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Questions & Answers about Mwalimu anataka jibu.
What is the role of the subject prefix in the verb anataka?
The subject prefix a- in anataka corresponds to the third person singular. It agrees with the subject mwalimu (teacher) and indicates who is performing the action—namely, that the teacher is doing the wanting.
How is the verb kutaka modified to express the present tense in this sentence?
In the verb anataka, the construction is as follows: the subject prefix a- (for third person singular) is followed by the present tense marker na-, and then the root taka (meaning “to want”). Together, they indicate that the teacher currently wants an answer.
Why does the object jibu appear without any additional prefixes or markers?
In Swahili, when using a full noun as the direct object, it is common to have the noun appear on its own without extra markers. The object jibu (answer) is placed at the end of the sentence following the natural Subject-Verb-Object word order.
How does the word order in Mwalimu anataka jibu compare to English sentence structure?
Swahili typically uses the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, which is the same as in English. Here, mwalimu (subject) comes first, anataka (verb) follows, and jibu (object) appears at the end, making the structure familiar and accessible for native English speakers.
What changes would be necessary if the subject were plural, for example, referring to “teachers”?
When changing the subject to a plural noun such as walimu (teachers), the verb must agree with the new subject. Instead of anataka, you would use wanataka, where the prefix wa- matches the noun class for plural human subjects. The sentence would then read: Walimu wanataka jibu.
How would you form a negative version of this sentence in Swahili?
To make the sentence negative, you change the positive subject marker and remove the present tense marker na-. For the third person singular, anataka becomes hataki. Thus, the negative sentence is: Mwalimu hataki jibu, meaning “The teacher does not want an answer.”
Can you explain the function of the aspect marker na- in anataka?
The infix na- in anataka indicates the present tense, often conveying a sense of an ongoing or habitual state. It signals that the action of wanting is happening in the present. This marker is a key part of Swahili verb conjugation for current actions.
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