Mimi ninapenda kusoma kitabu kizuri jioni.

I

Breakdown of Mimi ninapenda kusoma kitabu kizuri jioni.

• kupenda: to like
• kitabu: the book
• kusoma: to read
• katika: in
• jioni: the evening
• kizuri: good

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninapenda kusoma kitabu kizuri jioni.

What does the prefix ni- in ninapenda indicate?

The prefix ni- is the subject marker for the first-person singular, corresponding to "I" in English.

Why do we use kusoma here instead of another form of the verb "read"?

Kusoma is the infinitive form "to read" in Swahili. It starts with ku-, which is the usual marker for the infinitive. After verbs like ninapenda (I like), you generally use the infinitive to show what action you like doing.

Why is there an adjective form kizuri instead of just zuri?

Swahili adjectives must agree with the noun class of the word they describe. Kitabu (book) belongs to the ki-/vi- noun class, so the adjective takes the ki- prefix to match, becoming kizuri.

What is the role of jioni at the end of the sentence?

Jioni means "evening," so it indicates when the action takes place. It’s simply specifying the time of day, much like saying "in the evening" in English.

Is it necessary to include Mimi at the start of the sentence?

Not strictly. Because ni- already indicates "I," you could say Ninapenda kusoma kitabu kizuri jioni. Adding Mimi can be for emphasis or clarity but is not grammatically required.