anayesoma

The One Who Reads

Level 5

In Swahili, embedding a relative marker directly into the verb creates a relative clause. This clause can modify a noun (like an adjective) or stand completely alone as a noun phrase meaning the one who [verbs] or the thing that [verbs]. When it stands alone without a head noun, it is called a free relative.

How It Works

This tensed infix relative pattern is strictly limited to three tenses and one tenseless negative marker:

  • Present: -na- (anayesoma)
  • Past: -li- (aliyesoma)
  • Future: -taka- (atakayesoma) - Note that the standard -ta- must change to -taka-.
  • Negative (Tenseless): -si- (asiyesoma)

If you need to use any other tense, such as the perfect -me-, you cannot use this embedded structure. Instead, you must use the separate word strategy with amba- relatives (e.g., ambaye amesoma). Note that Swahili also has a separate tenseless suffix relative pattern (e.g., asomaye) for general statements.

While learners sometimes confuse anayesoma with the standard indicative verb anasoma (he/she is reading), the addition of -ye- changes the word into a relative clause. Native speakers use this compact structure constantly in everyday speech.

Examples (4)

  1. Anayesoma kitabu ni rafiki yangu.

    The one who is reading a book is my friend.

    Word by Word: He-who-reads book is friend my.

    The embedded '-ye-' refers to a specific Class 1 person.

  2. Atakayesoma atafaulu mtihani.

    The one who will read will pass the exam.

    Word by Word: He-who-will-read will-pass exam.

    Notice the future tense marker changes from '-ta-' to '-taka-' when a relative marker is embedded.

  3. Asiyesikia la mkuu huvunjika guu.

    He who does not listen to an elder's advice breaks his leg.

    Word by Word: He-who-does-not-hear of elder usually-breaks leg.

    A famous proverb demonstrating the negative relative tense marker '-si-'.

  4. Nilichonunua ni kizuri sana.

    What I bought is very good.

    Word by Word: I-past-which-buy is good very.

    The marker '-cho-' implies a Class 7 object (like 'kitabu' / book), meaning 'the thing that'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the standard future marker -ta- instead of -taka-.

    Atayesoma atafaulu.
    Atakayesoma atafaulu.

    In embedded relative clauses, the future tense marker '-ta-' must become '-taka-'.

  • Trying to embed a relative marker into unsupported tenses like the perfect -me-.

    Ameyesoma kitabu.
    Ambaye amesoma kitabu.

    The embedded relative can only be used with -na-, -li-, -taka-, and -si-. For the perfect tense (-me-), you must use the 'amba-' strategy.

  • Using the regular '-o-' of reference for Class 1 instead of the irregular '-ye-'.

    Anaosoma ni rafiki yangu.
    Anayesoma ni rafiki yangu.

    Class 1 (singular human) is highly irregular and uses '-ye-' as its relative marker, not '-o-'.

How It Connects

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

anayesomaLevel 5The One Who Reads

Learn This First

To understand free relatives like 'anayesoma' (the one who reads), you must first understand how relative markers are infixed into the Swahili verb. You also need to be comfortable with the fact that Swahili verbs often omit explicit subjects, allowing the relative verb itself to function as the noun phrase.

Words in This Pattern

-ye--ye