Breakdown of Mimi ninahifadhi pesa nyumbani.
mimi
I
nyumba
the home
kwenye
at
pesa
the money
kuhifadhi
to store
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Questions & Answers about Mimi ninahifadhi pesa nyumbani.
What does the word Mimi mean in this sentence?
Mimi translates to I. It serves as the explicit subject of the sentence even though the verb already carries subject information.
How is the verb ninahifadhi constructed and what does each part indicate?
Ninahifadhi is formed by combining the subject prefix ni- (indicating I), the tense marker na- (which usually denotes the present continuous or habitual action), and the verb root hifadhi (meaning to keep or to save). Together, the construction tells us that the speaker is currently or habitually keeping or saving money.
Why is the pronoun Mimi included when the verb already implies the first-person subject?
While the verb prefix ni- already conveys that the subject is I, including Mimi can add clarity or emphasis. Sometimes learners or speakers add the pronoun for extra emphasis or to avoid ambiguity, even though it is not strictly necessary.
What does the noun pesa refer to, and are there any nuances in its usage compared to English?
Pesa means money. In Swahili, nouns like pesa don’t require articles (like “a” or “the”) and the form remains the same regardless of whether you're referring to a small or large amount of money. Although it appears plural, it is generally treated as a mass noun similar to "money" in English.
What function does nyumbani serve in this sentence?
Nyumbani acts as an adverb indicating location, meaning at home. It tells us where the money is kept and is positioned at the end of the sentence to clearly mark the place of the action.
Is the sentence using the present continuous tense, and how can you tell?
Yes, the sentence employs the form that generally denotes the present continuous or habitual action. The na- in ninahifadhi is a marker of ongoing or regularly occurring events in Swahili, which in this case suggests that the speaker habitually or currently keeps money at home.
What is the overall sentence structure in terms of subject, verb, object, and adverb?
The sentence follows a typical Swahili word order: Subject (Mimi) – Verb (ninahifadhi) – Object (pesa) – Adverb (nyumbani). This structure clearly identifies who is performing the action, what is being acted upon, and where the action takes place.