Sifunda isiZulu!

Tenses 1 - present continuous

See also present stative

Positive Negative
PRESENT CONTINUOUS I DRINK, I AM DRINKING
Long form
--ya-----a eg ngiyathanda a-----i eg angithandi
Used when nothing follows verb in clause
Ngiyadlala
Siyakupheka
Bayazi
Angidlalii
Asikupheki
Abazii
Used with interrogative na?
Uyasazi isiZulu na?
Yebo kodwa akasikhulumi khale khakhulu
Used when object concord is used with verb
Ngiyamthanda
Bayabasiza
Angimthandi
Used when verb is followed by noun referring to the subject concord
Uyahamba baba. Iyasala inja
Used when verb is followed by noun referring to person addressed
Uyahamba baba?
sometimes used in speech for emphasis when there is a definite noun object
Ngiyathanda ukupheka Angithandi ukupheka
Short form
ommiting -ya- eg ngihamba
Used mostly when another part of speech follows the verb
Ngifuna ukushayela imoto
Sikufisela umyakha omusha omule
Uhlala eThekwini?
Sithanda ukudlala
Niphila njani?
Bahlala eThekwini
Angishayeli
asifuni amanzi
Akalhali lapho
Asijabuli ukuzwa loko
Aniphili?
Abathandi le ndawo

This page- www.newt.clara.co.uk/isizulu/present.htm
28 August 2002