Mimi ninataka kukopesha kitabu kwa Juma.

I want to lend a book to Juma.

Breakdown of Mimi ninataka kukopesha kitabu kwa Juma.

• mimi: I
• Juma: Juma
• kutaka: to want
• kitabu: the book
• kwa: to
• kukopesha: to lend

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninataka kukopesha kitabu kwa Juma.

What does Mimi mean in this sentence and why is it included even though the verb already shows the subject?

Mimi means I in Swahili. Although Swahili verbs are marked with subject prefixes (in this case ni- in ninataka), including Mimi can add emphasis or clarity, especially for beginners or when you want to stress the subject explicitly.

How is ninataka structured, and what does it translate to in English?

Ninataka translates to I want. It is formed by combining the first person subject prefix ni- with the verb nataka (meaning want). This construction indicates the present desire of the speaker.

Why is the verb kukopesha in its infinitive form after ninataka, and what does it mean?

In Swahili, when a verb expressing want or desire (like nataka) is followed by another verb, that following verb takes the infinitive form. Kukopesha is the infinitive, meaning to lend. So the structure ninataka kukopesha means I want to lend.

What is the difference between kukopesha and kukopa?

Kukopesha means to lend, while kukopa means to borrow. In this sentence, kukopesha is used because the speaker is expressing a desire to lend a book, not to borrow one.

How is the noun kitabu handled in Swahili, particularly regarding the absence of articles?

Kitabu translates to book. Swahili does not use articles like a or the as in English, so the noun kitabu is used on its own without any accompanying article.

What role does kwa Juma play in the sentence?

Kwa Juma functions as a prepositional phrase meaning to Juma. The preposition kwa indicates the recipient of the lending action, showing that the book is being lent to Juma.