Asha anafikiri kuficha pipi zake chini ya meza, ili zisiliwe na wadogo zake.

Asha is thinking of hiding her candies under the table, so they are not eaten by her younger siblings.

Breakdown of Asha anafikiri kuficha pipi zake chini ya meza, ili zisiliwe na wadogo zake.

• Asha: Asha
• kula: to eat
• meza: the table
• ili: so that
• kufikiri: to think
• chini: under
• na: by
• kuficha: to hide
• mdogo: the young one
• zake: her

Questions & Answers about Asha anafikiri kuficha pipi zake chini ya meza, ili zisiliwe na wadogo zake.

What does “anafikiri” mean and how is it constructed?

“Anafikiri” means “is thinking”. It is formed from the verb root “fikiri” (to think) with the subject concord “a-” (for third person singular) and the present tense marker. Together, they indicate that Asha is currently engaged in the thought process.

Why is the infinitive “kuficha” used after “anafikiri”?

In Swahili, verbs that express mental actions (like thinking, wanting, or planning) are often followed by an infinitive to show the intended action. Here, “anafikiri kuficha” means “is thinking of hiding”, where “kuficha” (to hide) is in its infinitive form, directly linked to the cognitive verb.

What does the prefix “ku-” in “kuficha” indicate?

The prefix “ku-” is the standard marker for the infinitive form of a verb in Swahili. It tells us that “ficha” is being used as an infinitive (“to hide”) rather than a conjugated form for a particular tense or subject.

How is the purpose of the action expressed with “ili zisiliwe na wadogo zake”?

The purpose is expressed by the subordinate clause that begins with “ili”. In this context, “ili” means “so that” or “in order that” and introduces the result clause “zisiliwe na wadogo zake” which translates to “they are not eaten by her little ones”. The verb “zisiliwe” is in the passive subjunctive form, indicating the intended outcome of Asha’s action.

What is the role of “pipi zake” in the sentence and why doesn’t “pipi” change form when showing possession?

“Pipi zake” serves as the direct object of the action—Asha is planning to hide her pipi. In Swahili, some nouns (especially loanwords or words of non-Bantu origin) do not change form in the plural. The possessive “zake” (her) agrees with the noun regardless of whether it is singular or plural. Thus, even if “pipi” can be interpreted in a plural sense, its form remains unchanged, and “zake” properly indicates that they belong to Asha.

What does the prepositional phrase “chini ya meza” tell us about the location of the action?

“Chini ya meza” literally means “under the table.” This phrase tells us where Asha intends to hide her pipi. In Swahili, the word “chini” functions as an adverb meaning “under,” and “ya meza” (of the table) specifies the exact location where the action will take place.