Learn Hardcore Swahili: Walimu wanasema kushirikiana darasani hutusaidia kusamehe makosa madogo pia. - Teachers say that cooperating in class helps us to forgive small mistakes too.

Walimu means teachers. It is the plural form of mwalimu (meaning teacher). In Swahili, certain nouns change their initial consonant or prefix to indicate the plural, so mwalimu becomes walimu when referring to more than one teacher.

How does the verb wanasema function in this sentence?

Wanasema is the present tense form of the verb sema (to say), prefixed for the third person plural (wa-), which corresponds with walimu. This indicates that the teachers are stating or asserting something in a general or habitual sense—that is, teachers say.

What role does darasani play in the sentence, and how is it formed?

Darasani comes from darasa (class) with the locative suffix -ni added, which means in the class or at school. The suffix -ni indicates location, so it specifies where the collaborative activity takes place.

How are the infinitives kushirikiana and kusamehe used in the sentence?

Both kushirikiana (to collaborate) and kusamehe (to forgive) are in the infinitive form. Kushirikiana represents the action that the teachers comment on—collaborating in class—while kusamehe functions as the object of hutusaidia, forming the idea that collaborating helps us to forgive small mistakes.

What does the prefix hu- in hutusaidia signify?

The prefix hu- in hutusaidia denotes a habitual or general present action. It implies that the helping action, which in this case assists us in forgiving small mistakes, is a regular or generally true occurrence rather than a one-time event.

How does the adjective madogo agree with the noun makosa, and what should you note about adjective agreement in Swahili?

Makosa means mistakes and madogo means small. In Swahili, adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in terms of their noun class. Here, madogo is the appropriate plural form of the adjective to match makosa, ensuring agreement in number and noun class.

What is the function of pia at the end of the sentence?

Pia is an adverb meaning also or as well. It adds an extra layer of meaning, emphasizing that in addition to any other benefits, collaborating in class notably helps us forgive small mistakes too.