Firstly, this is a verbal extension.
Secondly, this is the most common of all the verbal extensions.
Thirdly, what it does is: it allows for an intransitive verb to have an object, or it allows for the verb to have an effect on something else.
Here are some examples explaining what happens to a verb’s meaning when you add this extension. Beware of ones with a *, because they mix the extension into the basic verb in unusual ways.
| original verb | extended version |
| hamba travel | hambisa send [make it travel] |
| sha be on fire | shisa burn [make it be on fire] |
| thuka* be startled | thusa* startle, suprise, frighten [make someone be startled] |
| khathala* become tired | khathaza* tire, worry, irritate [make someone become tired] |
| enza do a thing make a thing | z-enzisa pretend to be someone [make self do a thing] |
Generally, if a verb already uses an object, then adding -IS- to it allows it to have another object.
Almost all short verbs ending in -KA change to -SA when you add this impambosi:
- vuka (wake) > vusa (wake someone up)
- suka (get gone) > susa (remove something)
- aluka (go out to graze) > alusa (herd cattle out to graze)
Almost all longish verbs ending in -ALA change to -AZA when you add this impambosi (sometimes with another weird little vowel shift thrown in):
- dumala (become disappointed) > dumaza (disappoint someone)
- fudumala (become warm) > fudumeza (warm something up)
- dangala (become depressed) > dangaza (depress someone)
Whatever function a word fulfills before adding the impambosi gets incorporated into the new meaning:
- ya (go somewhere) > yisa (make it go somewhere)
- faka (insert something somewhere) > fakisa (help to insert something somewhere)
- xola (be at peace) > xolisa (help someone to be at peace)
If you still have questions, you know where to ask for help!