Breakdown of Mwalimu anatupatia mwongozo darasani.
kwenye
at
mwalimu
the teacher
darasa
the class
mwongozo
the guide
kupatia
to give
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Questions & Answers about Mwalimu anatupatia mwongozo darasani.
How is the verb anatupatia constructed, and what does each segment represent?
The verb anatupatia can be divided into four parts:
• a-: the subject prefix meaning “he/she” (matching Mwalimu).
• -na-: the present tense marker.
• -tu-: the object marker meaning “us.”
• patia: the verb root meaning “to give” or “to provide.”
Together, these parts convey the idea “gives us.”
What role does the object marker tu play in this construction?
The object marker tu indicates that the action of the verb is being performed on “us.” In Swahili, object markers are integrated into the verb so that the object isn’t always stated separately. This makes the sentence more compact and directly ties the action to its recipient.
What does mwongozo mean in this sentence?
Mwongozo translates to “guidance” or “instruction.” In this context, it refers to the guidance provided by the teacher during the lesson.
How is the locative expressed in the word darasani?
In Swahili, adding the suffix -ni to a noun indicates location. Darasani is formed by taking darasa (meaning “class” or “classroom”) and attaching -ni, which means “in.” Thus, darasani translates to “in the classroom.”
Why is the subject Mwalimu explicitly stated even though the verb already contains a subject prefix?
While the subject prefix a- in anatupatia indicates a third-person singular subject (he/she), explicitly stating Mwalimu helps confirm who is performing the action. This explicit mention reinforces vocabulary and clarity for learners, especially when they are still getting comfortable with Swahili’s subject–verb agreement and affixation system.