Kazini na Shuleni

Chapter Objectives

Communication Scenario

Core Vocabulary

Kazi na maeneo ya kazi — Occupations and workplaces

The nouns below name common occupations and the places where people work. Many occupation nouns belong to the M-WA class because they refer to people. Learn each noun with its plural and class information.

Masomo na shughuli za shule — School subjects and study activities

chuo kikuu uses KI-VI agreement throughout. Its plural vyuo vikuu follows the KI-VI plural pattern: vi- on both noun and modifier. This is a recognition item for the KI-VI modifier agreement you studied in earlier chapters.

Wajibu, ratiba, na zana — Duties, schedules, and tools

Maneno ya wakati ujao — Future-time expressions

Pronunciation and Spelling

Msisitizo katika vitenzi vya wakati ujao — Stress in future-tense verbs

You have already learned Swahili's main stress rule: stress falls on the second-to-last (penultimate) syllable of a word. In this chapter you are adding the future tense marker -ta- to the verb template. Because -ta- adds a syllable to the verb, the stressed syllable shifts. Practice locating the penultimate syllable after you add the new marker.

Kuandika ujumbe rasmi na usio rasmi — Writing formal and informal messages

This chapter's writing task asks you to write a short practical message. Swahili messages use punctuation conventions that are close to English: capital letters at the start of sentences, full stops at the end, commas in lists and longer clauses. One important difference: Swahili does not capitalize days of the week or months in ordinary prose. Practice these patterns as you work through the chapter.

1. Read this sentence aloud and mark the stressed syllable in each verb: Nitaandika ripoti kesho asubuhi ili mkurugenzi aipate.
2. Divide this verb into its parts and name each part: hatutasoma
3. Write the following as one Swahili sentence with correct punctuation: i will send the email tomorrow afternoon
4. Which of these is written correctly? (a) Tutakutana Jumanne. (b) Tutakutana jumanne.

Grammar Instruction

14.1 The future tense marker -ta-

Purpose: talk about upcoming plans, tasks, predictions, and scheduled events.

You have now worked with two tense markers inside the Swahili verb template: present -na- (introduced in Chapter 7) and a fixed future model from Chapter 12. In this chapter, -ta- becomes a fully productive tool. It occupies the same position in the template as -na- — between the subject marker and the verb root — and it is used for all speakers and all noun-class subjects.

The productive beginner verb template is:

subject marker + -ta- + (object marker, if needed) + verb root + final vowel

Negative future forms follow the pattern of negative verbs you already know: the subject marker changes to its negative form and the negative final vowel -i replaces the ordinary final vowel -a. The marker -ta- itself remains in place.

• Nitaandika ripoti kesho. I will write the report tomorrow. ni-ta-andik-a
• Atafanya kazi saa tatu asubuhi. He/she will work at nine in the morning. a-ta-fany-a
• Tutasoma hisabati wiki ijayo. We will study mathematics next week. tu-ta-som-a
• Hawatasoma leo — wana mkutano. They will not study today — they have a meeting. hawa-ta-som-a
• Je, utakuwa ofisini kesho? Will you be in the office tomorrow? u-ta-kuwa (future of kuwa)

Mazoezi A — Badilisha (-na- hadi -ta- / change present to future):

Rewrite each sentence in the future tense. Keep the same subject and verb.

1. Ninasoma vitabu vya hisabati.
2. Anafanya kazi hospitalini.
3. Tunakutana saa mbili mchana.
4. Wanafunzi wanaandika mitihani.
5. Hufanyi kazi jumapili. (negative — keep negative in future)
6. Mtuma barua pepe leo.

14.2 Purpose clauses with ili

Purpose: explain the reason for an action — "I study in order to pass the exam."

The word ili introduces a purpose clause in Swahili. It connects a main action to the reason or goal behind it. Think of ili as "in order to" or "so that." The clause that follows ili typically contains a verb in the infinitive or a short verb phrase. At this stage, the most important pattern to produce is:

main clause + ili + purpose (infinitive or short verb phrase)

• Ninasoma Kiswahili ili nizungumze na watu wengi. I study Swahili in order to speak with many people.
• Ataandika ripoti ili mkurugenzi aione. She will write the report so that the director can see it.
• Tunakwenda mapema ili tuwahi mkutano. We are going early so that we arrive in time for the meeting.
• Alituma barua pepe ili tujue ratiba. He sent an email so that we would know the schedule. (recognition item: past -li- in main clause)
• Soma kwa bidii ili upite mtihani. Study hard so that you pass the exam.

