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Questions & Answers about Vitabu hivi ni vipya.
What is the literal translation of “Vitabu hivi ni vipya”?
The sentence breaks down as follows: Vitabu means “books” (plural of kitabu), hivi is a demonstrative meaning “these,” ni functions as the copula “are,” and vipya means “new.” Combined, the sentence translates to “These books are new.”
Why is the demonstrative “hivi” used and how does it agree with “vitabu”?
In Swahili, demonstratives must agree with the noun’s class and number. Since vitabu is the plural form for “book” (belonging to a specific noun class that uses the demonstrative form hivi for plural items), hivi correctly functions like the English “these.” In contrast, a singular noun like kitabu would use hiki instead.
How does the adjective “vipya” agree with the noun “vitabu”?
Swahili adjectives match the noun they describe. The singular form for “new” is kipya when describing kitabu, but when the noun is pluralized as vitabu, the adjective changes to vipya to maintain agreement with the noun class and number. This shows the consistency of the noun–adjective agreement system in Swahili.
What role does the word “ni” play in the sentence?
The word ni is the copula in Swahili, essentially equivalent to the English verb “to be” in the present tense. It links the subject, vitabu hivi (“these books”), to the predicate adjective vipya (“new”), forming a complete descriptive statement.
Is the structure of “Vitabu hivi ni vipya” typical for descriptive sentences in Swahili?
Yes, it is typical. Swahili descriptive sentences often follow the order: noun (with any accompanying demonstrative or modifier) + copula (ni) + adjective or complement. This structure makes it clear which attributes describe the noun, as seen here with “these books” being described as “new.”