NEGATIONS

As we look at negations, keep the following in mind: Swahili verbs are like puzzles, with various components added to either end of the verb root.

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When it comes to the negation of verbs whose subjects are animate nouns, the following structure applies: subject prefix+tense marker+verb+final vowel

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When it comes to the negation of verbs whose subjects are inanimate nouns, the following structure applies: ha+subject prefix+tense marker+verb+final vowel​

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Let's see how this comes together.

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NEGATIONS OF VERBS WHOSE OBJECTS ARE ANIMATE NOUNS

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The following are the respective subject prefixes for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd singular and plural:

Mimi si_____                 Sisi hatu_____

Wewe hu_____             Ninyi ham______

Yeye ha_____               Wao hawa_____

 

You'll notice that these correspond to greetings; for example: "Hamjambo?" "Hatujambo." This can be helpful to remember when first learning the negative subject prefixes.

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NEGATION OF VERBS WHOSE OBJECTS ARE ANIMATE NOUNS IN THE PRESENT TENSE

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Remember: subject prefix+tense marker+verb+final vowel

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When negating the verbs of animate objects in the present tense, we add the appropriate subject prefix, drop the tense marker -na-, and change the final vowel -a to an i. Thus, the structure of the verb is as follows:

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si/hu/ha/hatu/ham/hawa+--+verb+i

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Ex: Mimi siendi darasani leo. "I'm not going to class today."

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It is important to note that, if the verb ends in a -u, the final vowel remains the same. Additionally, it is only in the negation of the present tense that the final vowel is changed.

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NEGATION OF VERBS WHOSE OBJECTS ARE ANIMATE NOUNS IN THE PAST TENSE

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When negating the verbs of animate objects in the past tense, we add the appropriate subject prefix and change the tense marker -li- changes to -ku-. Thus, the structure of the verb is as follows:

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si/hu/ha/hatu/ham/hawa+ku+verb+final vowel

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Ex: Mimi sikuenda darasani jana. "I did not go to class yesterday."

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​NEGATION OF VERBS WHOSE OBJECTS ARE ANIMATE NOUNS IN THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

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When negating the verbs of animate objects in the present perfect tense, we add the appropriate subject prefix and change the tense marker -me- changes to -ja-. Thus, the structure of the verb is as follows:

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si/hu/ha/hatu/ham/hawa+ja+verb+final vowel

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Ex: Mimi sijaenda darasani leo. "I have not gone to class today."

 

 

​NEGATION OF VERBS WHOSE OBJECTS ARE ANIMATE NOUNS IN THE FUTURE TENSE

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When negating the verbs of animate objects in the future tense, we simply add the appropriate subject prefix—the tense marker remains the same. Thus, the structure of the verb is as follows:

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si/hu/ha/hatu/ham/hawa+ta+verb+final vowel

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Ex: Mimi sitaenda darasani leo. "I will not go to class today."

 

 

 

 

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NEGATIONS OF VERBS WHOSE OBJECTS ARE ANIMATE NOUNS

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When negating verbs whose objecs are inanmiate nouns, use the following structure:

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ha+subject prefix+tense marker+verb+final vowel

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The subject prefex, in this case, is the same as the subject prefix for non-negated verbs (i.e. the "-ki-" from kiti kinaanguka carries over into kiti hakianguki)

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NEGATION OF VERBS WHOSE OBJECTS ARE INANIMATE NOUNS IN THE PRESENT TENSE

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When negating the verbs of animate objects in the present tense, we add ha- and the appropriate subject prefix, drop the tense marker -na-, and change the final vowel -a to an i. Thus, the structure of the verb is as follows:
 

ha+u/i/li/ya/ki/vi/i/zi+--+verb+i

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Ex: Kiti hakianguki. "The chair is not falling."

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It is important to note that, if the verb ends in a -u, the final vowel remains the same. Additionally, it is only in the negation of the present tense that the final vowel is changed.

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NEGATION OF VERBS WHOSE OBJECTS ARE INANIMATE NOUNS IN THE PAST TENSE

​

When negating the verbs of animate objects in the past tense, we add ha- and the appropriate subject prefix and change the tense marker -li- changes to -ku-. Thus, the structure of the verb is as follows:

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ha+u/i/li/ya/ki/vi/i/zi+ku+verb+final vowel

Ex: Kiti hakikuanguka. "The chair did not fall."

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​NEGATION OF VERBS WHOSE OBJECTS ARE INANIMATE NOUNS IN THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

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When negating the verbs of animate objects in the present perfect tense, we add ha- and the appropriate subject prefix and change the tense marker -me- changes to -ja-. Thus, the structure of the verb is as follows:

 

ha+u/i/li/ya/ki/vi/i/zi+ja+verb+final vowel

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Ex: Kiti hakijaanguka. "The chair has not fallen."

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​NEGATION OF VERBS WHOSE OBJECTS ARE ANIMATE NOUNS IN THE FUTURE TENSE

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When negating the verbs of animate objects in the future tense, we simply add ha- and the appropriate subject prefix—the tense marker remains the same. Thus, the structure of the verb is as follows:

 

ha+u/i/li/ya/ki/vi/i/zi+ta+verb+final vowel
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Ex: Kiti hakitaanguka. "The chair will not fall."

 

 

 

 

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NEGATION OF MONOSYLLABIC VERBS

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When negating monosyllabic verbs (kula, kupa, etc.), follow the same rules as outlined above but also drop the "ku" in every sense but the future.

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Sikula nyama. "I didn't eat meat."

Sijala nyama. "I haven't eaten meat."

Sili nyama. "I don't eat meat."

Sitakula nyama. "I won't eat meat."