imperatives commands

The Imperative - Commands

1. There is the simple, direct command in which the verb stem alone is used when addressing one person, or a plural ending is added when addressing more than one.

The Imperative

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The imperative verb form is a command or an appeal. It is always directed to the second person singular, "you", wewe or plural ninyi. Swahili has two types of imperative: 

2. There is also a polite form of command which is also the subjunctive verb form.

A. Simple imperatives without an object will fall into four groups according to the type of verb stem:

1. Bantu verb stems of more than one syllable:

When addressed to only one person, the verb stem alone forms the imperative. When addressed to more than one, a pluralizing suffix NI is added to the verb stem, and the final A changes to E preceding the suffix.

Sema	Semeni	Speak
Amka	Amkeni	Wake up
Kaa	Kaeni	Sit, or stay
Sikia	Sikieni	Hear

2. Monosyllabic Bantu verb stems:

These are formed with the infinitive when addressed to one person, and with the change of A to E and addition of NI when addressed to more than one, in the same way as the above group.

Kula	Kuleni	Eat
Kunywa	Kunyweni	Drink

3. Verbs of non-Bantu origin:

Since these have no A ending, there is no change in the ending of the verb, only the addition of NI when addressing more than one.

Jaribu	Jaribuni	Try
Furahi	Furahini	Rejoice
Hesabu	Hesabuni	Count, calculate
Fikiri	Fikirini	Think, ponder

4. Three irregular verbs:

These three verbs have irregular forms in the simple imperative. The infinitives are given at the left:

Kuleta	Lete	Leteni	Bring (something)
Kuja	Njoo	Njooni	Come
Kwenda	Nenda	Nendeni	Go

B. Simple imperatives with an object will have the final A of Bantu verb stems changed into E. Verbs of non-Bantu origin do not change. The starred forms below must always have an object:

*Nipe	Nipeni	Give me
*Mwambie	Mwambieni	Tell him/her
*Waite	Waiteni	Call them
Tuonyeshe	Tuonyesheni	Show us
Jifunze	Jifunzeni	Learn (teach yourself)
Zihesabu	Zihesabuni	Count them (e.g. houses)

C. The polite form of the imperative is a subjunctive verb form;
this form is examined in detail beginning with paragraph 64.

Using the polite imperative has the implication of "Please,
request you to...." An Arabic loanword, tafadhali, please, may
also be added if desired.

Components of the construction are:

Subject prefix + Object prefix (optional) + Verb stem

In the case of Bantu verb stems, the final A changes to E. In
verbs of non-Bantu origin, there is no change in the stem. Since
this is an imperative, only two subject prefixes can possibly be
used, either: 2nd person singular u (for wewe) or 2nd person
plural m (for ninyi), see paragraph 20.A.

Useme	Mseme	(Please) speak
Uamke	Mwamke	(Please) wake up
Ukae	Mkae	(Please) sit, stay
Usikie	Msikie	(Please) hear
Ule	Mle	(Please) eat
Unywe	Mnywe	(Please) drink
Ujaribu	Mjaribu	(Please) try
Ufurahi	Mfurahi	(Please) rejoice
Uhesabu	Mhesabu	(Please) count
Ufikiri	Mfikiri	(Please) think
Ulete	Mlete	(Please) bring
Uje	Mje	(Please) come
Uende	Mwende	(Please) go
Unipe	Mnipe	(Please) give me
Umwambie	Mwambie	(Please) tell him/her
Uwaite	Mwaite	(Please) call them
Utuonyeshe	Mtuonyeshe	(Please) show us
Ujifunze	Mjifunze	(Please) learn
Uzihesabu	Mzihesabu	(Please) count them

D. The negative imperative for both simple imperative and polite imperative is the negative subjunctive form. Its construction is like the positive subjunctive with the addition of a negative particle SI immediately following the subject prefix:

Subject prefix + SI + Object prefix (optional) + verb stem

A few examples from each group in the above list:

Usiseme	Msiseme	Don't speak
Usikae	Msikae	Don't stay/ Don't sit
Usile	Msile	Don't eat
Usinywe	Msinywe	Don't drink
Usijaribu	Msijaribu	Don't try
Usihesabu	Msihesabu	Don't count
Usilete	Msilete	Don't bring
Usije	Msije	Don't come
Usiende	Msiende	Don't go
Usinipe	Msinipe	Don't give me
Usimwambie	Msimwambie	Don't tell him/her
Usizihesabu	Msizihesabu	Don't count them