LCX 400

02/08/2023

Sentence Construction in isiXhosa

Mr Athenkosi Ngqunguza
Announcements

1. Our consultation sessions will continue starting from 10 August 2023.

2. Assignment two Due from 14-21 August 2023
Assignment 2: Advertisement
Content already covered in this module
• The use vowels and consonants
• Greetings
• Asking about someone’s well being (One person and their response)
• Introducing yourself to others
• Asking names and questions (one – more than one person)
• Clan names
• Questions and Instructions
• How to construct simple sentences using noun and verb
• Noun classes, how to use prefix and suffix in isiXhosa
• Pointing out parts of the body and use them into a meangful sentence.
• The correct use of Na and Nga on different contexts and situations.
• The use of IsiXhosa language at school context
• The use of language associated with weather
• The use of negatives and positives (isilanduli)
• The use of Tenses
 How to construct simple sentences using noun and verb

When building a sentence in isiXhosa, we need at least two things:

a Subject (a Noun that performs a Verb) and its Verb.

Example about the Noun usisi (“sister”) and the Verb cula (“sing”)? We
can use these to make the sentence: Usisi uyacula. “Sister is singing.”

There’s something else going on here. Where do the u- and the -

ya- come from?
 WHAT ARE SUBJECT CONCORDS?
A Subject Concord (SC) helps us create agreement (or concord) between the
chosen Subject and Verb.

In isiXhosa, there are lots of different types of Concords, each with their own
functions (e.g. Subject Concords, which create agreement between Subjects
and Verbs).

Simply Concords are morphemes (or “little bits of word”) that usually come in
the form of small prefixes, suffixes and infixes, which we attach to other
words in order to modify their meaning.
 Sentence Structure

• Noun + Verb: example = UYolandi uyabhala > Yolandi is writing

• Usisi uyacula > Sister is singing
• Ubhuti uyagula > Brother is sick
• Umama uyabhaka > Mother is baking
• The u- sound at the beginning of the Nouns is the Noun Prefix
• The u- sound before the -ya- tells us that the noun (e.g Uyolandi) is
performing the verb to which the subject concord is attached (e.g
uyabhala)
• Noun Plural: Oosisi baya..-; Oobhuti baya…; Oomama baya….
 Sentence Structure

• UYolandi uyabhala; usisi uyacula; ubhuti uyagula; umama uyabhala

• UYolandi – name(noun)
• u-subject concord (is)
• -ya- present tense (-ing)
• -bhala (verb)> (write)

• *subject>noun prefix>beginning of the word> subject concord in

agreement with the rest of the sentence
 Singular Sentences

1.Umntwana uyapheka. (The child is cooking.)

2.Umzali uyathetha. (The parent is talking.)
3.Umfundi uyabhala. (The learner is writing.)

• The um– sound at the beginning of the Nouns is the Noun Prefix.
The u– sound before the –ya– tells us that the Noun (e.g. Umntwana) is
performing the verb to which the subject concord is attached
(e.g. uyapheka).
 Plural sentences:Examples

• 1. Abantwana bayapheka
• 2. Abazali bayathetha
• 3. Abafundi bayabhala

• The aba– sound at the beginning of the Nouns is the Noun Prefix.
The ba– sound before the –ya– tells us that the Noun
(e.g. Abantwana) is performing the verb to which the subject concord
is attached (e.g. bayapheka).
Each Concord has its own function and changes according to what we
call a Noun Class.

A Noun Class is a category of naming words that determines how

the Nouns interact with other words, and how they change under different
circumstances (i.e. in different tenses, in positive or negative, in plural or
singular, etc.).

Let’s take a look at the Noun Classes below. We’ll use examples for each. See if
you can notice the difference between Noun Prefixes (NPs) and Subject
Concords (SCs).
 Noun Classes
CLASS PREFIX EXAMPLE ENGLISH

1um- (s) Um- Umntwana uyabhala The child is writing

1(a) u- (s) U- UJohn uyabaleka John is running

2 aba (p) Aba- Abantwana bayabhala The children are writing

2 (a) oo- (p) Oo- OoJohn bayabaleka John & others are running

3 um- (s) Um- Umthi uyakhula The tree is growing

4 imi- (p) Imi- Imithi iyakhula The trees are growing

5 ili-/li- (s) Ili-/li- Ilitye linzima The stone is heavy

6 ama- (p) Ama- Amatye anzima The stones are heavy

7 isi (s) Isi- Isizwe siyakhula The nation is growing

8 izi- (p) Izi- Izizwe ziyakhula The nations are growing

9 i-, im-,in- i-, im-, in- Idesika iyawa. The desk is falling
(imantyi, inja) (magistrate & dog)

