Mpaka uliopo kati ya nchi yetu na jirani umewekwa bendera mpya.

The border between our country and the neighbor has a new flag placed.

Breakdown of Mpaka uliopo kati ya nchi yetu na jirani umewekwa bendera mpya.

• mpya: new
• na: and
• yetu: our
• jirani: the neighbor
• kati ya: between
• mpaka: the border
• kuwepo: to be present
• nchi: the country
• kuwekwa: to be placed
• bendera: the flag

Questions & Answers about Mpaka uliopo kati ya nchi yetu na jirani umewekwa bendera mpya.

What does mpaka mean in this sentence, and how does its meaning here differ from its use as a temporal conjunction (meaning "until")?

In this context, mpaka functions as a noun meaning “border” or “boundary.” Although mpaka can also mean “until” when used as a conjunction, here it refers to the physical or geographical limit that exists between two areas.

What is the role of uliopo in the sentence, and which verb is it derived from?

Uliopo means “that exists” or “present” and is derived from the verb kuwepo (“to be present” or “to exist”). It serves as a relative clause describing the specific border or boundary mentioned in the sentence.

How does kati ya function within the sentence, and what does it tell us about the relationship between the entities mentioned?

Kati ya translates to “between” in English. It establishes a spatial relationship, indicating that the border (referred to by mpaka uliopo) is located between nchi yetu (“our country”) and jirani (“neighbor”). This helps specify which boundary is being discussed.

What does umewekwa indicate about the flag’s placement, and how is the passive voice used here?

Umewekwa is the perfect passive form of the verb weka (“to put” or “to place”). It means “has been placed” and shows that the action (placing the new flag) was done by an unspecified agent. The passive construction shifts focus to the action and the object (the flag) rather than on who performed the action.

How is possession expressed in the phrase nchi yetu, and what is its translation?

In nchi yetu, nchi means “country” and yetu is a possessive pronoun meaning “our.” Together, they translate as “our country.” Swahili commonly uses a following possessive pronoun to indicate ownership.

Why does the adjective mpya come after the noun bendera, and how does this differ from typical English adjective order?

In Swahili, adjectives usually follow the noun they modify. That’s why mpya (“new”) comes after bendera (“flag”), resulting in bendera mpya. This contrasts with English, where adjectives typically precede the noun (i.e., “new flag”).