Lesson 11

The Verb ‐NA

‐NA [have]

The verb “have” is constructed when a subject prefix is added to ‐NA.A). The Verb ‐NA in Present TenseB). The Verb ‐NA in Past TenseC). The Verb ‐NA in Future Tense

A). The Verb ‐NA in Present Tense
Subject Prefix
1st Person:  MIMI-SISI NI-TU  Subject Prefix + -NA    Nina  Tuna  Meaning  I have We have  2nd Person:  WEWE-U NYINYI-M   Subject Prefix + -NA Una  Mna  Meaning You have You (pl.) have  3rd Person:  YEYE-A WAO-WA Subject Prefix + -NA   Ana  Wana  Meaning   He/She has They have

Sentence Formation

Mifano:

1. Mimi nina kalamu. [I have a pen.] Sisi tuna kalamu. [We have pens.]  2. Wewe una karatasi. [You have paper.] Nyinyi mna karatasi. [You (pl.) have paper.]  3. Yeye ana rula. [He/She has a ruler.] Wao wana rula. [They have rulers.]  4. Mimi nina kitabu. [I have a book.] Sisi tuna vitabu. [We have a book.]  5. Wewe una rafiki. [You have a friend.] Nyinyi mna rafiki. [You (pl) have friends.]

B). The Verb ‐NA in Past Tense 

Subject 

1st Person :

MIMI-NI
SISI-TU 

Prefix Subject Prefix +-LIKUWA NA

 Nilikuwa na 
Tulikuwa na 

Meaning

 I had
We had 


2nd Person: 

WEWE-U
NYINYI-M 

Prefix Subject Prefix +-LIKUWA NA

Ulikuwa na 
Mlikuwa na 

Meaning

You had
You (pl.) had

 3rd Person: 

YEYE-A
 WAO-WA

Prefix Subject Prefix +-LIKUWA NA

  Alikuwa na 
Walikuwa na

Meaning

He/She had
They had 

Sentence Formation

Mifano: 

1. Mimi nilikuwa na gari. [I had a car.]
Sisi tulikuwa na magari. [We had cars.]

 2. Wewe ulikuwa na daftari. [You had a notebook.]
Nyinyi mlikuwa na madaftari. [You (pl.) had notebooks.] 

3. Yeye alikuwa na kazi ya nyumbani. [He/She had homework.]
Wao walikuwa na kazi ya nyumbani. [They had homework.] 

4. Mimi nilikuwa na kitabu [I had a book.]
Sisi tulikuwa na vitabu. [We had books.]

 5. Wewe ulikuwa na rafiki. [You had a friend.]
Nyinyi mlikuwa na rafiki. [You (pl.) had friends.]

C). The Verb ‐NA in Future Tense 

Subject

1st Person: 

MIMI-NI 
SISI-TU 

Prefix Subject Prefix +-TAKUWA NA

 Nitakuwa na 
Tutakuwa na

 Meaning

 I will have
We will have 

2nd Person: 

WEWE-U
 NYINYI-M

Prefix Subject Prefix +-TAKUWA NA 

Utakuwa na 
Mtakuwa na

Meaning  

You will have
You (pl.) will have

 3rd Person: 

YEYE-A 
WAO-WA 

Prefix Subject Prefix +-TAKUWA NA

Atakuwa na 
Watakuwa na 

Meaning 

He/She will have
They will have 

Sentence Formation 

Mifano: 

1. Mimi nitakuwa na kazi. [I will have work.]
Sisi tutakuwa na kazi. [We will have work.] 

2. Wewe utakuwa na msaada. [You will have help/assistance.]
Nyinyi mtakuwa na msaada. [You (pl.) will have help/assistance.] 

3. Yeye atakuwa na mbwa. [He/She will have a dog.]
Wao watakuwa na mbwa. [They will have dogs.]

 4. Mimi nitakuwa na kitabu. [I will have a book.]
Sisi tutakuwa na vitabu. [We will have books.] 

5. Wewe utakuwa na rafiki. [You will have a friend.]
Nyinyi mtakuwa na rafiki. [You (pl) will have friends.]