Breakdown of Mti huu una shina nene, ambalo linaweza kuhimili upepo mkali msimu huu wa mvua.
kuwa na
to have
wa
of
huu
this
mvua
the rain
upepo
the wind
kuweza
to be able
mti
the tree
msimu
the season
mkali
strong
kuhimili
to withstand
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Questions & Answers about Mti huu una shina nene, ambalo linaweza kuhimili upepo mkali msimu huu wa mvua.
What does Mti huu mean, and how is the demonstrative huu used here?
Mti huu translates as “this tree”. The demonstrative huu agrees with the noun mti by matching its noun class, specifying a particular tree. In Swahili, demonstratives must reflect the characteristics (such as class and number) of the noun they modify.
How is the adjective nene used in shina nene, and what does this tell us about Swahili adjective placement?
In shina nene, nene means “thick” and comes after shina (which means “bark”). This demonstrates that, in Swahili, adjectives generally follow the noun they describe rather than preceding it, which is a common word order pattern in the language.
What is the function of una in the sentence, and what does it convey?
The word una is derived from the verb kuwa na (to have) and means “has”. It functions as the main verb in the clause Mti huu una shina nene, indicating that the tree possesses thick bark. The subject (mti) and the verb (una) agree in person and number, which is typical in Swahili sentence structure.
Why is the relative pronoun ambalo used in this sentence, and what does its agreement reveal?
Ambalo introduces the relative clause that provides extra information about the bark. It agrees with its antecedent, shina, in noun class and gender. This agreement is crucial in Swahili relative clause construction, ensuring that the pronoun correctly reflects the qualities of the noun it refers to.
What does kuhimili mean, and why does it begin with ku-?
Kuhimili means “to withstand” or “to endure”. The prefix ku- marks the verb as an infinitive, which is the basic, unconjugated form used to express the action. In the sentence, this verb describes the bark’s ability to withstand strong winds.
What is the meaning of upepo mkali, and how are its components structured?
Upepo mkali translates as “strong wind”. Here, upepo means “wind” and mkali means “strong”. The adjective mkali follows the noun, which is typical for Swahili adjective placement, reinforcing the descriptive quality of the wind mentioned in the sentence.
How does the phrase msimu huu wa mvua function, particularly with the use of wa?
The phrase msimu huu wa mvua means “this rainy season”. Msimu huu translates as “this season”, while wa is a genitive marker that links msimu to mvua (rain), indicating that the season is characterized by rain. This construction shows how possession or association is expressed in Swahili through linking markers.