Umuhimu wa kusoma ni mkubwa.

The importance of reading is great.

Breakdown of Umuhimu wa kusoma ni mkubwa.

• ni: to be
• kusoma: to read
• wa: of
• mkubwa: great
• umuhimu: the importance

Questions & Answers about Umuhimu wa kusoma ni mkubwa.

What role does the connector wa play in the sentence "Umuhimu wa kusoma ni mkubwa"?

The connector wa is used to form a genitive construction. It links the noun umuhimu (importance) with kusoma (reading or studying), effectively creating the phrase “the importance of reading.” This type of construction is common in Swahili to show relationships between nouns.

Why is the linking verb ni used in this sentence?

In Swahili, ni functions as a copula—a linking verb similar to the English "is." It connects the subject phrase umuhimu wa kusoma (the importance of reading) to the adjective mkubwa (great), forming a complete equational sentence that means "the importance of reading is great."

Why does the adjective mkubwa come after umuhimu instead of before it as in English?

Swahili typically places adjectives after the noun they modify. In this sentence, mkubwa follows umuhimu to directly describe it. This noun-adjective order is a standard syntactic pattern in Swahili grammar.

How is kusoma functioning grammatically in this sentence?

Kusoma is the infinitive form of the verb "to read," but here it is used as a noun. It represents the abstract concept of reading and, when combined with wa, forms the genitive phrase wa kusoma (of reading). This usage is typical in Swahili, where verb infinitives often serve as nouns.

Swahili lacks a direct equivalent for the English article "the." How is definiteness conveyed in this sentence?

Swahili does not use articles like "the" or "a." Instead, definiteness is understood through context. In the sentence, umuhimu is interpreted as a specific or well-known concept (importance) based on context, eliminating the need for an explicit article.