.	Let's learn with energy.
   Mambo haya yaishe !	Let these matters cease !

   
   
   

4. Asking for advice or approval :

   
   

   EXAMPLES :

   Nikusaidie ?	May I help you ?
   Aende wapi ?	Where should he go ?
   Nimwambie nini ?	What shall I tell him ?

   
   
   

5. 2^nd verb in an imperative sentence, or in indirect speech :

   
   

   EXAMPLES :

   Njoo ule !	Come and eat !
   Pokea barua yako uisome !	Receive your letter and read it !
   Mwambie aje kesho !	Tell him to come tomorrow !

   
   
   

6. After expressions of obligation or necessity :

   
   

   EXPRESSIONS OF OBLIGATION :

   Afadhali	(you) had better	Sharti	(you) must
   Bora	(you) had rather	Yafaa	it's appropriate to
   Heri	it's preferable to	Ya---bidi	(you) must
   Lazima	(you) must	Ya---pasa	(you) have to

   EXAMPLES :

   Afadhali utusaidie !	Please help us !
   Bora tuamke mapema !	We had rather wake up early !
   Heri waende nyumbani !	They should go back home !
   Lazima uende hospitali.	You must go to hospital.
   Sharti tukamate mwizi huu.	We have to catch this thief.
   Yafaa uanze kwanza.	It's appropriate that you start first.
   Yatubidi tumjulishe habari hizi.	We must tell him this news.
   Yawapasa wahudhurie mkutano.	They have to attend the meeting.

   
   
   

7. Expressing purpose or intention :

   
   

   Ili

   so that

   Kusudi

   in order to

   EXAMPLES :

   Alinisaidia ili nimalize kazi mapema.	He helped me so that I finish work early.
   Twafuga kuku ili tupate mayai.	We breed hens in order to get eggs.
   Alikaribia kusudi aweze kuona vizuri.	He came nearer to see better.

   
   
   

8. Subordinate clause :

   
   

   After the following verbs :

   Ku-amuru	to order	Ku-omba	to ask, to beg
   Ku-acha	to leave, to allow	Ku-penda	to like, to wish
   Ku-fanya	to make	Ku-shauri	to advise
   Ku-kubali	to agree	Ku-taka	to want

   EXAMPLES :

   Aliwaamuru wamrudishie mali yake.	He ordered them to return him his property.
   Umwache aende zake.	Let him go away.
   Walinifanya nikate tamaa.	They made me loose heart.
   Walikubali tufunge mapema.	They accepted that we close early.
   Namwomba aje.	I ask him to come.
   Wapenda twende wapi ?	Where do you want us to go ?
   Nakushauri urudi nyumbani.	I advise you to go back home.
   Sitaki awe na mawazo haya.	I don't want him to have such ideas.

   
   
   

9. After some prepositions :

   
   

   After the following prepositions :

   Hadi	till, until	Tangu	from, since
   Hata	till, until	Karibu	nearly, almost
   Mpaka	till, until

   EXAMPLES :

   Atumie dawa hii hadi apone.	She must use this drug until she is cured.
   Utanisumbua hata nikasirike ?	Will you annoy me until I get cross ?
   Ngoja mpaka arudi.	Wait till he / she comes back.
   Karibu tuondoke.	We are about to leave.
   Tangu tufike hatujapata chai.	We haven't got tea since we arrived.

   
   
   

10. Negative Subjunctive after verbs of restriction or prohibition :

    
    

    After the following verbs :

    Ku-kanya	to forbid, to prevent	Ku-onya	to inform
    Ku-kataza	to refuse	Ku-zuia	to prevent,to forbid
    Ku-linda	to protect

    EXAMPLES :

    Wakanyeni watoto wasigombane.	Prevent the children from quarrelling.
    Wazazi wamemkataza asiolewe mwaka huu.	Her parents refused her to marry this year.
    Chakula bora chatulinda tusipatwe na magonjwa.	Better food protects us from catching diseases.
    Nakuonya usirudie kosa lile.	I warn you not to repeat this mistake.
    Askari alinizuia nisipite.	A soldier forbid me to pass.

    
    
    

11. Fruitless effort :

    
    

    EXAMPLES :

    Walimtafuta wasimwone.	They sought him but didn't find him.
    Nilijaribu kufungua mlango huu nisiweze.	I tried to open this door but I failed.
    Tulisafiri kwa haraka tulivyoweza tusifike Arusha mapema.	We travelled as quickly as possible but we failed to arrive early in Arusha.

NOW, LEARN THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF KENYA :

VOCABULARY

EXERCISES

EXERCISE 1 : Translate into Swahili :

1. [That] I plan, I understand, I give up, you thrive, you breed, you fill, he be satiated, he receive, he increase, we take a walk, we refuse, you prevent, you wipe, they meet, they call.

2. [That] I don't ask, I don't know, you don't say, you don't meet, he don't push, he don't leave, she don't catch, we don't call, we don't make, you don't read (plur), you don't come (plur), they don't answer, they don't think, they don't leave, they don't see.

EXERCISE 2 : Translate into Swahili :

1. Should he come in?
2. When shall we leave ?
3. Should the cook buy meat ?
4. Must I close the door ?
5. Come and see !
6. Tell Hamisi to go to the market.
7. Tell the cook to do the cooking.
8. He must go.
9. She went to the market to buy vegetables.
10. I study this book to learn Swahili.

EXERCISE 3 : Translate into English :

1. Watoto wacheze mpira leo ? - Ndiyo, wacheze.
2. Wanafunzi waende zao ? - Wasiende bado.
3. Mwambie Hamisi anipe cheti chake.
4. Mwombe mkurugenzi atupe jibu.
5. Lazima wanafunzi wachukue kuni kwa kupika chakula.
6. Ukitaka dawa, sharti uje na chupa.
7. Twende pwani sasa ili tupumzike.
8. Tulikuja Tanzania ili tuone wanyama.
9. Askari polisi walizuia watu wasiingie katika benki.
10. Mama amemkataza mtoto asiende sinema.