Learn Hardcore Swahili: Nyoka mkubwa alipita karibu na zizi la mifugo yetu, lakini baba alimfukuza haraka. - A large snake passed near our livestock pen, but father chased it away quickly.

Alipita is the past tense form of the verb pita (to pass). The prefix ali- marks the past tense for third person singular, so alipita translates as “passed.”

How does the adjective mkubwa agree with the noun nyoka in the phrase nyoka mkubwa?

In Swahili, adjectives typically follow the noun they modify and must agree with the noun’s class and number. Here, mkubwa means “big” and correctly modifies nyoka (snake) by taking the form appropriate for its noun class.

How is possession expressed in the phrase zizi la mifugo yetu?

The phrase uses a genitive construction. Zizi means “enclosure” or “pen,” la connects two nouns (functioning much like “of”), mifugo means “livestock,” and yetu is the possessive pronoun “our.” Together, they denote “our livestock pen.”

What role does the object marker in alimfukuza play, and what does it indicate?

In alimfukuza, the segment m- is an object marker inserted between the past tense subject marker (ali-) and the verb root fukuza. It refers to the snake mentioned earlier, effectively meaning “it” (i.e., father chased it away).

What does the conjunction lakini mean, and how is it used in this sentence?

Lakini means “but” and serves as a conjunction to contrast the two clauses. It links the first clause (about the snake) with the second clause (about father chasing it away), indicating that the subsequent action differs from or reacts to the first.

What is the function of the adverb haraka in the sentence?

Haraka means “quickly” and acts as an adverb modifying the verb alimfukuza. It describes the manner in which the father chased the snake away.

Can you break down the overall structure of the sentence?

The sentence is composed of two main clauses connected by lakini (“but”). The first clause, Nyoka mkubwa alipita karibu na zizi la mifugo yetu, tells us that a big snake passed near our livestock pen. The second clause, baba alimfukuza haraka, tells us that father chased it away quickly. In both clauses, Swahili verb forms incorporate subject and tense markers (like ali-) and, when needed, object markers (like m-) directly into the verb, creating a compact sentence structure.