Kipindi cha kwanza leo ni somo la hesabu.

to be

Breakdown of Kipindi cha kwanza leo ni somo la hesabu.

• leo: today
• kwanza: first
• somo la hesabu: the math

Questions & Answers about Kipindi cha kwanza leo ni somo la hesabu.

How is possession indicated in the phrases kipindi cha kwanza and somo la hesabu?

In Swahili, possession or modification is shown through genitive markers that agree with the noun’s class. In kipindi cha kwanza, kipindi (meaning “period” or “class”) belongs to a noun class that takes cha as its genitive form, linking it to the adjective kwanza (“first”). Similarly, somo (meaning “lesson” or “subject”) is in a class that uses la for possession, so somo la hesabu means “math lesson” (with hesabu meaning “math”). This agreement is a key feature of Swahili grammar.

What is the role of the word ni in the sentence?

The word ni functions as the copula, which is the linking verb equivalent to the English “is.” It connects the subject phrase (kipindi cha kwanza leo) to the predicate (somo la hesabu), establishing an identity or equivalence between them. Unlike English, where the verb “to be” can change form (am, are, is), in this present equational sentence Swahili uses ni consistently.

How are adjectives like kwanza used in this sentence, and do they change form to agree with their nouns?

In the sentence, kwanza (“first”) acts as an adjective describing kipindi. In Swahili, adjectives typically remain unchanged regardless of the noun class, while the noun class agreement is shown with other elements such as the possessive markers (e.g., cha in kipindi cha kwanza). So, although kwanza does not alter its form, the marker cha reflects the noun class of kipindi.

What function does the adverb leo serve here?

Leo means “today” in Swahili and functions as a temporal adverb. In the phrase kipindi cha kwanza leo, it specifies the time reference by indicating that the period being described is occurring today. It clarifies when the stated lesson or period takes place, which is essential for contextualizing the sentence.

How does the overall sentence structure compare to that of an English sentence?

Both Swahili and English use a subject–predicate structure, but Swahili places a strong emphasis on noun class agreements. In this sentence, kipindi cha kwanza leo is the full subject with modifiers (including the temporal adverb leo), followed by the copula ni, and then the predicate somo la hesabu. Although English would say “The first period today is a math lesson,” Swahili integrates modifiers with the noun using genitive constructions (with cha and la) rather than separate prepositional phrases, which is a typical feature of Swahili grammar.