Relative Pronouns in Swahili grammar are called “Viwakilishi vya Kihusishi”. Swahili relative pronouns communicate a relationship between two clauses, relating a noun or a noun phrase to a verb, adjective, or prepositional phrase. It is important to note that these relative pronouns can change according to the noun class they are referring to. Mastery of using relative pronouns thus strengthens one’s grasp on Swahili language use and grammatical fluency.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with correct Relative Pronoun
1. Mwanamke *ambaye* (who) alinipa mkate ameondoka.
2. Duka *linalo* (that) uza matunda liko mitaani.
3. Ni mtoto *yule* (the one) uliyeanza kumfundisha.
4. Nitakutana na *watu* (people) watakaoleta chakula.
5. Mwalimu *aliye* (who) soma kitabu kile alikifurahia.
6. Kitu *kitakacho* (that) saidia ni mawazo yako.
7. Nimeona mbwa *ule* (that one) mbio sana.
8. Neno *analolisema* (that he says) halina maana.
9. Nyumba *ipo* (it is) upande wa kulia ya barabara.
10. Jitihada *zao* (their) zilizosababisha mafanikio.
11. Hawa ni watu *wanataka* (they want) kusoma.
12. Najaribu kumkumbuka *mwanamke* (the woman) nilimuona jana.
13. *Hao* (those) ni mbuzi za shangazi yako?
14. Kiti *unachokikalia* (you are sitting on) ni kigumu.
15. Safari *tulipanga* (we planned) itafanyika kesho.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blank with correct Relative Pronoun
1. Nilisoma kitabu *ukiwa* (while you were) ukilala.
2. Mtoto *ye* (the one) emeleta zawadi kwa mama ni mwenye adabu.
3. Nenda kwa mtu *atakaye* (who will) kukupa chakula.
4. *Mimi* (I) nilitembelea mji ule.
5. Tafadhali nipe kiti *kinacho* (that) euka rahisi.
6. Kalamu *inayo* (that) andika vizuri imepotea.
7. Simu *yako* (your) iko wapi?
8. Nilikutana na *mtoto* (the child) anaesoma katika shule ile.
9. Mti *unanopanda* (you are climbing) una matunda tamu.
10. Wakati *unakwenda* (you are going) duka nipatie mkate.
11. Mzee *yule* (that one) aliishi pekee yake.
12. Mti *ulio* (that) pokatwa ulikuwa mkubwa.
13. *Uwe* (you should be) na habari njema kwa mkutano.
14. Siku *iliyopita* (that passed) haikuwa rahisi.
15. Ni kitabu *kinachovutia* (that is interesting) kisoma kinachozungumzia historia.
