pasina + Infinitive

Literary Without Pasina

Level 6

The word pasina is a native Swahili synonym for the Arabic loanword bila. It means 'without' and can be followed by a noun (e.g., 'without fear') or an infinitive verb to mean 'without doing [action].'

How It Works

Both Without with bila and pasina are standard prepositions for 'without'. While bila is an Arabic loanword and pasina is of native Bantu origin, they are not used interchangeably in all contexts. Bila is vastly more common in everyday casual speech, whereas pasina is typically reserved for more formal, literary, or emphatic contexts.

Key Nuances for Advanced Learners:

  • The Locative Myth: Because pasina uses the Class 16 locative prefix pa-, some learners mistakenly assume it can only be used for physical locations. In reality, the pa- prefix is fully grammaticalized here to refer to abstract situations, making it a general preposition for 'without.'
  • The Particle 'ya': Just like Without with bila ya, pasina can stand alone or be paired with the associative particle ya. By analogy with other prepositions, forms like pasina ya kujua are frequently and correctly used in native Swahili.
  • Related Forms: It is closely related to Without There Being. Note the literal distinction: pa-si-na literally means 'where it does not have', while pa-si-po means 'where there is not'. Just like pasina, pasipo follows the exact same grammatical rules and takes the infinitive (e.g., pasipo kujua).
  • No Conjugation: When introducing a missing action, the verb that follows pasina must remain in the infinitive (e.g., pasina kujua, 'without knowing'). You cannot conjugate the verb after it.
  • Specifying the Subject: Since the verb remains in the infinitive, if you need to specify the subject of the missing action (especially when it differs from the main clause), use an independent pronoun before the verb (e.g., pasina yeye kujua, 'without him/her knowing').

Examples (4)

  1. Bali waliodhulumu wamefuata mapendo ya nafsi zao pasina kujua.

    But the wrongdoers have followed their own desires without knowing.

    Word by Word: But those who wronged have followed desires of souls their without to know.

    An attested literary example showing pasina used for an abstract situation ('without knowing').

  2. Pasina kufanya uchunguzi sahihi, daktari hatalielewa tatizo lako.

    Without doing a proper examination, the doctor will not understand your problem.

    Word by Word: Without to do examination proper, doctor will not it understand problem your.

    A formal, professional context where pasina elevates the register of the sentence.

  3. Aliondoka pasina kusema neno.

    He left without saying a word.

    Word by Word: He left without to say word.

    A standard grammatical construction demonstrating that the verb (kusema) remains in the infinitive.

  4. Hatuwezi kufanikiwa pasina kushirikiana.

    We cannot succeed without cooperating.

    Word by Word: We cannot to succeed without to cooperate.

    Pasina works perfectly with reciprocal verbs in the infinitive to express a missing necessary condition.

Common Mistakes

  • Conjugating the verb after pasina.

    Aliondoka pasina anasema neno.
    Aliondoka pasina kusema neno.

    Learners often try to conjugate the verb after pasina. However, pasina must always be followed by the infinitive (the ku- form) of the verb.

  • Using a double negative.

    Aliondoka pasina kutosema neno.
    Aliondoka pasina kusema neno.

    Because learners are trying to express a negative concept ('without'), they sometimes mistakenly use the negative infinitive. The -si- infix inside pasina already provides the negation, so the following verb must be a positive infinitive.

How It Connects

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pasina + InfinitiveLevel 6Literary Without Pasina

Learn This First

To understand 'pasina + infinitive', you need to be familiar with the Swahili infinitive (ku- verbs) and the concept of expressing 'without' in a sentence. 'Pasina' is a formal, literary contraction derived from the negative locative relative 'pasipo' combined with the associative 'na', used to describe an action occurring without another action taking place.

Words in This Pattern

pasi napasi