In Swahili grammar, the Perfect Continuous tense is utilized to describe actions or states that began in the past and continues up to the present or very recent past. It typically incorporates the word “amekuwa” to indicate the continuous action. On the other hand, the Simple tense refers to finished actions or events that have taken place at any time in the past. It uses “ame” to denote the completed action. In Swahili, the subject prefix, tense marker, and verb root are incorporated to form these tenses.
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences using appropriate Perfect Continuous verb forms.
1. Yeye *amekuwa akisoma* (has been reading) kitabu chake tangu asubuhi.
2. Wao *amekuwa wakicheza* (have been playing) mpira kwa saa mbili sasa.
3. Nimekuwa *nikifanya* (doing) kazi hii tangu jana.
4. Rafiki yangu *amekuwa akiimba* (has been singing) tangu alipoamka.
5. Hawa *amekuwa akilala* (has been sleeping) kwa saa nyingi.
6. Juma na Salma *amekuwa wakienda* (have been going) shule kila siku.
7. Mama yangu *amekuwa akipika* (has been cooking) chai asubuhi hii.
8. Sisi *amekuwa tukicheza* (have been playing) mchezo huu kwa muda mrefu.
9. Mimi *amekuwa nikiandika* (have been writing) barua hii kwa saa moja.
10. Wewe *amekuwa ukisafisha* (have been cleaning) chumba chako muda wote.
11. Wazazi wangu *amekuwa wakisafiri* (have been traveling) mara kwa mara.
12. Kaka yangu *amekuwa akisoma* (have been studying) kwa bidii kwa miaka mingi.
13. Dada yangu *amekuwa akicheza* (has been playing) na marafiki zake.
14. Yule mtoto *amekuwa akilia* (has been crying) tangu alipozaliwa.
15. Ndugu yangu *amekuwa akiishi* (has been living) nje ya nchi kwa miaka mingi.
2. Wao *amekuwa wakicheza* (have been playing) mpira kwa saa mbili sasa.
3. Nimekuwa *nikifanya* (doing) kazi hii tangu jana.
4. Rafiki yangu *amekuwa akiimba* (has been singing) tangu alipoamka.
5. Hawa *amekuwa akilala* (has been sleeping) kwa saa nyingi.
6. Juma na Salma *amekuwa wakienda* (have been going) shule kila siku.
7. Mama yangu *amekuwa akipika* (has been cooking) chai asubuhi hii.
8. Sisi *amekuwa tukicheza* (have been playing) mchezo huu kwa muda mrefu.
9. Mimi *amekuwa nikiandika* (have been writing) barua hii kwa saa moja.
10. Wewe *amekuwa ukisafisha* (have been cleaning) chumba chako muda wote.
11. Wazazi wangu *amekuwa wakisafiri* (have been traveling) mara kwa mara.
12. Kaka yangu *amekuwa akisoma* (have been studying) kwa bidii kwa miaka mingi.
13. Dada yangu *amekuwa akicheza* (has been playing) na marafiki zake.
14. Yule mtoto *amekuwa akilia* (has been crying) tangu alipozaliwa.
15. Ndugu yangu *amekuwa akiishi* (has been living) nje ya nchi kwa miaka mingi.
Exercise 2: Complete the sentences using appropriate Simple verb forms.
1. Wewe *umeenda* (went) sokoni jana.
2. Mimi *nimekula* (ate) chakula changu.
3. Juma na Salma *wamecheza* (played) mpira.
4. Yeye *ameandika* (wrote) barua hii.
5. Wao *wamesoma* (read) habari za leo.
6. Sisi *tumecheza* (played) mchezo huu.
7. Mama yangu *amepika* (cooked) chai asubuhi hii.
8. Rafiki yangu *ameimba* (sang) wimbo huu.
9. Wazazi wangu *wamesafiri* (traveled) mara kwa mara.
10. Ndugu yangu *ameishi* (lived) nje ya nchi kwa miaka mingi.
11. Kaka yangu *amesoma* (read) vitabu vyote hivi.
12. Dada yangu *amecheza* (played) na marafiki zake.
13. Yule mtoto *amelala* (slept) tangu alipozaliwa.
14. Nimekuwa *nikifanya* (doing) kazi hii tangu jana.
15. Mimi *nimeandika* (wrote) makala hii.
2. Mimi *nimekula* (ate) chakula changu.
3. Juma na Salma *wamecheza* (played) mpira.
4. Yeye *ameandika* (wrote) barua hii.
5. Wao *wamesoma* (read) habari za leo.
6. Sisi *tumecheza* (played) mchezo huu.
7. Mama yangu *amepika* (cooked) chai asubuhi hii.
8. Rafiki yangu *ameimba* (sang) wimbo huu.
9. Wazazi wangu *wamesafiri* (traveled) mara kwa mara.
10. Ndugu yangu *ameishi* (lived) nje ya nchi kwa miaka mingi.
11. Kaka yangu *amesoma* (read) vitabu vyote hivi.
12. Dada yangu *amecheza* (played) na marafiki zake.
13. Yule mtoto *amelala* (slept) tangu alipozaliwa.
14. Nimekuwa *nikifanya* (doing) kazi hii tangu jana.
15. Mimi *nimeandika* (wrote) makala hii.
