Baba tayari anacheza mpira.

to play

Breakdown of Baba tayari anacheza mpira.

• baba: the father
• mpira: the ball
• tayari: already

Questions & Answers about Baba tayari anacheza mpira.

What does Baba mean in this sentence?

Baba means “father.” It is the noun serving as the subject, referring to the father figure.

What is the function of the adverb tayari in this sentence?

Tayari means “already.” It modifies the verb by indicating that the action is underway or has begun before the present moment. Its placement after the subject adds emphasis while keeping the sentence clear.

How is the verb anacheza constructed and what does each part signify?

Anacheza is built from three elements: the subject prefix a- which indicates third-person singular (referring to “Baba”), the tense/aspect marker na- that signals a present continuous action, and the root cheza meaning “to play.” Together, they show that Father is currently playing.

What role does mpira play in the sentence?

Mpira means “ball” and serves as the direct object in the sentence, specifying what is being played with.

Why is the subject Baba explicitly mentioned even though the verb anacheza already contains a subject marker?

While the verb’s prefix a- does indicate a third-person singular subject, including Baba explicitly provides clarity and emphasis. In Swahili, the subject can sometimes be omitted if it is clear from the verb alone, but adding it can make the sentence more precise, especially in contexts where who is performing the action needs to be highlighted.

Does the sentence follow the same word order as English?

Yes, the sentence generally follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, similar to English. Although adverbs like tayari can sometimes be flexible in their placement, here it is positioned after the subject and before the verb without disrupting the overall SVO structure.