| Is the stem /—taangura/ in the HIGH class, or the LOW? | [HIGH] |
| Is the stem /-goroora/ in the HIGH class, or the LOW? | [LOW] |
Dimension 6: Linkage. This is a two-way distinction. Its most characteristic mark is the prefix /-ra-/, which is used with 'disjunct' forms. Forms that are not disjunct are 'conjunct'. Only ten sets are committed with respect to this dimension. The significance of the distinction is grammatical: the conjunct must be followed by some kind of object or other word to which it is closely tied. The disjunct may be used without a following object, or with a following object where there is no close connection between verb and object.
Place a period after each disjunct form, to signify that it can be the last word in a sentence. Place three dots (...) after the conjunct forms, to signify that it must be followed by something further.
| navúze | 'I spoke (before today)' | [...(conjunct)] |
| narávuze | 'I spoke (before today)' | [.(disjunct)] |
| turiiye | 'we've eaten' | [...(conjunct)] |
| turaríiye | 'we've eaten?' | [.(disjunct)] |
The intersection of these six dimensions with one another accounts for over 90 per cent of the forms of any Kirundi verb. There are however a few sets of forms which lie outside this framework. Most important are the subjunctive, the infinitive, and the imperative. These are differentiated for Dimension 1 (affirmative vs. negative), and the infinitive shows the tone Class of a verb (Dimension 5), but they are not marked for mood, tense, aspect, or linkage. These sets need not be discussed further in a brief synopsis.
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