The Simple Past tense in Swahili is used to indicate an action that has been completed and occurred at a specific time in the past. The Swahili Simple Past is formed by adding inflectional prefixes to the verb stem, with the prefixes indicating the subject of the verb. It is worth noting that the order of the sentence (subject-verb-object or SVO) remains constant in Swahili.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct Simple Past verb form
1. Jana, tuli*enda* (go) dukani.
2. Mwalimu alini*pa* (give) kitabu changu.
3. Wanafunzi walikuwa *walisoma* (read) vitabu vyao.
4. Nilipika *mchuzi* (cooked) jana usiku.
5. Nilipo*rudi* (return) nyumbani, nililala.
6. Alipanda *miti* (planted) katika bustani.
7. Mama alipika *chakula* (cooked) kwa ajili yetu.
8. Dada yangu alifagia *nyumba* (swept).
9. Rafiki yangu alini*ambia* (told) siri yake.
10. Watoto wali*cheza* (played) mpira wa miguu.
11. Alini*mwaga* (spilled) kahawa yangu.
12. Wao *walinunua* (bought) zawadi kwa ajili yangu.
13. Mimi ni*lifanya* (did) kazi nzuri.
14. Alitu*ambia* (told) hadithi nzuri.
15. Tulikuwa *tulimaliza* (finished) kazi yetu kwa muda.
2. Mwalimu alini*pa* (give) kitabu changu.
3. Wanafunzi walikuwa *walisoma* (read) vitabu vyao.
4. Nilipika *mchuzi* (cooked) jana usiku.
5. Nilipo*rudi* (return) nyumbani, nililala.
6. Alipanda *miti* (planted) katika bustani.
7. Mama alipika *chakula* (cooked) kwa ajili yetu.
8. Dada yangu alifagia *nyumba* (swept).
9. Rafiki yangu alini*ambia* (told) siri yake.
10. Watoto wali*cheza* (played) mpira wa miguu.
11. Alini*mwaga* (spilled) kahawa yangu.
12. Wao *walinunua* (bought) zawadi kwa ajili yangu.
13. Mimi ni*lifanya* (did) kazi nzuri.
14. Alitu*ambia* (told) hadithi nzuri.
15. Tulikuwa *tulimaliza* (finished) kazi yetu kwa muda.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct Simple Past verb form
1. Gari langu lilikuwa *limeharibika* (broke) jana.
2. Daktari ali*toa* (gave) dawa za homa.
3. Tulikuwa *tuliogelea* (swam) katika bwawa.
4. Wauzaji wali*uuza* (sold) matunda sokoni.
5. Yeye ali*omba* (prayed) katika msikiti.
6. Mimi nili*acha* (left) kitabu changu shuleni.
7. Alini*andikia* (wrote) barua.
8. Wageni wali*tembelea* (visited) shamba letu.
9. Alipika *keki* (baked) kwa siku yake ya kuzaliwa.
10. Walikuwa *waliandaa* (prepared) chakula kwa ajili ya sherehe.
11. Alim*pa* (gave) zawadi nzuri.
12. Walikuwa *waliruka* (jumped) juu ya ua.
13. Alizika *giza* (buried) chini ya mti.
14. Yeye *aliiba* (stole) kadi yangu ya benki.
15. Wazazi wangu wali*ishi* (lived) mjini.
2. Daktari ali*toa* (gave) dawa za homa.
3. Tulikuwa *tuliogelea* (swam) katika bwawa.
4. Wauzaji wali*uuza* (sold) matunda sokoni.
5. Yeye ali*omba* (prayed) katika msikiti.
6. Mimi nili*acha* (left) kitabu changu shuleni.
7. Alini*andikia* (wrote) barua.
8. Wageni wali*tembelea* (visited) shamba letu.
9. Alipika *keki* (baked) kwa siku yake ya kuzaliwa.
10. Walikuwa *waliandaa* (prepared) chakula kwa ajili ya sherehe.
11. Alim*pa* (gave) zawadi nzuri.
12. Walikuwa *waliruka* (jumped) juu ya ua.
13. Alizika *giza* (buried) chini ya mti.
14. Yeye *aliiba* (stole) kadi yangu ya benki.
15. Wazazi wangu wali*ishi* (lived) mjini.
