Ratiba ya Kila Siku

Chapter Objectives

Communication Scenario

Core Vocabulary

Shughuli za kila siku — Daily activities

The verbs below are given in the infinitive form — the form used in dictionary entries and after certain other verbs. The infinitive begins with ku-. The verb root — the part you will attach to the subject and tense markers — follows that prefix. In vocabulary lists and dictionaries, verbs are cited in the infinitive.

kula and kunywa have short roots. kula has the root l-; kunywa has the root nyw-. They behave slightly differently from longer-root verbs — you will encounter this in the grammar section. Learn both forms as you study them.

Saa na wakati — Time and clock expressions

Sehemu za siku — Parts of the day

Siku za juma — Days of the week

Days of the week are written with a capital letter when they appear as proper names in Standard Swahili. The Arabic-origin names are part of everyday standard vocabulary, not specialized religious terms. The note on origin is for general information; do not infer that speakers necessarily observe Friday prayers or Sunday rest simply because those days have Arabic-origin names.

Maneno ya mpangilio — Sequence and frequency expressions

Pronunciation and Spelling

Mdundo wa silabi katika vitenzi — Syllable rhythm in verbs

A productive Swahili verb in the present tense combines several meaningful parts into one word. Each part forms its own syllable, and the penultimate stress rule still applies to the whole word — stress falls on the second-to-last syllable of the entire form, not on the individual parts.

Look at this example and identify the stressed syllable before reading it aloud:

Mpaka wa mofimu — Vowels across morpheme boundaries

When the subject marker ends in a vowel and the tense marker -na- begins with one, the two vowels belong to separate syllables. Do not merge them into a single long vowel or drop one.

ni-na-amka → four syllables: ni · na · am · ka
a-na-oga → four syllables: a · na · o · ga
u-na-andika → five syllables: u · na · an · di · ka

Kusoma ratiba na nyakati — Reading times and schedules aloud

Practise reading these schedule entries aloud. Pay attention to stress in the time expression and in the verb that follows.

1. Ninaamka saa moja asubuhi. (I wake up at seven a.m.)
2. Anafanya kazi saa tatu asubuhi. (He/She starts work at nine a.m.)
3. Tunakula chakula cha mchana saa sita. (We eat lunch at noon.)
4. Wanaenda nyumbani saa kumi na moja jioni. (They go home at five p.m.)
5. Ninalala saa saba usiku. (I go to sleep at one a.m.)

Grammar Instruction

7.1 The full present tense with -na-

Purpose: say what you and others do or are doing in the present.

In Chapter 3 you encountered the verb template in model verbs, and in Chapter 6 you practised subject markers with kuna and kuwa na. This chapter makes the full present tense with -na- productive. You will now build and use it across a wide range of verbs.

The affirmative present tense follows this template:

The subject markers you need for the six persons are:

Mazoezi A — Tengeneza vitenzi (Build the verbs):

Write the correct present-tense form for each combination. Do not write hyphens in your final answer.

1. I + kuamka → _____
2. she + kupika → _____
3. we + kutembea → _____
4. they + kufanya kazi → _____
5. you (singular) + kulala → _____
6. he + kuzungumza → _____
7. you (plural) + kusafisha → _____
8. I + kurudi → _____

7.2 The infinitive ku-

Purpose: recognize the infinitive as the dictionary form of a verb and use it after certain other verbs.

The infinitive is the form of the verb that appears in vocabulary lists and dictionaries. It begins with ku- and is followed by the verb root and the final vowel. The infinitive is not a finite verb — it does not carry a subject marker or a tense marker — but it is used in several important ways.

In this chapter, practise using the infinitive in two main ways:

1. As the name of an activity:

• Kupika ni kazi muhimu. Cooking is important work. (The infinitive acts like a noun meaning "cooking.")
• Ninakupenda kusoma. I like to read / I like reading. — infinitive as the second verb after the main verb.

2. After verbs of liking, wanting, and starting:

• Ninapenda kusoma. I like to study / I like studying. — ni- + -na- + pend- + -a + infinitive kusoma
• Unapenda kufanya nini? What do you like to do?
• Anaanza kupika saa moja. He/She starts cooking at seven. — recognition item: kuanza = to begin (introduced receptively here)

7.3 The present negative

Purpose: say what someone does not do.