10 ii-, iim, iin,izi ii-, iim, iin,izi Iidesika ziyawa. The desks are falling
Iimantyi, izinja (magistrates & dog)

11 ulu- ulu- Uluthi luyawa The stick is falling

12 -------------

13 -------------- -----------

14 ubu-, utyw- ubu-, utyw- Ubuso buyakhazimla The face is shining

15 uku-, ukw-, uku- uku-, ukw-, uku- Ukutya kumnandi The food is delicious
Ihlelo 1 A

CLASS1A
NOUN PREFIX: “U-”
SUBJECT CONCORD: “U-”
-SUBJECT CONCORD: “AKA-”

( SINGULAR OF CL. 2A)

1.Umama uyaqhuba. (Mother is driving.)
2.Ubhuti uyagula. (Brother is sick.)
3.Umakhulu uyalala. (Grandmother is sleeping.)
The u– sound at the beginning of the Nouns is the Noun Prefix. The u– sound before the
–ya– tells us that the Noun (e.g. Umama is performing the verb to which the subject
concord is attached (e.g. uyaqhuba)
Ihlelo 2 A

• CLASS 2A
NP: “OO-”
SC: “BA-”
-SC: “ABA-”

(PERSONAL, PLURAL OF CL. 1A)

1.Oomama bayaqhuba. (The mothers/Mother and company are driving.)
2.Oobhuti bayagula. (The brothers/Brother and company are sick.)
3.Oomakhulu bayalala. (The grandmothers/Grandmother and company are sleeping.)
• The oo– sound at the beginning of the Nouns is the Noun Prefix. The ba– sound before
the –ya– tells us that the Noun (e.g. Oomama) is performing the verb to which the
subject concord is attached (e.g. bayaqhuba).
 Ihlelo 1
• NP: “UM-”
SC: “U-”
-SC: “AKA-”
(PERSONAL, SINGULAR OF CL. 2)
1.Umpheki uyadlala. (The cook is playing.)
2.Umzali uyathetha. (The parent is talking.)
3.Umzobi uyasebenza. (The artist is working.)
• The um– sound at the beginning of the Nouns is the Noun Prefix. The u– sound
before the –ya– tells us that the Noun (e.g. Umpheki) is performing the verb to
which the subject concord is attached (e.g. uyadlala).
Ihlelo 2
• CLASS 2
NP: “ABA-”
SC: “BA-”
-SC: “-ABA-”
(PERSONAL, PLURAL OF CL. 1)
1.Abapheki bayadlala. (The cooks are playing.)
2.Abazali bayathetha. (The parents are talking.)
3.Abazobi bayasebenza. (The artists are working.)
• The aba– sound at the beginning of the Nouns is the Noun Prefix. The ba–
sound before the –ya– tells us that the Noun (e.g. Abapheki) is performing the
verb to which the subject concord is attached (e.g. bayadlala).
Ihlelo 3
• CLASS 3
NP: “UM-”
SC: “U-”
-SC: “-AWU-”
(IMPERSONAL, SINGULAR OF CL. 4)
1.Umtshayelo uyema. (The broom is standing.)
2.Umthi uyakhula. (The tree is growing.)
3.Umsitho uyahambisa. (The festival continues.)
• The um– sound at the beginning of the Nouns is the Noun Prefix. The u–
sound before the –ya– tells us that the Noun (e.g. Umtshayelo) is performing
the verb to which the subject concord is attached (e.g. uyama).
Ihlelo 4
• CLASS 4
NP: “IMI-”
SC: “I-”
-SC: “AYI-”
(IMPERSONAL, PLURAL OF CL. 3)
1.Imitshayelo iyema. (The brooms are standing.)
2.Imithi iyakhula. (The trees are growing.)
3.Imisitho iyahambisa. (The festivals continue.)
• The imi– sound at the beginning of the Nouns is the Noun Prefix. The i–
sound before the –ya– tells us that the Noun (e.g. Imitshayelo) is performing
the verb to which the subject concord is attached (e.g. iyama).
Ihlelo 5
• CLASS 5
NP: “ILI-”
SC: “LI-”
-SC: “ALI-”

(SINGULAR OF CLASS 6)
1.Ihashe liyabaleka. (The horse is running.)
2.Igumbi liyaphuka. (The room is broken.)
3.Igqabi liyawa. (The leaf is falling.)