Mazoezi B — Unganisha kwa ili (Connect with ili):

Join the two sentences using ili. The first sentence is the main action; the second is the purpose.

1. Ninajifunza kompyuta. / Nitafanya kazi ofisini vizuri.
2. Anasoma sana. / Atapita mtihani.
3. Tutakwenda hospitalini mapema. / Tutaona daktari.
4. Nitatuma ripoti. / Mkurugenzi ataisoma.
5. Wanafunzi wanakaa darasani. / Watajifunza sayansi.

14.3 Contrasting kutaka, kuweza, kupaswa, and lazima

Purpose: express wanting, ability, obligation, and necessity in planning and work contexts.

You have already used -weza (ability) and lazima (necessity) in Chapter 13. This chapter adds kutaka (to want / to intend) and kupaswa (to be supposed to / ought to) so that you can express a fuller range of work and study situations. Compare the four expressions in controlled contrast:

• Ninataka kusoma hisabati ili nipite mtihani. I want to study mathematics so that I pass the exam.
• Tunaweza kukutana saa nne mchana. We can meet at ten in the morning.
• Anapaswa kumaliza kazi yake kabla ya jioni. He/she is supposed to finish his/her work before evening.
• Lazima wafanyakazi wafike mapema. The workers must arrive early.
• Je, unaweza kutuma barua pepe sasa? Can you send the email now?

Mazoezi C — Chagua neno sahihi (Choose the correct word):

Choose the most appropriate word — kutaka / kuweza / kupaswa / lazima — to complete each sentence. More than one answer may fit; write a sentence using each option and note how the meaning changes.

1. Ninataka / Ninaweza / Ninapaswa / Lazima _____ kujifunza Kiswahili ili nizungumze vizuri.
2. Saa hii sina wakati — _____ kufanya mkutano mwingine wakati?
3. Daktari _____ afike hospitalini kabla ya saa mbili asubuhi.
4. _____ wanafunzi wastudy sana kabla ya mtihani.

14.4 Object-marker expansion in planning contexts

Purpose: refer efficiently to people and things already mentioned in conversation — "I will send it to you."

You introduced object markers in Chapter 8 and expanded them in Chapter 13. In this chapter, you practice using both person object markers and class object markers in sentences about plans and duties. Remember: the object marker sits immediately before the verb root, after the tense marker.

• Nitakutumia barua pepe. I will send you an email. — -ku- = you (singular person object marker) ni-ta-ku-tumi-a (applicative ending -ia)
• Nitaituma kesho. I will send it (N-class) tomorrow. — -i- = it (N-class object marker) ni-ta-i-tum-a
• Atasomea watoto vitabu. He/she will read the children books / will read to the children. (recognition item: applicative)
• Tutawaambia wafanyakazi habari. We will tell the workers the news. — -wa- = them (M-WA plural object marker) tu-ta-wa-ambi-a

The applicative form -tumia (to send to someone) and -ambia (to tell someone) are lexicalized in standard usage. Learn them as productive verbs. The applicative extension -i(a) / -e(a) that creates them is noted here for transparency but is not a new paradigm requirement at this stage.

Mazoezi D — Badilisha (Transform with object marker):

Rewrite each sentence replacing the underlined noun phrase with the appropriate object marker.

1. Nitasomea watoto hadithi. → Nita_____ hadithi.
2. Atatuma barua pepe kesho. → Ata_____ kesho.
3. Tutamwambia mwalimu habari. → Tuta_____ habari. (mwalimu = M-WA singular, -m-)
4. Watapanga mkutano wiki ijayo. → Wata_____ wiki ijayo. (mkutano = M-MI, -u-)

Model Dialogue

Vocabulary notes: matokeo = results (JI-MA class); utafiti = research (U-class); maelezo = explanations; summary (JI-MA); mafupi = short (JI-MA plural adjective); mradi = project (M-MI class); ziara = visit (N-class); kuhudhuria = to attend; bila shaka = of course; without doubt; haitawezekana = that will not be possible. These are recognition items.

