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Questions & Answers about Hatujifunzi usiku.
Why does hatujifunzi start with ha-?
In Swahili, ha- is the negative prefix used in the present tense when referring to “we”. It combines with tu (meaning “we”) and modifies the verb to show negation.
What is the role of ji in hatujifunzi?
The ji part in the verb is a reflexive marker indicating the action is directed toward oneself—so in this case, the subject is involved in the action of learning (reflexively).
How is the rest of the verb structure formed in hatujifunzi?
After the negative prefix ha- and the subject prefix tu (for “we”), you have the reflexive marker ji, then the verb root funz, and finally the negative present tense ending -i instead of -a.
Why is usiku placed at the end of the sentence?
In Swahili, time expressions like usiku (night) often come either at the beginning or at the end of a sentence. However, it’s common to see them at the end, which keeps the main verb phrase together.
Is there a difference between hatujifunzi and hatufunzi in Swahili?