Embedded Questions

Level 4

Embedded questions report a question indirectly (e.g., 'I wonder where he went'). In Swahili, yes/no questions use kama (if/whether). For wh- questions (who, what, where), formal Swahili transforms the question into a relative clause, while colloquial Swahili leaves the question word in place.

How It Works

When you want to say 'He asked where she went' or 'I don't know what they want', you are using an embedded (or reported) question.

1. Yes/No Questions
For questions that can be answered with yes or no, simply use kama (if/whether) at the beginning of the embedded clause.
Example: Sijui kama atakuja. (I don't know if he will come.)

2. Wh- Questions (The Formal Relative Strategy)
In formal Swahili, the grammatical structure for embedded questions relies on Free Relative Clauses. You translate them literally as 'the thing which', 'the place where', or 'the person who'.

  • Where/When: Use locative markers -po-, -ko-, or -mo- for 'where' (literally 'the place where'), and strictly -po- for 'when' (literally 'the time when'). (Sijui aliko. - I don't know where he is. / Sijui alipofika. - I don't know when he arrived.)
  • What: Use the Class 7 marker -cho- (literally 'the thing which'). (Sijui anachotaka. - I don't know what he wants.)
  • Who: Use the Class 1 marker -ye- (literally 'the person who'). (Sijui aliyekuja. - I don't know who came.)
  • How: Use the Class 8 marker -vyo- (literally 'the way that'). (Sijui alivyofanya. - I don't know how he did it.)
  • Using amba-: While amba- is required for certain tenses like the perfect tense, it is also widely used as an alternative for all other tenses. (Sijui kile ambacho amefanya. - I don't know what he has done.)

3. Wh- Questions (The Colloquial In-Situ Strategy)
In everyday spoken Swahili, it is very common to simply leave the question word in its normal position (usually at the end of the sentence for objects and adverbs) without changing the verb.
Example: Sijui anataka nini. (I don't know what he wants.)
Similarly, wapi (where), vipi (how), lini (when), and gani (which) sit at the end of the clause: Sijui alienda wapi. (I don't know where he went.), Sijui alifanya vipi. (I don't know how he did it.), Sijui atakuja lini. (I don't know when he will come.), or Sijui anataka kitabu gani. (I don't know which book he wants.)

4. Asking "Why"
Because "why" lacks a dedicated relative infix, there are two ways to embed it. In everyday speech, simply use kwa nini (or mbona) at the start of the embedded clause without complex relative verb changes. (Sijui kwa nini alikuja. - I don't know why he came.) In formal Swahili, use the word sababu (reason) followed by a relative clause. (Sijui sababu iliyomfanya aondoke. - I don't know the reason that made him leave.)

Important Note on Word Order: Swahili follows a strict Basic Word Order (Subject-Verb-Object). Therefore, subject question words like nani (who) naturally appear before the verb because they are the subject: Sijui nani alikuja. (I don't know who came.) Object question words like nini (what) or nani (who) naturally appear after the verb because they are the object: Sijui anataka nini. (I don't know what he wants.) or Sijui alimwona nani. (I don't know who he saw.)

Examples (6)

  1. Mwalimu aliuliza kama tumemaliza kazi.

    The teacher asked if we had finished the work.

    Word by Word: Teacher asked if we have finished work.

    Uses 'kama' for an embedded yes/no question.

  2. Sijui alichonunua sokoni.

    I don't know what he bought at the market.

    Word by Word: I don't know that which he bought at market.

    Formal relative strategy: uses '-cho-' instead of 'nini'.

  3. Polisi aliuliza ajali ilipotokea.

    The police officer asked where the accident happened.

    Word by Word: Police asked the place where accident happened.

    Formal relative strategy: uses '-po-' instead of 'wapi'.

  4. Sijui anataka nini.

    I don't know what he wants.

    Word by Word: I don't know he wants what.

    Colloquial in-situ strategy: the question word 'nini' stays at the end.

  5. Tuambie uliyemwona.

    Tell us who you saw.

    Word by Word: Tell us the one who you saw.

    Formal relative strategy: uses '-ye-' instead of 'nani'.

  6. Sijui atakuja lini.

    I don't know when he will come.

    Word by Word: I don't know he will come when.

    Colloquial in-situ strategy: the question word 'lini' stays at the end.

Common Mistakes

  • Thinking the question word must come before the verb.

    Different MeaningSijui alikuja nani.
    Sijui nani alikuja.

    Sijui alikuja nani is a natural sentence; question words in Swahili often come after the verb. Sijui nani alikuja is also correct, with nani (who) first.

  • Mixing the formal relative strategy with a question word.

    Sijui alipo wapi.
    Sijui alipo.

    You must choose one strategy. Either use the relative marker ('alipo') OR the question word ('yuko wapi'). Using both is ungrammatical.

How It Connects

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

Embedded QuestionsLevel 4

Learn This First

To learn reported questions, you must first be familiar with Swahili question words and the basic verb template. Unlike English, Swahili does not change the word order or use auxiliary verbs to form reported questions; the question word simply remains in its usual position within a standard declarative-style clause.

Words in This Pattern

kamaikiwa