Wale marafiki wanapenda chai.

Those friends like tea.

Breakdown of Wale marafiki wanapenda chai.

• rafiki: the friend
• kupenda: to like
• chai: the tea
• wale: those

Questions & Answers about Wale marafiki wanapenda chai.

What does the word wale indicate in this sentence?

Wale is a demonstrative adjective meaning "those." It specifically refers to a certain group of people—in this case, friends—often implying that they are not immediately present or have been mentioned before.

How does the verb wanapenda show subject-verb agreement with marafiki?

The verb wanapenda begins with the prefix wa-, which aligns with the plural noun marafiki (friends). In Swahili, verbs must agree with the noun class of their subjects, and here wa- indicates a plural subject. The structure also includes the present tense marker na followed by the root penda.

What is the role of the na in wanapenda?

In wanapenda, the na functions as the present tense marker. It indicates that the action of liking is occurring in the present (often habitually). Thus, wanapenda translates to "they like" in a habitual or ongoing sense.

Why does the noun chai remain unchanged even though it represents the object of the sentence?

The noun chai does not change form because it is treated as either uncountable or a borrowed word with a fixed form in Swahili. Many substances, like tea, are used in a context where singular and plural forms look the same, so no additional morphological change is necessary.

Can you break down the overall structure of Wale marafiki wanapenda chai?

Certainly. The sentence is composed of three main parts: • Wale marafiki: This phrase means "those friends," where wale (those) modifies marafiki (friends). • wanapenda: The verb is formed by combining the subject prefix wa- (indicating a plural subject), the present tense marker na, and the verb root penda (to like). • chai: This is the object of the sentence, meaning "tea," and remains unchanged due to its nature as an uncountable substance.