Sarufi Notes, Quizzes & Revision
📘 Revision Notes • 📝 Quizzes • 📄 Past Papers available in app
Subject: subject_replace
Topic: topic_name_replace • Subtopic: Sarufi • Target age: age_replace (Kenyan context)
Muhtasari / Overview
Sarufi (grammar) in Kiswahili helps us build correct sentences used every day in Kenya — for example at shule, soko, or nyumba. These notes cover basic noun classes, agreement (mwingiliano), pronouns, verb structure (muundo wa kitenzi), tenses, negation and simple sentence formation with Kenyan examples.
1. Darasa la Nomino (Common noun classes) — simple list
1/2 (m-/wa-) — mtu / watu (person / people), mwalimu / walimu (teacher / teachers)
3/4 (m-/mi-) — mti / miti (tree / trees)
5/6 (ji-/ma-) — jina / majina (name / names), tunda / matunda (fruit / fruits)
7/8 (ki-/vi-) — kitabu / vitabu (book / books), kiti / viti (chair / chairs)
9/10 (n-/n-) — nyumba / nyumba* (house / houses — many n-class nouns keep same form)
*Note: Most classroom examples use a few common classes — focus on recognising the pattern and real-life words (mtu, watoto, kitabu, majina).
2. Mwingiliano / Concord (agreement)
In Kiswahili verbs and adjectives change to agree with the noun class of the subject. The subject prefix on the verb shows the class.
Mfano (examples)
Mwalimu mzuri (singular): mwalimu (m- class) → adjective begins mz-
Walimu wazuri (plural): walimu (wa- class) → adjective begins wa-
Kitabu kizuri → Vitabu vizuri
3. Muundo wa Kitenzi (Verb structure) — simple template
Order: Subject prefix + Tense/Aspect marker + (Object marker) + Verb root + Final vowel (-a/-e)
Common tense markers (used in Kenya):
- Present simple / Continuous: na- (Ninaenda — I am going / I go)
- Past: li- (Nilifika — I arrived)
- Future: ta- (Nitaleta — I will bring)
- Perfect (completed): me- (Nimeona — I have seen)
- Habitual: hu- (Anacheza — He usually plays / She plays often)
Example breakdown:
Ninaenda sokoni. (ni- subject I) + na- (present) + enda (go) → I am going to the market)
Alileta matunda. (a- he/she) + li- (past) + leta (bring) → He/She brought fruits)
4. Viashiria vya Kitenzi (Object markers)
Object markers (m/n/ku/tu/wa) come after the tense marker and before the verb root to show the object.
Mfano: Nitamwona. (ni- I) + ta- (future) + m- (him/her) + -wona (see) = I will see him/her)
Another: Tumeila. (tu- we) + me- (perfect) + -la (eat) → We have eaten)
5. Kiasi cha Muda (Negation)
Simple negative patterns:
- Present negative: ha-...-i for class 1 (Anacheza → Hanachezi). Example: Sipendi (I do not like) — literally si-.
- Past negative: ha-ku-...-i (Hakula = He/She did not eat).
- Future negative: hataku-... (Hatakuja = He/She will not come).
- Negative of copula (kuwa) in present: si / hau / hatu / ham / hawa (Sina, Huna, Hatuna etc. depending on pronoun).
Mfano: Siendi @ shule leo. (I am not going to school today.)
6. Isimu / Masharti ya Sentensi (Simple sentence building)
Basic sentence: Subject + Verb + Object/place/time. Use Kenyan context words:
Mfano 1: Mwalimu anafundisha shule ya Mbagathi. (The teacher teaches at Mbagathi school.)
Mfano 2: Watoto wanacheza mpira uwanjani. (The children play football on the field.)
Mfano 3: Nimekununua matunda sokoni. (I bought fruits at the market.)
7. Vitenzi vya Sauti ya Kupitisha (Passive voice)
Passive is formed by changing the verb ending and adding -wa or -iwa depending on the root:
Mwalimu anafundisha darasa. → Darasa linafundishwa na mwalimu. (The class is taught by the teacher.)
Mtu alifanya kitu → Kitu kilifanywa na mtu. (The thing was done by a person.)
8. Misingi ya Viwakilishi (Pronouns) — quick list
Mimi — ni- (I) | Wewe — u- (you singular) | Yeye — a- (he/she)
Sisi — tu- (we) | Ninyi — m- (you plural) | Wao — wa- (they)
Use these as subject prefixes on verbs (e.g., Ninasoma, Unasoma, Anasoma).
9. Kidokezo cha Mawazo (Tips for learners)
- Start by memorising a few noun class pairs (mtu/watu, kitabu/vitabu, mti/miti) and use them in sentences.
- Practice verb templates: subject + tense + verb root. Break down each sentence to see the pieces.
- When in doubt on agreement, say the noun and check the subject prefix on the verb — they must match.
- Use Kenyan everyday contexts: shule, soko, msitu, uwanja, matunda, ugali — makes learning easier.
10. Mazoezi / Exercises (with answers)
1. Change to plural: Mwalimu mzuri → __________________
2. Make negative (present): Ninaenda sokoni. → __________________
3. Translate & break down: Nimekula chapati. (Give prefixes/markers)
4. Identify tense: Alikuja nyumbani. (past / present / future?)
5. Form passive: Mwalimu anatoa mafunzo → __________________
Answers (check after attempting):
1. Walimu wazuri
2. Siendi sokoni. (or Hanendi sokoni — depending on subject)
3. Nimekula chapati → ni- (I) + me- (perfect) + -kula (eat) → I have eaten chapati.
4. Past: Alikuja = a- (he/she) + li- (past) + kuja (come).
5. Mafunzo yanatolewa na mwalimu. / Mafunzo yamepewa na mwalimu. (The training/lessons are given by the teacher.)
Note: These are concise notes for subtopic "Sarufi" in subject_replace on topic_name_replace tailored for Kenyan learners aged age_replace. Practice with familiar Kenyan settings (Nairobi, Mombasa, a local shule or soko) for faster learning. 😊