Английская Википедия:Chichewa tenses

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Шаблон:Short description Chichewa (also but less commonly known as Chinyanja, Chewa or Nyanja) is the main lingua franca of central and southern Malawi and neighbouring regions. Like other Bantu languages it has a wide range of tenses. In terms of time, Chichewa tenses can be divided into present, recent past, remote past, near future, and remote future. The dividing line between near and remote tenses is not exact, however. Remote tenses cannot be used of events of today, but near tenses can be used of events earlier or later than today.

The Chichewa tense system also incorporates aspectual distinctions. Except for the Present Simple, nearly every tense in Chichewa is either perfective (for example, "I went") or imperfective in aspect (for example "I was going", "I used to go"). In the present tense only, there is a distinction between habitual ("I usually go") and progressive ("I am going now").

Another aspectual distinction in Chichewa is that between perfect and past. A perfect tense is one which carries an implication that the result of a past action still holds at the present time, for example "he has come (and is still here)". The past tenses in Chichewa tend to be discontinuous, for example, "he came (but has now gone)". They differ from the English past tense, which is neutral in this regard.

The distinction between one tense and another in Chichewa is made partly by changing the tense-marker, which is an infix such as Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang etc. added to the verb, and partly by the use of tone. Often two different tenses, such as Шаблон:Lang "I was going" and Шаблон:Lang "I go", have the same tense-marker but are distinguished by their tonal pattern.

Compound tenses are also found in Chichewa to express more complex meanings, such as Шаблон:Lang "I was about to go" or Шаблон:Lang "I have been going".

In addition to ordinary tenses, Chichewa also has tenses to express obligation ("I should go"), potentiality ("I might go"), and persistence ("I am still going"). There are also tenses with meanings such as "while I am going", "after I had gone", "before I went", as well as a series of conditional-clause tenses meaning "if..." such as "if I go", "if I had gone", "if I were to go" and so on. Шаблон:TOC limit

Formation of the tenses

Basic tense formation

The distinction between one tense and another in Chichewa is made partly by varying the tonal pattern (each tense having its own particular tonal melody) and partly by the use of infixes such as Шаблон:Lang. These infixes which distinguish the tenses are known as "tense-markers".

Three tenses (the Present Simple, Present Subjunctive, and Present Imperative) have no tense-marker. The Present Simple in most verbs has a near future meaning:

• Шаблон:Lang "I (will) help"
• Шаблон:Lang "I should help"
• Шаблон:Lang "help!"

Hyphens and tonal accent marks have been added for clarity, although they are not used in standard Chichewa orthography.

All other tenses have a tense-marker, which is added directly after the subject-marker. For example, the Present Continuous is made by adding the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang. There are six possible subject-markers mostly referring to persons:

• Шаблон:Lang "I am helping"
• Шаблон:Lang "you (sg.) are helping"
• Шаблон:Lang "he or she is helping"
• Шаблон:Lang "we are helping"
• Шаблон:Lang "you (pl. or polite) are helping"
• Шаблон:Lang "they are helping / he or she (polite) is helping"

In modern standard Chichewa there is no difference between the 3rd person singular "he/she" and the 3rd person plural "they" except in the Perfect tense, although there are some dialects such as the Town Nyanja spoken in Lusaka, Zambia, where the 3rd person plural is still Шаблон:Lang, and thus differs from the singular. The singular and plural also differ in the Perfect tense (see below).

Freestanding pronouns such as Шаблон:Lang "I", Шаблон:Lang "you", Шаблон:Lang "he, she" are available and may be added for emphasis, but are usually omitted: Шаблон:Lang "I am helping".

In addition to the above subject-markers mostly referring mostly to persons there are also other subject-markers usually referring to things, animals, or the impersonal "it" or "there" of place or time:

• Шаблон:Lang "it is helping" (e.g. Шаблон:Lang "the chicken")
• Шаблон:Lang "it is helping" (e.g. Шаблон:Lang "maize")
• Шаблон:Lang "they are helping" (e.g. Шаблон:Lang "my goats")
• Шаблон:Lang "it is cold"

The Perfect tense is exceptional in that the subject-marker is shortened when followed by the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang. It is also exceptional in that the 3rd person singular has Шаблон:Lang instead of Шаблон:Lang, and is thus different from the 3rd person plural:

• Шаблон:Lang "I have helped"
• Шаблон:Lang "you (sg.) have helped"
• Шаблон:Lang "he/she has helped"
• Шаблон:Lang "we have helped"
• Шаблон:Lang "you (pl. or polite) have helped"
• Шаблон:Lang "they have helped" (or "he/she (polite) has helped")

Other elements can be added between the tense-marker and the verb-stem, such as aspect-markers and object-markers. For example the object-marker Шаблон:Lang "him" or "her" can be added to any of the above verbs: Шаблон:Lang "I have helped him/her".

Tonal patterns

The second way in which one tense is distinguished from another in Chichewa is in the use of tones, that is, in the rise and fall in pitch of the speaker's voice. Each tense is associated with a particular tonal melody, and in some cases two tenses which share the same tense-marker can be distinguished by tones.

In their book, The Phonology of Chichewa, Downing and Mtenje identify eight different patterns for positive verbs, in addition to further patterns for negative and relative clause verbs.

Often the same tonal pattern is used by more than one tense. For instance, the Present Continuous, Recent Past, and Imperfect all have a high tone on the syllable following the tense-marker:

Шаблон:Lang "I am helping"

Шаблон:Lang "I helped (just now)"

Шаблон:Lang "I was helping"

Another tonal pattern, used in the Present Habitual tense, is to place one high tone on the subject-marker and another on the penultimate syllable:

Шаблон:Lang "I (usually) help"

The Past Simple (Remote Perfect) has a tone on the tense-marker itself, which in some dialects spreads to the following syllable:

Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang "I helped"

Some tenses, such as the Potential, are pronounced with every syllable low:

Шаблон:Lang "I can help"

The same tonal pattern is used in every verb. However, when the verb is a short one of one or two syllables only, certain adjustments may be made. For example, in the Present Habitual, the second tone is heard on the final when the verb stem has only one syllable:

Шаблон:Lang "I usually read" (second tone on the penultimate)

Шаблон:Lang "I usually eat" (second tone on the final)

But in certain tenses, a penultimate tone remains penultimate, even if the verb is monosyllabic:

Шаблон:Lang "he has not yet gone"

Шаблон:Lang "he has not yet eaten"

For further details concerning the tonal patterns of verbs of different lengths, see the article Chichewa tones.

In negative tenses different tonal patterns are used. For example, in the negative subjunctive, the tone moves to the penultimate:

Шаблон:Lang "you should go"

Шаблон:Lang "you shouldn't go"

Some tenses have two different negative intonations, depending on the meaning. For example, the Simple Past (Remote Perfect) Шаблон:Lang "I bought" has the following negatives with different meanings:

Шаблон:Lang (or Шаблон:Lang) "I didn't buy it"

Шаблон:Lang "I haven't bought it yet"

Certain tenses also have a different tonal pattern when used in a positive relative clause. For example, the potential tense is normally toneless, but in a relative clause it acquires a tone on the first and penultimate syllables. The tone of an object-marker such as Шаблон:Lang below is lost:

Шаблон:Lang "they can explain to us"

Шаблон:Lang "who can explain to us"

Not all tenses change their tonal pattern in a relative clause. Negative tenses do not change, and those positive tenses which already have a tone on the first syllable do not change.

In addition to the tones added to the verb by the tonal pattern of the tense, some verb-stems and certain suffixes have their own tone, which is heard on the final syllable. This tone is not heard, however, in tenses such as the Present Habitual where the tonal pattern places a tone on the penultimate syllable. The distinction is also lost in the subjunctive, where the tonal pattern places a tone on the final even in low-toned stems:

Шаблон:Lang "I have helped"

Шаблон:Lang "I have run"

Шаблон:Lang "I usually help"

Шаблон:Lang "I usually run"

Шаблон:Lang "I should help"

Шаблон:Lang "I should run"

Another factor affecting the tones of a verb is that when a verb is followed by an object or a place-argument, the tone usually spreads:

Шаблон:Lang "you stay"

Шаблон:Lang "where do you live?"

Aspect-Markers

Following the tense-marker it is possible to add one or more aspect-markers, which are infixes which modify the meaning of the tense. There are four commonly used aspect-markers, which when combined are usually added in the order: Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang. A fifth aspect-marker Шаблон:Lang is less commonly found.

Шаблон:Lang

Шаблон:Lang can be used in its own right as a tense-marker to make the imperfect tense:

Шаблон:Lang "I was helping" (with tone on the syllable following Шаблон:Lang)

It can also be added to other tenses or to the infinitive to make the aspect habitual:

Шаблон:Lang "don't do", vs. Шаблон:Lang "don't keep on doing"

Шаблон:Lang "if I buy", vs. Шаблон:Lang "whenever I buy"

Шаблон:Lang "I'll help", vs. Шаблон:Lang "I help regularly"

Шаблон:Lang "to help", vs. Шаблон:Lang "to help regularly"

It is not combined with the perfect tense, or with any of the tenses with Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang, since these tenses are always perfective in aspect.

Шаблон:Lang

The meaning of Шаблон:Lang is usually "go and...".

Шаблон:Lang "he went and bought some petrol"

Sometimes it can mean "go in order to":

Шаблон:Lang "we will pray" vs. Шаблон:Lang "we will go and pray"

In combination with the Present Simple tense it makes the Contingent Future (see below):

Шаблон:Lang
"perhaps he'll help me (if I ask him)."

Шаблон:Lang

The infix Шаблон:Lang has various meanings. The first meaning is "come and...":

Шаблон:Lang "come and see!"

With an Infinitive or Subjunctive after a verb of coming, it can mean "in order to":

Шаблон:Lang "to help" vs. Шаблон:Lang "I have come to help".

