ingewezekana

Impersonal Possibility

Level 4

Ingewezekana translates to 'it would be possible.' It is an impersonal verb form used to express hypothetical possibilities or to make highly polite requests. This contrasts with the foundational present indicative form, inawezekana (it is possible).

How It Works

At an advanced level, understanding ingewezekana requires distinguishing it from similar forms and knowing its syntactic behavior.

1. Hypothetical Conditions: It frequently appears in 'if... then' statements, often introduced by kama. The main clause typically balances it with another -nge- verb to maintain the hypothetical frame, though in everyday spoken Swahili, speakers sometimes follow the condition with an imperative or subjunctive request.

2. Polite Pragmatics: Beyond strict conditionals, native speakers use it to soften requests, translating to 'Would it be possible to...?' This makes suggestions highly polite and non-demanding. These polite requests are usually followed by either an infinitive (e.g., Ingewezekana kupata maji?) or a subjunctive verb (e.g., Ingewezekana unisaidie?).

3. Subject Agreement and Voice: While ingewezekana uses the impersonal i- prefix (followed by an active infinitive like kusoma kitabu), the verb can also take specific noun class prefixes. However, if a specific noun is the subject, the following verb must be in the passive or stative voice (e.g., Kitabu kingewezekana kusomwa or Kitabu kingewezekana kusomeka).

4. Tense Fluidity: While prescriptive grammar dictates that -ngali- (ingaliwezekana) must be used for past impossibilities ('it would have been possible'), modern spoken Swahili frequently uses ingewezekana for both present and past contexts, relying on time markers like jana (yesterday) to clarify the past meaning.

5. The Negative Form: To express 'it would not be possible', insert the negative marker -si- right after the subject prefix, resulting in isingewezekana. While this is the prescriptively correct form, haingewezekana is also heavily used in both spoken and formal written Swahili.

Examples (4)

  1. Kama ingewezekana, ningekusaidia.

    If it were possible, I would help you.

    Word by Word: If it-would-be-possible, I-would-you-help.

    A standard hypothetical conditional sentence. Notice how both clauses use the -nge- tense marker.

  2. Ingewezekana kupima saa kwa kutazama urefu wa kivuli.

    It would be possible to measure the time by observing the length of the shadow.

    Word by Word: It-would-be-possible to-measure time by to-observe length of shadow.

    Here, ingewezekana is followed directly by an infinitive verb (kupima) to express a general hypothetical capability.

  3. Je, ingewezekana tuonane kesho asubuhi?

    Would it be possible for us to meet tomorrow morning?

    Word by Word: Question, it-would-be-possible we-meet tomorrow morning?

    Used pragmatically as a highly polite request. It is followed by the subjunctive verb 'tuonane' (that we meet).

  4. Ingewezekana kusoma kitabu hiki kwa siku moja.

    It would be possible to read this book in one day.

    Word by Word: It-would-be-possible to-read book this in day one.

    Notice that the verb remains 'ingewezekana' (impersonal 'it') even though the object 'kitabu' (book) belongs to Class 7.

Common Mistakes

  • Mixing active infinitives with specific noun class subjects.

    Kitabu hiki kingewezekana kusoma.
    Ingewezekana kusoma kitabu hiki.

    If you use the active verb (kusoma), you must use the impersonal i- prefix (ingewezekana). If you want to use a specific noun class prefix like ki- for kitabu as the subject, the following verb must be in the passive or stative voice (e.g., Kitabu hiki kingewezekana kusomwa or Kitabu hiki kingewezekana kusomeka).

  • Tense mismatch in the main clause.

    Kama ingewezekana, nitakuja.
    Kama ingewezekana, ningekuja.

    When setting up a hypothetical condition with ingewezekana, the result clause must also use the conditional -nge- tense, not the future -ta- tense.

How It Connects

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

ingewezekanaLevel 4Impersonal Possibility

Learn This First

To understand 'ingewezekana', a learner must first grasp how the -nge- marker creates hypothetical 'would' meanings. Additionally, they need to understand the stative verb extension (-ika/-ana) which transforms 'to be able' into 'to be possible', and the use of the Class 9 subject marker 'i-' to function as an impersonal 'it'.

Words in This Pattern

-nge-weza