Daraja ni mrefu.

to be

Breakdown of Daraja ni mrefu.

• daraja: the bridge
• mrefu: long

Questions & Answers about Daraja ni mrefu.

Why does the adjective appear as [m]refu instead of just refu in this sentence?

In Swahili, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe by using the appropriate prefix. The noun daraja belongs to a specific noun class that requires the adjective to carry the m- prefix. The brackets around [m] highlight that this inflected form, mrefu, is used to match the noun’s class.

What role does ni play in the sentence Daraja ni [m]refu?

The word ni functions as the copula in Swahili. It connects the subject daraja (bridge) with its predicate adjective mrefu (long), much like the English is in the sentence “The bridge is long.”

Can adjectives in Swahili be placed before the noun like in English, or do they always follow the noun?

Typically in Swahili, when using a predicate construction with the copula ni, the adjective follows the noun—as in Daraja ni mrefu. While adjectives can sometimes appear before a noun in attributive positions, the standard predicate order places the subject first, followed by ni and then the adjective.

What is the significance of using brackets around [m] in [m]refu?

The brackets are used to draw attention to the inflectional prefix m- that must be attached to refu for correct noun–adjective agreement. They indicate that the m- isn’t part of the root adjective but is required because of the noun class of daraja.

How do I know which adjective prefix to use when modifying different nouns in Swahili?

Adjective prefixes in Swahili are determined by the noun class of the noun being modified. Each noun class has its own set of concords (prefixes) for adjectives. By learning the noun classes and studying examples—such as noticing that daraja takes a m- prefix—you can gradually build a feel for which prefix applies to each noun.