In Swahili grammar, understanding the distinction between the Perfect and Simple tenses is crucial. The Perfect tense suggests an action that has completed or “perfected” itself, often equivalent to the English past participle (like “I have eaten”), while the Simple tense can be likened to the English simple past (like “I ate”). Depending on the context, the usage of these tenses changes, thus improving a language learner’s comprehension and sentence construction abilities in Swahili.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks using the Perfect tense in Swahili
1. Mimi *nimekula* (ate) chakula tayari.
2. Wewe *umeandika* (wrote) barua.
3. Yeye *amefika* (arrived) nyumbani.
4. Sisi *tumelala* (slept) vizuri.
5. Nyinyi *mmefanya* (did) kazi nzuri.
6. Wao *wameimba* (sang) wimbo maridadi.
7. Nilitumaini kwamba wewe *umepata* (got) mji mkuu.
8. Mimi *nimefurahi* (was happy) kuona.
9. Wao *wameinuka* (rose) alfajiri.
10. Wewe *umesoma* (read) gazeti.
11. Yeye *amepotea* (lost) kioo.
12. Sisi *tumepika* (cooked) chakula kitamu.
13. Nyinyi *mmesafiri* (travelled) hadi Nairobi.
14. Wewe *umekimbia* (ran) mbio.
15. Mimi *nimeshinda* (won) tuzo.
2. Wewe *umeandika* (wrote) barua.
3. Yeye *amefika* (arrived) nyumbani.
4. Sisi *tumelala* (slept) vizuri.
5. Nyinyi *mmefanya* (did) kazi nzuri.
6. Wao *wameimba* (sang) wimbo maridadi.
7. Nilitumaini kwamba wewe *umepata* (got) mji mkuu.
8. Mimi *nimefurahi* (was happy) kuona.
9. Wao *wameinuka* (rose) alfajiri.
10. Wewe *umesoma* (read) gazeti.
11. Yeye *amepotea* (lost) kioo.
12. Sisi *tumepika* (cooked) chakula kitamu.
13. Nyinyi *mmesafiri* (travelled) hadi Nairobi.
14. Wewe *umekimbia* (ran) mbio.
15. Mimi *nimeshinda* (won) tuzo.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks using the Simple tense in Swahili
1. Mimi *nilienda* (went) sokoni.
2. Wewe *ulianguka* (fell) kutoka ngazi.
3. Yeye *alipanda* (planted) mti.
4. Sisi *tulicheza* (played) michezo mingi.
5. Nyinyi *mliongea* (spoke) na mwalimu.
6. Wao *walisafiri* (travelled) Dar es Salaam.
7. Mimi *nilipika* (cooked) chakula.
8. Wewe *ulipata* (got) habari mbaya.
9. Yeye *alisahau* (forgot) kitabu chake.
10. Sisi *tulifurahi* (were happy) sana.
11. Nyinyi *mlifika* (arrived) nyumbani mapema.
12. Wao *walilala* (slept) mchana.
13. Mimi *nilisoma* (read) riwaya mzuri.
14. Wewe *ulisikiliza* (listened) muziki.
15. Yeye *aliondoka* (left) mapema.
2. Wewe *ulianguka* (fell) kutoka ngazi.
3. Yeye *alipanda* (planted) mti.
4. Sisi *tulicheza* (played) michezo mingi.
5. Nyinyi *mliongea* (spoke) na mwalimu.
6. Wao *walisafiri* (travelled) Dar es Salaam.
7. Mimi *nilipika* (cooked) chakula.
8. Wewe *ulipata* (got) habari mbaya.
9. Yeye *alisahau* (forgot) kitabu chake.
10. Sisi *tulifurahi* (were happy) sana.
11. Nyinyi *mlifika* (arrived) nyumbani mapema.
12. Wao *walilala* (slept) mchana.
13. Mimi *nilisoma* (read) riwaya mzuri.
14. Wewe *ulisikiliza* (listened) muziki.
15. Yeye *aliondoka* (left) mapema.
