Shukrani huongeza furaha.

Gratitude increases happiness.

Breakdown of Shukrani huongeza furaha.

• furaha: the happiness
• shukrani: the gratitude
• kuongeza: to increase

Questions & Answers about Shukrani huongeza furaha.

What does the hu- prefix in huongeza indicate about the subject of the sentence?

In Swahili, verbs are modified by subject prefixes that agree with the noun’s class. In this sentence, huongeza uses the prefix hu- because shukrani (gratitude) falls into a noun class that requires that marker. This shows that the verb “increases” is specifically linked to shukrani as its subject.

Which tense is used in huongeza, and how is it recognized?

The verb huongeza is in the simple present tense, commonly employed to express habitual actions or general truths. The hu- prefix, attached to the verb stem ongeza, signals that the action is ongoing or generally valid, which is a key feature of Swahili’s present tense formation.

What is the word order of the sentence Shukrani huongeza furaha, and why is it structured that way?

Swahili typically follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order. In this sentence, shukrani is the subject, huongeza is the verb, and furaha (happiness) is the object. This sequence clearly assigns the role of the doer to shukrani, the action to huongeza, and the recipient of the action to furaha.

How do I determine which subject prefix to use when constructing similar sentences?

The selection of a subject prefix relies on the noun class of the subject. Each noun in Swahili belongs to a specific class, and each class has its corresponding subject marker. Once you identify which class a noun (like shukrani) belongs to, you can apply the appropriate prefix (in this case, hu-) to correctly conjugate the verb in the present tense.

Are there alternative forms of the verb ongeza to express the idea of “increases” for different subjects?

Yes, ongeza is the base verb meaning “to add” or “to increase,” and it can be conjugated with different subject prefixes depending on the noun class of the subject. For example, if another subject from a different noun class were used, the subject prefix would change accordingly while the verb stem ongeza remains the same.

Can I use the structure of Shukrani huongeza furaha to create other general truth statements in Swahili?

Absolutely. This sentence is an excellent example of how general truths are stated in Swahili using the SVO order and proper subject-verb agreement. By identifying your subject, determining its noun class (and therefore its corresponding subject prefix), and then following with the verb and object, you can form many other statements—for instance, Elimu huongeza maarifa (“Education increases knowledge”).