“I want to eat it”: Direct objects
You add a prefix after the tense prefix for a direct or indirect object.
A direct object is, for example, the “it” in “I bought it”.
There are also reflexive verbs, like “cook for myself” (see below for reflexive verbs)
Rules to add a direct or indirect object
- Insert the object prefix so it becomes: pronoun prefix + tense prefix + object prefix + verb
- For people, use the m/wa class
- For objects, generally the n class (though sometimes others)
- For monosyllabic verbs: remove the stem ku marker.
| Example | Person | Marker | Swahili |
|---|---|---|---|
| He likes it (n-class) | it | -i- | Anaipenda. |
| She loves me | me | -ni- | Ananipenda. |
| I love you. | you (sing) | -ku- | ninakupenda. |
| I saw him. | him/her | -m- (-mw- before vowel) | Nilimuona. |
| They saw us! | us | -tu- | Walituona! |
| I love each of you. | you (pl.) individually | -ku- … ni | Nawapenda |
| I found you (pl). | you (pl.) | -wa- | Nilikupata. |
| I found them. | them | -wa- | Niliwapata. |
| I’ll take them (n-class) | them | -zi- | Nitazichakua. |
| I ate them! | them | -zi- | Nilizila! (note: monosyllabic) |