-lo-

Class 5 Relative -lo-

Level 3

The marker -lo- is used to say "which" or "that" when referring to a singular Class 5 noun (like tunda, gari, or neno).

How It Works

When using -lo- to create relative clauses for Class 5 nouns, you have two main everyday options and one formal option. Note that -lo- is strictly for singular Class 5 nouns; if the noun becomes plural (Class 6), it changes to -yo-.

1. The Infix Method
You can insert -lo- directly into the verb, right after the tense marker. The structure is: [Subject Prefix] + tense + -lo- + [Optional Object Marker] + verb stem. However, this only works with four specific forms:

  • Present -na-: linaloiva (which is ripening)
  • Past -li-: lililoanguka (which fell)
  • Future -ta-: The tense marker must change to -taka-: litakaloiva (which will ripen)
  • Negative: The infix -si- is a tenseless general negative, meaning lisiloiva can translate to 'which does not / did not / will not ripen' depending on the context.

For monosyllabic verbs (like kula), the infinitive ku- is retained when using the infix method to maintain stress (e.g., lililokula - which ate). However, if an object marker is included, the ku- is dropped because the object marker takes the stress (e.g., nililolila - which I ate).

2. The Amba- Method
You can attach -lo- to the independent stem to form ambalo. This is highly common and interchangeable with the infix method. It is required if you want to use tenses that do not accept infixes, like the perfect tense -me- (e.g., tunda ambalo limeiva). Because the infix negative -si- is tenseless, the amba- method is also required for explicit past and future negative relative clauses (e.g., tunda ambalo halikuiva - which did not ripen, and tunda ambalo halitaiva - which will not ripen). As with the infix method, monosyllabic verbs keep their ku- here (e.g., ambalo limekula).

3. The Tenseless Suffix
In formal, literary, or proverbial Swahili, -lo- can be attached to the very end of a verb without a tense marker (e.g., lijengwalo - that which is built). This form specifically denotes a habitual, regular, or continuous action or state (e.g., 'that which is regularly or usually built').

Subject vs. Object
The marker -lo- can represent the subject ("the fruit which is ripening") or the object ("the word which I said"). A unique feature of Swahili syntax is that -lo- occupies the exact same structural slot in the verb regardless of whether it acts as the subject or the object, making the infix method easier to memorize. When -lo- acts as the object, the Subject Prefix at the start of the verb must change to match the doer of the action, not the Class 5 noun (e.g., ni-li-lo-kula - which I ate). When it represents the object, you can optionally include the Class 5 object marker -li- in the verb (neno nililolisema), but dropping it (neno nililosema) is perfectly natural and widely accepted.

Examples (5)

  1. Tunda linaloiva ni langu.

    The fruit which is ripening is mine.

    Word by Word: Fruit which-is-ripening is mine.

    Here, -lo- is infixed into the present tense verb to act as the subject of the relative clause.

  2. Hili ndilo gari nililonunua jana.

    This is the car that I bought yesterday.

    Word by Word: This is-indeed car I-past-which-buy yesterday.

    The -lo- acts as the object ('that'). Notice that the object infix -li- is omitted here, which is very natural in spoken Swahili.

  3. Neno ambalo umesema ni kweli.

    The word which you have said is true.

    Word by Word: Word which you-have-said is true.

    Because the perfect tense (-me-) is used, the amba- construction is mandatory.

  4. Tatizo litakalotokea ni kubwa.

    The problem that will happen is big.

    Word by Word: Problem it-future-which-happen is big.

    Notice how the future tense marker -ta- mutates to -taka- when the relative infix -lo- is added.

  5. Neno litokalo moyoni.

    A word which comes from the heart.

    Word by Word: Word it-comes-which heart-in.

    This uses the formal tenseless suffix method, often found in literature or proverbs.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the perfect tense -me- with an infixed relative marker.

    Tunda nimeloona.
    Tunda ambalo nimeona.

    The perfect tense marker -me- cannot take a relative infix. You must use the amba- construction instead.

  • Double marking by using both ambalo and the infixed -lo-.

    Gari ambalo linalokuja.
    Gari linalokuja.

    You only need one relative marker. Using both 'ambalo' and the infixed '-lo-' in the same verb phrase is redundant and grammatically incorrect. Choose one or the other.

  • Forgetting to change the future tense -ta- to -taka-.

    Tunda litaloiva.
    Tunda litakaloiva.

    When adding a relative infix to a future tense verb, the tense marker -ta- must mutate to -taka-.

How It Connects

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-lo-Level 3Class 5 Relative -lo-

Learn This First

To learn the Class 5 relative marker -lo-, a learner must first be familiar with the Class 5 (JI-MA) noun class and its corresponding subject marker 'li-'. Additionally, they need to understand the general mechanics of how relative markers are infixed into the Swahili verb template using the 'o-of-reference' system.

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-lo