Mimi ninapenda kutenga wali kabla ya kula.

I like to separate the rice before eating.

Breakdown of Mimi ninapenda kutenga wali kabla ya kula.

• mimi: I
• kupenda: to like
• kula: to eat
• kabla ya: before
• wali: the rice
• kutenga: to separate

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninapenda kutenga wali kabla ya kula.

What does the word Mimi mean, and why is it used here?

Mimi means I. Although Swahili verbs carry subject markers (in this case, the prefix ni- in ninapenda already indicates “I”), including Mimi can add emphasis or clarity.

How is the verb ninapenda constructed and what does it translate to in English?

Ninapenda is formed by combining the subject marker ni- (for “I”), the present tense marker na-, and the root -penda (meaning “to like” or “to love”). Together, it translates as “I like” or “I love.”

Why does the verb kutenga appear in its infinitive form after ninapenda?

In Swahili, when a conjugated verb like ninapenda (I like) is followed by another action, that following verb is kept in its infinitive form. So kutenga remains in the infinitive to express the idea “to [do something],” in this case, “to prepare” or “to fluff.”

What does wali mean in this sentence?

Wali means cooked rice. It is the object of the verb kutenga, referring to the rice that is being prepared in a particular way before eating.

How does the phrase kabla ya function in the sentence?

Kabla ya means before. It introduces a temporal clause, indicating that the action of eating (kula) takes place after the rice has been prepared (kutenga wali).

What is the overall sentence structure and how does it compare to English syntax?

The sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Object order with an additional temporal clause at the end. It begins with the subject (Mimi), followed by the conjugated verb (ninapenda), then the infinitive phrase (kutenga wali) as the object of the liking, and finally the time clause (kabla ya kula), much like English sentences that follow an SVO pattern with a time modifier (e.g., “I like to fluff rice before eating”).