Mvuvi alipata samaki wakubwa baada ya kutumia mtego maalum.

The fisherman caught big fish after using a special trap.

Breakdown of Mvuvi alipata samaki wakubwa baada ya kutumia mtego maalum.

• samaki: the fish
• baada ya: after
• kubwa: big
• kutumia: to use
• maalum: special
• mvuvi: the fisherman
• mtego: the trap

Questions & Answers about Mvuvi alipata samaki wakubwa baada ya kutumia mtego maalum.

What does Mvuvi mean in this sentence?

Mvuvi translates as “fisherman.” It is the subject of the sentence, referring to someone who fishes.

How is the past tense formed in the verb alipata, and what does it indicate?

Alipata is formed by combining the subject prefix a- (referring to “he” or “she”), the past tense marker -li-, and the base verb pata (meaning “get” or “catch”). Thus, it indicates that the fisherman “got” or “caught” something in the past.

Why is the adjective wakubwa used with samaki, and how does adjective agreement work in Swahili?

Samaki means “fish” in the plural form, and adjectives in Swahili must agree with the noun in class and number. Wakubwa is the form used with plural nouns in that noun class, meaning “big” or “large.” Therefore, samaki wakubwa translates to “big fish.”

What role does the phrase baada ya play in this sentence?

Baada ya means “after.” It functions as a connector that shows the sequence of events, indicating that the catching of the big fish occurred following the action described by the following verb phrase.

Why is kutumia in its infinitive form in the clause baada ya kutumia mtego maalum?

When a verb follows certain prepositions or connectors like baada ya, it is used in the infinitive form. In this case, kutumia means “to use,” explaining the action that took place before the fisherman caught the fish.

How are adjectives positioned relative to the nouns they modify, as seen in mtego maalum and samaki wakubwa?

In Swahili, adjectives typically follow the noun they describe. For example, in mtego maalum, mtego means “trap” and maalum means “special,” while in samaki wakubwa, samaki means “fish” and wakubwa means “big.” This post-nominal positioning is a common trait in Swahili grammar.