The second meaning is or "at a later time, in future":

Шаблон:Lang "it would have caused him problems" vs. Шаблон:Lang "it would have caused him problems later"

When combined with the Present Simple tense, it converts it to the Remote Future:

Шаблон:Lang "I will help" (tomorrow or later)

Шаблон:Lang

The aspect-marker Шаблон:Lang means "just". As it is derived from the Infinitive, the tone, as in the Infinitive itself, goes on the syllable following Шаблон:Lang, and the final vowel is always Шаблон:Lang, never Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang "I wanted", vs. Шаблон:Lang "I just wanted".

Шаблон:Lang

Another much less commonly used aspect-marker is Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang, which can be added to the present tense, subjunctive, or imperative. Mchombo gives this example:

Шаблон:Lang
"You go ahead, while I (continue to) complete this job."

Downing and Mtenje call this aspect the "continuative", and write the infix as Шаблон:Lang. The similarity in meaning suggests that it may derive from the idiom Шаблон:Lang "I'll begin by finishing".

For examples of this aspect-marker used with the subjunctive and imperative, see below.

Time and aspect of tenses

Chichewa makes distinctions which are sometimes not found in other languages, for example, the distinction between near and remote past, or between perfective and imperfect aspect. Some tenses, such as the toneless Шаблон:Lang tense, are used only to make conditional or temporal clauses.

Near and remote tenses

Certain tenses in Chichewa, such as those with Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang, are used for events remote in time, while others are used mainly for events of today (including last night). However, although the remote tenses are never used for events of today, the opposite is not true. As one scholar Jack Mapanje puts it: "Although traditional and other grammarians have latched on to the idea of immediate, near or remote past or future time, this is not a hard and fast rule for our languages. Usually the decision as to how immediate, near or remote past or future time is from the speech time is dependent on subjective factors."

Present tenses

Present Simple

The Present Simple tense is formed without any tense-marker, but with a tone on the subject-prefix: Шаблон:Lang "I will help". In a verb of three or more syllables, the first tone often spreads, making Шаблон:Lang.

The Present Simple of the verb Шаблон:Lang ("is") is irregular, in that it has no tone on the subject prefix: Шаблон:Lang "I am". But the tone on the first syllable is heard when the verb is used in a relative clause.

The Present Simple tense can be both perfective and imperfective in aspect. When the Present Simple is perfective, the meaning is usually immediate future (see below):

Шаблон:Lang
"I'll carry the bags, don't trouble yourself."

It can sometimes, however, be used perfectively referring to the present, for example in stage directions in a play:

Шаблон:Lang
"The tailor comes out of the shop."

It is also possible for the Present Simple to have an imperfective meaning. This was common in early Chichewa, but avoided today, as these two versions of the Bible illustrate:

Шаблон:Lang. (1922 translation)
"The wind blows where it will."

Шаблон:Lang. (1998 translation)
"The wind blows where it will (lit. usually blows to where it is wanting)."

With a non-dynamic verb such as "I love", "I know", "I want", "I believe", "I hope" and so on, the Present Simple can be used even today with present meaning:

Шаблон:Lang
"I believe (I hope) you are well."

However, even with these verbs, it is more common these days to use the Present Continuous or Present Habitual instead.

Negative Present Simple

The Negative Present Simple tense (with tones on the first two syllables) can be used for the negative of a stative verb:

Шаблон:Lang
"I don't know how to drive a car."

At other times it has a habitual meaning, and some authors consider it as being the negative of the Present Habitual. In the following example, the Present Habitual is used for the positive, but the Present Simple for the negative:

Шаблон:Lang
"We eat sour-plums but we don't eat bitter-apples."

With negative monosyllabic verbs, the present continuous is sometimes used, even though the meaning is habitual:

Шаблон:Lang
"Many Malawians don't drink alcohol."

However, Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang are also possible here.

When the negative present simple has a future meaning, the tones change, and in common with other future tenses it has a single tone on the penultimate: Шаблон:Lang "I won't help".

In relative clauses, both negative and positive, the tones are the same as in ordinary statements.

Present Habitual (Шаблон:Lang)

The Present Habitual tense (Шаблон:Lang "I help, habitually") is formed by adding Шаблон:Lang to the Present Simple tense. The tones are on the subject-marker and penultimate; the first tone never spreads. In relative clauses the tones do not change.

The Present Habitual is typically used for situations in the present which are repeated habitually or which are continuous and expected to continue indefinitely:

Шаблон:Lang
"When it rains, the rivers get full."

Шаблон:Lang
"I live in Lilongwe."

As noted above, the negative of this tense usually omits Шаблон:Lang. However, the infix Шаблон:Lang (with a tone) can be added especially if the meaning is emphatic:

Шаблон:Lang.
"I never complain".

The tense-marker Шаблон:Lang appears to derive from an earlier Шаблон:Lang. (-mba- is also used as a habitual marker in the Malawian variety of Chisena.) Kanerva (1990) records forms like Шаблон:Lang "I cook", showing a long vowel in the first syllable in the Nkhotakota dialect; however, other dialects have a short vowel.

Present Continuous (Шаблон:Lang)

The Present Continuous (or Present Progressive) tense uses the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang, with the tone on the syllable immediately after Шаблон:Lang: Шаблон:Lang "I am helping". The negative also has a tone in the same place: Шаблон:Lang "I am not helping". (Since Шаблон:Lang can also mean "you (sg.)", these words, with the intonation Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang, can also mean "I will help you" and "I won't help you".)

It is used much like the English present continuous for temporary situations which are not expected to continue for long. It can also be used, as in English, for events which are already planned, e.g. "I'm going to Zambia next week" or which are still incompleted but under way:

Шаблон:Lang
"I'm going to the market." (now)

Шаблон:Lang.
"I'm going home tomorrow."

Шаблон:Lang
"He's building a kitchen at his house."

This tense is used in a wider range of contexts than the English equivalent, since it is also often used with stative verbs such as "know", "want", "remember", "believe", "expect", "think", "see":

Шаблон:Lang
"Do you think that I don't know?"

Шаблон:Lang
"What do you mean?"

It is also used for performative verbs, such as Шаблон:Lang "I promise", although some older speakers use the Present Simple in such contexts.

In some contexts the Present Continuous can be used where English uses the Perfect Continuous:

Шаблон:Lang
"Since the devaluation of the currency things have been getting difficult."

The longer form of this tense, Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang, mentioned in some older books, is not often used nowadays, the simpler form being much more common.

Present Frequentative (Шаблон:Lang)

A frequentative version of the Present Continuous tense can be made by combining the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang with the aspect-marker Шаблон:Lang. It is generally used for situations which the speaker disapproves of. Again, the addition of Шаблон:Lang is emphatic. The tones are on Шаблон:Lang and the penultimate:

Шаблон:Lang
"They are always causing a disturbance with radios."

Present Persistive (Шаблон:Lang)

This tense is formed with the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang, or Шаблон:Lang and a single tone on the penultimate syllable: Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang "I am still helping". (This tone moves to the final in monosyllabic verbs.) It is most often used with the verb Шаблон:Lang "be". With other verbs the tendency is to replace this tense with the suffix Шаблон:Lang "still": Шаблон:Lang "I am still helping", but this suffix is not available with the verb Шаблон:Lang, since Шаблон:Lang has a different meaning, namely "I do not have".

Шаблон:Lang
"The girl is still suffering."

Шаблон:Lang
"Wages are still low."

Sometimes the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang is shortened to Шаблон:Lang.

Another way of expressing "still" is a form in Шаблон:Lang, but this is used only for a few verbs. The verb has a tone on the penultimate:

Шаблон:Lang
"She's still in bed."

Шаблон:Lang
"I found the taxi still waiting."

For the participial form of the persistive tense, see below.

Perfect tense

A perfect tense is usually defined as one which indicates the continuing present relevance of a past situation. Thus the use of the Perfect tense in the sentence "I have lost my penknife" indicates that the penknife is still missing.

Several different typical uses of perfect tenses are distinguished in linguistics textbooks: the Perfect of Result (e.g. "I have lost my penknife"); the Experiential Perfect (e.g. "Bill has been to America (at least once)"); the Perfect of Persistent Situation (e.g. "I've been waiting for hours"); and the Perfect of Recent Past (e.g. "I've seen her this morning"). All of these uses can be found in the Chichewa Perfect.

In English, the use of the Perfect is incompatible with a time adverb referring to a time completely in the past (e.g. "yesterday"). However, this is not necessarily the case in all languages; in Spanish, for example, the Perfect is compatible with an adverb such as Шаблон:Lang "yesterday". As will be seen below, Chichewa may also combine the Perfect with a past time adverb.

The Perfect Simple tense in Chichewa is formed as described above with the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang, e.g. Шаблон:Lang "I have bought (some)". It is toneless, unless the verb-stem itself has a tone (e.g. Шаблон:Lang "I am tired"). There is no exact negative, although a particular intonation of the negative past with the tone on the penultimate only is often regarded as the equivalent of a negative Perfect (Шаблон:Lang "I haven't bought it yet").

Perfect of result

As with the English Perfect, the Perfect tense is often used as a perfect of result, usually referring to very recent events:

Шаблон:Lang
"Oh no! My phone's been stolen!" (implying that it is still lost)

Unlike the English Perfect, it is possible to combine it with an adverb of time such as "at ten o'clock":

Шаблон:Lang
"We found him at ten o'clock."

Perfect of experience

As in English also it can be used as a Perfect of experience to describe something which has happened once or more and which may happen again:

Шаблон:Lang
"I've been back to Chitipa three times."

Adding the suffix Шаблон:Lang gives the meaning "at times" or "sometimes":

Шаблон:Lang
"I myself have at times seen people doing this."

