Mbwa wangu ni dogo, lakini mwingine ni mkubwa.

to be

Breakdown of Mbwa wangu ni dogo, lakini mwingine ni mkubwa.

• lakini: but
• wangu: my
• mbwa: the dog
• mkubwa: big
• dogo: small
• mwingine: the other

Questions & Answers about Mbwa wangu ni dogo, lakini mwingine ni mkubwa.

What is the literal translation of Mbwa wangu ni dogo, lakini mwingine ni mkubwa?

It translates to "My dog is small, but the other is big." The sentence contrasts two dogs by describing one as small and the other as big.

Why does wangu come after Mbwa instead of before it like in English?

In Swahili, possessive adjectives follow the noun they modify. So, while English uses the structure my dog, Swahili uses Mbwa wangu to mean "dog my."

What is the function of the word ni in this sentence?

Ni serves as the copula, much like the English "is." It links the subject with its predicate adjective, indicating a state of being.

Why do the adjectives appear in the short form (dogo and mkubwa) rather than with the typical noun class prefixes (like mdogo)?

When adjectives are used predicatively after the copula ni, Swahili often drops the noun class prefixes. Thus, instead of saying mdogo, you simply use dogo. The same principle applies to mkubwa, which, although it begins with m, is already in its standard predicative form.

What does the conjunction lakini mean and how is it used in this sentence?

Lakini means "but" and is used to connect two contrasting ideas. In this sentence, it introduces the contrast between the small dog and the other, larger one.

What does mwingine refer to in the second clause of the sentence?

Mwingine translates as "the other (one)". It refers back to the previously mentioned noun (mbwa), implying that in contrast to my dog (small), the other dog is big.