Mimi ninapenda chai kuliko maziwa.

I like tea more than milk.

Breakdown of Mimi ninapenda chai kuliko maziwa.

• mimi: I
• kupenda: to like
• chai: the tea
• maziwa: the milk
• kuliko: than

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninapenda chai kuliko maziwa.

Why does the sentence begin with mimi even though the verb ninapenda already indicates the subject?

In Swahili, the subject pronoun mimi (meaning I) is often optional because the verb’s prefix (in this case, ni- in ninapenda) already shows who is performing the action. Including mimi can serve to add emphasis or clarity, especially for beginners.

What does the verb ninapenda mean, and how is it constructed?

The verb ninapenda means "I like" or "I love." It is built from the root kupenda (to like/love) with the subject prefix ni- (indicating I) and the present tense marker. Thus, ninapenda explicitly shows that the speaker is the one who likes or loves.

How is the comparative expressed in the sentence?

The word kuliko is used to form the comparative. It functions like the English "more than" or simply "than." In the sentence, it compares chai (tea) and maziwa (milk), indicating that tea is preferred over milk.

What do chai and maziwa refer to in English?

Chai means "tea" and maziwa means "milk." They serve as the objects of the liking expressed by the verb, with tea being liked more than milk.

How is the sentence structured in terms of word order?

The sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, which is quite similar to English. Even though the subject mimi is explicitly mentioned, the verb ninapenda already implies it, and chai is the direct object. The comparative clause kuliko maziwa follows the object to indicate the preference.

Can the subject pronoun mimi be omitted, and if so, why might a speaker choose to include it?

Yes, the subject pronoun mimi can be omitted because the verb ninapenda inherently conveys that the subject is I through its prefix. However, a speaker might choose to include mimi to add extra clarity, to stress the subject of the sentence, or simply to reinforce personal involvement in the action.