Perfect with present meaning

A usage of the perfect tense unfamiliar in English but common in other Bantu languages such as Swahili is to express a present state resulting from a recent event. For example, "he is wearing a suit" is expressed in Chichewa as "he has put on a suit"; "he is sitting on a chair" is expressed as "he has sat down on a chair"; "I am tired" is expressed as "I have become tired", and so on.

Шаблон:Lang.
"He's wearing a suit." (literally "he has put on a suit")

Шаблон:Lang
"Those mangoes are ripe." (lit. "have ripened")

Шаблон:Lang
"I am tired." (lit. "I have become tired")

Шаблон:Lang
"She's sitting in the kitchen (right now)"

Шаблон:Lang
"How is it possible?"

Шаблон:Lang
"This money is (too) little."

Шаблон:Lang
"There are (too) many people."

Шаблон:Lang
"How is living in a grass-roofed house different from living in one with a tin roof?"

To express the past version of such situations ("he was wearing a suit") the Recent Past or Remote Past is used.

Perfect continuous meaning

The Perfect tense of the verb Шаблон:Lang ("stay" or "be") either by itself or combined with another verb is used as the equivalent of the English Perfect Continuous to express a situation which began some time ago but which is still continuing now:

Шаблон:Lang
"I've been here for five months."

Шаблон:Lang
"We've been working since Monday."

Шаблон:Lang
"He has been standing for many hours."

The construction using forms such as Шаблон:Lang is not mentioned in any of the early writers on Chichewa grammar and so is perhaps a recent development in Chichewa.

Relative clause intonation of Perfect

The relative clause intonation of the Perfect Simple has a tone on the first syllable (which may link or spread) and another on the penultimate (which may shift).

It may be used as an adjective:

Шаблон:Lang
"Last year (lit. the year which has finished)."

Шаблон:Lang
"Last month (lit. that month which has gone)."

It can also be used as a noun, with the noun it describes being understood:

Шаблон:Lang.
"The deceased (person)."

Шаблон:Lang
"The (person) sitting on the chair is who?"

Шаблон:Lang
"This (radio station) which you have opened is Z.B.S.", i.e. "You are listening to the Z.B.S."

Thirdly it can be used in a construction with any tense of the verb Шаблон:Lang "begin" to mean "begin by doing":

Шаблон:Lang
"Eat some Шаблон:Lang first, then let's talk." (literally, "begin (when) you have eaten Шаблон:Lang")

Шаблон:Lang
"Before we say anything else, let's start by seeing the girl."

Remote Perfect (Simple Past)

Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang

The Remote Perfect (or Past Simple) tense (e.g. Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang "I came") uses the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang. The difference is partly regional, since Шаблон:Lang is heard mainly in parts of the Central Region, especially in the area around Lilongwe, while Шаблон:Lang is used in the Southern Region. Since the first President of Malawi, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, wished to standardise the language and to make the Central Region variety the basis of that standard, Шаблон:Lang was chosen as the correct form to be used in written Chichewa for this tense. Banda is said to have declared: "The real Chichewa is what is spoken by the villagers in Dowa, Lilongwe, Dedza, Salima; in the Southern Region, Namkumba's area in Fort Johnston." Thus Шаблон:Lang has come to be used as the standard form in written Chichewa, and books describing the language for Malawian schools allow only Шаблон:Lang as the Remote Perfect tense-marker. Colloquially, however, Шаблон:Lang seems to be more common, and is the form given for this tense in the majority of publications describing Chichewa grammar. In the older 1922 translation of the Bible, Шаблон:Lang is more commonly used than Шаблон:Lang (although Шаблон:Lang is used occasionally), whereas in the more recent translation of 1998, Шаблон:Lang is the usual past tense marker except for the Recent Past.

The tone is on the tense-marker itself. In longer verbs in some dialects this tone spreads forward one syllable: Шаблон:Lang / Шаблон:Lang "he/she (has) received". In relative clauses, the tones are on the first syllable and penultimate: Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang "(he who) received".

This tense is sometimes referred to as the "Past" or "Simple Past". However, the descriptions given by several authors make it clear that, except in its use in narrative, it should be classified as one of the perfect tenses, since like the Perfect it usually carries the implication that the effect of the action still holds. Watkins calls it the "Remote Past With Present Influence". It refers to events of yesterday or earlier.

Remote Perfect of result

One common use is as a perfect of result, referring to an event which happened before today, but whose result is still true at the time of speaking:

Шаблон:Lang
"He came some time ago (and is still here)."

Шаблон:Lang
"He went home (supposes that he did not turn back)."

Шаблон:Lang
"He has eaten (and is not now hungry)"

It can be used with a past time adverb such as "yesterday" or "last year". "When this happens the 'perfect meaning' of the utterance is not lost" (Mapanje).

Шаблон:Lang
"He died last year."

As Watkins noted, this is the appropriate tense to use to describe the creation of the world, since the result of the creation is still evident:

Шаблон:Lang
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

The Remote Perfect can also be used with adverbs such as Шаблон:Lang "these days" and "Шаблон:Lang "at present" to describe a change that has come about, but not recently:

Шаблон:Lang.
"These days football has changed a lot."

Шаблон:Lang.
"Nowadays these things have become rare."

Remote Perfect of experience

Like the Perfect, it can also be used experientially. In this sense, often Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang is added to the verb.

Шаблон:Lang
"I have lived in Africa twice."

Шаблон:Lang
"I met this man once only."

Шаблон:Lang
"Chibambo has taught in various secondary schools."

Remote Perfect in narrative

Another use is in narrative:

Шаблон:Lang
"I was walking in the forest. Suddenly I stepped on a snake."

The narrative Remote Perfect is typically used for the action in novels and short stories and in narratives such as the 1998 Bible translation. In this usage, it has the meaning of a simple past tense, and the implication that the result of the action still holds does not apply.

Negative of the Remote Perfect

The negative of this tense has the final vowel Шаблон:Lang. There are two different intonations with different meanings. The second of these, which has a tone on the penultimate syllable only, serves as the negative of the perfect tense:

Шаблон:Lang
"I didn't go."

Шаблон:Lang
"I haven't gone."

The second of these intonations is also used when the Remote Perfect is used experientially:

Шаблон:Lang
"I have never been."

The first of these intonations has tones on both the negative prefix Шаблон:Lang and the subject marker. In the 3rd person singular and plural, the syllables Шаблон:Lang usually coalesce to Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"He didn't come."

Шаблон:Lang
"He hasn't come yet."

In monosyllabic verbs the intonations are as follows:

Шаблон:Lang
"He didn't eat."

Шаблон:Lang
"He hasn't eaten yet."

Since the negative of the Recent Past is rarely used in modern Chichewa, the Remote Perfect negative is used instead. When negative, therefore, this tense can refer to events of today as well as events in the more remote past.

Relative clause intonation

When used in a relative clause, the intonation of the verb changes, with one tone on the first syllable (which may spread) and one on the penultimate, which is shifted to the final when the verb has two syllables or one. An object-marker, if present, loses its tone except if the verb is monosyllabic.

Шаблон:Lang
"We received this letter which you wrote."

Шаблон:Lang
"He does not know what killed his sister."

Past tenses

The past tenses in Chichewa differ from the perfect tenses in that they generally describe situations which were true in the past but of which the results no longer apply at the present time. Thus Maxson describes the Recent Past and the Remote Past as both implying that the situation has been "reversed or interrupted by another action". According to Watkins, the Remote Past tense would be appropriate in a sentence such as "Jesus Christ died (but rose again)"; whereas it would not be appropriate in the sentence "God created the world" since it would imply that the creation was cancelled and "a second creator did a more enduring piece of work". Similarly, according to Kulemeka, the Recent Past would be inappropriate in a sentence such as "our cat died", since it would imply that the act of dying was not permanent but would allow the possibility that the cat could come to life again at some future time.

These two tenses, therefore, appear to differ from the English past tense (which is neutral in implication), and would seem to belong to the category of past tenses known in modern linguistics as discontinuous past. Just as the Perfect and the Past Simple both carry the implication that the action had an enduring effect which continues to the present time, so the Recent Past and Remote Past carry the opposite implication, that the action was not permanent but was reversed or cancelled by a later action.

The Recent Past tense can also be used for narrating events that occurred earlier on the day of speaking. (The use of the Perfect tense for narrative as described by Watkins is now apparently obsolete). However, for narrating a series of events of yesterday or earlier, the Remote Perfect tense is used.

Recent Past (Шаблон:Lang)

The Recent Past is made with the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang. The tone comes on the syllable immediately after Шаблон:Lang: Шаблон:Lang "I helped (but...)".

For the Recent Past tense, Шаблон:Lang is preferred. Шаблон:Lang is regarded as incorrect by Malawian teachers for events of today, but is sometimes heard colloquially.

The Recent Past is most often used for events of today, but it can also be used of earlier events. Although it can be used for simple narrative of events of earlier today, it usually carries the implication that the result of the action no longer holds true:

Шаблон:Lang
"He went to Zomba, but he has come back."

Шаблон:Lang
"I (had) put it in my pocket (but it isn't there now)."

Шаблон:Lang
"He came just now (but has gone away again)."

With the same verbs in which the Perfect tense describes a state in the present, the Recent Past describes a state in the recent past:

Шаблон:Lang (= Шаблон:Lang).
"He was wearing a suit" (literally, "he had put on a suit").

Шаблон:Lang
"He was sitting nearby."

Шаблон:Lang
"Were you carrying anyone else in the car, sir?"

It can also be used, however, as a simple past tense for narrative of events of earlier today:

Шаблон:Lang.
"I was walking in the forest. Suddenly I stepped on a snake."

Although the tenses with Шаблон:Lang are usually perfective, the verb Шаблон:Lang "be" is exceptional since the Recent Past and Remote Past in this tense usually have an imperfective meaning:

Шаблон:Lang
"I was very pleased."

