Editing Chewa language (section)

===Dependent clause tenses===
The tenses used in certain kinds of dependent clauses (such as relative clauses and some types of temporal clauses) differ from those used in main clauses. Dependent verbs often have a tone on the first syllable. Sometimes this change of tone alone is sufficient to show that the verb is being used in a dependent clause.<ref>Mchombo (2004), pp. 17–18.</ref><ref name="Stevick et al. 1965, p.147"/> Compare for example:
*{{lang|ny|a-ku-gúla}} 'he is buying'
*{{lang|ny|á-kú-gúla}} 'when he is buying' or 'who is buying'

Other commonly used dependent tenses are the following:
*{{lang|ny|ndí-tá-gúla}} 'after I bought/buy'
*{{lang|ny|ndí-sa-na-gúle}} 'before I bought/buy'

There is also a series of tenses using a toneless {{lang|ny|-ka-}} meaning 'when' of 'if', for example:<ref>Salaun, p.70</ref><ref>Kanerva (1990), p.24.</ref>
*{{lang|ny|ndi-ka-gula}} 'when/if I buy'
*{{lang|ny|ndi-ka-dzá-gula}} 'if in future I buy'
*{{lang|ny|ndi-ka-má-gúlá}} 'whenever I buy'
*{{lang|ny|ndí-ka-da-gúla}} 'if I had bought'