LESSON 83

Passive Verbs

Vocabulary

164. Do not confuse passive voice with past time! Passive voice is used when the subject receives the action of the verb. ego The man beats the dog - active voice; the dog is beaten by the man - passive voice. Passive verbs are formed simply by inserting w before the final a of the verb:

gukunda - to love

kubona - to see

gukundwa - to be loved

kubonwa - to be seen

165. The passive is often followed by na meaning “by”. e.g. Dukundwa n’Imana - we are loved by God.

166. The verb kwita must not be confused with guhamagara. Kwita is “to call” only in the sense of “to name.” e.g. Bamwise Yohana - they called (named) him John. Bahamagaye Yohana - they called John (to come).

This verb in the passive is the commonest way to ask someone his name. Witwa nde? - what is your name? Literally, you are called who? (nde = who).

Exercises:

I. Translate into English:

1. Imana ishimwe kuko yaduhaye agakiza. 2. Abigishwa bose bategekwa n’abigisha babo n’ababyeyi babo (note 2 uses of na). 3. Imyenda idodwa neza n’abakobwa. 4. Uruhinja rw’umwigisha rwitwaSembwa. 5. Umuhungu afite ishyari kuko abandi bashimwa cyane. 6. Ndashaka ko inyanya zirongwa kabiri mu mazi yo kunywa. 7. Abana banyu ni beza kuko bakunda gutegekwa neza n’abakuru babo. 8. Abantu bose bazabwirwa inkuru nziza ko Yesu akiza. 9. Abajura birutse kuko batinye ko bazafatwa. 10. Abakuru b’igihugu bubahwa n’ahantu bose.

II. Translate into Kinyarwanda:

1. The child is taken out of school because he is very bad (“to take out” is followed by mu or ku, like kuva). 2. The man is sent to Butare to buy food. J. The books are brought by the boys and we shall use them in school tomorrow. 4. Jesus is called Savior because He came to save all people. 5. We are redeemed by the blood of Jesus. 6. The Word of God can be trusted because it is (use ari, see par. 185) the truth. 7. We want that all your (pl.) things be prepared because we will go very early. 8. The francs (which) are offered today will be used to buy books. 9. Our guests are called by the teacher so that they may go to see the school. 10. Give me (some) food quickly for (because) I am dying of hunger (i. e. I am being killed by hunger).