A negative form of this tense (Шаблон:Lang "I didn't explain", with a tone following Шаблон:Lang, and with the ending -a) is recorded by Mtenje. However, the negative seems to be rarely if ever used in modern standard Chichewa, and it is not mentioned by most other writers. Instead, the negative of the Remote Perfect (Шаблон:Lang, with tones on the first and penultimate, and with the ending -e) is generally used.

Remote Past (Шаблон:Lang)

For the Remote Past tense, some dialects use Шаблон:Lang and others Шаблон:Lang. In some books, such as the 1998 Bible translation, Шаблон:Lang, this tense-marker is always spelled Шаблон:Lang, but in other publications the spelling Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang is used, so that only the context makes it clear whether the Past Simple or the Remote Past is intended.

There are tones on the 1st, 2nd, and penultimate syllables. The first tone or the second tone can be omitted: Шаблон:Lang; Шаблон:Lang "I (had) bought (but...)". This tense is a remote one, used of events of yesterday or earlier. The Шаблон:Lang of the tense-marker is always long, even though it is often written with a single vowel.

As might be expected of a tense which combines the past tense marker Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang and the Perfect tense marker Шаблон:Lang, this tense can have the meaning of a Pluperfect:

Шаблон:Lang.
"Inside the passport they had stamped a visa."

Шаблон:Lang
"A large crowd followed him, because they had seen amazing signs."

It can also be used to describe a situation in the distant past, using the same verbs which are used in the Perfect tense to describe a situation in the present:

Шаблон:Lang
"A fat woman was standing outside; in her hand she was carrying a packet of beer."

Шаблон:Lang
"I found certain girl sitting on the sand; she was wearing a chitenje."

The same meaning is often expressed with a compound verb: Шаблон:Lang (see below for examples.)

Another common use of this tense is as a discontinuous past, expressing a situation in the past which later came to be cancelled or reversed:

Шаблон:Lang.
"I received some coupons but I sold them."

Шаблон:Lang
"Her friends tried to stop her but she wouldn't listen."

Шаблон:Lang
"The sheep was lost (but has been found)."

Шаблон:Lang
"He was born blind (but has regained his sight)."

Imperfect tense (Шаблон:Lang)

The usual Past Imperfective tense, or simply the Imperfect tense, is made with the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang. The tones are the same as for the Present Continuous and the Recent Past, that is, there is a tone on the syllable immediately after Шаблон:Lang. The negative also has a tone after Шаблон:Lang: Шаблон:Lang "I wasn't helping". This tense can refer either to very recent time or to remote time in the past:

The imperfect sometimes has a progressive meaning:

Шаблон:Lang
"Forgive me. I was doing wrong."

Шаблон:Lang
"Ha! Was I dreaming?"

Шаблон:Lang
"At that time where were you coming from?"

It can also be used for habitual events in the past:

Шаблон:Lang.
"In class we used to sit together."

The negative also has a tone on the syllable following the infix Шаблон:Lang, as well as one on Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"I didn't know that you had arrived."

Remote Imperfect (Шаблон:Lang)

Remote Imperfect or Remote Past Imperfective is formed with the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang. There are tones on Шаблон:Lang and on the penultimate: Шаблон:Lang "I was helping/ used to help". It refers to events of yesterday or earlier. Since the Past Imperfective with Шаблон:Lang can be used of both near and remote events, whereas Шаблон:Lang can be used only for remote ones, the Шаблон:Lang tense is perhaps less commonly used.

This tense is used for both habitual events in the distant past, and progressive events in the distant past:

Шаблон:Lang
"Last year he used to go to school, but this year he just stays at home."

Шаблон:Lang.
"I was walking in the forest."

The tense-marker Шаблон:Lang, which is pronounced with two syllables, is possibly derived from the verb Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang 'go'.

Future tenses

Present Simple as future

The Present Simple, as noted above, is often used for events in the near or immediate future:

Шаблон:Lang
"I'll give you a ring when I arrive."

Usually it refers to events of today, but it can also be used for tomorrow or even later times:

Шаблон:Lang
"We'll meet tomorrow."

Шаблон:Lang
"You'll be fine tomorrow, I promise."

The negative of this tense has a single tone on the penultimate syllable:

Шаблон:Lang
"I'm not going to go to the wedding."

Шаблон:Lang

For events in a "general or more distant future (not today)" the Future Tense with Шаблон:Lang is used. Some dialects put a tone on the first two syllables (e.g. Шаблон:Lang "I will help"); more frequently authors report a tone on Шаблон:Lang only (Шаблон:Lang); Downing & Mtenje (2017), pp. 163–4. In longer verbs the tone of Шаблон:Lang may spread to the following syllable.

Шаблон:Lang
"One day I too am going to be a reporter."

Шаблон:Lang
"What are you going to do when you leave school?"

Шаблон:Lang
"I will love you all my life."

Шаблон:Lang
"What are they going to eat at harvest time?"

In the negative, as with most negative future tenses, there is a single tone on the penultimate (in monosyllables the tone is heard on Шаблон:Lang). All other tones earlier in the word are deleted. Often the meaning of this negative tense is "will never":

Шаблон:Lang
"We will never forget him."

Adding Шаблон:Lang to this tense gives the meaning "never again":

Шаблон:Lang
"From that time on I swore that I would never again fall in love."

Шаблон:Lang

Another future tense is formed with Шаблон:Lang, with the same tones as Шаблон:Lang. It usually refers to events in the near future. Maxson characterises this tense as follows: "The sense sometimes seems to be that the action will take place in relation to or dependent on something else. It might presuppose an unspoken conditional clause." The name "Contingent Future" was suggested by Henry (1891), as opposed to the Шаблон:Lang Future, which he called the "Indefinite Future".

Шаблон:Lang
"You'll find me at work (when you come)."

Шаблон:Lang
"You'll find the keys with the security guards (if you go there)."

Шаблон:Lang
"Perhaps he'll help me (if I ask him)."

The future tense-marker Шаблон:Lang is not to be confused with the aspect-marker Шаблон:Lang "go and", which can be used combined with various tenses, for example:

Шаблон:Lang
"I'll go and get it from the bank."

Шаблон:Lang

Another future tense can be made with the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang, with tones on the initial syllable and penultimate. This usually refers to a situation in the near future, and has an imperfective meaning:

Шаблон:Lang
"The train will be leaving soon."

In the negative, the tones are on Шаблон:Lang and on the penultimate syllable:

Шаблон:Lang
"He will not be representing Malawi again."

In some dialects, Шаблон:Lang in this tense and the Imperfect Subjunctive becomes Шаблон:Lang.

Шаблон:Lang

The Шаблон:Lang Future is an imperfective tense referring to events that will regularly take place in the distant future. The tones are on the initial syllable (which may spread) and the penultimate:

Шаблон:Lang
"What sort of work will it be? How much money will I be getting?"

The tense-marker Шаблон:Lang is sometimes used in place of Шаблон:Lang, perhaps with the implication that the events will take place elsewhere:

Шаблон:Lang
"We will be going to eat pumpkins."

These two tenses, Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang, can also be used in temporal clauses referring to future time (see below).

Шаблон:Lang

Another tense referring to events in the distant future is Шаблон:Lang, which means "it will usually happen". The tones are on the initial and penultimate syllables:

Шаблон:Lang
"When a person is arrogant and overconfident it will usually happen that one day he will be brought down to earth."

Шаблон:Lang
"Something that flies generally has one day when it will usually happen that it will come down to land."

Potential tenses

Present Potential (Шаблон:Lang)

The Present Potential is made with the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang and the final vowel Шаблон:Lang. It is toneless, unless the verb-stem itself has a tone.

Although sometimes referring to the present, this tense more often refers to something that might happen in the future. It can be translated "can", "could", "may", or "might":

Шаблон:Lang
"Could you help me?"

Шаблон:Lang
"Could I borrow your bike?"

Шаблон:Lang
"Ride the bike carefully, in case you crash into a tree."

Шаблон:Lang
"I am scared that he might hit me."

The negative has tones on the tense-marker and penultimate: Шаблон:Lang "I can't help"; there is an alternative pronunciation: Шаблон:Lang.

Шаблон:Lang
"I can't agree to that."

The relative clause form of this tense has tones on the first and penultimate syllables:

Шаблон:Lang.
"There is nothing he can do."

Frequently this tense is used with the verb Шаблон:Lang "be able":

Шаблон:Lang
"You can go home."

The aspect-marker Шаблон:Lang can be added to this tense: Шаблон:Lang "he might one day help".

In conditional clauses referring to a hypothetical situation in the future, Шаблон:Lang can mean "would". (See below.)

Perfect Potential (Шаблон:Lang)

This tense is made with Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang, or Шаблон:Lang. There is a tone on the second syllable of the tense-marker. The meaning is "I would have done", "I could have done".

Шаблон:Lang
"I would have helped."

The negative is Шаблон:Lang "I would not have helped".

Шаблон:Lang
"He had no option but to run away." (Literally, "he couldn't have done differently.")

Sometimes the aspect-marker Шаблон:Lang is added to this tense to make it imperfective. It adds an extra tone on the penultimate:

Шаблон:Lang
"I would be helping; I could have been helping".

Шаблон:Lang
"They are depriving us of the opportunity to do small businesses which we Malawians could have been doing ourselves."

The aspect markers Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang may also be added: Шаблон:Lang "I would have helped later".

Шаблон:Lang
"He knew that if anything were to happen, it would cause him problems later."

Further information is given under Conditional Clauses below.

Subjunctive

Present subjunctive

The present subjunctive has no tense-marker; the final vowel changes to Шаблон:Lang, which has a tone, for example Шаблон:Lang "I should help". When an object-marker is added to the subjunctive, there is another tone following the object-marker, e.g. Шаблон:Lang "please explain to me". In shorter verbs the tones are: Шаблон:Lang "please help me", Шаблон:Lang "please give me", Шаблон:Lang "please eat them".

