"Because of the rain the game has become difficult"

Translation: Kwa sababu ya mvua mchezo umeshindikana

[Ivoryblossum]

ndapyopyangana maningi. The lesson page said either -k- -ik- or -ika was added. This has -ana. I thought -ana was for reciprocal actions. Why does this end in -ana? And why does it start in u-?

[AGreatUserName]

Some -eka/-ika verbs just have an extra -ana on the end.

kupata = to get; obtain
→ kupatikana = to be available; obtainable

kujua = to know
→ kujulikana = to be well-known

kutaka = to want
→ kutakikana = to be needed; wanted

kuweza = to be able to
→ kuwezekana = to be possible

kuona = to see
→ kuonekana = to be visible; to seem; to look

kukosa = to miss
→ kukosekana = to be missing; lacking

In a couple of examples, the -eka/-ika and -ekana/-ikana makes a difference in meaning.

kusema = to say; speak
→ kusemeka = to be utterable; speakable
→ kusemekana = to be purported; claimed; said

kushinda = to win; defeat
→ kushindika = to be overcome; beaten
→ kushindikana = to fail; to be unsuccessful

The verb has a u- on the beginning because the subject, mchezo, is a class 3 noun (singular of the M/MI class) and the subject prefix that corresponds to that class is u-.

[Ernst557459]

kuonakana = to look, but only as in "have the appearance"? E.g, unaonakana mrembo, you look beautiful.

[dsimonds]

-onekana. And to add another meaning: be seen. Alionekana jana amevaa nguo alizoziiba." He was seen yesterday wearing the clothes he stole."

And some other meanings for -patikana: 1. -patikana na hatia -- be found guilty (in court); 2. be caught (doing something you shouldn't) Alipatikana akivua nguo hadharani - He was caught/found undressing in public.