Conditionals - Swahili Grammar

The Conditionals Theory in Swahili grammar deals with expressing hypothetical or conditional situations. There are three main types of conditionals in Swahili: the realis, irrealis, and counterfactual conditionals.

The realis conditional expresses situations that are likely to happen or have a high possibility of occurring. It uses the verb form -ki- followed by the verb in the perfect tense. For example, “Nikipata pesa, nitanunua gari” translates to “If I get money, I will buy a car.”

The irrealis conditional expresses situations that are unlikely to happen or have a low possibility of occurring. It uses the verb form -ngel(i)- followed by the verb in the perfect tense. For example, “Ngelingaliota, ningeling’amka mapema” translates to “If I had slept, I would have woken up early.”

The counterfactual conditional expresses situations that are contrary to reality or hypothetical. It uses the verb form -ingekuwa- followed by the verb in the infinitive form. For example, “Kama niwe nguruwe, ningekuwa na manyoya” translates to “If I were a pig, I would have fur.”

Understanding the conditionals theory in Swahili grammar is essential for effective communication and expressing hypothetical or conditional situations accurately.