Object Markers Inside the Verb

01

Where the Slot Is

• Nitakupa aspirini.

  I will give you aspirin.

• ni- I
• -ta- will
• -ku- you, the object
• pa give

Subject, tense, object, stem: always in that order, always one word.

02

The Markers for People

They are the same shapes as the subject prefixes, with one exception: him or her is -m-, not -a-.

• -ni- me
• -ku- you
• -m- him, her
• -tu- us
• -wa- them

• Ananikata nywele.

  He is cutting my hair.

• Unaweza kunipa mfano?

  Can you give me an example?

• Anamsomea mwanawe kitabu.

  She is reading her child a book.

03

For Things, the Class Decides

• class 4, 9 -i-
• class 7 -ki-
• class 8 -vi-
• class 10 -zi-
• class 5 -li-, class 6 -ya-

• Hawaioni, lakini wanaisikia.

  They cannot see it, but they can hear it.

• Nakisubiri kwa hamu.

  I am waiting for it eagerly.

Neither sentence names the thing at all. The marker inside the verb is its only mention, and the shape of that marker is what says which kind of thing is meant.

04

Required for People

With a definite person as the object the marker is not optional. Leaving it out is simply wrong, even when the person is named in the same sentence.

• Anamsomea mwanawe kitabu.

  She is reading her child a book.

The child is named right there, and -m- still has to appear inside the verb.

05

Doubling Is Normal

When the object is a specific thing, Swahili often marks it twice: once inside the verb and once as a noun afterwards. English has no equivalent and simply leaves it out.

• Unaijua mikahawa mizuri?

  Do you know any good cafés?

• Sizioni miwani yangu.

  I cannot see my glasses.

06

Inside an Infinitive

The slot exists in the infinitive too, sitting between ku- and the stem.

• Unaweza kunisaidia?

  Can you help me?

• Umeshawahi kuisikia bendi hii?

  Have you ever heard this band?

• Naweza kuibeba.

  I can carry it.

07

With a Negative and a Command

• Siipendi.

  I do not like it.

• Isahau.

  Forget it.

Isahau is one word doing the work of two English ones: i- is the thing forgotten and sahau is the order.