In Swahili, the present and past tenses have distinct structures and markers that signify whether an action is currently happening or has already occurred. Present tense in Swahili often utilizes the marker ‘-na-‘ while past tense uses ‘-li-‘ or other variations depending on the context. Understanding and using these appropriately is essential for clear and accurate communication in Swahili.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate present tense verb form
1. *Ninaenda* (I am going) shuleni kila siku.
2. *Anasoma* (he/she reads) vitabu vingi.
3. *Tunacheza* (we play) mpira jioni.
4. *Wanaandika* (they write) barua kwa rafiki zao.
5. *Unasafisha* (you clean) chumba chako.
6. *Ninakula* (I eat) chakula.
7. *Anakimbia* (He/She runs) kila asubuhi.
8. *Tunaogelea* (we swim) kwenye bwawa.
9. *Wanaruka* (they jump) kamba.
10. *Unapika* (you cook) chakula cha mchana.
11. *Ninasoma* (I read) gazeti.
12. *Anaimba* (he/she sings) nyimbo tamu.
13. *Tunafanya* (we do) kazi nzuri.
14. *Wanakunywa* (they drink) maji mengi.
15. *Unafurahi* (you are happy) sana.
2. *Anasoma* (he/she reads) vitabu vingi.
3. *Tunacheza* (we play) mpira jioni.
4. *Wanaandika* (they write) barua kwa rafiki zao.
5. *Unasafisha* (you clean) chumba chako.
6. *Ninakula* (I eat) chakula.
7. *Anakimbia* (He/She runs) kila asubuhi.
8. *Tunaogelea* (we swim) kwenye bwawa.
9. *Wanaruka* (they jump) kamba.
10. *Unapika* (you cook) chakula cha mchana.
11. *Ninasoma* (I read) gazeti.
12. *Anaimba* (he/she sings) nyimbo tamu.
13. *Tunafanya* (we do) kazi nzuri.
14. *Wanakunywa* (they drink) maji mengi.
15. *Unafurahi* (you are happy) sana.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate past tense verb form
1. *Nilikwenda* (I went) shuleni jana.
2. *Alikisoma* (he/she read) kitabu kizuri.
3. *Tulicheza* (we played) mpira mzuri.
4. *Waliandika* (they wrote) barua nzuri.
5. *Ulisafisha* (you cleaned) chumba chako.
6. *Nilikula* (I ate) chakula cha mchana.
7. *Alikimbia* (He/She ran) mbio za marathon.
8. *Tuliogelea* (we swam) kwenye bwawa.
9. *Waliruka* (they jumped) kamba.
10. *Ulipika* (you cooked) chakula kitamu.
11. *Nilisoma* (I read) gazeti.
12. *Aliimba* (he/she sang) wimbo mzuri.
13. *Tulifanya* (we did) kazi kubwa.
14. *Walikunywa* (they drank) chai.
15. *Uliweza* (you could) kuvinjari internet.
2. *Alikisoma* (he/she read) kitabu kizuri.
3. *Tulicheza* (we played) mpira mzuri.
4. *Waliandika* (they wrote) barua nzuri.
5. *Ulisafisha* (you cleaned) chumba chako.
6. *Nilikula* (I ate) chakula cha mchana.
7. *Alikimbia* (He/She ran) mbio za marathon.
8. *Tuliogelea* (we swam) kwenye bwawa.
9. *Waliruka* (they jumped) kamba.
10. *Ulipika* (you cooked) chakula kitamu.
11. *Nilisoma* (I read) gazeti.
12. *Aliimba* (he/she sang) wimbo mzuri.
13. *Tulifanya* (we did) kazi kubwa.
14. *Walikunywa* (they drank) chai.
15. *Uliweza* (you could) kuvinjari internet.
