Breakdown of Kila kitu kinaweza kubadilika.
kila
every
kuweza
to be able
kitu
the thing
kubadilika
to change
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Questions & Answers about Kila kitu kinaweza kubadilika.
What does each word in Kila kitu kinaweza kubadilika mean and how do they combine to express “everything can change”?
Kila means “every,” and kitu means “thing” (so together, they literally mean “every thing” which we interpret as “everything”). Kinaweza is the present tense form of the verb kuweza, indicating “can” or “is able to,” while kubadilika is the infinitive form of “to change.” Thus, the sentence translates literally into “every thing can change,” or more naturally, “everything can change.”
How does subject–verb agreement work in this sentence, especially with the prefix ki-?
In Swahili, verbs must agree with their subjects by using specific noun class prefixes. The noun kitu belongs to a noun class that uses the prefix ki-; this same prefix appears in the verb form kinaweza to match. This agreement confirms that kila kitu (“every thing”) is the subject, ensuring a consistent and grammatically correct sentence structure.
How is the idea of ability expressed grammatically in Swahili, as seen in kinaweza?
Swahili expresses ability using the verb kuweza. When conjugated, it takes a subject-specific prefix—in this case, ki- for the noun kitu—to form kinaweza, which means “can” or “is able to.” Then, the main action follows in its infinitive form. So the structure is: subject (kila kitu) + conjugated modal verb (kinaweza) + main verb in the infinitive (kubadilika).
What is the function of the prefix ku- in kubadilika?
The ku- prefix in kubadilika marks the verb as an infinitive. In Swahili, the infinitive form of a verb always begins with ku-, and it is used here after the modal kinaweza to indicate the action “to change.” This construction—modal verb followed by an infinitive—is a common pattern in Swahili when expressing possibility or ability.
What tense is used in this sentence, and could the structure change to reflect a different time frame?
The verb kinaweza is in the present tense, indicating that “everything can change” right now or in general. If you wanted to express a past ability, you might change the modal to its past form (for example, kimeweza, depending on context) and adjust the construction accordingly. The overall pattern would remain similar, with the subject, a conjugated modal governing ability, and the main verb in the infinitive form.