Older Relative Forms

Level 6

The tenseless relative (or suffixal relative) is an older, formal construction where the relative marker (like -ye, -cho, -vyo) is attached to the very end of the verb, with no tense marker included.

How It Works

To form the tenseless relative, you attach the relative suffix directly to the verb stem (the root plus its final vowel), bypassing any tense markers.

1. Noun Class Agreement and the '-o of Reference'
The relative suffix changes depending on the noun class of the antecedent (the noun being referred to). With the exception of Class 1 (which uses -ye) and Classes 2, 3, and 11/14 (which use -o instead of the expected *-wo), relative suffixes are formed by adding the '-o of reference' to the full subject concord. This triggers standard vowel coalescence, gliding, and palatalization. For example, Class 7 (ki- + o) becomes -cho, and Class 8 (vi- + o) becomes -vyo.

2. Subject Relatives

  • a- (Subject Prefix) + -soma (Verb Stem) + -ye (Relative Suffix) = asomaye (he/she who reads)
  • ki- (Subject Prefix) + -anguka (Verb Stem) + -cho (Relative Suffix) = kiangukacho (that which falls)

3. Object Relatives
To form an object relative, insert the object prefix right before the verb stem. Crucially, the relative suffix at the end of the verb must agree in noun class with the object prefix (the noun being acted upon), not the subject prefix. For example, if the object is Class 7 (-ki-), the relative suffix must be Class 7 (-cho): a- (Subject) + -ki- (Object) + -soma (Stem) + -cho (Relative) = akisomacho (that which he/she reads).

4. Negative Form
The negative form shifts the structure entirely. It uses the negative marker -si-, and the relative marker is infixed right after it (before the verb stem): Subject Prefix + -si- + Relative Marker + (Object Prefix) + Verb Stem. While you can infix a relative marker into standard affirmative tenses (like a-na-ye-soma), this -si- construction is the only way to form a negative relative using bound affixes, as you cannot infix a relative marker into standard negative tenses. This form is inherently tenseless. To explicitly negate a specific time frame (e.g., past or future), you must use the periphrastic amba- construction with the standard negative tense. Crucially, the final vowel remains -a and does not change to -i. Example: a-si-ye-soma (he/she who does not read), never *asiyesomi.

5. Monosyllabic Verbs
Unlike tensed verbs, monosyllabic verbs (like la 'eat', ja 'come') must drop their infinitive dummy prefix ku- in the affirmative construction.

  • a- + -la + -ye = alaye (he who eats) — Not *akulaye

However, in the negative relative, monosyllabic verbs retain the ku- prefix. For example: asiyekula (he/she who does not eat).

6. Arabic Loanwords
For verbs of Arabic origin that do not end in -a (like kufikiri or kujibu), simply attach the relative suffix to their existing final vowel: afikiriye (he who thinks), ajibuye (he who answers).

7. The Verbs 'kuwa' and 'kuwa na'
The verbs kuwa (to be) and kuwa na (to have) are irregular. They use the suppletive root -li- to form the tenseless relative: aliye (he who is), aliye na (he who has), kilicho (that which is). Applying the standard rules to kuwa generates forms like awaye, which means 'whoever he is' rather than 'he who is'.

8. Locative and Manner Relatives
Attaching locative relative suffixes (-po, -ko, -mo) to a tenseless verb is the standard way to express 'when' or 'where', and attaching the Class 8 suffix (-vyo) expresses 'how' or 'as'. For example: asomapo (when/where he reads), asomavyo (how he reads).

9. Usage and Tenseless Nuance
This form is tenseless and is used to express habitual actions, occupational titles, or general truths. It cannot be used to describe specific past, present ongoing, or future actions. For example, asomaye means 'he who reads (habitually)', contrasting with present continuous forms which would require a tensed relative (like anayesoma 'he who is reading right now'). In modern Standard Swahili, you cannot attach the relative suffix to the end of a verb that has a tense marker. Forms like *anasomaye are ungrammatical. If you want to attach the relative marker directly to a tensed verb, you must use the Infixal Relative -o- (e.g., anayesoma). Alternatively, you can form tensed relatives using the independent pronoun Relative Clauses with amba-.

Examples (4)

  1. Mwezi ujao tutasafiri.

    Next month we will travel.

    Word by Word: Month which-comes we-will-travel.

    A highly common fixed expression using the tenseless relative of the verb 'kuja' (to come).

  2. Abebwaye hujikaza.

    He who is carried must hold on tight.

    Word by Word: He-who-is-carried usually-holds-himself-tight.

    A classic proverb demonstrating the timeless, general truth function of the suffixal relative.

  3. Kazi wafanyazo ni ngumu.

    The work which they do is hard.

    Word by Word: Work they-do-which is hard.

    A formal, literary usage describing a general characteristic rather than a specific event.

  4. Kila alaye chakula hiki atashiba.

    Everyone who eats this food will be full.

    Word by Word: Every he-who-eats food this will-be-full.

    Demonstrates a monosyllabic verb ('kula') dropping its 'ku-' prefix to form 'alaye'.

Common Mistakes

  • Attaching the relative suffix to a verb that already has a tense marker.

    Mtu anasomaye kitabu.
    Mtu asomaye kitabu.

    In modern Standard Swahili, a verb cannot have both a tense marker (like '-na-') and a relative suffix. If you use a tense marker, the relative concord must be an infix (anayesoma). The suffixal form must be tenseless (asomaye).

  • Keeping the infinitive 'ku-' prefix on monosyllabic verbs.

    Mtu akulaye chakula.
    Mtu alaye chakula.

    Unlike tensed verbs, monosyllabic verbs (like 'la', 'ja', 'wa') must drop their dummy 'ku-' prefix in the tenseless relative construction.

How It Connects

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Older Relative FormsLevel 6

Learn This First

To understand archaic relative constructions, you must first be comfortable with how Swahili forms relative clauses using the referential -o- (the 'o of reference'). You should specifically understand the 'general' or 'tenseless' relative suffixes (like -aye, -acho, -ao), as archaic forms often use these suffixes in combinations or with tenses that are no longer common in everyday speech. A strong grasp of the noun class agreement system is also necessary to recognize the specific markers being suffixed to the verb.