ki- / vi-

Class 7 and 8 Subject Agreement

Level 2

When a Class 7 or 8 noun is the subject of a sentence, the verb must begin with ki- (singular) or vi- (plural).

How It Works

The ki- (singular 'it') and vi- (plural 'they') subject markers are essential for everyday communication. While often called the 'things' class, Class 7/8 also includes languages (Kiswahili), body parts (kichwa), and diminutives. Note that animate nouns in this class (like kiboko - hippo, or kijana - youth) use Class 1/2 subject markers (a-/wa-) instead, following Animacy Agreement.

1. Placement in the Verb
These markers attach to Slot 1 of the Swahili verb-slot order, immediately preceding the tense marker. For example, in ki-na-vunjika (it is breaking), ki- is the subject.

2. The Vowel Rule Exception
A crucial rule for learners: While Class 7/8 nouns and adjectives mutate to ch- and vy- before vowels (e.g., ki-umba → chumba), the subject markers on verbs generally DO NOT mutate before vowel-initial verb roots. For example, 'it should fall' is kianguke, not *changuke. However, they DO mutate before vowel-initial tense markers (like the -a- tense), so ki + a becomes cha- (e.g., chavunjika).

3. Negative Forms
To negate these verbs, place the negative prefix ha- before the subject marker, creating haki- and havi- (e.g., hakivunjiki - it is not breaking).

4. Don't Confuse Them With:

  • The Conditional Tense: The Conditional -ki- means 'if/while' and sits in Slot 2 (e.g., a-ki-ja = if he comes).
  • Object Markers: The Class 7 Object -ki- and Class 8 Object -vi- look exactly the same as the subject markers. Because they are identical in form, their slot position in the verb is the only way to tell them apart. Object markers sit right before the verb root (e.g., nina-ki-ona = I see it, nina-vi-ona = I see them).

Examples (5)

  1. Kiti kimevunjika.

    The chair is broken / has broken.

    Word by Word: Chair it-has-broken.

    The singular Class 7 noun 'kiti' takes the subject marker 'ki-'.

  2. Vyakula hivi vinapikwa.

    These foods are being cooked.

    Word by Word: Foods these they-are-cooked.

    Notice how the noun takes the pre-vowel 'vy-' (vyakula), but the verb takes the standard 'vi-' (vinapikwa).

  3. Kitabu kipya kinasomwa.

    The new book is being read.

    Word by Word: Book new it-is-read.

    Standard agreement across the noun, adjective, and verb.

  4. Chakula hakiivi haraka.

    The food is not cooking quickly.

    Word by Word: Food it-not-cook quickly.

    In the negative, 'ha-' is added before 'ki-', making 'haki-'.

  5. Kioo kianguke.

    The mirror should fall.

    Word by Word: Mirror it-should-fall.

    The subject marker 'ki-' does not change to 'ch-' before the vowel 'a' in the verb root '-anguka'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using Class 7/8 verb agreement for living beings.

    Kiboko kimekufa.
    Kiboko amekufa.

    All animate nouns (people and animals) must take Class 1/2 verb agreement (a-/wa-), regardless of their noun prefix. 'Kiboko' (hippo) is an animal, so it takes 'a-'.

  • Changing the verb subject marker ki- to ch- before a vowel.

    Kiti changuke.
    Kiti kianguke.

    While Class 7 nouns and adjectives change ki- to ch- before vowels (like chakula), verb subject markers generally do not mutate. It remains 'kianguke'.

How It Connects

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

ki- / vi-Level 2Class 7 and 8 Subject Agreement

Learn This First

To learn Class 7 and 8 subject agreement, you first need to recognize KI-VI nouns and understand the general system of how Swahili verbs use prefixes to agree with their subjects.

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Words in This Pattern

ki-vi-