If and When with -ki-

01

The Pattern

• Nikifikiria tena, hilo ni wazo baya.

  Thinking about it again, that is a bad idea.

• ni- I
• -ki- if, when
• fikiria think
• nikipata - if I get
• ukiuliza - if you ask
• mkifika - when you arrive

• Ukiuliza swali, utapata jibu.

  If you ask a question, you will get an answer.

The other half of the sentence usually stands in the future, which is the ordinary pairing.

02

If and When Are the Same Word

Swahili does not separate a condition from a time clause. Whether mkifika is if you arrive or when you arrive depends on how likely the arrival is, and the grammar does not say.

• Utanenepa ukila chakula kisicho na afya tu.

  You will get fat if you eat only unhealthy food.

03

While, with Actions That Overlap

Where two actions run at the same time rather than one after the other, the same marker gives while.

• Nilivunjika mkono nikicheza kandanda.

  I broke my arm while playing football.

• Tulipita sokoni asubuhi hii tukienda shuleni.

  We passed the market this morning on our way to school.

nikiwa, while I am, is worth memorising whole, because it turns up constantly.

04

kama Is Optional

The word kama means if and may be added, but the marker alone is enough and is more usual.

• Kama ukifika mapema, tutakula pamoja.

  If you arrive early, we will eat together.

05

The Negative

If not is built with -sipo- in place of -ki-.

• nikipata if I get, becomes nisipopata if I do not get
• ukifika if you arrive, becomes usipofika if you do not arrive

• Usipofika mapema, hutapata kiti.

  If you do not arrive early, you will not get a seat.