HomepageChapter 41 - The Stative Form


At least to a Western mind, a verb in the stative form is rather similar in meaning to a verb in the passive form, except that it doesn't tell by who or what the action was made. It invariably implies a latent or resulting state, wherefrom the name of STATIVE, or STATIVE FORM, given to that derivation.

From a grammatical point of view, another effect of the stative derivation is to make a transitive verb become intransitive.

EXAMPLES :

Dirisha limevunjwa na mtoto huyu. The window has been broken by this child.
Dirisha limevunjika. The window is broken.
 
Nguo zimeharibwa na mvua. The clothes have been ruined by the rain.
Nguo zimeharibika. The clothes are ruined.

some verbs already possess a stative meaning in their basic form, while other verbs are derived using the suffix -KA to produce the stative form.



 1. SOME VERBS IN THE STATIVE FORM : 


  1. When the radical ends in a consonant :


    (a) If the vowel of the radical is A, I or U, the final vowel of the verb is replaced by the suffix -IKA


    Ku-badilito change-> Ku-badilikato be changed
    Ku-fungato close-> Ku-fungikato be closed
    Ku-haributo destroy-> Ku-haribikato be destroyed
    Ku-jibuto answer-> Ku-jibikato be answered
    Ku-kamilito finish-> Ku-kamilikato be completed, achieved
    Ku-katato cut-> Ku-katikato be cut
    Ku-kubalito agree-> Ku-kubalikato agree together
    Ku-mwagato pour-> Ku-mwagikato be poured
    Ku-shutumuto insult-> Ku-shutumikato be insulted
    Ku-vunjato break-> Ku-vunjikato be broken


    (b) If the vowel of the radical is E or O, the final vowel of the verb is replaced by the suffix -EKA


    Ku-chomato burn-> Ku-chomekato be burned
    Ku-sameheto forgive-> Ku-samehekato be forgiven
    Ku-toshato be enough-> Ku-toshekato be sufficient

  2. When the verb radical ends in a vowel :

    (a) If the vowel of the radical is -A, -I or -U, the final -A is replaced by -KA or -LIKA


    Ku-funguato open-> Ku-fungukato open, to be opened
    Ku-geuato change-> Ku-geukato be changed
    Ku-pasuato split, to saw-> Ku-pasukato be split, to be sawn
    Ku-pinduato turn over-> Ku-pindukato be overturned
    Ku-sikiato hear-> Ku-sikika
    -> Ku-sikilika    		to be heard


    (b) If the vowel of the radical is -E or -O, the final -A is replaced by -KA or -LEKA :


    Ku-ng'oato uproot-> Ku-ng'oka
    -> Kung'oleka    		to be uprooted


    (c) When the verb ends in -AU, the suffix -LIKA is added at the end of the verb :


    Ku-sahauto forget-> Ku-sahaulikato be forgotten

  3. Verbs in the causative form ending in -SHA or -ZA take the suffix -IKA or -EKA :


    Ku-pendezato like-> Ku-pendezekato be pleasant
    Ku-pumuzato make breath-> Ku-pumzikato rest

  4. A number of verbs can be derived from nouns, adverbs or adjectives :


    Hasiraanger-> Ku-kasirikato be in anger
    Imarafirm-> Ku-imarikato be firm
    Shughulibusiness-> Ku-shughulikato be busy

NOTES :

  1. Some verbs with a stative meaning are not derived from any basic root. They do not necessarily end in the suffix -KA :


    Ku-chelewa to be late
    Ku-chokato be tired
    Ku-jaato be filled
    Ku-lewato be drunk
    Ku-poteato lose oneself
    Ku-shibato be satiated
    Kwishato be finished

  2. Some verbs take a particular meaning in the stative form :


    Ku-nusa to smell out-> Ku-nuka
    -> Ku-nukia    		to smell bad
    to smell good

  3. Some other verbs ending in -KA have an active meaning. Thus :


    Ku-amka to wake up
    Ku-andikato write
    Ku-anikato spread in the sun
    Ku-bandikato stick
    Ku-funikato put a lid
    Ku-pikato cook
    Ku-sikitikato have pity


 2. STATIVE VERBS EXPRESSING POTENTIALITY : 


  1. Many verbs already referred to above can express a potentiality. Thus :


    Ku-badilika to be changeable
    Ku-chomekaable to burn
    Ku-fungikaable to be closed
    Ku-fungukaable to be opened
    Ku-jibikato be answerable
    Ku-kubalikaable to agree
    Ku-likato be edible
    Ku-nywekato be drinkable

  2. Other verbs expressing a potentiality take the additional suffix -NA :


    Ku-julikanato be known
    Ku-onekanato be visible
    Ku-patikanato be obtained
    Ku-wezekanato be possible


 3. USE OF THE STATIVE FORM : 


  • Verbs in the stative form are often used in the Past Perfect (tense marker -ME-) :

    Gari langu limeharibika. My car has a breakdown.
    Kikombe kimevunjika.The cup is broken.
    Nimechoka kabisa.I am very tired.

  • Verbs expressing a potentiality are often used in the Present Definite (tense marker -NA-) :

    Mlima wa Kilimanjaro unaonekana leo. Mount Kilimanjaro is visible today.
    Unga unapatikana madukani.Flour is available in the shops.
    Mambo hayo yanawezekana.These things are possible.



VOCABULARY



Buni coffee Kokwa a nut
Chaki chalk Karanga peanuts
Chemchemi a source Karata playing cards
Chokaa lime Kutu rust
Dengu lentils Mbaazi peas
Katani sisal Pikipiki a motorbike



EXERCISES



EXERCISE 1 : Translate into Swahili :


  1. The bread is burnt.
  2. The door is ruined.
  3. The ditch is filled.
  4. The master got angry.
  5. This pipe is broken.
  6. These hunters are very well known.
  7. If the exam is finished, rest a little.
  8. The children are sleeping because they are tired.
  9. Yesterday, Juma was completely drunk.
  10. Don't sit on this chair, it is broken.
  11. The mountain is quite visible now.
  12. He didn't succeed in closing the door because it closes badly.


EXERCISE 2 : Translate into English :


  1. Kazi hii yafanyika.
  2. Kazi hii haifanyiki.
  3. Machungwa haya hayaliki, bado kuiva.
  4. Koti langu limepasuka.
  5. Kama umeshughulika, nitarudi kesho.
  6. Taa imezimika.
  7. Sikuvunja kikombe hiki, kimevunjika tu.
  8. Sukari hainunuliki leo.
  9. Dirisha hili halifunguki.
  10. Uzi wangu umekatika.
  11. Leo ndizi hazipatikani sokoni.
  12. Jambo hili haliwezekani.


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