Zero Conditional in Swahili grammar is often used to talk about general truths or results that always happen if a certain condition is fulfilled. This involves using verbs in the plain present tense. In Swahili, Zero Conditional is mainly expressed in two ways: using the ‘iki-‘ prefix or using the ‘ki-‘ prefix. The ‘iki-‘ form is more common and versatile, while the ‘ki-‘ form is somewhat less common and is typically used when the action in the if-clause and the result clause are the same.
Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Form of ‘iki-‘ Prefix
1. *Ikiwa* ningekuwa na pesa, ningekuwa mkarimu. (If | I)
2. Huwa *ikifika* saa tano, huwa naenda gym. (Arrive | It)
3. Kila *ikishuka* mvua, huwa nachukua umbrella. (Rain | Whenever)
4. Mtoto hulia *ikipotea* mpira wake. (When| His/Her ball)
5. Siku zote *ikikuja* mgeni, huwa tunakaribisha. (When | Guest)
6. *Ikifika* jioni, huwa natizama TV. (Evening | It)
7. *Ikiwa* mnataka kusikia, njooni hapa. (If | You(plural))
8. Huwa *ikiwa* baridi, huvaa koti. (Cold | It)
9. Ninafuraha *ikiwa* nina kazi ya kufanya. (When| I)
10. *Ikionekana* jua, huwa tunacheza nje. (When | Sun)
11. *Ikirudi* mama, tunakula chakula. (When | Mother)
12. *Ikiota* mti, hutoa matunda. (When | Tree)
13. Kila *ikifika* muda wa chakula, huwa tunakaa pamoja. (Mealtime | It)
14. Kila *ikichweka* huwa tunakariri. (Dusk | When)
15. *Ikiwa* mvua itaanza, nitachukua umbrella. (If | Rain)
2. Huwa *ikifika* saa tano, huwa naenda gym. (Arrive | It)
3. Kila *ikishuka* mvua, huwa nachukua umbrella. (Rain | Whenever)
4. Mtoto hulia *ikipotea* mpira wake. (When| His/Her ball)
5. Siku zote *ikikuja* mgeni, huwa tunakaribisha. (When | Guest)
6. *Ikifika* jioni, huwa natizama TV. (Evening | It)
7. *Ikiwa* mnataka kusikia, njooni hapa. (If | You(plural))
8. Huwa *ikiwa* baridi, huvaa koti. (Cold | It)
9. Ninafuraha *ikiwa* nina kazi ya kufanya. (When| I)
10. *Ikionekana* jua, huwa tunacheza nje. (When | Sun)
11. *Ikirudi* mama, tunakula chakula. (When | Mother)
12. *Ikiota* mti, hutoa matunda. (When | Tree)
13. Kila *ikifika* muda wa chakula, huwa tunakaa pamoja. (Mealtime | It)
14. Kila *ikichweka* huwa tunakariri. (Dusk | When)
15. *Ikiwa* mvua itaanza, nitachukua umbrella. (If | Rain)
Exercise 2 – Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Form of ‘ki-‘ Prefix
1. *Kiwaka* moto, hupikia chakula. (When | Fire)
2. *Kichweka* taa, giza hutoweka. (When | Light)
3. *Kiisha* mchezo, wachezaji hupumzika. (End | Game)
4. *Kilipuka* bomu, watu hukimbilia usalama. (Explodes | Bomb)
5. Samaki huleta mayai *kioteshwa*. (When | Eggs(hatch))
6. *Kipanda* mti, hubeba matunda. (Grows | Tree)
7. *Kichezwa* muziki, huwa tunacheza. (Music | Played)
8. *Kinuka* upinde wa mvua, hufurahi. (When | Rainbow)
9. *Kijaa* mto, hufurika. (Floods | River)
10. *Kikosekana* chakula, watu huwa na njaa. (When | Food)
11. *Kifungwa* mlango, huwa tunabaki nje. (Is_closed | Door)
12. *Kirushwa* mpira, huwa tunaruka. (When | Ball)
13. *Kipika* chakula, huwa tunakula. (When | Food)
14. *Kianza* kutoka jua, huwa tunatoka nje. (When | Sun)
15. *Kifika* usiku, huwa tunakwenda kulala. (Night | When)
2. *Kichweka* taa, giza hutoweka. (When | Light)
3. *Kiisha* mchezo, wachezaji hupumzika. (End | Game)
4. *Kilipuka* bomu, watu hukimbilia usalama. (Explodes | Bomb)
5. Samaki huleta mayai *kioteshwa*. (When | Eggs(hatch))
6. *Kipanda* mti, hubeba matunda. (Grows | Tree)
7. *Kichezwa* muziki, huwa tunacheza. (Music | Played)
8. *Kinuka* upinde wa mvua, hufurahi. (When | Rainbow)
9. *Kijaa* mto, hufurika. (Floods | River)
10. *Kikosekana* chakula, watu huwa na njaa. (When | Food)
11. *Kifungwa* mlango, huwa tunabaki nje. (Is_closed | Door)
12. *Kirushwa* mpira, huwa tunaruka. (When | Ball)
13. *Kipika* chakula, huwa tunakula. (When | Food)
14. *Kianza* kutoka jua, huwa tunatoka nje. (When | Sun)
15. *Kifika* usiku, huwa tunakwenda kulala. (Night | When)
