Kinyarwanda has a complex set of modifications that can be applied to a verb stem to produce related verbs. The learner should not assume that any modification can be applied to any verb, but understanding these rules will make it easier to remember new verbs.
| Stem Modification | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Subject acts |
-kora - do -bona - see -gura - buy -vuna - break -ha - give -ca - cut |
|
| Reflexive Subject acts upon themself |
|
-kora → -ikora - do oneself -bona → -ibona - see oneself |
| Passive Subject is acted upon by another |
|
-kora → -korwa - be done -bona → -bonwa - be seen -gura → -gurwa - be bought -vuna → -vunwa - be broken -haba → -habywa - be lost -ha → -habwa - be given -ca → -cibwa - be cut |
| Neuter Subject is in a state or condition |
|
-bona → -boneka - be visible -vuna → -vunika - be broken -ca → -cika - be torn -sohora → -sohoka - go out |
| Causative Subject causes another to act |
|
-kora → -koresha - cause to do (use) -gura → -gurisha - cause to buy (sell) -ca → -cisha - cause to cut -hora → -hoza - cause to cool |
| Prepositional Subject acts for another or at a particular place |
|
-kora → -korera - do for, do at -bona → -bonera - see for, see at -gura → -gurira - buy for, buy at |
| Associative Subject acts with another |
|
-kora → -korana - do together |
| Reciprocal Subjects act upon each other |
|
-bona → -bonana - see each other -fasha → -fashanya - help each other |
| Reversive Subject reverses a previous act |
|
-sasa → -sasura - unmake a bed |
| Intensive Subjects acts intensely or repeatedly |
|
-soma → -somagura - kiss passionately -vuna → -vunagura - smash |
