-na-

• -da- (commonly used alternative)

-ná-

1. Forms the past tense in verbs.

• To indicate the recent past, the high tone is shifted off the tense marker to the next syllable. Prescriptive grammars state that only the form -na- can be used this way, not -da-.
• Among most speakers, -na- and -da- are in free variation. The form -da- is most common in Malawi's Central Region, and was formerly designated as the standard.

From -na, a stem of -wa na (“to have”).^[1]

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

-na-

1. positive present tense marker

   wanakula ― they are eating

2. (in stative verbs) inceptive aspect marker

   wanalala ― they are falling asleep

   Inakuwa baridi. ― It is getting cold.

3. (in second verb in a series) marker of simultaneity

   Near-synonym: -ki-

   1. (after -wa) continuous aspect marker

      nilikuwa ninaandika ― I was writing

This marker can be used in both nonrelative and relative verbs.