Week 1

Thursday

Lesson 4: The Infinitive

Kuchukua	to seize; to take	Kupenda	to like; to love
Kufaa	to fit	Kupika	to cook
Kufuata	to follow	Kusafisha	to clean
Kufunga	to close	Kusema	to say; to tell

• In English, the infinitive is shown by the word TO placed before the verb.

• In Swahili, the infinitive is marked by the prefix KU- attached to the verb radical.

• As shown through these different examples, the radical of the Swahili verbs of Bantu origin ends in -A in the infinitive.

The Negative Infinitive

Kutokuchukua	not to seize; not to take	Kutokupenda	not to like; not to love
Kutokufaa	not to fit	Kutopika	not to cook
Kutokufuata	not to follow	Kutokusafisha	not to clean
Kutokufunga	not to close	Kutosema	not to say; not to tell

• Remember, the negative infinitive is made by inserting the infix -TO- between the infinitive prefix KU- and the radical of the verb.

• An extra KU-, which is compulsory in the case of monosyllabic verbs, is sometimes added before the radical.

Now take Quiz 4

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Week 1 Exercises

Excercise 1a

Excercise 1b

Excercise 2a

Excercise 2b

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