Wazazi wangu wanapenda kujadiliana kuhusu masuala ya familia wakiwa wameketi kwenye kiti kikubwa sebuleni.

My parents like to discuss family matters while seated on a large chair in the living room.

Breakdown of Wazazi wangu wanapenda kujadiliana kuhusu masuala ya familia wakiwa wameketi kwenye kiti kikubwa sebuleni.

• kupenda: to like
• kwenye: at
• wangu: my
• ya: of
• sebule: the living room
• kiti: the chair
• mzazi: the parent
• kujadiliana: to discuss
• kuhusu: about
• suala: the matter
• familia: the family
• kubwa: large

Questions & Answers about Wazazi wangu wanapenda kujadiliana kuhusu masuala ya familia wakiwa wameketi kwenye kiti kikubwa sebuleni.

What does Wazazi wangu mean?

Wazazi wangu translates to "my parents." Here, wazazi means "parents" and wangu is the possessive adjective meaning "my." In Swahili, the possessive typically follows the noun.

What is the role and meaning of wanapenda in this sentence?

wanapenda comes from the verb kupenda ("to love/like") and is in the present habitual form. The prefix wa- indicates a third person plural subject, so wanapenda means "they love" or "they like." It shows that the action happens habitually or generally.

How is kujadiliana used after wanapenda?

kujadiliana is the infinitive form meaning "to discuss" or "to debate." In Swahili, after verbs like kupenda ("to like"), the following verb is used in its infinitive form. Hence, wanapenda kujadiliana means "they love to discuss."

What does the phrase kuhusu masuala ya familia mean?

The word kuhusu means "about" or "concerning." masuala translates as "issues" or "matters," and ya familia means "of family." Combined, the phrase conveys "about family matters."

What is the function of the clause wakiwa wameketi kwenye kiti kikubwa sebuleni?

This clause describes the condition in which the main action takes place. wakiwa is a participial form meaning "while (being)" or "when," and wameketi is the perfect tense of kuketi ("to sit") indicating that the subjects are in a seated state. The phrase kwenye kiti kikubwa sebuleni specifies the location—on the big chair in the sebu. Together, they indicate that the parents discuss family matters while they are seated there.

How is location expressed in kwenye kiti kikubwa sebuleni?

Location is expressed through the preposition kwenye, which can translate as "on" or "in/at." The noun kiti means "chair," modified by the adjective kikubwa ("big"), and sebuleni is a locative form indicating a specific place (the sebu). As a whole, it tells us where the action occurs.

What do the placements of wangu and kikubwa tell us about Swahili grammar?

In Swahili, adjectives and possessives typically follow the noun they modify. For example, wazazi wangu ("my parents") and kiti kikubwa ("big chair") illustrate this rule. This contrasts with English, where adjectives usually come before the noun.

Why is the participial phrase wakiwa wameketi used instead of a simple present tense construction?

The use of wakiwa wameketi provides a way to express a simultaneous state. While the main clause communicates that the parents love to discuss family matters, this participial phrase tells us that they are already seated at that moment. It efficiently links the condition (being seated) with the main action without needing a separate sentence.