The image above contains everything you need to know about verbs in isiZulu: the result of answering all of the questions is a single word that expresses a lot of information about an action. Scroll to the end of this post for links to other explainers and related assignments.
The numbered blue sections are what changes to express conjugation (yes, no, or maybe) and tense (now, tomorrow or yesterday).
| position 1 | position 2 | position 3 |
| no: A– | now: – / – tomorrow: –ZU– yesterday: – / – | now: –I tomorrow: –A yesterday: –ANGA |
| yes: /- | now: –YA– or – / – tomorrow: –ZO– yesterday: – / – | now: –A tomorrow: –A yesterday: –E or –ILE |
| maybe now: MA– or A– or /- | any time: – / – | now: –E yesterday: –A |
| still: –SA– | ||
| possible: –NGA– |
The red section is the Subject Concord, isiVumelwano sikaMenzi, and expresses who does the action.
The orange section is the Object Concord, isiVumelwano sikaMenziwa, and expresses to whom or to what the action is done.
The black section expresses the action itself, what happens. There are 200 common verbs that bear remembering, and which will be listed soon.
The pale green section is for the izimpambosi, which can be combined to make a new meaning from the original action. Go to this link to see how the different izimpambosi work together, but the following table is a handy chart for them. You can also check out the following explainer on izimpambosi, as well as a blog post on one specific impambosi: the causative.
| –IS– | cause the action help the action make the action happen |
| –EL– | apply the action do the action for something do the action at some place |
| –AN– | do the action together do the action with someone |
| –EK– | let the action happen get the action done let the action be possible |
| –W– | experience the action feel the action |
| –ILE | action is finished action is complete |
If you make yourself familiar with the uHlelo lwesenzo, you will be able to make complex phrases and expressions ngesiZulu!
If you want to explore the way isiZulu works with tenses, you can find assignments at the following links:
| Simple Present Positive | click here |
| Simple Future Positive | coming soon! |
| Simple Past Positive | coming soon! |
If you want to explore the way that isiZulu works with the concords, you can find explainers and assignments at the following links:
| Subject Concord | Explainer here | Assignment here |
| Object Concord | Explainer here | Assignment coming soon! |
You can also ask Mabhengwane a question about this by clicking here.