Prepositions and gerunds are common elements in Swahili grammar. Prepositions are words or phrases that typically precede a noun, while gerunds are verbs in their ‘-ing’ form, typically used as nouns. In Swahili, gerunds usually end with ‘-a’. Important to note is that prepositional phrases modify the noun much like adjectives do in English. When using prepositions with gerunds in Swahili, the two elements combine to provide more context to actions or processes. Through these Swahili grammar exercises, students will be able to improve their understanding of preposition and gerund combinations.
Exercise 1: Filling in the blanks with correct preposition + gerund combinations
1. Alikataa *kwa kucheza* (for playing) mpira wa miguu jana.
2. Bado natembea *kwa kuimba* (while singing) nyimbo za kiswahili.
3. Alinisaidia *kwa kusafisha* (by cleaning) nyumba yangu.
4. Yeye hupendelea *kwa kuandika* (by writing) barua pepe.
5. Walipata *kwa kusoma* (from reading) vitabu vingi.
6. Nilikuwa tayari *kwa kuiacha* (to leave) kazi yangu.
7. Mimi huenda kazini *kwa kutembea* (by walking).
8. Yeye husherehekea *kwa kucheza* (by dancing) sana.
9. Alikuwa mgonjwa *kutokana na kula* (from eating) chakula kibaya.
10. Ninafurahi *kwa kusikia* (to hear) habari njema.
11. Ni muhimu *kwa kusoma* (to read) habari za sasa.
12. Ninaenda shuleni *kwa kuendesha* (by riding) baiskeli.
13. Yeye huishi *kwa kufanya* (by doing) kazi nzuri.
14. Wao husema *kwa kuongea* (by speaking) Kiswahili.
15. Sisi hupenda *kwa kuangalia* (by watching) michezo ya mpira.
Exercise 2: Filling in the blanks with correct preposition + gerund combinations
1. Yeye hukumbuka *kwa kuandika* (by writing) kumbukumbu.
2. Wao husaidia *kwa kuosha* (by washing) magari.
3. Ninapenda *kwa kusoma* (reading) vitabu.
4. Yeye hufanya kazi *kwa kuchora* (by drawing) michoro.
5. Alilipa deni lake *kwa kufanya* (by doing) kazi za ziada.
6. Ninaishi *kwa kufanya* (by doing) kazi yangu.
7. Walipata pesa *kutokana na kuuza* (from selling) vitu.
8. Alikuwa na furaha *kwa kuona* (to see) familia yake.
9. Ninafurahi sana *kwa kusikia* (to hear) sauti yako.
10. Wao hufurahi *kwa kuimba* (by singing) nyimbo nzuri.
11. Alipendelea *kwa kusoma* (reading) ripoti hiyo.
12. Najifunza *kwa kuandika* (by writing) barua.
13. Yeye hupenda sana *kwa kucheza* (by playing) piano.
14. Anasaidia *kwa kutafsiri* (by translating) maandishi.
15. Wao hufanya kazi nzuri *kwa kutumia* (by using) kompyuta.
