Mimi ninachagua kitabu kipya.

I choose a new book.

Breakdown of Mimi ninachagua kitabu kipya.

• mimi: I
• kitabu: the book
• mpya: new
• kuchagua: to choose

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninachagua kitabu kipya.

What is the translation of Mimi ninachagua kitabu kipya?

It means I choose a new book. Here, Mimi translates to I; ninachagua is formed from the first-person subject prefix ni-, the present tense marker na-, and the root verb chagua (to choose); kitabu means book; and kipya means new.

Why is the subject Mimi explicitly stated when the verb ninachagua already indicates the subject?

In Swahili, the verb ninachagua already contains the subject marker ni- meaning I, so including Mimi is not strictly necessary. However, it is often added for emphasis or clarity, especially for learners or in contexts where stressing the subject is important.

How is the verb ninachagua structured and what does each part represent?

The verb ninachagua is constructed from three parts:
• ni- – the subject prefix indicating I.
• na- – the present tense marker.
• chagua – the root verb meaning choose.
This combined form directly translates to I choose.

How does the adjective kipya agree with the noun kitabu?

Swahili adjectives must match the noun they describe in terms of noun class. Kitabu belongs to the ki-/vi- noun class, so the adjective is prefixed with ki- to become kipya, meaning new. This agreement between noun and adjective is a key feature of Swahili grammar.

What does the word order in this sentence tell us about Swahili sentence structure?

The sentence follows a subject-verb-object (SVO) order. Mimi is the subject, ninachagua is the verb, and kitabu kipya is the object. This SVO structure is typical in Swahili sentences.

How does understanding noun classes help with learning adjectives in Swahili?

Knowing noun classes is crucial because adjectives in Swahili must align with the noun's class. Since kitabu is in the ki-/vi- class, the adjective kipya adopts the ki- prefix to agree. This pattern extends to other parts of speech too, so mastering noun classes aids in correctly forming adjectives, pronouns, and even verb agreements throughout the language.