-li- (yambwa)

Class 5 Object -li-

Level 3

The infix -li- is used to represent a singular Class 5 noun (like gari or tunda) as the object of a verb.

How It Works

The object marker -li- occupies the object slot in the Swahili verb-slot order, sitting immediately before the verb root. This position remains exactly the same in negative verbs (e.g., silinunui, 'I am not buying it').

1. Definiteness and Nuance
Unlike human object markers, inanimate object markers are optional. You use -li- when the object is specific or already known. For example, Ninanunua gari means 'I am buying a car', while Ninalinunua gari means 'I am buying the car'. Once the object marker is used, the noun can be dropped entirely if the context is clear (e.g., Ninalinunua means 'I am buying it').

2. The Monosyllabic Verb Rule
When attaching -li- to short verbs like -la (eat) in conjugated tenses, the infinitive ku- is dropped. This is because Swahili verbs require at least two syllables to stand on their own; the object marker and the verb root together provide the two required syllables, making the dummy ku- unnecessary. Kula becomes nitalila (I will eat it). Note that in the infinitive mood, the ku- is retained (e.g., kulila).

3. Spotting the Difference
Do not confuse the object marker with the past tense marker or the Class 5 subject prefix. In the word ni-li-li-nunua (I bought it), the first -li- is the past tense, and the second is the object marker. You might even see all three together, such as in Gari li-li-li-gonga (The car hit it), where the first li- is the subject prefix, the second is the past tense, and the third is the object marker.

4. Identifying Class 5 Nouns
Most Class 5 nouns do not actually start with ji-. Everyday words like gari (car), duka (shop), and swali (question) belong to this class and use -li-. You can identify them because their plurals take the ma- prefix (Class 6), such as magari (cars) and maduka (shops). When referring to these plural objects, you will use the Class 6 Object -ya- instead (e.g., ninayanunua magari).

5. Imperative Commands
When you attach an object marker to an affirmative command, the final vowel -a must change to -e. For example, Nunua gari! (Buy a car!) becomes Li-nunu-e! (Buy it!). When commanding a group, add the plural suffix -ni (e.g., Linunueni!). For monosyllabic verbs like kula (to eat), the infinitive ku- drops and the final vowel changes, so Kula! becomes Lile! (Eat it!). However, non-Bantu/Arabic verbs ending in -e, -i, or -u (e.g., jibu, fikiri) do not change their final vowel (e.g., Lijibu!).

Examples (4)

  1. Tunda hili ni tamu, nitalila.

    This fruit is sweet, I will eat it.

    Word by Word: Fruit this is sweet, I-will-it-eat.

    Notice how the 'ku-' from 'kula' is dropped when the object marker '-li-' is added.

  2. Gari langu limeharibika, fundi analitengeneza.

    My car has broken down, the mechanic is fixing it.

    Word by Word: Car my has-broken-down, mechanic he-is-it-fixing.

    The '-li-' refers back to 'gari' (car), a Class 5 noun.

  3. Swali lolote litajibiwa darasani. Tutalijibu.

    Any question will be answered in class. We will answer it.

    Word by Word: Question any will-be-answered in-class. We-will-it-answer.

    The object marker '-li-' is placed right before the verb root '-jibu'.

  4. Ninalinunua gari.

    I am buying the car.

    Word by Word: I-am-it-buying car.

    Using the object marker with the noun explicitly stated makes the noun definite ('the car' instead of 'a car').

Common Mistakes

  • Retaining the 'ku-' on monosyllabic verbs when adding the object marker in conjugated tenses.

    Tunda hili ni tamu, nitalikula.
    Tunda hili ni tamu, nitalila.

    When you add an object marker to a monosyllabic verb like '-la' (eat) in conjugated tenses, you must drop the infinitive 'ku-'. The 'ku-' is a dummy prefix used to provide a second syllable, which becomes unnecessary because the object marker and the verb root together provide the two syllables needed for the word to stand on its own. However, in the infinitive mood (e.g., 'Ninataka kulila'), the 'ku-' is retained because it is the actual infinitive marker.

  • Reading the -li- before the verb stem as the past tense.

    Different MeaningFundi analitengeneza.
    Fundi alilitengeneza.

    In 'analitengeneza' (a-na-li-tengeneza) the '-li-' right before the verb root is the object marker ('it'), and the tense is '-na-' (present): 'the mechanic is fixing it'. To say 'the mechanic fixed it', use the past tense -li- plus the object marker: alilitengeneza.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-li- (yambwa)Level 3Class 5 Object -li-

Learn This First

To use the Class 5 object marker -li-, you must first understand which nouns belong to Class 5 (the JI-MA class). You also need to be familiar with the Swahili verb structure, specifically where the object marker slot is located between the tense marker and the verb root.

Words in This Pattern

-li-