Reported Commands with Subjunctive

Level 4

To report a command or request in Swahili (like 'He told me to go'), you do not use the infinitive. Instead, you use a reporting verb followed by the subjunctive mood.

How It Works

In Swahili, when you want to indirectly report an instruction, request, suggestion, or command, you must use the subjunctive mood. This pattern inherently carries a sense of obligation or recommendation.

1. The Structure
The pattern attaches to a main clause containing a verb of communication (like kuambia 'to tell', kusema 'to say', or kuamuru 'to order'), as well as verbs of desire, requesting, and advising (like kutaka 'to want', kuomba 'to ask/request', or kushauri 'to advise'). The embedded verb must be conjugated in the subjunctive: Subject Prefix + (Object Prefix) + Verb Root + Subjunctive Ending (which is -e for native Bantu verbs). Crucially, the subjunctive verb must take the subject prefix of the person who is supposed to perform the action, not the person giving the command (e.g., Nili-mw-ambia a-ende 'I told him to go', literally 'I told him that he should go'). To report a negative command, use the Negative Subjunctive marker -si- placed immediately after the subject prefix: Subject Prefix + si + (Object Prefix) + Verb Root + Subjunctive Ending (e.g., Alimwambia asiende 'He told him not to go').

2. Morphological Rules

  • For native Bantu verbs, the final -a changes to -e (e.g., fanya → fanye). This is the standard Subjunctive -e rule.
  • For Borrowed Verbs in the Subjunctive (usually from Arabic) that end in -i, -e, or -u, the final vowel does not change (e.g., kujaribu remains ajaribu).
  • Short monosyllabic verbs drop their infinitive ku- prefix in the subjunctive (e.g., kula becomes ale, not akule. Note that while forms like akule are ubiquitous in informal Kenyan Swahili, they should be avoided in formal writing and exams).

3. Crucial Distinctions
Learners often confuse reported commands with reported statements. Notice the difference the mood makes:

  • Command (Subjunctive): Alimwambia aende. (He told him to go.)
  • Statement (Indicative): Alimwambia alienda. (He told him that he went.)

4. Myths and Misconceptions
Many learners are taught that the word kwamba (that) is required to link these clauses. In reality, native speakers overwhelmingly omit kwamba in reported commands; the subjunctive mood itself perfectly signals the subordinate relationship. Additionally, do not insert ili before the subjunctive verb unless you specifically mean 'in order to' (a purpose clause), as it changes the meaning of the sentence.

Examples (5)

  1. Daktari aliniambia nifungue kinywa.

    The doctor told me to open my mouth.

    Word by Word: Doctor he-past-me-tell I-open-subjunctive mouth.

    The reporting verb 'kuambia' is followed by the native verb 'kufungua' in the subjunctive ('nifungue').

  2. Mwalimu alisema tufanye fotokopi.

    The teacher said we should make a photocopy.

    Word by Word: Teacher he-past-say we-do-subjunctive photocopy.

    Using 'kusema' to report an instruction. Notice that 'kwamba' is naturally omitted.

  3. Mama amesema nitumie birika.

    Mom said I should use the kettle. / Mom told me to use the kettle.

    Word by Word: Mom she-perfect-say I-use-subjunctive kettle.

    The subjunctive 'nitumie' clearly marks this as an instruction rather than a statement of fact.

  4. Alimwomba ajaribu tena.

    He asked her to try again.

    Word by Word: He-past-her-ask she-try-subjunctive again.

    The verb 'kujaribu' is an Arabic loanword ending in -u, so its final vowel does not change to -e in the subjunctive.

  5. Polisi alituamuru tusimame.

    The police officer ordered us to stop.

    Word by Word: Police he-past-us-order we-stop-subjunctive.

    A strong command reported using 'kuamuru' (to order) followed by the subjunctive.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the infinitive (ku-) to translate the English 'to do' in reported commands.

    Aliniambia kwenda.
    Aliniambia niende.

    Because English uses the infinitive ('told me to go'), English speakers frequently fall into the 'infinitive trap'. Swahili strictly requires the subjunctive mood for indirect commands.

  • Forcing an -e suffix onto Arabic loanwords.

    Alimwomba ajaribe.
    Alimwomba ajaribu.

    Verbs borrowed from Arabic that end in -i, -e, or -u (like kujaribu, kufikiri, kujibu) do not change their final vowel in the subjunctive.

  • Adding 'ili' to introduce the reported command.

    Different MeaningAlisema ili tuondoke.
    Alisema tuondoke.

    While 'ili tuondoke' is grammatically valid, it creates a purpose clause meaning 'He spoke in order for us to leave.' To report the command itself ('He said we should leave'), omit 'ili'.

How It Connects

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

Reported Commands with SubjunctiveLevel 4

Learn This First

To understand reported commands, you must first be comfortable with the subjunctive mood, as this is the primary way Swahili expresses 'telling someone to do something.' You also need to understand how to use object markers to indicate who is being commanded, and the past tense to frame the reporting verb.