Breakdown of Mwalimu anahimiza wanafunzi kusoma kitabu.
mwanafunzi
the student
kitabu
the book
kusoma
to read
mwalimu
the teacher
kuhimiza
to encourage
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Questions & Answers about Mwalimu anahimiza wanafunzi kusoma kitabu.
What does each word in the sentence mean?
• Mwalimu means teacher.
• Anahimiza means encourages.
• Wanafunzi means students.
• Kusoma means to read.
• Kitabu means book.
Thus, the sentence translates to: "The teacher encourages the students to read the book."
Why is the verb kusoma not conjugated like anahimiza?
In Swahili, verbs that follow another verb as an object or complement appear in their infinitive form, which is marked by the prefix ku-. Here, kusoma remains in the infinitive because it answers what the teacher is encouraging the students to do.
How is anahimiza constructed grammatically, and what does the prefix ana- indicate?
The verb anahimiza is formed by attaching the subject prefix ana- (indicating a third person singular subject, meaning he or she) to the verb root himiza (meaning to encourage). It is in the present tense, which can indicate habitual or ongoing actions.
How does the word order in this Swahili sentence compare to that in English?
The sentence follows the typical Swahili word order of Subject-Verb-Object, much like English. It begins with Mwalimu (the teacher – subject), followed by anahimiza (encourages – verb), and then wanafunzi (students – object). The phrase kusoma kitabu is an infinitive clause describing the action encouraged, similar to how we use an infinitive in English (e.g., to read the book).
Do any elements of the sentence show explicit markers for the subject or object?
Yes, Swahili marks the subject directly on the verb. The prefix ana- in anahimiza indicates who is performing the action. Meanwhile, nouns like mwalimu and wanafunzi serve as the subject and object respectively even though they do not change form to show case. Their roles are clear from their positions in the sentence.
Why is there no additional word, like a preposition, connecting wanafunzi and kusoma kitabu in the sentence?
In Swahili, when one verb complements another (as in this case, where the teacher encourages the students to read), the second verb appears in the infinitive form without needing a connecting preposition. The structure inherently shows the relationship between wanafunzi and kusoma kitabu.