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Questions & Answers about Wao wanapenda kwenda shule.
What does Wao mean in this sentence?
Wao is the subject pronoun meaning they. It refers to a group of people performing the action described by the verb.
How is the verb wanapenda constructed, and what does each part signify?
The verb wanapenda is made up of several components: • wa-: the subject prefix indicating they. • -na-: the present tense marker, often used for habitual actions. • penda: the root verb meaning to like (or to love). Together, these parts form wanapenda, meaning they like or they love.
What role does kwenda play in the sentence?
kwenda is the infinitive form meaning to go. It indicates the action that they like to perform. Notice that although many Swahili infinitives begin with ku-, in this case, kuenda contracts to kwenda for smoother pronunciation when the verb root starts with a vowel.
Why is the subject pronoun Wao explicitly stated, given that the verb form already indicates the subject?
Swahili verbs include subject markers, so the subject can be omitted. However, including Wao can add clarity, emphasize who is being talked about, or provide contrast with another group. It reinforces that the action is carried out by they.
How does the structure of this Swahili sentence compare to a similar English sentence?
In both Swahili and English, the sentence follows a subject‐verb‐object pattern. In English, you would say "They like to go to school." In Swahili, not only is the word order similar—with Wao (they) coming before wanapenda (like) and the infinitive phrase kwenda shule (to go school)—but the verb form itself also encodes the subject and tense. This compact way of conveying information is a distinctive feature of Swahili grammar.
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