Conditional phrases in Swahili grammar are used to express various possibilities. The form of the verb changes depending on the condition. This might be a hypothetical situation, a possibility, a regret about an unreal past, etc. The Swahili conditional often includes the use of ‘inge’, ‘nge’, ‘linge’ to denote the idea of ‘would have’, or ‘laki’ and ‘kama’ for ‘if’. In this exercise, we will practice conditional phrases in Swahili. Proficiency in these phrases greatly enhances one’s conversational skills in Swahili.
Exercise 1: Fill in the conditional phrases in these sentences
1. *Ningependa* (I would love) kwenda kwenye tamasha.
2. Kama ningekuwa na muda, *ningesoma* (I would read) zaidi.
3. Laki nije mapema, *ningekukuta* (I would have found you).
4. Kama ningekuwa na pesa , *ningenunua* (I would buy) gari.
5. Kama tungefika mapema, *tungeangalia* (we would watch) filamu.
6. Kama ningekuwa na muda, *ningekuandikia* (I would write to you).
7. *Ningefurahi* (I would be happy) kama ungenisaidia.
8. Kama ungelifanya kazi nzuri, *ungelipata* (you would get) tuzo.
9. *Ningekusaidia* (I would help you) lakini sina muda.
10. Kama ningekuwa na pesa , *ningesafiri* (I would travel) dunia nzima.
11. *Ningekuwa* (I would be) hapa kama ningekuwa na muda.
12. Kama ningelijua, *ningenunua* (I would buy) zawadi.
13. *Ningekuja* (I would come) kama ningelijua.
14. Kama ungelinipa taarifa mapema, *ningekuja* (I would come).
15. *Ningetamani* (I would wish) kuwa na pesa zaidi.
2. Kama ningekuwa na muda, *ningesoma* (I would read) zaidi.
3. Laki nije mapema, *ningekukuta* (I would have found you).
4. Kama ningekuwa na pesa , *ningenunua* (I would buy) gari.
5. Kama tungefika mapema, *tungeangalia* (we would watch) filamu.
6. Kama ningekuwa na muda, *ningekuandikia* (I would write to you).
7. *Ningefurahi* (I would be happy) kama ungenisaidia.
8. Kama ungelifanya kazi nzuri, *ungelipata* (you would get) tuzo.
9. *Ningekusaidia* (I would help you) lakini sina muda.
10. Kama ningekuwa na pesa , *ningesafiri* (I would travel) dunia nzima.
11. *Ningekuwa* (I would be) hapa kama ningekuwa na muda.
12. Kama ningelijua, *ningenunua* (I would buy) zawadi.
13. *Ningekuja* (I would come) kama ningelijua.
14. Kama ungelinipa taarifa mapema, *ningekuja* (I would come).
15. *Ningetamani* (I would wish) kuwa na pesa zaidi.
Exercise 2: Make sentences using conditional phrases
1. Kama ningekuwa na pesa , *ningeonja* (I would taste) vyakula vya kigeni.
2. Laki nikujue, *ningekupa* (I would give you) zawadi.
3. *Ningependa* (I would love) kuwa mwalimu.
4. Kama ungenisaidia, *ningefanikiwa* (I would succeed).
5. Kama tungekuwa na uwezo, *tungejenga* (we would build) shule.
6. Kama ningekuwa na muda, *ningenenda* (I would go) safarini.
7. *Ningecheka* (I would laugh) kama ungefanya utani.
8. *Ningekula* (I would eat) kama ningekuwa na njaa.
9. *Ningependezwa* (I would be pleased) kama ungekuja.
10. Kama ningejua, *ningekuwa* (I would be) hapa sasa.
11. *Ningefurahi* (I would be happy) kama ungenisaidia.
12. Kama ningejua, *ningemwambia* (I would tell him) ukweli.
13. Laki nikuone, *ningekusaidia* (I would help you).
14. Kama tumekosea, *tungetengeneza* (we would fix) makosa yetu.
15. *Ningetumaini* (I would hope) kama ungenisaidia.
2. Laki nikujue, *ningekupa* (I would give you) zawadi.
3. *Ningependa* (I would love) kuwa mwalimu.
4. Kama ungenisaidia, *ningefanikiwa* (I would succeed).
5. Kama tungekuwa na uwezo, *tungejenga* (we would build) shule.
6. Kama ningekuwa na muda, *ningenenda* (I would go) safarini.
7. *Ningecheka* (I would laugh) kama ungefanya utani.
8. *Ningekula* (I would eat) kama ningekuwa na njaa.
9. *Ningependezwa* (I would be pleased) kama ungekuja.
10. Kama ningejua, *ningekuwa* (I would be) hapa sasa.
11. *Ningefurahi* (I would be happy) kama ungenisaidia.
12. Kama ningejua, *ningemwambia* (I would tell him) ukweli.
13. Laki nikuone, *ningekusaidia* (I would help you).
14. Kama tumekosea, *tungetengeneza* (we would fix) makosa yetu.
15. *Ningetumaini* (I would hope) kama ungenisaidia.