The Present Continuous tense in Swahili grammar, also known as the ‘progressive tense’, denotes actions that are currently ongoing. It’s formed by combining the subject prefix, the tense indicator ‘-na-‘ and the verb root. Note that Swahili verbs always end in ‘-a’, but this end vowel changes in the present continuous tense depending on the final vowel of the subject prefix.
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences using the Present Continuous tense
1. Mimi *ninaenda* (am going) sokoni kuwaona rafiki zangu.
2. Wao *wanakula* (are eating) chakula.
3. Yeye *anaandika* (is writing) barua.
4. Sisi *tunacheza* (are playing) mpira.
5. Ule mtoto *analala* (is sleeping) chini.
6. Ninyi *mnapika* (are cooking) chakula.
7. Yeye *anasoma* (is reading) kitabu.
8. Mimi *nasoma* (am studying) kwa ajili ya mtihani.
9. Wewe *unasafisha* (are cleaning) chumba.
10. Sisi * tunakimbia* (are running) kwenye mashindano.
11. Yeye *anaimba* (is singing) wimbo.
12. Wao *wanasoma* (are studying) katika maktaba.
13. Wao *wanacheza* (are dancing) katika sherehe.
14. Sisi *tunacheza* (are swimming) kwenye bwawa.
15. Ninyi *mnaimba* (are singing) wimbo katika kwaya.
2. Wao *wanakula* (are eating) chakula.
3. Yeye *anaandika* (is writing) barua.
4. Sisi *tunacheza* (are playing) mpira.
5. Ule mtoto *analala* (is sleeping) chini.
6. Ninyi *mnapika* (are cooking) chakula.
7. Yeye *anasoma* (is reading) kitabu.
8. Mimi *nasoma* (am studying) kwa ajili ya mtihani.
9. Wewe *unasafisha* (are cleaning) chumba.
10. Sisi * tunakimbia* (are running) kwenye mashindano.
11. Yeye *anaimba* (is singing) wimbo.
12. Wao *wanasoma* (are studying) katika maktaba.
13. Wao *wanacheza* (are dancing) katika sherehe.
14. Sisi *tunacheza* (are swimming) kwenye bwawa.
15. Ninyi *mnaimba* (are singing) wimbo katika kwaya.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blank with appropriate Present Continuous tense verb
1. Yeye *anasafiri* (is traveling) kwenda nchini Tanzania.
2. Wao *wanatembea* (are walking) katika bustani.
3. Mimi *ninafanya* (am doing) kazi.
4. Wewe *unakunywa* (are drinking) maji.
5. Wao *wanapanda* (are climbing) mlima.
6. Sisi *tunakula* (are eating) chakula.
7. Yeye *anacheza* (is playing) piano.
8. Mimi *nanunua* (am buying) vitabu.
9. Wewe *unatizama* (are watching) televisheni.
10. Ninyi *mnasoma* (are reading) gazeti.
11. Wao *wanajifunza* (are learning) lugha ya Kiswahili.
12. Mimi *ninaendesha* (am driving) gari.
13. Sisi *tunapika* (are cooking) chakula.
14. Yeye *anasoma* (is studying) kwa mtihani.
15. Ninyi *mnacheza* (are dancing) katika sherehe.
2. Wao *wanatembea* (are walking) katika bustani.
3. Mimi *ninafanya* (am doing) kazi.
4. Wewe *unakunywa* (are drinking) maji.
5. Wao *wanapanda* (are climbing) mlima.
6. Sisi *tunakula* (are eating) chakula.
7. Yeye *anacheza* (is playing) piano.
8. Mimi *nanunua* (am buying) vitabu.
9. Wewe *unatizama* (are watching) televisheni.
10. Ninyi *mnasoma* (are reading) gazeti.
11. Wao *wanajifunza* (are learning) lugha ya Kiswahili.
12. Mimi *ninaendesha* (am driving) gari.
13. Sisi *tunapika* (are cooking) chakula.
14. Yeye *anasoma* (is studying) kwa mtihani.
15. Ninyi *mnacheza* (are dancing) katika sherehe.
