Breakdown of Alipaka dawa juu ya kidonda ili kisipate maambukizi.
ili
so that
kupata
to get
juu ya
on
kupaka
to apply
kidonda
the wound
dawa
the medicine
ambukizi
the infection
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Questions & Answers about Alipaka dawa juu ya kidonda ili kisipate maambukizi.
What does the verb alipaka mean, and how is it formed?
Alipaka is made up of the past tense marker ali- (indicating third-person singular, as in “he/she”) attached to the root paka, which means “to apply” or “to put on.” Thus, the verb means “applied” (in the context of applying something, such as medicine).
What is the function of juu ya in this sentence?
Juu ya translates to “on” in English. It is used here to show the location where the medicine was applied—specifically, that the medicine was put on the wound.
How does the purpose clause ili kisipate maambukizi work?
The phrase ili kisipate maambukizi is a purpose clause. Ili means “so that” or “in order to,” and it introduces the goal of the action. The verb kisipate is used in a subjunctive or potential form (with a negative nuance) indicating the desired outcome—that the wound does not get infections. Maambukizi means “infections.”
Why is the form kisipate used in the purpose clause instead of a simple form like kupate?
The form kisipate expresses a negative purpose. In Swahili, when stating the intention to prevent something (in this case, preventing the wound from getting infected), the verb takes a form that indicates “not to get.” The prefix and form signal that the goal is for the wound never to acquire (any) infections.
What do the nouns dawa and kidonda mean, and are there any notable points about them?
Dawa means “medicine” or “drug,” and it is used in a similar way as in English to denote a remedy. Kidonda means “wound.” Additionally, notice that kidonda belongs to a noun class marked by the prefix ki- (commonly found in class 7/8 nouns), which learners should be aware of regarding Swahili noun classes and agreement.
How is the reference of the subject in the purpose clause determined—specifically for kisipate?
Though the subject of kisipate isn’t repeated explicitly, it is understood from the context. The action described relates back to kidonda (the wound), meaning the purpose is to ensure that the wound does not become infected. In Swahili, such reference is typically inferred from surrounding context without needing to restate the subject.
How can a learner form similar purpose clauses in Swahili?
To form purpose clauses, start with the conjunction ili (meaning “so that” or “in order to”), followed by the verb in the appropriate subjunctive or potential form. If the purpose is to prevent something from happening, the verb form may change to reflect a negative outcome (as seen with kisipate). Consistent practice with linking actions to their intended outcomes using ili will help learners master similar sentence constructions.