Baba anacheza mpira mbele ya nyumba.

to play

Breakdown of Baba anacheza mpira mbele ya nyumba.

• baba: the father
• nyumba: the house
• mpira: the ball
• mbele ya: in front of

Questions & Answers about Baba anacheza mpira mbele ya nyumba.

What does Baba mean in this sentence?

Baba means “father.” In Swahili, it is commonly used to refer to one’s dad, much like the English word “father.”

How is the verb anacheza constructed, and what does it mean?

anacheza comes from the root cheza, meaning “to play.” The prefix a- serves as the subject marker for third-person singular. Therefore, anacheza translates to “he plays” or “is playing.”

What tense is conveyed by anacheza?

The verb anacheza is in the present tense. In Swahili, this form can describe actions that are happening right now or actions that are habitual, much like the simple present or present continuous in English.

What does mpira mean, and what role does it play in the sentence?

mpira means “ball.” It is the direct object of the sentence, indicating what Baba is playing.

How is the locative phrase mbele ya nyumba structured, and what does it translate to?

The phrase mbele ya nyumba means “in front of the house.” mbele translates as “in front,” and the word ya acts as a linking marker connecting mbele to nyumba (house), effectively showing the location where the action occurs.

Why is there no word equivalent to the English article “the” before nyumba?

Swahili does not use articles like “the” or “a.” Definiteness in Swahili is generally inferred from context or indicated through other grammatical means, so nyumba can imply “house” or “the house” depending on the situation.