-ayo

Tenseless Relative -ayo

Level 4

The tenseless relative attaches a class-agreeing suffix (the '-o of reference') directly to the end of a verb to describe general truths, habitual actions, or timeless states. It cannot be used with a tense marker.

How It Works

The affirmative tenseless relative is formed using a strict morphological rule: Subject Prefix + (Optional Object Prefix) + Verb Stem + Relative Suffix. For example: asomacho ('which he reads'), where the relative suffix -cho stays at the end.

Key Rules and Nuances:

  • Subject vs. Object Relatives: The relative suffix must agree with the head noun it describes. If the head noun is doing the action (subject relative), the suffix agrees with the subject (e.g., mtu asomaye - 'the person who reads'). If the head noun is receiving the action (object relative), the suffix agrees with the object (e.g., kitabu asomacho - 'the book which he reads').
  • No Tense Markers: You cannot use Present -na-, Past -li-, or any other tense marker. The lack of tense makes it a "general" relative.
  • Agreement with the Head Noun: The suffix changes by class: -ye (Class 1), -o (Classes 2, 3, 11, 14), -yo (Classes 4, 6, 9), -lo (Class 5), -cho (Class 7), -vyo (Class 8), -zo (Class 10), and -ko (Class 15).
  • Class 1 Subject Prefix: Note that the subject prefix for Class 1 is a- (e.g., asomaye - 'he who reads'), not yu- or u-.
  • Direct Attachment: The relative suffix attaches directly to the final vowel of the verb stem, regardless of whether it is a Bantu or borrowed verb. The final vowel never changes (e.g., faa + yo = ifaayo, anguka + yo = iangukayo).
  • Universal Negation: To negate a relative clause, the structure changes entirely to: Subject Prefix + si + Relative Infix + Verb Stem. The relative particle moves to the middle of the verb, immediately following the negative infix -si- (e.g., isiyofaa - 'which is not suitable'). This -si- structure is the ONLY way to negate any relative verb in Swahili (without using Relative Clauses with amba-), serving as the universal negation for past, present, future, and tenseless relative clauses.
  • Monosyllabic Verbs: Short verbs drop their infinitive ku- marker in the affirmative general relative (e.g., kula becomes alaye, not akulaye). However, in the negative relative, because the relative marker becomes an infix, the ku- marker is retained (e.g., asiyekula - 'he who does not eat').
  • Locative and Adverbial Suffixes: The locative suffixes -po (when/definite place), -ko (general place), and -mo (inside) are heavily used in this pattern (e.g., nifikapo - 'when I arrive'). Additionally, the Class 8 suffix -vyo is frequently used adverbially to mean 'how' or 'the way that' (e.g., nijuavyo - 'as far as I know').
  • Irregular Verbs kuwa and kuwa na: The true general relative of To Be kuwa is awaye (e.g., mtu awaye yote - 'any person whatsoever'). However, learners will most commonly use the present relative aliye (from the defective root -li-) to mean 'he who is', and aliye na for 'he who has'. In the negative, the root is dropped entirely (e.g., asiye - 'he who is not', asiye na - 'he who does not have').

An Object in the Relative Verb:
For the Class 6 noun matunda, compare matunda niyalayo (the fruit that I eat): ni- is the subject, -ya- marks the object and -yo is the final relative reference. Explicit object marking is especially useful in careful object relatives. Do not copy a Class 7 example or an infixed tense into this Class 6 suffix pattern.

Examples (6)

  1. Miti izaayo matunda ni mizuri.

    Trees which bear fruit are good.

    Word by Word: Trees they-bear-which fruits are good.

    Class 4 (mi-): The suffix -yo attaches directly to the verb 'zaa' (bear/produce) to state a general truth about fruit-bearing trees.

  2. Hii ni amani idumuyo.

    This is a lasting peace.

    Word by Word: This is peace it-lasts-which.

    The suffix -yo attaches directly to the final vowel of the verb stem. This applies to all verbs, including borrowed verbs like 'dumu'.

  3. Nifikapo nyumbani, nitakupigia simu.

    When I arrive home, I will call you.

    Word by Word: I-arrive-when home, I-will-you-call phone.

    The locative suffix -po is attached to 'fika' to mean 'when' or 'at the time that'.

  4. Nijuavyo mimi, yeye ni mwalimu.

    As far as I know, he is a teacher.

    Word by Word: I-know-how I, he is teacher.

    The Class 8 suffix -vyo is used adverbially here to mean 'how' or 'the way that' (the way that I know).

  5. Mtu alaye sana atanenepa.

    A person who eats a lot will get fat.

    Word by Word: Person he-eats-who a-lot will-get-fat.

    For the monosyllabic verb 'kula' (to eat), the infinitive 'ku-' is dropped, resulting in 'alaye' instead of 'akulaye'.

  6. Mambo yapitayo si ndwele.

    Things which pass are not a sickness. (Let bygones be bygones.)

    Word by Word: Things they-pass-which are-not sickness.

    A classic Swahili proverb demonstrating the use of the tenseless relative for timeless wisdom.

Common Mistakes

  • Double marking by combining a tense marker with the relative suffix.

    Njia inapitayo mjini imefungwa.
    Njia ipitayo mjini imefungwa.

    You cannot combine a tense marker (like -na-) with a relative suffix. If you want to use a tense marker, the relative must be an infix in the middle of the verb (inayopita). If you use the tenseless suffix, you must drop the tense marker entirely (ipitayo).

  • Adding an extra '-a-' before the relative suffix.

    Hii ni amani idumuayo.
    Hii ni amani idumuyo.

    The relative suffix attaches directly to the final vowel of the verb stem. Do not insert an extra 'a' before the suffix, regardless of whether the verb ends in -a, -i, -e, or -u.

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

    Mtu akulaye sana atanenepa.
    Mtu alaye sana atanenepa.

    Monosyllabic verbs like 'kula' (to eat) or 'kuja' (to come) must drop the 'ku-' marker in the general relative.

How It Connects

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

-ayoLevel 4Tenseless Relative -ayo

Learn This First

To understand the general relative suffix -ayo, a learner must be comfortable with the noun class agreement system, as the suffix varies by class. Additionally, they need to understand the basic Swahili verb structure to know where to attach the suffix, and be familiar with the 'o-of-reference' markers that form the basis of all relative clauses.

Words in This Pattern

-yo