Past tense of action verbs Exercises in Swahili language

Mastering the past tense of action verbs in Swahili is a vital step in achieving fluency and effective communication. Swahili, a Bantu language widely spoken in East Africa, uses distinct verb conjugation patterns to indicate actions that occurred in the past. Understanding these patterns will not only enhance your ability to recount past events but also improve your overall grasp of Swahili grammar. This page provides a variety of exercises designed to help you practice and internalize the rules and nuances of past tense verb forms, enabling you to speak and write with greater confidence and accuracy. Swahili verbs are modified by adding specific prefixes and suffixes to indicate tense, person, and number. For the past tense, the prefix "li-" is commonly used before the verb stem. For example, the verb "kula" (to eat) in the past tense becomes "alikula" (he/she ate). Through targeted exercises, you will become familiar with these modifications and learn to apply them correctly across different verb stems and subjects. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your existing skills, these exercises will guide you through the process of mastering the past tense of action verbs in Swahili.

Exercise 1

<p>1. Jana, mimi *nilipika* chakula cha jioni (verb for cooking).</p> <p>2. Wanafunzi *walisoma* vitabu darasani jana (verb for reading).</p> <p>3. Mama yangu *alinunua* matunda sokoni (verb for buying).</p> <p>4. Mwalimu *alifundisha* somo la hesabu (verb for teaching).</p> <p>5. Jana, sisi *tulitembea* hadi mlimani (verb for walking).</p> <p>6. Watoto *walicheza* mpira uwanjani (verb for playing).</p> <p>7. Baba yangu *alirejea* nyumbani usiku (verb for returning).</p> <p>8. Nilipoamka, *nilinywa* chai (verb for drinking).</p> <p>9. Mchana, ndugu yangu *alipanda* mti (verb for climbing).</p> <p>10. Wafanyakazi *walikula* chakula cha mchana pamoja (verb for eating).</p>

Exercise 2

<p>1. Jana, mtoto alicheza na marafiki zake katika uwanja wa michezo (*alicheza*) (verb for playing).</p> <p>2. Nilipika chakula cha jioni kwa familia yangu jana usiku (*nilipika*) (verb for cooking).</p> <p>3. Mwanzoni mwa mwaka huu, tulisafiri kwenda Zanzibar kwa likizo (*tulisafiri*) (verb for traveling).</p> <p>4. Mwanzoni mwa mwezi, walinunua gari jipya (*walinunua*) (verb for buying).</p> <p>5. Alipomaliza shule, alifanya kazi katika benki (*alifanya*) (verb for working).</p> <p>6. Wakati wa likizo, tulitembelea jamaa zetu kijijini (*tulitembelea*) (verb for visiting).</p> <p>7. Mwalimu alifundisha somo la hisabati jana (*alifundisha*) (verb for teaching).</p> <p>8. Mwisho wa juma, nilisoma kitabu cha hadithi (*nilisoma*) (verb for reading).</p> <p>9. Alipokuwa mtoto, aliogelea kwenye ziwa kila wikendi (*aliogelea*) (verb for swimming).</p> <p>10. Waliimba nyimbo nzuri wakati wa sherehe (*waliimba*) (verb for singing).</p>

Exercise 3

<p>1. Jana, mama aliniambia kuwa alini *nunulia* kitabu (verb for buying).</p> <p>2. Wanafunzi walichelewa darasani kwa sababu walikuwa *wamelala* sana (verb for sleeping).</p> <p>3. Tulipofika mlimani, tuliona kwamba tulikuwa *tumefika* kileleni (verb for arriving).</p> <p>4. Niliandika barua hiyo kwa sababu niliamua *kuandika* kwa mkono wangu mwenyewe (verb for writing).</p> <p>5. Alipokuwa mgonjwa, daktari alimwambia kuwa alikuwa *amelazwa* hospitalini (verb for admitting to a hospital).</p> <p>6. Watoto walifurahi sana walipokuwa *wamepewa* zawadi (verb for giving).</p> <p>7. Baada ya chakula cha mchana, tulikuwa *tumesafisha* meza zote (verb for cleaning).</p> <p>8. Ndugu yangu aliniambia kuwa alikuwa *amesoma* kitabu chote kwa siku moja (verb for reading).</p> <p>9. Alipomaliza kazi, alienda nyumbani na *kulala* (verb for sleeping).</p> <p>10. Alipokuwa shuleni, alikuwa *amepata* alama nzuri sana (verb for obtaining/getting).</p>

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