Breakdown of Usimwache mtoto abebe mkoba mzito, anaweza kuumia mgongo.
mtoto
the child
kuweza
to be able
kubeba
to carry
mgongo
the back
mkoba
the handbag
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Questions & Answers about Usimwache mtoto abebe mkoba mzito, anaweza kuumia mgongo.
What does Usimwache mean and how is it formed?
Usimwache is a negative command meaning "Don't leave him/her." It comes from the verb wacha ("to leave" or "to let go") with an inserted object prefix m- (referring to the child) and the negative imperative marker usi-. In positive commands you would say Mwachie, so the form Usimwache is specific to telling someone not to leave.
Why do the adjectives abebe and mzito come after the nouns mtoto and mkoba?
In Swahili, adjectives normally follow the nouns they modify. Therefore, mtoto abebe means "child [who is] abebe" (with abebe describing the child's condition, for example, being bare or unclothed) and mkoba mzito means "bag [that is] heavy." This post-nominal adjective placement is a standard feature of Swahili grammar.
What are the meanings of mtoto, mkoba, and mgongo?
- Mtoto means "child."
- Mkoba means "bag."
- Mgongo means "back."
These words are examples of Swahili nouns that, along with their accompanying adjectives, follow the language’s noun-adjective agreement rules.
How does the verb form anaweza function in this sentence?
Anaweza is the present tense form of kuweza meaning "can" or "is able to." The prefix a- indicates third person singular (referring back to mtoto) and shows subject-verb agreement. Thus, anaweza tells us that the child has the capability of experiencing the action that follows—namely, kuumia (to get hurt).
What role does the infinitive kuumia play in this sentence?
Kuumia is the infinitive form of the verb meaning "to get hurt" or "to be injured." It follows the modal verb anaweza to specify what the child might experience. In Swahili, after modal verbs like kuweza, the main verb is often used in its infinitive form to complete the idea.
How is the overall structure of the sentence organized in Swahili?
The sentence is divided into two parts:
- Usimwache mtoto abebe mkoba mzito – a negative command instructing someone not to leave the child who is abebe and is carrying a mkoba mzito.
- Anaweza kuumia mgongo – a subsequent clause explaining the potential consequence, meaning "he/she might get a hurt back" (using the modal verb anaweza with the infinitive kuumia). This structure—command followed by a statement of potential consequence—is common and helps connect the cautionary advice with its rationale.