The subjunctive usually expresses "either an order, or a wish, or an invitation to do something." It can be a polite form of the imperative, or be used as the imperative of the 3rd person, or make suggestions for the 1st person:

Шаблон:Lang
"Please give it to me."

Шаблон:Lang
"Let him come at once!" (an order, not permission).

Шаблон:Lang
"Where should we go?"

Шаблон:Lang
"The Government should do something about it."

When the aspect-marker Шаблон:Lang 'go and' is added, there are tones on Шаблон:Lang and the penultimate:

Шаблон:Lang
"Let's go and swim!"

The negative, which has the negative-marker Шаблон:Lang after the subject-marker, has a single tone on the penultimate:

Шаблон:Lang
"He shouldn't come tomorrow."

The subjunctive can also be used in various subordinate clause constructions, for example to express purpose or a wish or an indirect command:

Шаблон:Lang
"I lent him the bicycle so that he would arrive quickly."

Шаблон:Lang
"I want you to come tomorrow."

Шаблон:Lang
"We told them to sleep." (lit. "that they should sleep")

Other clauses where the subjunctive can be used are those where the meaning is "such as", and, as an alternative to an infinitive, after Шаблон:Lang "instead of":

Шаблон:Lang
"I won't have time to chat with him." (lit. "such as I may chat")

Шаблон:Lang
"Instead of mending the bicycle, he has completely broken it."

It can also be used with the relative clause intonation, after Шаблон:Lang "if" and when the meaning is "if it should be the case that...":

Шаблон:Lang
"If you like this song you are about to hear..."

Another situation where the subjunctive is used is after Шаблон:Lang 'although':

Шаблон:Lang
"I'll go whether it rains or not."

Future subjunctive (Шаблон:Lang)

If Шаблон:Lang is added to the subjunctive it refers to something that should happen or which may happen later. Sometimes it is used in purpose clauses:

Шаблон:Lang
"I popped them (my shoes) in the car so that I could put them on later when I go into Shoprite."

Шаблон:Lang
"She wants to come here so that she can see me.

It can express a wish for the future:

Шаблон:Lang
"One day he wants to show the pictures which he has been taking."

Шаблон:Lang
"It is the aim of this school to teach those who (it is hoped) in future may help farmers."

It can also be used for an event which might or might not happen in future:

Шаблон:Lang
"He hasn't yet decided what he might do when he grows up."

Шаблон:Lang
"It's impossible that I should be alone on Valentine's Day."

Шаблон:Lang
"A day will come when you and I may meet each other."

A further use is in certain kinds of temporal clauses referring to the future, for which see below.

Subjunctive with Шаблон:Lang

The aspect-marker Шаблон:Lang means "go and...". It is often added to the subjunctive to indicate something which is desired to happen or which may happen at another place. It can be used in a purpose clause:

Шаблон:Lang
"We hurried to join the queue so that we could find some petrol."

Шаблон:Lang
"My journey was to Chilomoni so that I could meet a certain girl."

It can also be an indirect command or a wish:

Шаблон:Lang
"I asked her to dance (that we should go and dance)."

Шаблон:Lang.
"Sautso received a message that he should go and meet them."

Шаблон:Lang
"She wants me to accompany her to Shoprite; there are things she wants to buy there."

It can refer to something which might happen at another place:

Шаблон:Lang
"I was beginning to think about the things which I might find when I arrived at the village."

Another use for this tense is in temporal clauses referring to the future, for which see below.

Шаблон:Lang subjunctive (necessitative)

An imperfective form of the subjunctive is made by adding the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang. There are tones on Шаблон:Lang and on the penultimate. It is referred to by Downing and Mtenje as the "necessitative" tense. The final vowel is Шаблон:Lang: Шаблон:Lang "I should be helping".

This tense can express an obligation that should be carried out regularly or at all times, or as a "habit or general requirement":

Шаблон:Lang
"You must (always) respect your parents."

Just as with the ordinary subjunctive, it can also be used in purpose clauses after Шаблон:Lang "that":

Шаблон:Lang
"I bought the phone so that I could be keeping in touch with my friends."

Another of its uses is to express a "strong obligation equivalent to an order" (Salaun):

Шаблон:Lang
"That man should go home!"

As with the imperfective future, in some regions Шаблон:Lang can be replaced with Шаблон:Lang.

The negative of this tense is expressed not with Шаблон:Lang but by adding Шаблон:Lang to the negative subjunctive:

Шаблон:Lang
"My parents taught me that I should never be cruel to women and that I should always look after my wife."

Continuative subjunctive (Шаблон:Lang)

Another kind of subjunctive, much less common than the two described above, is a tense with the aspect-marker Шаблон:Lang (pronounced Шаблон:Lang, with a second tone on the penultimate) which means "let's do it while waiting for something else to happen":

Шаблон:Lang.
"The teacher hasn't come yet; let's go and play meanwhile."

Шаблон:Lang
"Right now, come on, let's have a drink meanwhile."

Шаблон:Lang
"They told the people that they should carry on making preparations while the chiefs went to inform the senior chief."

It seems possible that Шаблон:Lang has developed by contraction from the construction Шаблон:Lang "begin" plus the perfect participle described above.

Шаблон:Lang subjunctive

A form of the verb with Шаблон:Lang can be used to express sentences of the kind "Let me do it" or "May I do it", referring to an action which the speaker would like to see done at once. There is a tone on the syllable after Шаблон:Lang. Unlike the more common participial Шаблон:Lang, there is no tone on the first syllable:

Шаблон:Lang
"Let me see!"

Шаблон:Lang
"Let me ask you one thing."

These same three prefixes, Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang, and Шаблон:Lang can also be added to the imperative, with similar meanings (see below).

Imperative

Basic Imperative

The imperative is the command form of the verb. In Chichewa its basic form consists of the verb stem and final vowel Шаблон:Lang. The suffix Шаблон:Lang is added to make it plural or more respectful. The imperative is toneless unless the verb-stem itself has a tone:

Шаблон:Lang
"Go and fetch the car!" (familiar, 2nd person singular)

Шаблон:Lang
"Go well!" (plural or respectful) (root Шаблон:Lang) (more polite, using the plural Шаблон:Lang)

Шаблон:Lang
"Stay well!" (root Шаблон:Lang)

If the verb-stem is monosyllabic, however, such as Шаблон:Lang "eat", a supporting Шаблон:Lang is added before it:

Шаблон:Lang
"Please eat some Шаблон:Lang." (Шаблон:Lang is added for politeness.)

An idiom "very widespread" among Bantu languages, according to Meeussen, is that if a series of commands is given, usually only the first is imperative, the second and third being subjunctive. This usually happens in Chichewa too:

Шаблон:Lang
"Take out your money, put it on the ground, and be off!"

Шаблон:Lang
"Come and see."

Imperative with object-marker

If an object-marker is added to the basic imperative, the final vowel changes to Шаблон:Lang, and the tones are similar to those in the Subjunctive, that is, the tone of the object-marker goes on the syllable which follows, and there is a second tone on the final Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"Help me!"

But in verbs of one or two syllables, there is a single tone on the penultimate:

Шаблон:Lang (or simply Шаблон:Lang)
"Give me!"

Шаблон:Lang
"Eat it!"

The imperative can be made less direct by adding the suffix Шаблон:Lang, which puts a tone on the syllable before it:

Шаблон:Lang
"Give me some, please."

Imperative with other prefixes

The Imperative can also take the aspect-markers Шаблон:Lang "go and" and Шаблон:Lang "come and". In this case although Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang are toneless, the final vowel becomes Шаблон:Lang with a tone:

Шаблон:Lang
"Go and call your friend."

Шаблон:Lang
"Come and see!"

These two are derived from the imperative of the auxiliary verbs Шаблон:Lang "go" and Шаблон:Lang "come" plus the subjunctive; so that Шаблон:Lang is derived from Шаблон:Lang "come so that you may see".

The prefix Шаблон:Lang "just" can also be added, with the supporting vowel Шаблон:Lang. In this case the final vowel is always Шаблон:Lang and there is a tone on the syllable after Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"Just come!"

Like the Subjunctive, the Imperative can have the prefixes Шаблон:Lang (derived from the auxiliary verb Шаблон:Lang "do" plus the infinitive), Шаблон:Lang "meanwhile", and Шаблон:Lang (imperfective). Шаблон:Lang is fairly common and is used when the speaker wishes something to be done straightaway or is imploring. It puts a tone on the following syllable:

Шаблон:Lang
"Please come (now)!"

This imperative with Шаблон:Lang can have an object-prefix added to it (the final vowel remains -a):

Шаблон:Lang
"Please put it (the fire) out!"

Шаблон:Lang (pronounced Шаблон:Lang) and Шаблон:Lang put a tone on the penultimate syllable (not counting the plural suffix Шаблон:Lang). These are less commonly used:

Шаблон:Lang
"Carry on warming yourselves in the sun (while I fetch the teacher)."

Шаблон:Lang
"Keep on reading."

Negative Imperative

To make a negative command, either the negative subjunctive is used or a form (derived from the negative Infinitive) starting with Шаблон:Lang (with tones on Шаблон:Lang and the penultimate):

Шаблон:Lang
"Don't eat those bananas."

Шаблон:Lang
"Don't eat those bananas."

Adding the aspect-marker Шаблон:Lang to either of these gives the meaning "don't keep on doing..." or "never do". The final vowel of the negative subjunctive is usually Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"Don't keep on doing stupid things!"

Шаблон:Lang
"Don't keep telling lies, please!"

Infinitive

The Infinitive is formed with the prefix Шаблон:Lang, which is proclitic, that is, it puts a tone on the syllable following itself: Шаблон:Lang "to help". The negative is made by adding Шаблон:Lang after Шаблон:Lang, and has a single tone on the penultimate: Шаблон:Lang "not to help".

