Matatizo ya Kazi na Huduma
Chapter Overview
Chapter 13 builds on the possessive and associative control you developed in Chapter 12 and applies it to a new communicative field: reporting problems at work and requesting solutions from service providers. You will learn the negative future (hataenda-type forms) and the negative perfect (hajafanya-type forms), which let you say that something will not happen or has not happened yet. You will also meet the stative/neuter verb extension receptively, recognizing forms like imeharibika ("it is broken") without yet being asked to produce every possible extension form. By the end of the chapter, you will be able to describe what is not working, explain what has not been done, and ask for a repair or solution.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Form and use the negative future (ha- + subject marker + -ta- + stem) to say what will not happen.
- Form and use the negative perfect (ha- + subject marker + -ja- + stem) to say what has not happened yet.
- Recognize the stative/neuter verb extension (-ika/-eka) in common lexicalized forms describing broken, spoiled, or malfunctioning things.
- Name common workplace, repair, and customer-service vocabulary.
- Report a problem, request a solution, and explain what has not been fixed.
- Understand a spoken or written complaint or service exchange.
- Write a short complaint or service request using accurate negative forms.
- Identify and repair common errors involving the negative future and negative perfect.
Opening Communication Scenario
James's laptop has stopped working properly before an important deadline, and the office printer is also broken. He needs to report both problems to the office technician, explain what is not working, and find out when they will be fixed. This kind of workplace troubleshooting depends heavily on being able to say what will not happen and what has not happened yet — exactly the systems this chapter introduces.
- This chapter introduces the negative future systematically, building on the affirmative future you already control.
- It introduces the negative perfect systematically, building on the affirmative perfect/resultative from earlier chapters.
- It introduces the stative/neuter extension receptively, in a small set of common lexicalized forms such as imeharibika ("it is broken/has broken down").
- Possessive and associative constructions from Chapter 12 continue to be recycled throughout this chapter's dialogue and readings.
Core Vocabulary
The vocabulary below supports talk about services, repairs, workplace issues, and customer service.
| Swahili | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| tatizo (pl. matatizo) | problem | class 5/6 |
| huduma | service | class 9/10 |
| ofisi | office | class 9/10, loanword |
| kompyuta | computer | class 9/10, loanword |
| printa (pl. printa) | printer | class 9/10, loanword |
| fundi | technician, repair person | class 1/2 |
| huduma kwa wateja | customer service | fixed phrase |
| kuharibika | to break down, to get spoiled | verb, stative/neuter meaning; recognize -ika |
| kutengeneza | to fix, to repair | verb, transitive |
| kulalamika | to complain | verb |
| kuomba msaada | to ask for help | fixed phrase |
| bado | not yet, still | adverb; pairs with negative perfect |
| haraka iwezekanavyo | as soon as possible | fixed phrase, formulaic |
| hitilafu | fault, technical error | class 9/10 |
Pronunciation Focus
The negative prefix ha- is short and often unstressed, but it is the single most important signal that a sentence is negative rather than affirmative. Practice listening for the difference between atakuja ("he/she will come") and hatakuja ("he/she will not come"), and between amefika ("he/she has arrived") and hajafika ("he/she has not arrived yet"). Note that the negative perfect also changes the tense marker itself, from -me- to -ja-, so two things change at once: the prefix and the tense marker.
Keep penultimate stress steady across the whole verb word even when ha- is added at the front. Adding a negative prefix does not shift the stress pattern of the rest of the word.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
This section introduces the negative future and negative perfect systematically, and introduces the stative/neuter extension receptively in a small set of common forms.
The Negative Future
Sitakuja kesho. I will not come tomorrow.
Fundi hatafika leo. The technician will not arrive today.
Hatutamaliza kazi wiki hii. We will not finish the work this week.
Notice that the first-person singular subject marker ni- combines with ha- to become si- (sitakuja, not hanitakuja). All other subject markers keep their usual form after ha-.
The Negative Perfect
Sijamaliza ripoti. I have not finished the report yet.
Fundi hajaitengeneza printa. The technician has not fixed the printer yet.
Hawajanijibu bado. They have not answered me yet.
