Nimekutana na bwana yule sokoni, tukazungumza kuhusu bei ya mboga.

I met that gentleman at the market, and we talked about the price of vegetables.

Breakdown of Nimekutana na bwana yule sokoni, tukazungumza kuhusu bei ya mboga.

• kwenye: at
• soko: the market
• na: with
• ya: of
• mboga: the vegetable
• kuhusu: about
• kuzungumza: to talk
• kutana: to meet
• bei: the price
• bwana: the gentleman

Questions & Answers about Nimekutana na bwana yule sokoni, tukazungumza kuhusu bei ya mboga.

What does the verb Nimekutana mean, and how is it structured grammatically?

Nimekutana translates as "I met." It is constructed by combining the subject prefix ni- (meaning I), the perfect aspect marker -me- (indicating a completed action with present relevance), and the verb in its infinitive form kutana (meaning to meet). The ku- is an inherent part of the infinitive form.

Why does the verb keep the ku- prefix in kutana rather than dropping it?

In Swahili, all verbal infinitives begin with ku-. When conjugated (as in nimekutana), the ku- remains part of the verb stem. It isn’t a separate object pronoun; rather, it is a standard feature of the verb’s infinitive form that is retained through conjugation.

What does the phrase na bwana yule sokoni mean, and what does each component contribute?

The phrase means "with that gentleman at the market." Here, na means "with," bwana translates as "gentleman," yule is a demonstrative pronoun meaning "that (one)"—used to single out a specific person—and sokoni means "at/in the market" (derived from soko for market, with the locative suffix -ni indicating location).

How is the demonstrative yule used in this sentence?

Yule serves to designate a particular individual, equivalent to saying "that" in English. It highlights that the gentleman being referred to is a specific person known from context, thereby distinguishing him from other potential figures.

What does the verb tukazungumza mean, and how is it formed?

Tukazungumza translates as "we talked" or "we conversed." It is built using the subject prefix tu- (indicating we), the past tense marker -ka- (often used in narrative past forms), and the verb root zungumza (meaning to talk/discuss). This structure shows a completed conversation that took place in the past.

What role does the word kuhusu play in the sentence?

Kuhusu means "about" or "concerning." It functions as a preposition that introduces the topic of discussion. In this sentence, it connects the act of talking to the subject matter, which is the price of vegetables.

How is the possessive relationship expressed in bei ya mboga?

In bei ya mboga, bei means "price," mboga means "vegetables," and ya is the possessive connector equivalent to "of" in English. Together, they form the phrase "price of vegetables," clearly indicating that the price belongs or pertains to the vegetables.

How do the two parts of the sentence connect to express a complete idea?

The sentence is composed of two linked clauses. The first clause (Nimekutana na bwana yule sokoni) establishes the context by indicating that the speaker met a specific gentleman at the market. The second clause (tukazungumza kuhusu bei ya mboga) explains what happened next—that they talked about the price of vegetables. The comma between them shows a sequence of events, connecting the meeting with the subsequent conversation.