Ordinary uses of the Infinitive

The Infinitive can be used as the subject of a verb, in which case it is translated as a gerund:

Шаблон:Lang
"Smoking damages the health."

It can also be the object of verbs such as "want", "be able", "like", "know how to" and so on:

Шаблон:Lang
"I want to go."

Шаблон:Lang
"I can't come."

Шаблон:Lang
"I know how to type."

With the infix Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang the Infinitive can be used to express purpose, following a verb of going or coming respectively:

Шаблон:Lang
"I am going home to wash some clothes."

Шаблон:Lang
"I have come to see you."

But Шаблон:Lang with the Infinitive can also simply have a future meaning, referring to an event or situation in the distant future:

Шаблон:Lang
"I don't want to have a lot of children (lit. to be in future with a lot of children)."

The infinitive also often has the habitual aspect-marker Шаблон:Lang, which adds an additional tone on the penultimate.

Шаблон:Lang
"That lady began to visit the house regularly."

Шаблон:Lang
"She won't be able to keep on paying the fees for me."

Шаблон:Lang
"The children don't go to school but help their parents."

Шаблон:Lang
"I used to steal cars and go and sell them in Mozambique."

Шаблон:Lang can also be added in sentences like the following that describe an event which takes place gradually:

Шаблон:Lang
"If you don't want to wait, you can be on your way."

Шаблон:Lang
"In that place various young men gradually began arriving."

Another idiomatic use of the Infinitive is to represent the second of two verbs in the same tense which have the same subject. The Infinitive is preceded by Шаблон:Lang "and" (or after a negative Шаблон:Lang "but"). The word Шаблон:Lang is often shortened to Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"People harvest maize and roast it."

Шаблон:Lang
"These thieves broke into a police station and beat up the policemen."

There was formerly another idiom of using the prefix Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang (depending on the class concord) to represent the second of two past or perfect tenses; however, it is not much used in modern Chichewa:

Шаблон:Lang
"He fell from his bike and broke his leg."

Sometimes the Infinitive can be used as a tense in its own right, to create a vivid description:

Шаблон:Lang
"Wajabu gets the ball, dribbles it, and passes to Keegan."

Шаблон:Lang
"Brother, they say that the white man stood there and fired his gun, and that witch doctor was just laughing."

The Infinitive can also follow the preposition Шаблон:Lang "on", which combines with Шаблон:Lang to make Шаблон:Lang (with a low tone):

Шаблон:Lang
"I have had difficulty in getting here."

Adjectival Infinitive

The Infinitive is frequently combined with Шаблон:Lang "of" to make a verbal adjective or adverb. The syllables Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang usually merge to become a high-toned Шаблон:Lang, except when the verb is monosyllabic, when they usually remain separate. Thus Шаблон:Lang "of helping" is shortened to Шаблон:Lang, but Шаблон:Lang "of stealing" remains unshortened. Since Шаблон:Lang "of" changes to Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang etc. according to the noun it refers to, the verbal adjective changes similarly.

Frequently this form of the Infinitive is used as an adjective or adjectival participle:

Шаблон:Lang
"The road going (which goes) to Mwanza."

Шаблон:Lang
"Are you married?"

Шаблон:Lang
"A beautiful bicycle."

It can also be used as a noun, with the noun it agrees with understood:

Шаблон:Lang
"Clothes." (lit. "(things) of wearing")

Шаблон:Lang
"Thieves." (lit. "(people) of stealing")

Шаблон:Lang
"Exit." (lit. "(place) of going out")

Шаблон:Lang
"The driver of the car." (lit. "(the person) of driving the car")

Another use is in combination with the prefix Шаблон:Lang, contracted to Шаблон:Lang, to make an adverb:

Шаблон:Lang
"Rapidly (lit. "in (a manner) of hurrying")

Шаблон:Lang
"Without any haste."

The prefix Шаблон:Lang (with a high tone) can also sometimes be used as an adverb. Шаблон:Lang usually means "soon" or "after a short time" (literally, "(at a time) of not being delayed"):

Шаблон:Lang.
"He's coming shortly."

Шаблон:Lang.
"Soon the vehicle began to move."

Шаблон:Lang
"Rain will fall soon."

Whereas the longer form Шаблон:Lang usually means "a short time ago". It is often used with the perfect or remote perfect tense:

Шаблон:Lang
"I saw Hare a few moments ago."

Шаблон:Lang.
"Some people have just entered a moment ago."

Шаблон:Lang
"He moved away a while ago; he's gone to Thyolo."

The verb Шаблон:Lang "think" combined with the Шаблон:Lang form of the Infinitive is a common way of saying "decide to":

Шаблон:Lang
"I decided to go to the police."

The negative Infinitive with Шаблон:Lang has various uses. It can be a command:

Шаблон:Lang
"Do not enter."

At other times it is an adverb:

Шаблон:Lang
"Without realising."

It can also be a noun:

Шаблон:Lang
"Blind people."

The word Шаблон:Lang (from the irregular verb Шаблон:Lang "say") is frequently used to mean "not":

Шаблон:Lang
"Women, not men."

Participial tenses

These tenses occur only in dependent clauses. They generally have relative clause intonation, that is, with a high tone on the subject-marker. In their usage they resemble participles in European languages, but differ from them in that they have a personal subject.

Шаблон:Lang

This tense is resembles a present participle in meaning: Шаблон:Lang "while (I am/was) helping". It is formed like the Present Continuous, but with a tone on the first syllable as well as the third (the two tones link into a plateau). It can refer to the subject, object, or another noun in the sentence:

Шаблон:Lang
"While I was walking I saw a man climbing a tree."

The verb Шаблон:Lang is again an exception, since in this tense it has no Шаблон:Lang, but merely a tone on the first syllable:

Шаблон:Lang
"He was very sick when he was a child."

A negative of this tense is sometimes found, made with the negative-marker Шаблон:Lang, which follows the subject-marker:

Шаблон:Lang
"Without his realising."

The negative is often replaced by the negative verbal adjective starting with Шаблон:Lang: Шаблон:Lang "without realising".

Шаблон:Lang

The Persistive Present with Шаблон:Lang etc. can also be used in a dependent form, especially with the verb Шаблон:Lang. In this case there is also a tone on the initial syllable:

Шаблон:Lang
"I began when I was still at school."

A frequent use is in the phrase Шаблон:Lang "at the present time" (lit. "it still being now").

Шаблон:Lang
"He is not available at present."

Шаблон:Lang

This tense is formed in the same way, but with Шаблон:Lang instead of Шаблон:Lang. The meaning is usually "after doing something":

Шаблон:Lang
"After getting up, she went to the market."

Шаблон:Lang
"When he arrived we had already left." (lit. "He found us having left.")

Шаблон:Lang
"We will finish this work after you've left."

Combined with the aspect-marker Шаблон:Lang, it can mean "as soon as":

Шаблон:Lang
"As soon as the boy appeared, all the other boys shouted mockingly."

It can also be combined with the verbs Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang "be" to make compound tenses:

Шаблон:Lang
"When I arrived home, (I found that) he had written two letters."

Шаблон:Lang
"By now the sun had sunk very low."

Шаблон:Lang
"At this time of year people have generally finished clearing the fields."

The phrase Шаблон:Lang with Шаблон:Lang means "by this time':

Шаблон:Lang
"By this time he had already eaten."

Шаблон:Lang
"By this time all her friends had already got married."

Шаблон:Lang
"By this time darkness had come over the place and most of the minibus drivers had finished work."

Often this tense is used following a verb of wishing, when the thing wished for is unrealisable:

Шаблон:Lang
"He wished he could be like his friend."

Another use is in conditional sentences (see below).

It appears from Watkins (1937) that the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang derives from a compound tense formed with the verb Шаблон:Lang "say" which has fused into a single verb. Thus Шаблон:Lang "after his hunger was satisfied" derives from an earlier Шаблон:Lang.

Шаблон:Lang

The opposite of Шаблон:Lang is Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang, which means "not yet having done", i.e. "before doing". It can be used of past or future time:

Шаблон:Lang
"He wants to plant the seed before the rain comes."

Шаблон:Lang
"Last night I had gone to bed before my brother came."

It can be combined with a past tense of Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang.
"He had not yet married."

Шаблон:Lang
"They were things such as I had never seen before."

In contexts such as the following it means "since":

Шаблон:Lang
"It's been a while since we won the cup." (lit. "time has gone our not having taken the cup")

Шаблон:Lang
"It's been a long time indeed since I saw him."

Temporal clauses

As well as the participial verbs above, temporal clauses in Chichewa meaning "when", "since", and "until" can also be made using conjunctions such as Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang. The tenses used in these clauses are often idiomatic, differing from those used in similar clauses in English. In most cases the verb in the temporal clause takes the relative clause intonation with a tone on the first syllable.

"When"

The usual conjunction for "when" is Шаблон:Lang, but Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang are also found.

If the main clause describes a situation in the past which was in progress at the time of an event described by a "when" clause, the verb in the "when" clause usually uses an imperfective tense, as in the examples below:

Шаблон:Lang.
"He was getting dressed when I entered (lit. was entering)."

Шаблон:Lang
"I had already eaten when he arrived (lit. was arriving)."

Шаблон:Lang
"John was winning the race when he fainted (lit. was fainting)."

Шаблон:Lang
"When he woke up (lit. was waking up) it was morning."

However, when there are two events, one following the other, the perfect tense is used in the "when" clause:

Шаблон:Lang
"When he entered, he found his mother was lying on the floor."

The phrase Шаблон:Lang means "this is when" or "it was at this point that...":

Шаблон:Lang
"This is when we got involved and locked them up in jail."

Other tenses are possible in temporal clauses; for example, the following, which refer to a future time, use the future subjunctive:

Шаблон:Lang
"When you see him, your hearts will be satisfied."

