Vocabulary Lists ▶ Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners

Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners

12 Entries • 25 Comments

Swahili: Mipangilio ya Waanzilishi Kumi Bora
English: Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners

In this lesson, you will learn the Top 10 Swahili Sentence Patterns for Beginners. Even though you may already know some Swahili vocabulary, perhaps you’re finding it difficult to string together coherent sentences. This lesson will break down the key components of 10 basic Swahili sentence patterns, while also giving you an example of each one. Take your Swahili to the next level by formulating clear, well-organized Swahili sentences!

P.S. Be sure to click on the links below to take relevant lessons to learn even more about each sentence pattern!

Juma a[A (past tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] kwa nguvu.

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: Juma a[A (past tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] kwa nguvu.
- English: Juma [A (past tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] loudly.

■ Example

- Entry: Juma alicheka kwa nguvu.
- English: Juma laughed out loudly.

Mimi ni[A (past tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] sana jana.

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: Mimi ni[A (past tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] sana jana.
- English: I [A (past tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] a lot yesterday.

■ Example

- Entry: Mimi nilicheka sana jana.
- English: I laughed a lot yesterday.

Watu wa [A (past tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] sana juzi.

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: Watu wa [A (past tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] sana juzi.
- English: People [A (past tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] a lot at his jokes.

■ Example

- Entry: Watu walicheka sana juzi.
- English: People laughed a lot at his jokes.

Mimi ni[A (present tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] kula saa hii.

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: Mimi ni[A (present tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] kula saa hii.
- English: I am [A (present tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] to eat now.

■ Example

- Entry: Mimi ninaenda kula saa hii.
- English: I am going to eat now.

Juma a[A (present tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] kupanda ndege.

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: Juma a[A (present tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] kupanda ndege.
- English: Juma [A (present tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] to board a plane.

■ Example

- Entry: Juma anaenda kupanda ndege.
- English: Juma is going to board a plane

Familia yetu i [A (present tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] maombi leo.

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: Familia yetu i [A (present tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] maombi leo.
- English: Our family is [A ( present tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] prayers today.

■ Example

- Entry: Familia yetu inaongoza maombi leo.
- English: Our family is leading prayers today.

Mimi ni [A (future tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] vitabu viwili mwezi ujao.

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: Mimi ni [A (future tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] vitabu viwili mwezi ujao.
- English: I [A (future tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] two book in the coming month.

■ Example

- Entry: Mimi nitasoma vitabu viwili mwezi ujao.
- English: I will read two books in the coming month.

Mtoto a[A (future tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] kesho.

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: Mtoto a[A (future tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] kesho.
- English: The baby [A (future tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] tomorrow.

■ Example

- Entry: Mtoto ataogelea kesho.
- English: The baby will swim tomorrow.

Ngombe tano wa [A (future tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] kwa ajili ya hiyo sherehe.

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: Ngombe tano wa [A (future tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] kwa ajili ya hiyo sherehe.
- English: Five cows [A (future tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] for the occassion.

■ Example

- Entry: Ngombe tano watachinjwa kwa ajili ya hiyo sherehe.
- English: Five cows will be slaughtered for the occassion.

Yeye A (continuous tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] shule kila siku.

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: Yeye A (continuous tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)] shule kila siku.
- English: He [A (continuous tense prefix)] [B (infinitive verb)]to school every day.

■ Example

- Entry: Yeye huenda shule kila siku.
- English: He goes to school every day.

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25 Comments

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SwahiliPod101.com

Tuesday at 10:44 AM

Pinned Comment

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Can you make sample sentences using these patterns?

Joreen

Thursday at 07:38 PM

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👍好棒！！！爱来自中国

SwahiliPod101.com

Wednesday at 09:02 PM

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Jambo Kokayi,

You are right. Some sentences might be difficult to comprehend if one literally translates from English to Swahili. However, with time and enough practice, you get to understand grammar and sentence construction without necessarily translating word by word. Continue browsing for enough interaction with our resources. Feel free to reach us for more guidance and clarification.

Continue enjoying Swahili learning experience.

Joshua

Team SwahiliPod101.com

Kokayi

Tuesday at 10:15 PM

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I noticed that the word order of Kiswahili is different than in English and is not a literal translation of the Kiswahili words.

So it makes it difficult to really understand the sentences the way a native speaker would!

SwahiliPod101.com

Saturday at 10:38 PM

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Hi Christi,

Thank you for studying with us.

In case of any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Cristiane

Team SwahiliPod101.com

christl

Saturday at 09:52 PM

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Asante sana

Marlene Brown

Wednesday at 09:06 AM

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Thank you for this lesson it was very good

Xenia

Tuesday at 04:20 PM

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Jambo Joshua

Asante, nafikiri Premium Plus ni nzuri sana, nitafikiri kutumia rasilimali hii baadaye. Kabla ninataka kusoma masomo masingi na kujua msamiati zaidi kwa kuwasiliana bora. Ninasoma maneno na wordpower swahili for iPhone, ni vitendo sana!

Siku njema

Xenia

SwahiliPod101.com

Tuesday at 12:34 PM

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Jambo Xenia

Ninafurahia kuwa wa msaada kwako. Pia unaweza tumia Premium Plus My Teacher application kufanya mazoezi mengine na kuwasiliana na mimi kama mwalimu wako.

Joshua

Team SwahiliPod101.com

Xenia

Saturday at 04:24 PM

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Sabalheri Joshua

Asante sana kwa msaada wako! Sasa ninaweza kuunda na kukanusha sentensi in different tenses. Ndio, ninafurahia kujifunza kiswahili na kutumia SwahiliPod101.com.

Kuwa na siku njema

Xenia

SwahiliPod101.com

Tuesday at 12:24 PM

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Jambo Xenia,

Asante pia. Nimekuelewa sasa. Sentensi zako ziko sahihi kabisa. Hongera. Endelea kutumia Swahili learning resources kuifahamu lugha hii.

Joshua

Team SwahiliPod101.com