Mimi ninakula samaki kama kabla.

I eat fish as before.

Breakdown of Mimi ninakula samaki kama kabla.

• mimi: I
• samaki: the fish
• kula: to eat
• kama kabla: as before

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninakula samaki kama kabla.

What does each word in the sentence "Mimi ninakula samaki kama kabla" mean?

“Mimi” translates to I. “Ninakula” is the first-person singular form of the verb “kula” (to eat), including the subject prefix ni- (I) and the tense/aspect marker na- which indicates either a present continuous or habitual action. “Samaki” means fish. Finally, “kama” translates as like or as, and “kabla” means before. Together, the sentence essentially says, I eat fish as before.

Why is the subject "Mimi" explicitly stated even though "ninakula" already indicates the subject?

In Swahili, verb conjugations inherently include the subject information. The verb “ninakula” already shows the subject by using the prefix “ni-”, meaning I. However, including the pronoun “Mimi” can add emphasis or clarity, especially when the speaker wants to stress who is performing the action or when contrasting with another subject.

How is the verb "ninakula" constructed, and what does that tell us about Swahili grammar?

The verb “ninakula” is made up of several components: • ni-: the subject prefix indicating I. • na-: a marker that denotes a present continuous or habitual aspect. • kula: the root verb meaning to eat. This structure—subject prefix + tense/aspect marker + verb root—is typical in Swahili and illustrates how the language uses affixes to clearly express who is doing what and when.

What function does the phrase "kama kabla" serve in this sentence?

The phrase “kama kabla” works as a comparative element. “Kama” means like or as, and “kabla” means before. Combined, they indicate that the action (eating fish) is being carried out in the same manner or under similar conditions as it was previously. It emphasizes consistency or a return to a prior state.

Is it grammatically acceptable to drop the subject pronoun "Mimi" in this sentence, and what might be the reason to include it?

Yes, it is perfectly grammatically acceptable in Swahili to omit the subject pronoun because the verb form “ninakula” already encodes the subject information. Including “Mimi”, however, can serve to emphasize the subject or to clarify the sentence in contexts where additional focus is desired.