u- (ngeli ya 11/14)

Class 11 and 14 Subject Agreement

Level 2

In Swahili, nouns in Class 11 (like ukuta "wall") and Class 14 (like uzuri "beauty" or uji "porridge") use the prefix u- on the verb to show subject agreement.

How It Works

How it attaches to the verb:

  • Before consonants: It remains u- before standard tense markers like -na-, -li-, and -me- (e.g., ukuta umeanguka - the wall has fallen).
  • Before vowels: It glides to w- specifically before the -a- tense marker (e.g., ukuta waanguka - the wall falls). However, it remains u- when attaching directly to vowel-initial verb roots (e.g., in the subjunctive, ukuta uanguke - the wall should fall).
  • In the negative: It combines with the negative prefix ha- to form hau- (e.g., ukuta hauanguki - the wall is not falling).

Other related agreements:

  • Adjectives: A common mistake is using u- for adjectives. Instead, Classes 11 and 14 use m- or mw- (e.g., ukuta mzuri - a good wall, not ukuta uzuri). See Class 11 Adjective Agreement.
  • Demonstratives: They use huu (this), huo (that), and ule (that over there).
  • Possessives: They start with w- (e.g., wangu, wako, wake).
  • Associative marker ("of"): The associative marker for Classes 11 and 14 is wa (u + a). For example, ukuta wa nyumba (the wall of the house).
  • Object marker: The object marker is also -u- (e.g., niliuona - I saw it).

Distinguishing it from other u- markers:
This marker looks identical to the second-person singular "you" marker on affirmative verbs (unafaa can mean "you are suitable" or "it is suitable"). However, their negative forms are different! "You are not suitable" is hufai, while "it (Class 11/14) is not suitable" is haufai. Additionally, note that Class 3 uses the exact same u- subject marker and hau- negative prefix as Classes 11 and 14.

Why they aren't the same class:
Many learners think Class 11 and 14 are the same because they both start with u- or w- and use the u- subject marker. However, they are separate classes because they behave differently in the plural. Class 11 nouns take Class 10 plural agreements (zi-). While most Class 14 nouns are uncountable abstract or mass nouns, those that do pluralize take Class 6 plural agreements (ya-).

Relative Reference:
Ukuta ulioanguka means “the wall that fell”: u-li-o-anguk-a contains Class 11 subject u-, past -li- and relative -o-. The subject and relative prefixes have different shapes even though they refer to the same wall.

Examples (5)

  1. Ukuta umeanguka.

    The wall has fallen.

    Word by Word: Wall it-has-fallen.

    A standard Class 11 noun (ukuta) triggering the u- subject marker before the -me- perfect tense.

  2. Uzuri wake unaonekana.

    His/her beauty is visible.

    Word by Word: Beauty his/her it-is-visible.

    A Class 14 abstract noun (uzuri) triggering the u- subject marker. Notice the possessive agreement 'wake'.

  3. Uji huu unanukia vizuri.

    This porridge smells good.

    Word by Word: Porridge this it-smells good.

    A Class 14 mass noun (uji) triggering the u- subject marker, paired with the demonstrative 'huu'.

  4. Ufunguo wangu haupatikani.

    My key cannot be found.

    Word by Word: Key my it-not-is-available.

    Demonstrates the negative form (hau-) for a Class 11 noun, along with the possessive 'wangu'.

  5. Ukuta mzuri umejengwa.

    A good wall has been built.

    Word by Word: Wall good it-has-been-built.

    Notice that the adjective takes the m- prefix (mzuri), but the verb takes the u- subject marker (umejengwa).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Class 9 'i-' marker for all inanimate objects.

    Ukuta imeanguka.
    Ukuta umeanguka.

    Because Class 9 contains many inanimate objects, learners often default to 'i-' for 'it'. However, Class 11 and 14 nouns require 'u-'.

  • Confusing the negative form with the 'you' (2nd person singular) negative form.

    Uji huu hunukii vizuri.
    Uji huu haunukii vizuri.

    The negative subject marker for 'you' is 'hu-', but the negative subject marker for Class 11/14 'it' is 'hau-'.

How It Connects

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u- (ngeli ya 11/14)Level 2Class 11 and 14 Subject Agreement

Learn This First

To learn Class 11 and 14 subject agreement, you must first understand the general Swahili verb structure and how subject markers function. You also need to be able to identify nouns belonging to Class 11 (often physical objects starting with U-) and Class 14 (abstract concepts starting with U-), as these classes share the 'u-' subject marker.

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Words in This Pattern

u-