Ninataka kufunika chakula hiki na kitambaa safi.

I want to cover this food with a clean cloth.

Breakdown of Ninataka kufunika chakula hiki na kitambaa safi.

• mimi: I
• kutaka: to want
• na: with
• hiki: this
• chakula: the food
• safi: clean
• kufunika: to cover
• kitambaa: the cloth

Questions & Answers about Ninataka kufunika chakula hiki na kitambaa safi.

What is the English translation of the sentence "Ninataka kufunika chakula hiki na kitambaa safi"?

It translates as "I want to cover this food with a clean cloth."

Why is the verb kufunika in its infinitive form after ninataka?

In Swahili, verbs like kutaka (to want) are followed by another verb in its infinitive form. Here, kufunika (to cover) remains in the infinitive because it serves as the object of ninataka (I want).

What function does the word hiki serve in the phrase chakula hiki?

Hiki is a demonstrative adjective meaning "this." It agrees with the noun chakula (food) by matching the noun’s class, which requires this particular form of the demonstrative.

What does na mean in the sentence, and why is it used before kitambaa safi?

Na means "with." It connects chakula hiki (this food) to kitambaa safi (a clean cloth), indicating the instrument or means by which the food is to be covered.

What is the meaning of kitambaa and why does it have the prefix ki-?

Kitambaa means "cloth" or "towel." The prefix ki- marks it as belonging to a specific noun class in Swahili, which affects the form of demonstratives and sometimes adjectives used with it.

How does the adjective safi interact with the noun kitambaa in this phrase?

Safi means "clean." In Swahili, adjectives generally follow the noun they modify. Although adjectives often agree with the noun’s class, many—like safi—remain in a simple, invariant form when used attributively with nouns such as kitambaa.

How is the subject expressed in ninataka?

The subject is incorporated into the verb by the prefix ni-, which stands for "I." Thus, ninataka literally means "I want."