• In this case, the i– sound at the beginning of the Nouns is the initial vowel, rather than
the Noun Prefix. But do not be deceived – they’re still members of the ili- group!. The li–
sound before the –ya– tells us that the Noun (e.g. Ihahshe) is performing the verb to
which the subject concord is attached (e.g. liyabaleka).
Ihlelo 6
• CLASS 6
NP: “AMA-”
SC: “A-”
-SC: “AKA-”
(PLURAL OF CLASS 5)
1.Amahashe ayabaleka. (The horses are running.)
2.Amagumbi ayaphuka. (The rooms are broken.)
3.Amagqabi ayawa. (The leaves are falling.)
Ihlelo 7
• CLASS 7
NP: “ISI-”
SC: “SI-”
-SC: “ASI-”
(SINGULAR OF CLASS 8)
1.Isiteyidiyum siyacula. (The stadium is singing.)
2.Isikolo siyahamba. (The school is walking.)
3.Isibane siyakhanya. (The light is shining.)
• The isi– sound at the beginning of the Nouns is the Noun Prefix. The si–
sound before the –ya– tells us that the Noun (e.g. Isiteyidiyum) is performing
the verb to which the subject concord is attached (e.g. siyacula).
Ihlelo 8
• CLASS 8
NP: “IZI-”
SC: “ZI-”
-SC: “AZI-”
(PLURAL OF CLASS 7)
1.Iziteyidiyum ziyacula. (The stadiums are singing.)
2.Izikolo ziyahamba. (The schools are walking.)
3.Izibane ziyakhanya. (The lights are shining.)
• The izi– sound at the beginning of the Nouns is the Noun Prefix. The zi–
sound before the –ya– tells us that the Noun (e.g. Iziteyidiyum) is performing
the verb to which the subject concord is attached (e.g. ziyacula).
Ihlelo 9
• CLASS 9
NP: “I-/IN-”
SC: “I-”
-SC: “AYI-”

• (SINGULAR OF CLASS 10)

1.Intombi iyadlala. (The girl is playing.)
2.Itoyilethi iyaguquka. (The toilet is flushing.)
3.Inja iyatya. (The dog is eating.)

• The i– sound at the beginning of the Nouns is the Noun Prefix. The i– sound before the –
ya– tells us that the Noun (e.g. Intombi) is performing the verb to which the subject
concord is attached (e.g. iyadlala).
Ihlelo 10
• CLASS 10
NP: “II-/IIN-/IZIN-”
SC: “ZI-”
-SC: “AZI-”

• (PLURAL OF CLASS 9)
1.Iintombi ziyadlala. (The girls are playing.)
2.Iitoyilethi ziyaguquka. (The toilets are flushing.)
3.Izinja ziyatya. (The dogs are eating.)

• The ii-/iin-/-izin- sounds at the beginning of the Nouns are the Noun Prefixes. The zi–
sound before the –ya– tells us that the Noun (e.g. Izinja) is performing the verb to which
the subject concord is attached (e.g. ziyatya).
Ihlelo 11
• CLASS 11,
NP: “ULU-”
SC: “LU-”
-SC: “ALU-“
1.Usana luyalila. (The baby is crying.)

• The u– sound at the beginning of the Nouns is the Noun Prefix. The lu–
sound before the –ya– tells us that the Noun (e.g. Usana) is performing
the verb to which the subject concord is attached (e.g. luyalila).
Ihlelo 12
• CLASS 12
NP:”UBU-”
SC: “BU-”
-SC: “ABU-“
1.Ubuxoki buyaxoka. (The liar is lying.)
• The ubu– sound at the beginning of the Noun is the Noun Prefix.
The bu– sound before the –ya– tells us that the Noun (e.g. Ubuxoki) is
performing the verb to which the subject concord is attached
(e.g. buyaxoka).
Ihlelo 15
• CLASS 15
NP: “UKU-”
SC: “KU-”
-SC: “AKU-“
1.Ukutya kumnandi kakhulu. (The food is very nice)
PARTS OF THE BODY – AMALUNGU OMZIMBA
• Forehead Ibunzi /amabunzi buttocks iimpundu
• Eye Iliso /amehlo tooth izinyo/amazinyo
• Nose Impumlo/ iimpumlo lip umlebe/imilebe
• Mouth Umlomo /imilomo leg umlenze/imilenze
• Chin Isidlele/izidlele
• FingerUmnwe/ iminwe
• Nail Uzipho/ iinzipho
• Armpit Ikhwapha/amakhwapha
• Breast Ibele /Amabele
• Toe uzwane/iinzwane
Questions/imibuzo
Thank you
Enkosi