na (mtendaji)

Passive Agent with Na

Level 2

In Swahili, when you use a passive verb and want to state who or what performed the action, you use the word na right before the agent. It translates directly to the English word 'by'.

How It Works

The word na is highly versatile in Swahili, often meaning 'and' or 'with'. However, in the context of a passive sentence, it functions specifically to introduce the agent—the person or thing that actually performed the action.

Key Rules:

  • Position: na is placed immediately before the noun or pronoun representing the doer.
  • Verb Form: It is used after a verb that has been marked for the passive voice (e.g., using the passive extension -wa).
  • Optionality: The agent phrase is entirely optional. If the doer is unknown or unimportant, the passive verb can stand alone (e.g., Alipigwa. - He was hit).
  • Invariability: Unlike some other Swahili words, na does not change to agree with the noun class of the agent. It is always just na.
  • Pronouns: When the agent is a personal pronoun, na often merges with it (e.g., na + mimi becomes nami, na + yeye becomes naye). However, the unmerged forms (na mimi, na yeye) are also perfectly correct and are frequently used to place emphasis on the pronoun.

Important Distinction:
Do not confuse na (used for the doer, including natural forces or autonomous objects) with kwa (used strictly for the instrument or tool wielded by an agent).

  • Alipigwa na Asha. (He was hit by Asha. - Asha is the doer)
  • Mti uliangushwa na upepo. (The tree was knocked down by the wind. - The wind is a natural force acting as the doer)
  • Alipigwa kwa fimbo. (He was hit with/by means of a stick. - The stick is the instrument)

Examples (4)

  1. Kitabu kiliandikwa na Asha.

    The book was written by Asha.

    Word by Word: Book it-past-write-passive by Asha.

    Here, 'na' introduces Asha as the person who performed the action of writing.

  2. Mtoto anapendwa na wazazi wake.

    The child is loved by his/her parents.

    Word by Word: Child he-present-love-passive by parents his/her.

    The passive verb 'anapendwa' is followed by 'na' to show who loves the child.

  3. Chakula kilipikwa naye.

    The food was cooked by him/her.

    Word by Word: Food it-past-cook-passive by-him/her.

    Notice how 'na' merges with the pronoun 'yeye' to form 'naye'.

  4. Barua pepe hii imetafsiriwa kwa Kiswahili na mwalimu.

    This email has been translated into Swahili by the teacher.

    Word by Word: Letter electronic this it-perfect-translate-passive into Swahili by teacher.

    Even with other phrases in the sentence, 'na' directly precedes the agent ('mwalimu').

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'kwa' instead of 'na' for the doer of the action.

    Keki iliokwa kwa mama.
    Keki iliokwa na mama.

    Learners often translate the English 'by' directly to 'kwa'. However, in Swahili, 'kwa' is used for instruments or methods (e.g., 'by bus', 'with a knife'). For the actual person or thing performing a passive action, you must use 'na'.

  • Keeping an object infix in the passive verb when the agent is introduced.

    Kalamu ilininunuliwa na mama.
    Nilinunuliwa kalamu na mama.

    In standard Swahili, the recipient (the person who benefits) becomes the subject of the passive sentence. You cannot keep the object infix (like '-ni-') inside the verb while making the inanimate object the subject. The correct structure is 'I was bought a pen by mom'.

How It Connects

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na (mtendaji)Level 2Passive Agent with Na

Learn This First

To use the passive agent 'na', you first need to understand how to form passive verbs using the '-wa' extension. You also need to be familiar with the particle 'na' (meaning 'with' or 'by') and how to correctly conjugate the verb to agree with the new subject of the passive sentence.

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