The negative perfect uses -ja- in the tense slot where the affirmative perfect uses -me-. It regularly pairs with bado ("not yet, still") to emphasize that the action remains outstanding.
| Person | Affirmative future | Negative future | Affirmative perfect | Negative perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mimi (I) | nitafika | sitafika | nimefika | sijafika |
| wewe (you) | utafika | hutafika | umefika | hujafika |
| yeye (he/she) | atafika | hatafika | amefika | hajafika |
| sisi (we) | tutafika | hatutafika | tumefika | hatujafika |
| ninyi (you pl.) | mtafika | hamtafika | mmefika | hamjafika |
| wao (they) | watafika | hawatafika | wamefika | hawajafika |
Receptive Note — The Stative/Neuter Extension
Some Swahili verbs add -ika or -eka to a root to describe a state or a spontaneous change of state, often without naming who caused it. Kuharibika ("to break down, to get spoiled") is built this way, and its perfect form imeharibika ("it is broken / it has broken down") is common in workplace and repair talk.
At this stage, you only need to recognize and use -ika forms as whole lexical items, such as imeharibika. You are not yet asked to build new -ika forms from other verbs on your own; the full stative/neuter pattern is developed productively in a later volume.
- Kompyuta yangu imeharibika. My computer is broken. recognized lexical -ika form
- Printa haijatengenezwa bado. The printer has not been repaired yet. negative perfect + bado
Zoezi la Sarufi — Grammar Practice:
- Change to the negative future: Fundi atakuja kesho.
- Change to the negative perfect: Tumemaliza kazi.
- Change to the negative future: Nitamjibu leo.
- Change to the negative perfect: Wameitengeneza printa.
Model Dialogue
Muktadha: James anamweleza fundi wa ofisi kuhusu matatizo ya kompyuta na printa.
(Setting: James explains his computer and printer problems to the office technician.)
This dialogue combines the negative future (haitachapisha, sitaweza, sitakuhakikishia), the negative perfect (haijafanya, hatujapokea), the recognized stative form imeharibika, and possessive/associative constructions recycled from Chapter 12 (kompyuta yangu, printa yetu ya ofisi).
Maswali ya ufahamu — Comprehension questions:
- Tatizo la James ni lipi?
- Fundi atafanya nini baada ya saa moja?
- James atafanya nini kama hitilafu itarudia tena?
- Find one negative perfect form in the dialogue and say what has not yet happened.
Guided Practice
Zoezi 1 — Haitatokea (It Won't Happen)
Change each affirmative sentence to the negative future:
- Nitamaliza kazi leo.
- Fundi atakuja kesho.
- Tutamjibu mteja.
- Watachapisha ripoti.
Zoezi 2 — Bado Hujafanya (You Haven't Done It Yet)
- Nimemaliza ripoti. → ___
- Wametengeneza printa. → ___
- Umeitengeneza kompyuta? → ___
- Tumepokea vipuri. → ___
Listening Practice
Ask your instructor, a partner, or a text-to-speech tool to read the following description aloud twice, at a natural pace.
Malalamiko ya Ofisi — Office Complaints
Katika ofisi yetu, matatizo kadhaa hayajatatuliwa wiki hii. Printa ya sakafu ya pili imeharibika, na fundi hajaitengeneza bado. Mtandao wa intaneti hautafanya kazi vizuri hadi kesho, kulingana na huduma kwa wateja. Meneja hajajibu barua pepe za wafanyakazi kuhusu tatizo hili. Wafanyakazi wamelalamika mara kadhaa, lakini hitilafu hazijaisha. Fundi ameahidi kwamba atazitatua zote ifikapo Ijumaa.
Kazi A — Kulinganisha matatizo (Matching task): Note which problem is described and whether it has been fixed yet.
Kazi B — Maswali ya ufahamu:
- Ni tatizo gani limetajwa kuhusu printa?
- Mtandao utafanya kazi vizuri lini?
- Fundi ameahidi nini?
Listening Script for Instructor, Partner, or Text-to-Speech Use. See Answer Key for expected responses.
Speaking Practice
Sehemu ya kwanza — Kuripoti Tatizo (Reporting a Problem)
With a partner, or alone using the solo alternative, role-play reporting a workplace or household problem to a technician or service provider. Use at least one negative future form and one negative perfect form.
Sehemu ya pili — Kutatua Tatizo (Responding as the Technician)
Take the role of the technician or service provider and respond, explaining what you will not be able to do immediately and what has not yet been finished, such as Sitaweza kuitengeneza sasa hivi or Sijapokea vipuri bado.
Mbadala wa kujifunza peke yako — Solo alternative
Record a two-minute complaint or service request about something that is not working. Use at least two negative future forms and two negative perfect forms. Listen back and check your negative markers and tense slots.
