Chapter 37 - The Passive Form

It is quite common to put a verb in the passive voice in English. This is done by using the auxiliary verb "to be" followed by the lexical verb in the past participle.

The same result is obtained in Swahili by replacing the termination -A of the verb with the suffix -WA (or -EWA, -IWA, -LEWA, -LIWA).

1. When the verb radical ends in a consonant + A :
   -A is replaced by the suffix -WA :

   Kuandika	to write	-> kuandikwa	to be written
   Kuanza	to start	-> Kuanzwa	to be started
   Kucheza	to play	-> Kuchezwa	to be played
   Kufanya	to make	-> Kufanywa	to be made
   Kuficha	to hide	-> Kufichwa	to be hidden
   Kufunga	to close	-> Kufungwa	to be closed
   Kuiba	to steal	-> Kuibwa	to be stolen (thing)
   Kukamata	to catch	-> Kukamatwa	to be caught
   Kuleta	to bring	-> Kuletwa	to be brought
   Kulima	to cultivate	-> Kulimwa	to be cultivated
   Kulipa	to pay	-> kulipwa	to be paid
   Kupata	to get	-> Kupatwa	to be got
   Kupenda	to love	-> Kupendwa	to be loved
   Kupika	to cook	-> Kupikwa	to be cooked
   Kusoma	to read	-> Kusomwa	to be read
   Kuuma	to hurt	-> Kuumwa	to be hurt, to suffer
   Kuweka	to put	-> Kuwekwa	to be put
   Kuwinda	to hunt	-> Kuwindwa	to be hunted

   
   

2. When the verb radical ends in the double vowel -AA :
   -A is replaced by -LIWA :

   Kukataa	to refuse	-> Kukataliwa	to be refused
   Kuzaa	to give birth	-> Kuzaliwa	to be born

   
   

3. When the verb radical ends in the vowel sequence -OA :
   -A is replaced by -LEWA :

   Kung'oa	to uproot	-> Kung'olewa	to be uprooted
   Kuoa	to marry	-> Kuolewa	to be married (woman)
   Kuondoa	to withdraw	-> Kuondolewa	to be withdrawn
   Kutoa	to remove	-> Kutolewa	to be removed

   
   

4. When the verb radical ends in the vowel sequence -UA :
   -A is replaced by -LIWA :

   Kuchagua	to choose	-> Kuchaguliwa	to be chosen
   Kufungua	to open, to untie	-> Kufunguliwa	to be opened
   Kujua	to know	-> Kujuliwa	to be known

   
   

5. Verbs of Arabic origin finishing in -I and -U take the suffix -IWA :

   Kubadili	to change	-> Kubadiliwa	to be changed
   Kujibu	to answer	-> Kujibiwa	to be answered
   Kukubali	to agree	-> Kukubaliwa	to be permitted

   
   

6. Verbs of Arabic origin ending in -AU take the suffix -LIWA :

   Kusahau

   to forget

   -> Kusahauliwa

   to be forgotten

   
   

7. Verbs of Arabic origin ending in -E take the suffix -EWA :

   Kusamehe

   to forgive

   -> Kusamehewa

   to be forgiven

   
   

8. NOTES :

   • Some verbs already possess a passive meaning in their basic form :

     Kulewa

     to be drunk / tipsy

     
     

   • Case of the monosyllabic verbs : suffix -IWA or -EWA :

     Kula	to eat	-> Kuliwa	to be eaten
     Kunywa	to drink	-> Kunywewa	to be drunk
     Kupa	to give	-> Kupewa	to be given

     
     

   • Particular cases :

     Kutaka	to want	-> Kutakiwa	to be wanted
     Kuua	to kill	-> Kuuawa	to be killed

 EXAMPLES : 

VOCABULARY

EXERCISES

EXERCISE 1 : Translate into Swahili :

1. The robber has been caught.
2. The wages have been paid.
3. The fields are cultivated.
4. The child was born.
5. The luggage has been stolen.
6. The food has been brought.
7. The door has been closed.
8. My sister has married.
9. The bad pupil has been beaten.
10. The goat was sacrificed.

EXERCISE 2 : Translate into English :

1. Chakula kimeliwa na watoto.
2. Mzungu amehibiwa na mwizi.
3. Mzigo wake umehibwa jana.
4. Kuku amekamatwa na mbwa.
5. Mtoto huyu anapendwa na watu wote.
6. Mbwa alipigwa na mwenyewe.
7. Nguo hizo zimepewa kwa watu maskini.
8. Chakula kinapikwa na wanafunzi wa shule.
9. Mnyama mmoja amekamatwa katika mtego.
10. Kijana huyu amelewa.