Mimi ninatoa zawadi kwa marafiki.

I give a gift to friends.

Breakdown of Mimi ninatoa zawadi kwa marafiki.

• mimi: I
• rafiki: the friend
• kwa: to
• zawadi: the gift
• kutoa: to give

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninatoa zawadi kwa marafiki.

What does Mimi mean in this sentence?

Mimi translates to "I". Although the verb already includes the subject, using Mimi can add emphasis or clarity, especially for beginners learning how sentences are structured in Swahili.

How is the verb ninatoa constructed and what does it indicate?

Ninatoa is made up of three parts: • The subject prefix ni-, which stands for "I". • The present tense marker -na-, which shows that the action is happening in the present. • The main verb toa, meaning "give". Combined, ninatoa means "I give" or "I am giving."

What does the word zawadi mean?

Zawadi means "gift". In Swahili, some nouns like zawadi remain the same in both singular and plural forms, so context tells you whether it refers to one gift or several.

What is the role of the phrase kwa marafiki in the sentence?

The phrase kwa marafiki means "to friends." It is a prepositional phrase where kwa functions as a preposition meaning "to" or "for," and marafiki is the plural form of "friend." This phrase tells us who is receiving the gifts.

Why is the subject Mimi explicitly stated even though it is already included in the verb?

In Swahili, the subject is often embedded in the verb through its prefix, so ninatoa by itself already means "I give." However, including Mimi makes it clearer or more emphatic, which can be particularly helpful for learners trying to understand sentence components.

Does the -na- in ninatoa indicate simple present or present continuous, and how does this work in Swahili?

The -na- marker in Swahili serves as the present tense indicator and can imply both simple present and present continuous actions, depending on context. In ninatoa, it shows that the action of giving is happening in the present, though the nuance between a habitual action and one occurring at the moment is usually determined by additional context rather than a change in the verb form.