In Swahili grammar, differentiating between the present tense and the future tense is quite straightforward. The present tense is often indicated by the absence of a tense marker or the presence of the `-na-` marker, while the future tense is typically marked by the `-ta-` tense marker. For instance, ‘anapenda’ translates to ‘he/she likes’, but ‘atapenda’ translates to ‘he/she will like’. Understanding how these tense markers function is a key aspect of mastering Swahili grammar.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with the correct verb form to indicate the present tense.
1. Kila siku, Juma *anakula* (eats) chakula cha mchana shuleni.
2. Mama na baba *wanaandika* (write) barua kwa jirani.
3. Wewe *unasoma* (read) vitabu vingi.
4. Mwalimu *anafundisha* (teaches) somo la Kiswahili.
5. Tunafurahi kuwa *unaishi* (live) hapa.
6. Watoto *wanacheza* (play) mpira nje.
7. Ndugu yangu *anafanya* (does) kazi nzuri.
8. Mimi *napenda* (like) kusafiri.
9. Kijana *anakimbia* (runs) haraka.
10. Sisi *tunaogelea* (swim) baharini.
11. Rafiki yangu *anaimba* (sings) wimbo mzuri.
12. Dada yangu *anatengeneza* (makes) chakula cha jioni.
13. Wazazi wangu *wanafurahia* (enjoy) filamu.
14. Wao *wanajiandaa* (prepare) kwa ajili ya sherehe.
15. Mwalimu wa muziki *anapiga* (plays) gitaa.
2. Mama na baba *wanaandika* (write) barua kwa jirani.
3. Wewe *unasoma* (read) vitabu vingi.
4. Mwalimu *anafundisha* (teaches) somo la Kiswahili.
5. Tunafurahi kuwa *unaishi* (live) hapa.
6. Watoto *wanacheza* (play) mpira nje.
7. Ndugu yangu *anafanya* (does) kazi nzuri.
8. Mimi *napenda* (like) kusafiri.
9. Kijana *anakimbia* (runs) haraka.
10. Sisi *tunaogelea* (swim) baharini.
11. Rafiki yangu *anaimba* (sings) wimbo mzuri.
12. Dada yangu *anatengeneza* (makes) chakula cha jioni.
13. Wazazi wangu *wanafurahia* (enjoy) filamu.
14. Wao *wanajiandaa* (prepare) kwa ajili ya sherehe.
15. Mwalimu wa muziki *anapiga* (plays) gitaa.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blank with the correct verb form to indicate the future tense.
1. Kesho, nitakwenda *nitakula* (will eat) chakula cha mchana nyumbani.
2. Mama na baba *wataandika* (will write) barua kwa daktari.
3. Wewe *utasoma* (will read) vitabu vingi mwakani.
4. Mwalimu *atafundisha* (will teach) somo la historia.
5. Wazazi wanafurahi kuwa *utaishi* (will live) hapa.
6. Watoto *watacheza* (will play) mpira uwanjani.
7. Ndugu yangu *atafanya* (will do) kazi ngumu.
8. Mimi *nitapenda* (will like) kusafiri Afrika.
9. Kijana *atakimbia* (will run) mbio za marathon.
10. Sisi *tutaogelea* (will swim) katika bwawa.
11. Rafiki yangu *ataimba* (will sing) wimbo mpya.
12. Dada yangu *atatengeneza* (will make) chakula cha sherehe.
13. Wazazi wangu *watafurahia* (will enjoy) sikukuu.
14. Wao *watajiandaa* (will prepare) kwa ajili ya safari.
15. Mwalimu wa muziki *atapiga* (will play) kinanda.
2. Mama na baba *wataandika* (will write) barua kwa daktari.
3. Wewe *utasoma* (will read) vitabu vingi mwakani.
4. Mwalimu *atafundisha* (will teach) somo la historia.
5. Wazazi wanafurahi kuwa *utaishi* (will live) hapa.
6. Watoto *watacheza* (will play) mpira uwanjani.
7. Ndugu yangu *atafanya* (will do) kazi ngumu.
8. Mimi *nitapenda* (will like) kusafiri Afrika.
9. Kijana *atakimbia* (will run) mbio za marathon.
10. Sisi *tutaogelea* (will swim) katika bwawa.
11. Rafiki yangu *ataimba* (will sing) wimbo mpya.
12. Dada yangu *atatengeneza* (will make) chakula cha sherehe.
13. Wazazi wangu *watafurahia* (will enjoy) sikukuu.
14. Wao *watajiandaa* (will prepare) kwa ajili ya safari.
15. Mwalimu wa muziki *atapiga* (will play) kinanda.
