Mimi ninagawanya chakula kwa marafiki.

I

Breakdown of Mimi ninagawanya chakula kwa marafiki.

• rafiki: the friend
• chakula: the food
• kugawanya: to divide
• kwa: among

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninagawanya chakula kwa marafiki.

What does the word Mimi mean in this sentence?

Mimi is the subject pronoun meaning I. Although the verb already includes the subject marker, including Mimi adds emphasis or clarity.

How is the verb ninagawanya constructed, and what do its parts represent?

The verb ninagawanya breaks down into three parts. Ni- is the subject prefix for first person singular (I), -na- is the present tense marker that indicates an ongoing or habitual action, and gawanya is the root verb meaning "share" or "distribute." Together, they convey the idea of "I share" or "I am sharing."

Why is it acceptable to include both Mimi and the subject prefix ni- in the sentence?

In Swahili, the subject is already indicated by the verb’s prefix, so including Mimi is optional. Learners and speakers sometimes include it for extra clarity or emphasis on who is performing the action.

What role does the word chakula play in this sentence?

Chakula means food. It functions as the direct object of the verb, representing what is being shared.

How does the preposition kwa function in the phrase kwa marafiki?

Kwa is a preposition that typically means with (or sometimes to). In this sentence, it connects the action of sharing to its recipients, indicating that the food is being shared with friends.

How is plurality expressed in the noun marafiki?

Marafiki is the plural form of rafiki (friend). In Swahili, many nouns show plurality by changing their prefixes; in this case, the shift from rafiki to marafiki signals that there is more than one friend.