The present negative requires two changes from the affirmative form:

1. The subject marker changes to its negative form.
2. The tense marker -na- is dropped. The negative verb goes directly from the negative subject marker to the verb root.

The negative subject markers are:

Notice also that the final vowel changes from -a to -i in most verbs in the present negative. This is a standard feature of Standard Swahili and must be applied consistently.

• Ninasoma. → Sisomi. I study. → I do not study. ni-na-som-a → si-som-i
• Anafanya kazi. → Hafanyi kazi. She works. → She does not work. a-na-fany-a → ha-fany-i
• Wanakula nyumbani. → Hawakuli nyumbani. They eat at home. → They do not eat at home. wa-na-kul-a → hawa-kul-i
• Tunalala mapema. → Hatulali mapema. We go to sleep early. → We do not go to sleep early. tu-na-lal-a → hatu-lal-i

Mazoezi B — Fanya hasi (Make negative):

Write the negative present-tense form for each sentence. Change both the subject marker and the final vowel.

1. Ninaoga asubuhi. → _____
2. Unakula mapema. → _____
3. Anapika chakula. → _____
4. Tunasafisha nyumba. → _____
5. Mnazungumza Kiswahili. → _____
6. Wanarudi nyumbani jioni. → _____

7.4 Swahili clock time

Purpose: tell and ask the time in Swahili.

Swahili has its own system for expressing clock time. The key difference from the international system is the starting point: the Swahili day begins at sunrise — approximately 6 a.m. — which is counted as saa moja, "hour one." This means that Swahili hours are offset from international hours by approximately six.

For minutes, add the part-of-day word after the hour number, then use na dakika (plus minutes) for minutes past, or kasoro (minus) for minutes before the next hour:

• Ni saa mbili na dakika kumi. It is 7:10 a.m. — hour two plus ten minutes
• Ni saa tano kasoro robo. It is 10:45 a.m. — hour five minus a quarter
• Ni saa sita na nusu mchana. It is 12:30 p.m. — hour six and a half of midday

To ask the time, use:

• Ni saa ngapi? What time is it? (It is how many hours?)
• Unaenda kazi saa ngapi? What time do you go to work?

Mazoezi C — Saa (Time practice):

Write the Swahili time expression for each international time. Include the part of the day.

1. 8:00 a.m. → _____
2. 6:30 a.m. → _____
3. 12:00 noon → _____
4. 4:00 p.m. → _____
5. 7:00 p.m. → _____
6. 11:30 p.m. → _____

7.5 Sequencing with kwanza, halafu, and baadaye

Purpose: arrange activities in a clear order.

To connect a series of actions in sequence, place one of these adverbs at the beginning of the clause it introduces, or between clauses:

• Kwanza ninaoga, halafu ninavaa nguo, baadaye ninakula chakula cha asubuhi. First I shower, then I get dressed, later I eat breakfast.
• Kwanza anafanya kazi, halafu anapumzika. First she works, then she rests.

These words can begin a sentence or appear as a bridge between two clauses separated by a comma. You do not need any other connecting word — kwanza, halafu, and baadaye carry the sequence meaning on their own.

Mazoezi D — Panga ratiba (Arrange a schedule):

Put these activities in a logical order for a morning routine. Write three complete Swahili sentences using kwanza, halafu, and baadaye.

• kuvaa nguo
• kuamka
• kula chakula cha asubuhi
• kuoga

Mazoezi E — Tafsiri (Translate into Swahili):

1. I do not wake up early.
2. She works every day.
3. We do not eat at midday.
4. What time do they go to sleep?
5. You (singular) study in the evening.
6. He does not rest in the afternoon.
7. First they cook, then they eat.
8. I like to read at night.

Model Dialogue

Vocabulary note: ninachoka = I am tired; ninaanza = I begin/start; kwa bidii = diligently; hard; mkate = bread (N-class); njiani = on the way; ninamaliza = I finish; hesabu = mathematics; starehe = enjoyment; comfort (recognition items); sijisomi = I don't study (by myself); kabla ya = before (recognition item); tofauti = different; sivyo? = isn't that right? These are recognition items at this stage.