Reading Practice
Barua Pepe kwa Huduma kwa Wateja — An Email to Customer Service
Wapendwa, ninaandika kuhusu tatizo la huduma yenu. Kompyuta niliyoinunua wiki iliyopita imeharibika mara mbili tangu nilipoinunua. Nimewasiliana na fundi wenu mara tatu, lakini hajaitengeneza kikamilifu bado. Sitaki kuendelea kusubiri bila jibu wazi. Je, mtaweza kuibadilisha kompyuta hii, au mtaitengeneza kabisa ifikapo wiki ijayo? Kama hamtanijibu ndani ya siku tatu, nitalazimika kulalamika kwa mamlaka husika. Ninatarajia jibu lenu haraka iwezekanavyo.
Maswali ya ufahamu — Comprehension and interpretation questions:
- Tatizo la mwandishi ni lipi?
- Mwandishi amewasiliana na fundi mara ngapi?
- Mwandishi atafanya nini kama hatajibiwa ndani ya siku tatu?
- Find two negative future or negative perfect forms in the email and say what each one communicates.
- Find the recognized stative form in the email and say what it describes.
Writing Workshop
- Chagua tatizo. Choose a real or invented workplace or service problem to describe.
- Orodhesha maelezo. List what is broken or unfinished and what you need done.
- Andika rasimu. Write a connected 100–130-word complaint or service request using at least two negative future forms and two negative perfect forms.
- Kagua kwa orodha. Check your draft against the checklist below.
- Andika nakala safi. Produce a clean final version for assessment.
Prompt: Write a short complaint or service request explaining what is not working, what has not yet been fixed, and what you need done.
Orodha ya ukaguzi — Editing checklist:
- Negative future forms agree correctly with the subject and use ha- + -ta-.
- Negative perfect forms agree correctly with the subject and use ha- + -ja-.
- Any recognized stative/neuter form (such as imeharibika) is used as a whole lexical item, not invented freely.
- Workplace and service vocabulary is used accurately.
- Possessive and associative constructions from Chapter 12 remain accurate where used.
- Capitalization, spacing, punctuation, and ng' are correct throughout.
Culture and Communication
In many Swahili-speaking workplaces and service settings, complaints are typically framed politely and indirectly before becoming more direct, and an initial apology or expression of regret (samahani, pole) from the person receiving the complaint is common even when the fault is not theirs personally. Escalating a complaint, as the writer does in the reading passage, is generally treated as a last resort after reasonable patience has been shown.
The negative future and negative perfect forms taught in this chapter are stable across Standard Swahili in Tanzania and Kenya. Some spoken varieties shorten or contract certain negative forms in casual speech; such contractions are recognition-only at this stage and are not part of this chapter's productive standard.
Common Mistakes
Error: hanitafika kesho (keeping ni- after ha-)
Correction: sitafika kesho — the first-person singular subject marker contracts with ha- to form si-, not hani-.
Error: hajamemaliza or hamemaliza (keeping the affirmative tense marker)
Correction: hajamaliza — the negative perfect replaces -me- with -ja-; the two markers never combine.
Error: producing an unfamiliar -ika form on the spot for a verb not yet studied this way
Correction: at this stage, use only recognized lexical stative forms such as imeharibika; full productive control of the stative/neuter extension is developed in a later volume.
Chapter Summary
This chapter introduced the negative future and negative perfect systematically, allowing you to say what will not happen and what has not happened yet. You also met the stative/neuter extension receptively through common lexical forms such as imeharibika. You practiced naming workplace, repair, and customer-service vocabulary, and used the negative systems to report problems, request solutions, and explain what has not been fixed. Possessive and associative constructions from Chapter 12 continued to support description throughout the chapter's dialogue, readings, and writing.
Chapter Review
Sehemu A — Sarufi (Grammar)
1. Change to the negative future: Nitakuja kesho.
2. Change to the negative perfect: Amemaliza kazi.
3. Change to the negative future: Watachapisha ripoti leo.
4. Change to the negative perfect: Mmeitengeneza printa.
Sehemu B — Usomaji na Usikilizaji (Reading and Listening)
1. In the office-complaints listening passage, by when has the technician promised to fix all the problems?
2. In the customer-service email, what will the writer do if there is no response within three days?
Sehemu C — Uandishi na Kuzungumza (Writing and Speaking)
1. Complete or finalize your Writing Workshop complaint or service request, if you have not already done so.
2. With a partner, or alone using the solo alternative, complete the Speaking Practice tasks.
Practical Performance Task
Kazi ya Utendaji — Kuripoti na Kutatua Tatizo
Onyesha Ujuzi Wako — Show What You Know
Combine speaking and writing to demonstrate your control of the negative future and negative perfect.
