Breakdown of Mtoto alitoa kilio kikubwa baada ya kuanguka uwanjani.
kwenye
at
mtoto
the child
baada ya
after
kutoa
to let out
kilio
the cry
kuanguka
to fall
uwanja
the yard
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Questions & Answers about Mtoto alitoa kilio kikubwa baada ya kuanguka uwanjani.
What does the verb alitoa indicate in this sentence, and how is it formed?
Alitoa is the simple past tense form of the verb toa (meaning “to give out” or “to let out”). The prefix a- signals that the subject (in this case, mtoto meaning “child”) is third-person singular and that the action occurred in the past. Here, it tells us that the child “let out” something—specifically, a cry.
How is the descriptor kikubwa used with kilio, and why does it have the prefix ki-?
Kilio means “cry,” and kikubwa is an adjective meaning “big” (or by implication, “loud”). In Swahili, adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in terms of noun class. Since kilio belongs to a specific noun class that uses the ki- prefix, kikubwa is formed accordingly. Together, kilio kikubwa emphasizes that it was a significant or particularly pronounced cry.
What role does the phrase baada ya play in the sentence?
The phrase baada ya means “after.” It is used to connect two sequential actions, indicating that the event which follows (the child’s cry) occurred after the preceding action (falling). This helps establish the order in which the actions took place.
Why is kuanguka in its infinitive form, and what does it mean?
Kuanguka is the infinitive form of the verb meaning “to fall.” In the construction baada ya kuanguka, the infinitive is used as a nominalized verb to serve as the object of the prepositional phrase. This shows that the cry happened after the action of falling.
What does uwanjani mean, and how is it derived from uwanja?
Uwanjani is the locative form of the noun uwanja, which means “field” or “open area.” The suffix -ni is attached to uwanja to indicate location, translating as “in the field.” In the sentence, it tells us where the fall occurred.
How do these elements work together to convey the overall meaning of the sentence?
When combined, the sentence Mtoto alitoa kilio kikubwa baada ya kuanguka uwanjani translates to “The child let out a big cry after falling in the field.” The subject (mtoto) is clarified by the verb form (alitoa), the intensity of the cry is expressed by the noun-adjective pair (kilio kikubwa), the timing is set by baada ya kuanguka (after falling), and the location is specified by uwanjani (“in the field”). Each element contributes to a clear narrative of what happened.
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