Maswali ya ufahamu — Comprehension questions:

1. Farida anaanza kazi saa ngapi kwa wakati wa Kiswahili? Na kwa wakati wa kimataifa?
2. Juma anakula chakula cha asubuhi nyumbani kila siku? Kwa nini au kwa nini si hivyo?
3. Juma anafanya nini baada ya kazi jioni? Taja mambo matatu. (Name three things.)
4. Ni tofauti gani kati ya ratiba ya Farida na ratiba ya Juma usiku? (What is the difference between their evening routines?)
5. Find two negative present-tense verbs in the dialogue. Write them and identify the negative subject marker used in each.

Listening

Ask your instructor, a partner, or a text-to-speech tool to read the passages below aloud, twice each. Complete the tasks as you listen.

Kazi A — Ratiba ya Amina: Listen to Mazungumzo A. Write Amina's schedule as a numbered list. Include the activity and the time (in Swahili time) for each item.

Kazi B — Tofauti ya Jumapili: Listen to Mazungumzo B. What is different about the speaker's Sunday routine compared to other days? Write the answer as a complete Swahili sentence.

Kazi C — Maneno ya hasi: Listen to Mazungumzo C. Write every negative present-tense verb you hear. Next to each, write the affirmative form it is based on and the meaning of the negative form.

Listening Script for Instructor, Partner, or Text-to-Speech Use. See Answer Key for expected responses.

Reading

Read the following texts. Look for present-tense verbs, negatives, time expressions, and sequence words.

Maswali ya ufahamu — Comprehension questions:

1. Baraka anaanza kazi saa ngapi? Na anamaliza saa ngapi mchana?
2. Baraka na mke wake wanafanya nini pamoja jioni?
3. In Maandishi 1, find three affirmative present-tense verbs and write them in a table with their subject marker, tense marker, verb root, and final vowel identified.
4. Tiwa anafanya kazi wakati gani Kampala? Je, ratiba yake ni sawa na ratiba ya Baraka?
5. Find the negative verb in Maandishi 1 paragraph four. Write it, identify the negative subject marker, and write the equivalent affirmative form.

Writing Workshop

1. Soma mfano. Reread Maandishi 1 (Siku yangu ya kawaida). Underline every present-tense verb. Circle every sequence word (kwanza, halafu, baadaye).
2. Panga ratiba yako. Think about your own typical weekday. Note down five to seven activities, the time of each in Swahili time, and whether each happens in the morning, midday, afternoon, or evening. Include at least one thing you do not do.
3. Andika rasimu yako ya kwanza. Write 80–100 Swahili sentences about your typical day. Use at least four different verbs in the affirmative present, at least one present negative, at least two time expressions in Swahili, and the sequence words kwanza, halafu, and baadaye at least once each.
4. Kagua kwa orodha hapa chini. Check your draft against the editing checklist before writing a final version.
5. Andika nakala safi. Produce a clean final version to include in your portfolio or share with a partner.

Orodha ya ukaguzi — Editing checklist:

• Every present-tense affirmative verb uses the pattern: subject marker + -na- + verb root + -a.
• Every present-tense negative verb uses the negative subject marker and drops -na-; the final vowel changes from -a to -i.
• At least two different subject markers appear (e.g. ni- and a-, or tu- and wa-).
• Time expressions use Swahili saa numbers and include the part of the day (asubuhi, mchana, jioni, usiku).
• Sequence words (kwanza, halafu, baadaye) are used correctly to order events.
• No pedagogical hyphens appear in the final written verbs.
• Each sentence ends with a full stop and begins with a capital letter.
• Spelling of verb roots is accurate — no vowels are merged across morpheme boundaries.

Kazi ya ziada — Additional task: Write a short informal message (five to seven sentences) to an imaginary Swahili-speaking friend, asking about their daily routine. Write at least three questions using the present tense. Use the opening and closing from Maandishi 2 as a model.

Speaking Practice

Culture and Communication

Common Mistakes

Chapter Review

Chapter Performance Task

Looking Ahead