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Questions & Answers about Wao wanasalimiana kwa furaha.
What is the literal translation of Wao wanasalimiana kwa furaha?
The sentence literally translates to "They greet each other with happiness." It indicates that a group of people are mutually greeting one another in a joyful manner.
Why does the sentence include the subject pronoun Wao when the verb already has a subject prefix?
In Swahili, the subject is often clear from the verb’s prefix (here, wana- indicates "they"). However, including Wao can provide extra emphasis, clarity, or serve to contrast with another group mentioned elsewhere.
How is the verb wanasalimiana structured, and what does its formation tell us about the action?
Wanasalimiana is the present tense form of the reciprocal verb kusalimiana, which means "to greet each other." The verb is constructed with the subject prefix wana- (indicating "they") and the reciprocal suffix -salimiana, where the -ana ending denotes that the action is mutual among the participants.
What role does the phrase kwa furaha play in the sentence?
The phrase kwa furaha means "with happiness" or "happily." It functions as an adverbial phrase that describes the manner in which the greeting is exchanged.
How does Swahili indicate reciprocal actions in verbs like kusalimiana?
In Swahili, reciprocal actions are signaled by adding the suffix -ana to the verb root. In this case, -ana in wanasalimiana shows that the greeting is exchanged mutually between the people involved.
Is the explicit use of Wao redundant when the verb already includes the subject information?
Not necessarily. While the verb’s prefix wana- already conveys the meaning "they," including the pronoun Wao can add emphasis, improve clarity, or help distinguish between multiple subjects in more complex contexts.
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