Daima ninakumbuka mama akinifundisha heshima.

to teach

Breakdown of Daima ninakumbuka mama akinifundisha heshima.

• mama: the mother
• ni: me
• heshima: the respect
• kukumbuka: to remember
• daima: always

Questions & Answers about Daima ninakumbuka mama akinifundisha heshima.

What does daima mean in this sentence?

Daima translates to "always". It sets the tone that the speaker constantly or habitually remembers the event, emphasizing its enduring significance.

Why is the verb ninakumbuka (I remember) in the present tense even though the memory refers to a past event?

In Swahili, the present tense is frequently used to express habitual actions or timeless truths. Ninakumbuka indicates that remembering is a current, ongoing state—even if it recalls a past occurrence—giving the memory a vivid, ever-present quality.

How is the subject Mama and the object me expressed in the verb akinifundisha?

The verb akinifundisha is a composite form. The prefix a- indicates the third-person singular subject (Mama), and the infix ni- serves as the object marker for "me". Combined with the root fundisha (to teach), it effectively means "while she was teaching me".

What is the role of the aki- prefix in akinifundisha?

The aki- in akinifundisha functions as a clitic that expresses a simultaneous or continuous aspect. It can imply "while" or "as" in English, highlighting that the teaching was occurring at the same time as the memory being recalled.

What does heshima mean and what role does it play in the sentence?

Heshima means "respect". It is the object or the subject matter being taught, so the sentence tells us that Mama was teaching the speaker respect—a value that remains memorable and significant.