The Causative Tense

Causing an action to occur ie make return. There a few different forms of the causative verb ending in Kiswahili but typically verbs end in a -sha or -za There are two rule sets you can apply here, depending on what makes more sense.

Rule Set One1 Verbs ending with a, i or u, use -isha

Take off the final vowel to get the verb root, if the nearest vowel is now a, i or u then add -isha Kula (to eat) Kurudi (to return) -lisha (to be fed ie to cause to eat) -rudisha (to cause to return)

Verbs ending with e or o, use -esha

If the verb roots' nearest reaming vowel is e or o then add -esha Kusoma (to read) Kutoa (to take out, deliver) -somesha (to cause to read ie teach) -toesha (to cause to take out)

Verbs roots ending with k, -sha

If the verb root form ends in -k use -sha Kupaka (to apply) Kukumbuka (to remember) -pakasha (to cause to apply) -kumbusha (to remind, cause to remember)

Verb roots ending with n, -nya

If the verb root ends with -n, use -nya in the causative form Kupona (to get better, recover) Kuchana (to comb, to tear) -ponya (to heal, to cause to recover) -chanya (to cause to tear)

Exceptions that use -za

Some verbs use -za in their causative form such as kulala Kulala (to sleep) Kuuma ( to hurt)
1 From Swahili as a living language

-laza (to cause to sleep, to admit to hospital) -umiza (to cause pain)

Rule Set Two2 Verb with a, i or u use -isha

Kufanya (to do) Kuanza (to start) -fanyisha -anzisha (to cause to start, to inaugurate)

Verb with e or o use -esha

Kukopa (to borrow) Kuenda (to go) -kopesha (to cause to borrow) -endesha (to cause to move, to drive)

Some double verbs ending with -za

When the verb ends with a double vowel, use the -za form Kupotea (to lose) Kujaa (to fill) -poteza (to cause to lose) -jaza (cause to fill)

Some double verbs ending with -lisha, -lesha

Kufua (to clean) Kutoa (to take out) -fulisha (to cause to clean) -tolesha (to cause to take out)

Verbs ending with ka/ta use -sha

Kuruka (to jump) Kupata (to get) -rusha (to throw) -pasha (to cause to get warm)

Exceptions
Kupenda (to like/love) Kulala (to sleep) -pendeza (to cause to like/love, to be attractive) -laza (to cause to sleep, to admit)

NB: Causative form can cause some slight changes in meaning such as ruka rusha. NB: Some forms such as double vowels need to be learnt as the rules try to promote sound harmony.

2 From KIU's summary of grammar forms

Causatives from Adjectives and Nouns

Can form causative verbs from adjectives and nouns using -isha or -esha based on rules 1 and 2. -safi (clean) Bora (good, better) Rahisi (easy) Maana (meaning) Sababu (cause, reason) Safisha (to clean) Boresah (to make better, to improve) Rahisisha (to simplify) Maanisha (to mean) Sababisha (to cause)