Maswali ya ufahamu — Comprehension questions:

1. Amina atafanya nini jumatatu asubuhi? (What will Amina do on Monday morning?)
2. Kwa nini Amina ataandika maelezo mafupi? Use the word ili in your answer. (Why will Amina write a short summary?)
3. Mkutano wa wafanyakazi utakuwa siku gani, na utaanza saa ngapi? (What day is the staff meeting, and what time will it begin?)
4. Amina atatumia njia gani kutuma ripoti kwa Bwana Ochieng? (How will Amina send the report to Mr. Ochieng?)
5. Find two future-tense verbs in the dialogue and write the morpheme analysis for each one (subject marker + -ta- + root).

Listening

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

Kazi A — Ratiba (Schedule): Listen to Mazungumzo A. Draw a simple weekly schedule grid for Monday through Friday. Write what Zawadi will do each day in English or Swahili.

Kazi B — Maswali (Questions): Listen to Mazungumzo B and answer in complete Swahili sentences: (1) What time will they meet? (2) Where will they meet? (3) What will each person bring, and why?

Kazi C — Vitenzi (Verbs): Listen to Mazungumzo C. Write down every future-tense verb you hear. Next to each, write the subject marker and the verb root.

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

Reading

Maswali ya ufahamu — Comprehension questions:

1. Kofi atakuwepo wapi jumanne, na kwa nini? (Where will Kofi be on Tuesday, and why?)
2. Bi. Aisha anapaswa kumfanyia nini kama anahitaji kitu wakati Kofi yuko nje ya ofisi? (What should Bi. Aisha do if she needs something while Kofi is out of the office?)
3. In Maandishi 1, find three sentences that use -ta-. Write each one and identify the subject marker and verb root.
4. Kulingana na tangazo (Maandishi 2), wanafunzi lazima walete nini? (According to the announcement, what must students bring?)
5. Kwa nini walimu wataeleza masomo kabla ya mitihani? Use ili in your answer. (Why will teachers explain the subjects before the exams?)
6. Find one ili clause in each reading passage. Write both examples and explain what purpose each one expresses.

Writing Workshop

1. Soma mfano. Reread Maandishi 1 (Barua pepe ya Kofi). Underline every future-tense verb. Circle every use of ili. Notice how Kofi organizes the message: opening, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, closing.
2. Panga mawazo yako. Think of a real or imagined work or study situation. Choose three or four days of the coming week. For each day, note one or two things you will do, and for at least two tasks, add a purpose using ili.
3. Andika rasimu yako ya kwanza. Write a short email or message of 80–100 words to a supervisor, teacher, or classmate explaining your plans. Include: at least four future-tense verbs, at least two uses of ili, one expression of ability or necessity (kuweza / kupaswa / lazima), and an appropriate opening and closing for the message.
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 for your portfolio or to share with a partner for feedback.

Orodha ya ukaguzi — Editing checklist:

• Every future-tense verb uses the correct subject marker followed by -ta- and the verb root.
• Negative future verbs use the negative subject marker (e.g., sita-, hata-, hatu-) — not a separate negative particle.
• Every ili clause follows the main action it explains, not precedes it.
• Expressions of ability and necessity (kuweza, kupaswa, lazima) are used correctly and not interchanged.
• Object markers, where used, are placed immediately before the verb root (after the tense marker).
• The message has an appropriate Swahili opening (e.g., Habari za asubuhi) and closing (e.g., Kwa heri / Asante).
• Days of the week are not capitalized (unless starting a sentence).
• All sentences end with a full stop and begin with a capital letter.

Kazi ya ziada — Additional task: Write a short notice (five to seven sentences) for an imagined school or workplace. Announce one upcoming event, explain what people must do to prepare, and state the purpose of the event using ili. Use Maandishi 2 as a model for the format.

Speaking Practice

Culture and Communication

Common Mistakes

Chapter Review

Chapter Performance Task

Looking Ahead