Breakdown of Niambie ukweli, je, umepata muda wa kujifunza leo?
je
do
leo
today
wa
of
muda
the time
kuambia
to tell
ukweli
the truth
kupata
to find
kujifunza
to study
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Questions & Answers about Niambie ukweli, je, umepata muda wa kujifunza leo?
What does Niambie ukweli mean, and how is it structured grammatically?
Niambie is the imperative form of the verb ambia (meaning "to tell" or "to say"), with the prefix ni- indicating “to me.” Ukweli translates to "truth." Together, Niambie ukweli means "Tell me the truth," serving as a direct request or command.
What purpose does the particle je serve in this sentence?
In Swahili, je is commonly used to introduce a yes/no question. In this sentence, it signals that the following clause is interrogative, essentially turning the statement into a question similar to "Have you...?" This placement helps differentiate the command from the inquiry.
How is umepata constructed, and what does it mean?
Umepata is built from the subject prefix u- (referring to “you”), the perfect tense marker -me-, and the verb pata (meaning "to get," "to find," or "to obtain"). Thus, umepata translates to "have you found" or "have you obtained," indicating a completed action.
What does muda wa kujifunza mean, and how is this phrase structured?
Muda means "time," and kujifunza is the infinitive form of the verb that means "to learn" or "to study." The connector wa links the noun to the infinitive, forming the phrase "time for learning" or "time to study." This construction is typical in Swahili when expressing an activity tied to time.
How is the overall sentence structured in terms of its components and punctuation?
The sentence divides into two main parts: • Niambie ukweli – an imperative clause meaning "Tell me the truth." • Je, umepata muda wa kujifunza leo? – an interrogative clause where je marks it as a yes/no question, and the rest translates to "Have you found time to study today?" The commas serve to neatly separate the command from the question, guiding the listener through the two distinct thoughts.