Language/Swahili-individual-language/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have
Hi Swahili (individual language) learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will discuss how to use "have" in Swahili (individual language) grammar. Have is a very important verb because it is used to indicate possession or ownership. For example, "I have a book" means that the book belongs to me. "Have" is also used to show actions that started in the past and continue up to the present.
Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Idioms & Passive Voice.
"Have" as Possessive Verb[edit | edit source]
"Have" is a possessive verb that is frequently used in Swahili (individual language) grammar to indicate ownership or possession. In Swahili (individual language), "have" can be translated to "kuwa na" or "kumiliki."
Here are some examples:
| Swahili (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Nina kitabu | nee-nah kee-tah-boo | I have a book |
| Una pesa | oo-nah peh-sah | You have money |
| Ana gari | ah-nah gah-ree | He/she has a car |
| Tunayo nyumba | too-nah-yoh n'yoo-mbah | We have a house |
| Mna paka | m-nah pah-kah | You (plural) have a cat |
| Wana mbwa | wah-nah oom-bwah | They have a dog |
In these examples, "kuwa na" and "kumiliki" are used interchangeably to mean "have." It is important to note that "kumiliki" is more formal, while "kuwa na" is more commonly used in everyday conversation.
"Have" as Present Perfect Tense[edit | edit source]
"Have" is also used in Swahili (individual language) grammar to indicate actions that started in the past and continue up to the present. This is known as the present perfect tense. In Swahili (individual language), "have" is translated as "nime-" for the first person (I), "ume-" for the second person (you), and "ame-" for the third person (he/she).
Here are some examples:
| Swahili (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Nimefika hapa | nee-meh-fee-kah hah-pah | I have arrived here |
| Umekula chakula chako? | oo-meh-koo-lah chah-koo-lah chah-koh? | Have you eaten your food? |
| Ametumia kalamu yako | ah-meh-too-mee-yah kah-lah-moo yah-koh | He/she has used your pen |
Notice that "nime-," "ume-," and "ame-" are prefixes that are followed by the stem of the verb. Also, note that the verb does not change depending on the subject of the sentence.
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Here is a dialogue to help you understand the use of "have" in conversation:
- Person 1: Nimepata kazi mpya leo. (I have found a new job today)
- Person 2: Hongera! Umeanza lini? (Congratulations! When did you start?)
- Person 1: Nimeanza jana. (I started yesterday)
- Person 2: Una wenzako wangapi? (How many colleagues do you have?)
- Person 1: Nina wawili tu. (I have only two colleagues)
In this dialogue, you can see how "nime-" is used to indicate the starting of a new job, and "nina" to indicate the number of colleagues.
Don't forget to practice with native speakers on Polyglot Club! Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
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Other Lessons[edit | edit source]