-ta- (ukanushi)

Future Negative -ta-

Level 2

The future negative pattern -ta- is used to say that something will not happen. It is the direct opposite of the affirmative future tense.

How It Works

The future negative is a factual, neutral way to state that an event will not occur.

Structure:
Negative Subject Prefix + -ta- + (Object Infix) + Verb Root + Final Vowel

Key Rules:

  • Unchanging Tense Marker: Unlike the present and past tenses (which change or drop their tense markers in the negative), the future tense marker -ta- remains exactly the same in the negative.
  • Negative Prefixes: The singular human prefixes are irregular: si- (I), hu- (you sg.), and ha- (he/she). For plural humans (hatu-, ham-, hawa-) and all non-human noun classes, simply attach ha- to the front of the normal affirmative subject prefix (e.g., tu- becomes hatu-, ki- becomes haki-, i- becomes hai-).
  • Final Vowel Stays -a: Unlike the present negative, the final vowel of Bantu verbs remains -a (e.g., sitasoma). Arabic loanwords ending in -e, -i, or -u also remain unchanged.
  • Monosyllabic Verbs: Verbs with one-syllable roots (like -la eat, -ja come) keep their infinitive prefix ku- to maintain stress. So, "I will not eat" is sitakula. However, if an object infix is used, the ku- is dropped because the object infix takes the stress (e.g., sitakila, "I will not eat it").

Note: In fast, casual speech, you might hear -to- instead of -ta- (e.g., hatokuja instead of hatakuja). This helps distinguish it from the affirmative atakuja.

Examples (5)

  1. Sitasoma kitabu leo.

    I will not read a book today.

    Word by Word: I-will-not-read book today.

    Notice that the final vowel remains '-a' (sitasoma), unlike the present negative.

  2. Daktari hatakuja kesho asubuhi.

    The doctor will not come tomorrow morning.

    Word by Word: Doctor he-will-not-come tomorrow morning.

    The monosyllabic verb '-ja' (come) keeps its 'ku-' prefix: hatakuja.

  3. Gari halitafika leo.

    The car will not arrive today.

    Word by Word: Car it-will-not-arrive today.

    For non-human noun classes, 'ha-' is attached to the affirmative subject prefix. Here, 'li-' becomes 'hali-' for the Class 5 noun 'gari'.

  4. Mwalimu hatajibu swali.

    The teacher will not answer the question.

    Word by Word: Teacher he-will-not-answer question.

    For Arabic loanwords like '-jibu' (answer), the final vowel remains unchanged in the negative.

  5. Chakula ni kibaya, sitakila.

    The food is bad, I will not eat it.

    Word by Word: Food is bad, I-will-not-it-eat.

    When a monosyllabic verb like '-la' (eat) takes an object infix ('-ki-'), the 'ku-' prefix is dropped because the object infix takes the stress.

Common Mistakes

  • Changing the final vowel to '-i'.

    Sitasomi kitabu.
    Sitasoma kitabu.

    The rule where the final '-a' changes to '-i' only applies to the present negative tense. In the future negative, the final vowel stays '-a'.

  • Dropping the 'ku-' prefix on monosyllabic verbs.

    Hatala nyama.
    Hatakula nyama.

    Monosyllabic verbs (like -la, -ja, -nywa) must keep their 'ku-' prefix in the future negative to carry the stress.

  • Stacking 'ha-' onto an affirmative subject prefix.

    Hanitasoma.
    Sitasoma.

    You cannot just add 'ha-' to the front of an affirmative prefix for human singulars. The 1st person singular 'ni-' becomes 'si-'.

How It Connects

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

-ta- (ukanushi)Level 2Future Negative -ta-

Learn This First

To form the future negative, you need to know the negative subject markers and the future tense marker -ta-. Additionally, understanding how monosyllabic verbs behave in negative constructions is necessary for correct conjugation.

Words in This Pattern

-ta-