-singali-

The infix -singali- is primarily used for unchangeable, unrealized past events, though in modern speech the boundaries can be fluid. It means "If [X] had not happened... [Y] would not have happened."

Structure:
Unlike most negative tenses that use the primary negative prefix ha-, this pattern uses the affirmative subject prefix followed by the internal negative marker -si-. Crucially, for the third-person singular (Class 1), you must use the affirmative prefix a- (forming a-si-ngali-), not ha-. If an object infix is used, it is placed immediately before the verb root (after -ngali-).

• tu-si-ngali-soma (if we had not read / we would not have read)
• wa-si-ngali-fanya (if they had not done / they would not have done)

Note that the word kama (if) is optional and very frequently omitted because the -singali- infix inherently carries the conditional meaning. English speakers do not need to force it into the sentence.

The Double Use and Mixed Conditionals:
In a full conditional sentence, -singali- is typically used symmetrically in both the "if" clause and the "then" clause.

• Tusingalisoma sana, tusingalipita mtihani. (If we had not studied a lot, we would not have passed the exam.)

However, mixed conditionals are also possible, where -singali- is used in the "if" clause for a past event, and -singe- is used in the result clause for a present consequence.

• Asingalipata ajali, asingekuwa hospitalini sasa. (If he had not had an accident, he would not be in the hospital now.)

Monosyllabic and Vowel-Stem Verbs:
Verbs with only one syllable (like kula, kuja) retain their infinitive ku- marker because -ngali- cannot take stress. The ku- carries the penultimate stress, unless an object infix is used (which takes over the stress).

• nisingalikula (if I had not eaten)
• nisingalikila (if I had not eaten it - ku- drops because of the object infix -ki-)

Similarly, vowel-stem verbs (like kwenda, kwisha) retain their infinitive marker (kw-) to carry stress.

• asingalikwenda (if he/she had not gone)

Final Vowel:
The final vowel of Bantu verbs remains -a. It does not change to -e or -i.

Register and Usage:
This pattern is formal, literary, and academic. In everyday speech, native speakers often use the present conditional -singe- for past events as well. You will also frequently see -singeli-, which is a highly common variant of -singali- with the exact same meaning, and is often used more frequently than -singali- in modern East African contexts.