Conjugation of the Chinyanja Verb "kugona"

Present Habitual (-ma-)

Used for regular actions, habits, and general truths. Formed with the habitual marker -ma- between the subject prefix and the verb stem.

Present Progressive (-ku-)

Used for actions happening right now. Formed with the progressive marker -ku- between the subject prefix and the verb stem.

Past Tense (-na-)

Used for completed actions in the past. Formed with the past marker -na- between the subject prefix and the verb stem.

Future Tense (-dza-/-za-)

Used for actions that will happen. Formed with the future marker -dza- (or contracted -za-) between the subject prefix and the verb stem.

Perfect Tense (-a-)

Used for completed actions with present relevance ("have done"). The subject prefix merges with the marker -a-, creating contracted forms (ndi+a → nda-, u+a → wa-, ti+a → ta-).

Negative (si-)

Negation is formed by adding the prefix si- before the subject prefix (si+ndi → sindi-, si+u → su-, si+a → sa-, si+ti → siti-, si+mu → simu-).

Imperative (Lamulo)

Direct commands. The plural/polite form adds -ni to the singular form.

Verb Extensions (Zowonjezera)

Bantu verb extensions modify the verb stem to create related meanings — applicative (-ir-), causative (-its-/-ets-), reciprocal (-an-), passive (-idw-/-edw-), and stative (-ek-).

Example Sentences (Zitsanzo)