Mama ni makini nyumbani kila siku.

to be

Breakdown of Mama ni makini nyumbani kila siku.

• nyumba: the home
• kwenye: at
• kila: every
• siku: the day
• mama: the mother
• makini: careful

Questions & Answers about Mama ni makini nyumbani kila siku.

What is the function of ni in this sentence?

In this sentence, ni functions as the copula, equivalent to the English verb “is.” It links the subject Mama (mother) to the predicate adjective makini (careful), establishing a state of being.

How is nyumbani formed and what does it mean?

Nyumbani means “at home.” It is derived from the noun nyumba (house) by adding the locative suffix -ni. This suffix indicates location, transforming the word from “house” to “in/at the house,” used idiomatically as “home.”

What does kila siku translate to in English?

Kila siku translates directly to “every day.” Here, kila means “every,” and siku means “day,” so together they express a daily occurrence.

What part of speech is makini, and how is it used in the sentence?

Makini is an adjective that means “careful” or “cautious.” In this sentence, it acts as a predicate adjective describing Mama. The copula ni connects the subject to this descriptive adjective.

Can you explain the overall structure of the sentence?

The sentence follows a standard Swahili structure with the order: subject (Mama) → copula (ni) → predicate adjective (makini) → adverbial phrases for location (nyumbani) and frequency (kila siku). This structure mirrors the English sentence “Mother is careful at home every day,” making it easier for learners to identify comparable elements in both languages.