- Speaking: Perform your problem-report and solution role-play from the Speaking Practice section (or the solo alternative), including at least one negative future form and one negative perfect form in each role.
- Writing: Submit your final 100–130-word complaint or service request from the Writing Workshop, revised using the editing checklist.
| Criterion | Developing | Solid | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negative future accuracy | Frequent errors in prefix or tense marker | Mostly accurate with minor gaps | Consistently accurate, including the si- contraction |
| Negative perfect accuracy | Frequent errors in prefix or tense marker | Mostly accurate with minor gaps | Consistently accurate across all persons used |
| Workplace and service vocabulary | Limited or vague vocabulary | Clear and appropriate vocabulary | Precise, varied, and well-chosen vocabulary |
| Communication and problem-solving | Problem or solution is unclear | Problem and solution are clear | Problem and solution are clear, detailed, and well-organized |
If you are studying independently: complete the solo alternative for the speaking component, and ask a Swahili-speaking contact, tutor, or qualified reviewer to check your recording and written work against the rubric above.
Answer Key / Ufunguo wa Majibu
Grammar Practice
- Fundi hatakuja kesho.
- Hatujamaliza kazi.
- Sitamjibu leo.
- Hawajaitengeneza printa.
Guided Practice — Zoezi 1
- Sitamaliza kazi leo.
- Fundi hatakuja kesho.
- Hatutamjibu mteja.
- Hawatachapisha ripoti.
Guided Practice — Zoezi 2
- Sijamaliza ripoti.
- Hawajatengeneza printa.
- Hujaitengeneza kompyuta?
- Hatujapokea vipuri.
Model Dialogue Comprehension
- Tatizo la James ni kwamba kompyuta yake imeharibika na printa ya ofisi haitachapisha.
- Fundi ataifanyia kazi kompyuta ya James baada ya saa moja.
- James atalalamika kwa meneja kama hitilafu itarudia tena.
- Accept any correctly identified negative perfect form, such as haijafanya kazi vizuri (it still isn't working properly) or hatujapokea vipuri vipya bado (we haven't received new parts yet).
Listening Assessment Responses
Kazi A (matching): Accept notes showing: printer on second floor — broken, not yet fixed; internet — not working well until tomorrow; manager — has not answered emails.
Kazi B:
- Printa imeharibika na fundi hajaitengeneza bado.
- Mtandao utafanya kazi vizuri kesho.
- Fundi ameahidi kutatua matatizo yote ifikapo Ijumaa.
Reading Assessment Comprehension
- Tatizo la mwandishi ni kwamba kompyuta yake imeharibika mara mbili na haijatengenezwa kikamilifu.
- Mwandishi amewasiliana na fundi mara tatu.
- Kama hatajibiwa ndani ya siku tatu, atalazimika kulalamika kwa mamlaka husika.
- Accept any two correctly identified forms, such as sitaki kuendelea kusubiri (negative future/present) or hajaitengeneza kikamilifu bado (negative perfect).
- The recognized stative form is imeharibika, describing the computer as broken/having broken down.
Chapter Review — Sehemu A
- Sitakuja kesho.
- Hajamaliza kazi.
- Hawatachapisha ripoti leo.
- Hamjaitengeneza printa.
Other accurate, well-formed answers are acceptable where the task is open-ended.
Independent Study Tools
If you are studying without a partner or instructor, use these strategies to complete this chapter's practice:
- Use a text-to-speech tool to read the Listening Practice and Model Dialogue passages aloud for repeated listening.
- Record your own problem-report and solution role-play for the Speaking Practice solo alternative, then compare it against the model dialogue's structure.
- Ask a Swahili-speaking contact, tutor, or qualified reviewer to check your Writing Workshop draft and speaking recording against the rubric in the Practical Performance Task.
- Review the Chapter 12 possessive and associative forms if any household vocabulary or agreement feels unstable before continuing to Chapter 14.
Looking Ahead
Unachojua sasa — What you know now
You can now say what will not happen using the negative future, say what has not happened yet using the negative perfect, and recognize common stative/neuter forms describing broken or malfunctioning things. These tools support the opinions and comparisons coming next.