Шаблон:Lang
"There's no phone network so we won't be able to talk to our friends all the time that we'll be there."

Шаблон:Lang
"You will have eaten by the time I get to your house."

The following, also referring to an event in the distant future, use the future continuous subjunctive Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"He will have finished clearing the field by the time the rain starts."

Шаблон:Lang
"By the time that uncle of yours gets to know, you will be already settled."

The following, describing an event later today, uses the continuous subjunctive Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"By the time you reach home, that friend of yours will have stopped breathing."

"Since"

A way of expressing "since" is to use a nominalised form of the verb beginning with Шаблон:Lang and ending in Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang (in some verbs Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang). There is a single tone on the penultimate syllable (not counting Шаблон:Lang):

Шаблон:Lang
"Since getting up I haven't yet had a bath."

Шаблон:Lang
"Since you began selling, how much profit have you made?"

The subject of the verb can either be put in front of it or added afterwards with Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"It's been a long time since that country won the World Cup."

Шаблон:Lang
"We've been sad ever since our father died."

The same form of the verb with Шаблон:Lang can also mean "still" or "always".

Another way of expressing "since" is to use Шаблон:Lang "to begin from" or Шаблон:Lang "to come from", followed by a dependent clause verb:

Шаблон:Lang
"All these things I have been following since I was a child."

Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang can also be used:

Шаблон:Lang
"I've been farming this land for 20 years, since the time when my parents passed away."

For a third way of expressing "since", see Шаблон:Lang above.

"Until"

A common way of expressing "until" is to use the word Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang. This can be followed by an infinitive. The meaning is "to the extent that", "so much so that". The subject of the infinitive can be included:

Шаблон:Lang
"He and his girlfriend quarrelled so much that eventually the girlfriend ended the relationship."

Шаблон:Lang.
"He took a knife and sharpened it on a stone until he made it gleam."

In other sentences it is followed by a remote perfect tense with Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"They carried on waiting until it was time to go home."

It may also be followed by the Шаблон:Lang participial tense, when the meaning is "until after":

Шаблон:Lang
"Make use of a condom until you know your HIV status."

When referring to an event in future which might or might not happen, a future subjunctive or potential tense is used:

Шаблон:Lang
"The lady insisted that she would not pay any money or get off the minibus until they reached Chilimba."

Шаблон:Lang
"People who break the law should be held by the police until such time as they are sentenced in a court."

Another common way of expressing "until" is to use the infinitive Шаблон:Lang "to arrive at the point where":

Шаблон:Lang
"The marriage went very well until the time when the husband received a strange message."

Conditional clauses

As well as the participial tenses described above, Chichewa also has a series of tenses meaning "if" or "when", which are used as the equivalent of conditional or temporal clauses.

Шаблон:Lang

The tense Шаблон:Lang, when it is toneless, can be translated "if" or "when". It usually refers to future time:

Шаблон:Lang
"I'll ring when I get there."

Шаблон:Lang
"If I leave him, he'll get sick again."

Шаблон:Lang
"If you refuse, I shall shout."

There is no negative, but a negative meaning can be expressed with the verb Шаблон:Lang "be without":

Шаблон:Lang
"If I don't invite him, he won't come."

Шаблон:Lang

The same tense with Шаблон:Lang refers to a time "far in the future":

Шаблон:Lang
"When I get rich I shall buy a big house."

Шаблон:Lang
"If we need you at some future date, we'll call you."

Шаблон:Lang

This tense means "if ever" or "whenever". Unlike Шаблон:Lang it refers to past or present time according to context. The tones are on Шаблон:Lang and the penultimate syllable:

Шаблон:Lang
"Whenever you talk to me, you make me happy."

Шаблон:Lang
"Whenever he used to get on a bus, he would always choose one with a good music system."

Sometimes, however, Шаблон:Lang is used in the place of Шаблон:Lang to refer to a habitual situation:

Шаблон:Lang
"Whenever he received money, he used to buy the girl a present."

Шаблон:Lang

To refer to a situation in the future, the aspect-marker Шаблон:Lang can be added:

Шаблон:Lang
"She told him that if ever he were passing through Chitakale in future he should stop by at her house."

Шаблон:Lang

As well as meaning "after", the participial tense Шаблон:Lang can also have the meaning "if", referring to a hypothetical situation in the future. The main clause will often use Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang "be able":

Шаблон:Lang
"If someone stepped in front of the car, could you brake in time?"

Шаблон:Lang
"If you were to cut (this root) with your clothes on, what would happen?"

Шаблон:Lang
"Even if you were to deny it, there's no one who would believe you."

Шаблон:Lang
"It would be good if you could get here quickly."

Another possibility is to use Шаблон:Lang (lit. "if I were to say") with the subjunctive:

Шаблон:Lang
"If you were to see that lady, you might be surprised."

Шаблон:Lang

To make a condition about a hypothetical situation in the past, Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang is used in both halves of the sentence, with the relative clause intonation in the "if" clause. The main clause has a tone on the second syllable of the infix:

Шаблон:Lang
"If he had known, he wouldn't have done it."

Шаблон:Lang.
"If I had called him, he would have come."

Шаблон:Lang
"If you had gone to hospital, you would have got better quickly."

A compound expression is also found, using Шаблон:Lang in place of "if":

Шаблон:Lang
"If I were still at work, I wouldn't be here."

An "if" clause alone can also mean "should have" or "if only":

Шаблон:Lang
"You should have told me at once." (lit. "if only you had told me...")

Шаблон:Lang
"If only he'd listened to his grandparents' advice!"

The same tense can be used when wishing for some past hypothetical situation:

Шаблон:Lang.
"He wishes he'd been born somewhere else."

For a negative condition, the verb Шаблон:Lang ("be without") is used in the "if" clause:

Шаблон:Lang
"If I hadn't called him, he wouldn't have come."

Sometimes, instead of using Шаблон:Lang in the main clause, the word Шаблон:Lang "it would be the case that" or Шаблон:Lang "it would not be the case that" is used, followed by a participial verb:

Шаблон:Lang
"If you had gone to hospital, you would have got better quickly."

The following example, instead of Шаблон:Lang, uses the present participial tense of Шаблон:Lang in the "if" clause:

Шаблон:Lang
"If it were you, what would you have done?"

Sentences with Шаблон:Lang usually refer to the past. However, sometimes if Шаблон:Lang is used, the reference can be to a hypothetical situation in the present:

Шаблон:Lang
"If it were not for me, where would you be?"

The main clause in a hypothetical conditional can also be expressed using the word Шаблон:Lang "it would be the case that" followed by a participial tense:

Шаблон:Lang
"If it were a mongoose (stealing the chickens), we would be seeing its torn off fur."

Шаблон:Lang
"If the midwives were still working, I would have gone there."

The negative is Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang.
"If it had been me, I wouldn't have accepted the documents."

Шаблон:Lang

In some varieties of Chichewa the tense-marker Шаблон:Lang can be used in the "if" clause in hypothetical conditional sentences referring to present time instead of Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"If only you would explain!"

Шаблон:Lang.
"If that jealousy were dirt, it would be dirt which doesn't feel soap."

The form Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang can mean "if" in a hypothetical conditional:

Шаблон:Lang
"I would show you if I had any."

The words Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang followed by a participial tense can be used in the main clause instead of Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"If the police hadn't caught these thieves, it would have brought many problems."

Шаблон:Lang
"Were it not for the traditional doctor, this boy would not be alive."

The use of Шаблон:Lang in a counterfactual conditional is found in Johannes Rebmann's Dictionary of the Kiniassa Language (entry "Pfomera"), written in the 1850s, in the sentence: Шаблон:Lang (modern spelling: Шаблон:Lang), which he translates: "If I had known it, I should not have assented".

Шаблон:Lang ("if")

Another way of making a condition is to use the conjunction Шаблон:Lang "if", followed by the relative clause intonation. This is in fact the only way conditions can be expressed with the verb Шаблон:Lang.

Шаблон:Lang
"He should not go to the meeting if he's not well."

Шаблон:Lang can also be used to make indirect questions:

Шаблон:Lang
"I don't know if he's there."

Шаблон:Lang can also be followed by a subjunctive with relative clause intonation:

Шаблон:Lang
"If you like this music you are hearing, press * to buy it."

Шаблон:Lang can be combined with Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"He knew that if anything had happened inside his compound, it would have caused him problems later."

Шаблон:Lang can also mean "as if", but in this case it is not followed by the relative clause intonation:

Шаблон:Lang
"He heard a hen shrieking as if it had seen something frightening."

Wishes

The conditional clause tenses Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang are used after a verb of wishing, if the wish is unfulfilled. Шаблон:Lang is used for wishes for the future:

Шаблон:Lang.
"Everyone would very much like to be eating enough fish to have a healthy body."

Шаблон:Lang
"He wished he could have a child."

Шаблон:Lang
"He wished the ground would swallow him up."

Wishes for the future are not always unfulfillable:

Шаблон:Lang
"He would like one day to be a farmer like his father."

The tense Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang is used of unfulfilled wishes for the past. Just as in conditional clauses, the auxiliary verb Шаблон:Lang is used to make the clause negative:

Шаблон:Lang
"You will wish you had never been born."

Шаблон:Lang
"I wished I had set off in the morning of that day because then I wouldn't have arrived in town after dark."

Шаблон:Lang
"He wished at this moment he had had the strength."

Indirect statements

In English, as in some other languages, a verb in an indirect statement usually goes into the past tense when the main verb is in the past tense. However, in Chichewa this rule does not apply and sentences such as the following, in which there is no change of tense in the dependent clause, are common:

Шаблон:Lang
"They thought that he was drunk (lit. he has become drunk)."

Шаблон:Lang
"He told me that he wasn't well (lit. isn't well)."

