Questions & Answers about Hizi meza ni mipya.
What does the demonstrative hizi mean, and why is it used in this sentence?
Hizi translates to “these” in English. It’s used to indicate that the noun it modifies, meza, is plural. In Swahili, demonstrative adjectives must agree with the noun in terms of number and noun class, and hizi is the correct form for referring to multiple items.
What is the meaning of the noun meza, and does it change form in the plural?
Meza means “table” in English, and although its form does not change between singular and plural, the plurality is understood through the accompanying demonstrative and adjective. In this sentence, with hizi and mipya, it is clear that we are talking about multiple new tables.
What function does the word ni serve in the sentence?
Ni acts as the copula in Swahili, linking the subject to the predicate. Much like the English verb “are” in the sentence “These tables are new,” it connects the subject (hizi meza) with the descriptive adjective (mipya).
How is the adjective mipya formed, and why does it begin with mi-?