Mimi ninashika kamera kwa mkono wangu ili kupiga picha ya daraja.

I am holding a camera in my hand to take a photo of the bridge.

Breakdown of Mimi ninashika kamera kwa mkono wangu ili kupiga picha ya daraja.

• mimi: I
• wangu: my
• ya: of
• ili: in order to
• daraja: the bridge
• kushika: to hold
• kamera: the camera
• kwa: in
• mkono: the hand
• kupiga picha: to take a photo

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninashika kamera kwa mkono wangu ili kupiga picha ya daraja.

Why is the subject pronoun Mimi explicitly included even though the verb already indicates "I"?

In Swahili, the verb already carries the subject marker (ni- for “I”), so including Mimi is optional. It’s often added for emphasis, clarity, or to avoid ambiguity—especially helpful for language learners.

How is the present continuous tense formed in the verb ninashika?

Ninashika is built up as follows:
• ni- is the subject prefix meaning “I”
• na- is the present continuous marker indicating an ongoing action
• shika is the base verb, meaning “to hold”
Together, these parts convey “I am holding.”

What does the phrase kwa mkono wangu mean, and what roles do each of its parts play?

The phrase breaks down as follows:
• kwa means “with”
• mkono means “hand”
• wangu is the possessive form of “my”
Thus, kwa mkono wangu translates to “with my hand.”

What role does the word ili play in this sentence?

Ili is used to introduce a purpose clause, similar to “in order to” in English. It explains the reason behind the action, linking the main clause with the intention expressed by the following infinitive phrase.

Why is the verb phrase kupiga picha in the infinitive form, and how does it function in the sentence?

After ili, Swahili typically employs an infinitive form to clearly express purpose. Kupiga is the infinitive form meaning “to take” (especially in the context of taking a picture), and when paired with picha (“picture”), it means “to take a picture.” This construction succinctly indicates the purpose of the main action.

How does the phrase ya daraja function, and why is ya used here?

Ya is a linking word that shows possession or association. In this phrase, it connects picha (“picture”) to daraja (“bridge”), forming picha ya daraja, which means “picture of the bridge.” The use of ya agrees with the noun class of picha, maintaining grammatical consistency in Swahili.

Is it acceptable to omit Mimi in conversation, and why might a speaker choose either to include or drop it?

Yes, it is common to omit the subject pronoun because the verb already indicates the subject. However, a speaker may include Mimi for emphasis, clarity, or stylistic reasons—especially in contexts where extra precision is desired or for learners who are still gaining confidence with the language’s structure.