In the same way, the participial tenses can refer to a present, past, or future situation according to the tense of the main verb which they are used:

• Шаблон:Lang
  "I found them (while they were) praying."
• Шаблон:Lang.
  "l might find them having already eaten."

"To be"

There are several verbs used for expressing different tenses of the verb "to be".

Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang

One word for expressing "is" or "are" is Шаблон:Lang (negative Шаблон:Lang), used in the present tense only. This word is used for permanent states or identity:

Шаблон:Lang
"Water is important."

Шаблон:Lang
"The book which is on the table is mine."

Шаблон:Lang
"Walking at night isn't good."

The toneless Шаблон:Lang "is" is to be distinguished from Шаблон:Lang "with", "and", which has a tone. Sometimes Шаблон:Lang is shortened to Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"What would happen?" (lit. "the thing that would happen is what?")

Шаблон:Lang can also be combined with Шаблон:Lang to make Шаблон:Lang, and Шаблон:Lang to make Шаблон:Lang. The n in these combinations is homorganic, but (unlike in words such as Шаблон:Lang 'snake') syllabic:

Шаблон:Lang (= Шаблон:Lang)
"This man is a liar."

Шаблон:Lang (= Шаблон:Lang).
"This illness is infectious."

The w part of a labialised consonant disappears before o and u:

Шаблон:Lang (= Шаблон:Lang).
"This man is bad."

Шаблон:Lang can have pronominal endings attached to it, e.g. Шаблон:Lang "I am", Шаблон:Lang "you are". The first and second persons are toneless; all the other endings have a tone, e.g. Шаблон:Lang "they are":

Шаблон:Lang
"I am a teacher."

Шаблон:Lang
"I am not a teacher."

Шаблон:Lang
"This is what causes problems."

Шаблон:Lang

The verb Шаблон:Lang is irregular and has very few tenses. In the present tense is used mainly for temporary states and for location, but other tenses have a more general usage, since Шаблон:Lang has no past tense.

In the present simple tense it is irregular, since there is no tone on the subject prefix:

Шаблон:Lang
"He's fine."

Шаблон:Lang
"Where is he?"

The Recent Past refers to situations of today:

Шаблон:Lang
"Where were you? / Where have you been?"

The Remote Past is Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang. This refers to a time further in the past. It can refer to a situation which later changed:

Шаблон:Lang
"She came with a letter of transfer from Nsipu school where she had been previously."

It is also often used in story-telling:

Шаблон:Lang
"It was a Saturday at 9 o'clock in the morning."

Often the pronunciation Шаблон:Lang is heard, apparently with the same meaning as Шаблон:Lang:

Шаблон:Lang
"Who was your teacher?"

The Persistive has a tone on the final syllable: Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang) "I am still".

Шаблон:Lang
"Your brother is still alive."

Negative forms also exist except for the Persistive tense: Шаблон:Lang "I am not", Шаблон:Lang "I was not".

Шаблон:Lang
"They are (he is) not in Lilongwe."

Шаблон:Lang
"I wasn't at the meeting."

"I have"

The phrase Шаблон:Lang (lit. "I am with") means "I have".

Шаблон:Lang
"I have two children."

Шаблон:Lang
"We had a meeting of all the farmers."

The negative is Шаблон:Lang "I do not have".

Шаблон:Lang
"I don't have any children."

Locative forms

The forms Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang mean "there is" or "there are". Шаблон:Lang refers to a general area or place, Шаблон:Lang to a particular spot, Шаблон:Lang to inside a place:

Шаблон:Lang
"Are there churches here?"

Шаблон:Lang
"There are several reasons."

Шаблон:Lang
"How many people are there in here?"

The negative is Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang "there isn't":

Шаблон:Lang
"He discovered that his wife wasn't at home."

Шаблон:Lang
"There is no one who answered" i.e. "No one answered."

Шаблон:Lang
"There is no money in the car."

These can also be used in the past tense:

Шаблон:Lang
"In the old days there was no school here."

. There are also locative forms ending in Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang. Of these, Шаблон:Lang is the most common:

Шаблон:Lang – Шаблон:Lang / Шаблон:Lang
"Is your father here?" – "Yes, he is." / "No, he isn't here."

In a relative clause

When Шаблон:Lang is used in a relative clause, it has a tone on the prefix:

Шаблон:Lang
"Stay where you are and don't move!"

Шаблон:Lang
"Fire goes where there is bush." (Proverb)

There is also an applied form ending in Шаблон:Lang used in phrases of manner, which also has the relative clause intonation:

Шаблон:Lang
"The way things are in this country."

Шаблон:Lang
"I would be delighted if one day he were to become a soldier like my father was."

Participial tenses

With the relative clause intonation Шаблон:Lang often serves as a participial tense. Thus Шаблон:Lang means "while I am" or "while I was":

Шаблон:Lang
"The wedding took place while I was at school."

A negative participial form Шаблон:Lang exists, although it is rarely used:

Шаблон:Lang
"These wives wanted you to find them not being pregnant."

The participial form is also found in the common phrase Шаблон:Lang "every", literally "it being everyone". It can be singular or plural:

Шаблон:Lang
"Everyone was very pleased."

Шаблон:Lang
"It takes place once every four years."

A persistive participial form Шаблон:Lang (or Шаблон:Lang) also exists meaning "while I am still" or "while I was still":

Шаблон:Lang
"I began when I was still at school."

Шаблон:Lang (or Шаблон:Lang)
"At the moment" (lit. "it still being now")

Шаблон:Lang

For the infinitive, imperative, subjunctive, and all other tenses of "to be", the verb Шаблон:Lang ("sit" or "stay") is used:

Imperative:

Шаблон:Lang
"Be quiet!"

Infinitive:

Шаблон:Lang
"Who could it be?"

Present Subjunctive:

Шаблон:Lang.
"Everyone should eat fish regularly so that he can be healthy."

Present Habitual:

Шаблон:Lang.
"A rotten fish usually has a lot of germs."

Near Future:

Шаблон:Lang
"You'll be OK tomorrow."

Remote Future:

Шаблон:Lang
"We will have children one day."

Perfect:

Шаблон:Lang.
"I've been married for five years."

Counterfactual conditional:

Шаблон:Lang
"If it had been you, what would you have done?"

Past Potential:

Шаблон:Lang
"If it were not for me, where would you be?"

When Шаблон:Lang is used with the infix Шаблон:Lang, it can mean "happen" or "become":

Шаблон:Lang
"How did it happen that you came to Malawi?"

Compound tenses

Compound tenses are also found in Chichewa. Among them are the following:

Compound tenses with Шаблон:Lang

Шаблон:Lang can be followed by an infinitive:

Шаблон:Lang
"I'm feeling fine."

Шаблон:Lang
"I didn't know."

But a participial tense is also sometimes used:

Шаблон:Lang
"The rain was still falling."

A past tense of Шаблон:Lang with the Шаблон:Lang participial tense is common:

Шаблон:Lang
"He had already eaten."

Шаблон:Lang
"He had just come out of prison."

With a verb like Шаблон:Lang "dress in", where the perfect tense describes a present situation, this tense describes a past situation:

Шаблон:Lang
"They were all dressed in red and were singing."

Шаблон:Lang
"He was carrying a Шаблон:Lang board."

Шаблон:Lang
"The lady was carrying a child on her back."

The participial verb can be Шаблон:Lang or Шаблон:Lang, with the meaning "had not" or "had not yet":

Шаблон:Lang.
"He hadn't paid rent to the owners of the house for five months."

Шаблон:Lang.
"He had not yet married."

Шаблон:Lang
"He had never seen such a beautiful woman."

Compound tenses with Шаблон:Lang

Шаблон:Lang is generally combined with one of the participial tenses. It can translate the perfect or pluperfect continuous:

Шаблон:Lang
"I have been waiting for you for three years."

Шаблон:Lang
"He had been saving up money for a long time."

It can also translate the future perfect tense:

Шаблон:Lang
"We will have eaten the pumpkins."

Шаблон:Lang
"You will have eaten."

The Present Habitual tense of Шаблон:Lang with a participial tense can often be translated with the word "usually" or "generally":

Шаблон:Lang
"Whenever she goes to school she is usually carrying bags of food of different kinds."

Шаблон:Lang
"By the time it's 4 o'clock these people have usually already gathered at bottle stores."

Шаблон:Lang
"At this time these students have usually not yet written their exams."

Compound tenses with Шаблон:Lang

The verb Шаблон:Lang "say", followed by one of the subjunctive tenses, makes a future in the past:

Шаблон:Lang
"We were going to eat pumpkins."

Шаблон:Lang
"When he was about to get on the bus, the conductor told him that he couldn't get on with a chicken."

The literal meaning of Шаблон:Lang is "we were saying we should go and eat". Other ways of expressing the future in the past are to add Шаблон:Lang to the Past Imperfective tense (Шаблон:Lang "I was about to help") or to use Шаблон:Lang "want" with the Infinitive (Шаблон:Lang "I was wanting to help").

Compound tenses with Шаблон:Lang

The verb Шаблон:Lang "do" can be used in various tenses followed by an Infinitive, e.g.:

Шаблон:Lang
"He used to say insistently."

Шаблон:Lang
"The indications are that she was murdered."

Шаблон:Lang
"Sweet potatoes don't require many things for their cultivation."

The difference in meaning, if any, between this and the simple form of the verb is not clear.

The verb Шаблон:Lang (or sometimes Шаблон:Lang) is also frequently used in colloquial Chichewa in various tenses to make English borrowed words into Chichewa verbs:

Шаблон:Lang
"He had just recently retired from work."

A further auxiliary verb, Шаблон:Lang "walk, go", is mentioned by Watkins in the form Present Simple plus Infinitive; it was used in narrative with the meaning "and then" (Шаблон:Lang "he then went"). However, this verb is no longer used as an auxiliary in current standard Chichewa.

See also

• Chichewa tones

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