Mama amesema nitumie birika kupasha chai moto, kisha niweke majani ya chai humo.

the tea

Breakdown of Mama amesema nitumie birika kupasha chai moto, kisha niweke majani ya chai humo.

• mama: the mother
• ya: of
• kusema: to say
• kisha: then
• kutumia: to use
• moto: hot
• kuweka: to put

Questions & Answers about Mama amesema nitumie birika kupasha chai moto, kisha niweke majani ya chai humo.

What does the verb amesema indicate in this sentence?

Amesema means “has said” and shows that Mama’s statement is being reported indirectly. It signals that what follows are her instructions or commands.

What mood or verb form are nitumie and niweke, and why are they used here?

Both nitumie and niweke are in a subjunctive (or jussive) form. This form is commonly used in indirect commands or requests. In this sentence, they indicate that Mama has given specific instructions for actions the speaker should carry out.

What role does the word birika play, and why is it used in its bare form?

Birika refers to a kettle (or pot) meant for heating. In Swahili, nouns like this are often used in their basic form without additional articles or modifiers when the context makes the meaning clear. Here, Mama instructs the speaker to use the birika for heating tea.

How does the phrase kupasha chai moto function within the sentence?

The phrase kupasha chai moto is an infinitive expression meaning “to heat the tea (until it is hot).” It describes the action to be performed with the birika, showing the purpose of using it.

What do majani ya chai and humo mean, and how do they work together?

Majani ya chai literally means “tea leaves” (the leaves from the tea plant). The word humo means “there,” referring back to the birika mentioned earlier. Together, they instruct that after heating the tea, tea leaves should be placed in the birika.

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

Kisha is a conjunction meaning “then.” It connects the two steps in the instructions, indicating that after the tea is heated, the next action is to put the tea leaves in the birika.