Juma anatumia mbao kutengeneza kiti.

Juma uses wood to make a chair.

Breakdown of Juma anatumia mbao kutengeneza kiti.

• Juma: Juma
• kutumia: to use
• kiti: the chair
• kutengeneza: to make
• mbao: the wood

Questions & Answers about Juma anatumia mbao kutengeneza kiti.

How is the verb anatumia structured to agree with the subject Juma?

In Swahili, verbs incorporate subject information through prefixes. In anatumia, the prefix a- signals that the subject is third-person singular—matching Juma—and the root tumia means “to use.” This construction places the verb in the present tense and shows subject–verb agreement.

Why is the infinitive kutengeneza used after mbao?

Swahili often uses the infinitive to express purpose or intention. Here, kutengeneza (“to make”) explains why Juma is using wood (mbao). It functions as a purpose clause, indicating that the wood is being used for the goal of making a chair.

What does the ku- prefix in kutengeneza indicate?

The ku- prefix marks the infinitive form of a verb in Swahili. In this sentence, adding ku- to the root tengeneza transforms it into kutengeneza, meaning “to make.” This shows that the verb is used to describe the intended purpose of the preceding action.

Why are there no articles (like “a” or “the”) before mbao and kiti?

Swahili does not use articles in the same way as English. Nouns like mbao (“wood”) and kiti (“chair”) appear without definite or indefinite articles. The meaning is understood directly from the context and the sentence structure without the need for extra words.

How does the word order in this sentence reflect typical Swahili syntax?

The sentence follows a subject–verb–object (SVO) pattern, common in Swahili. Juma is the subject, anatumia is the verb, and mbao is the direct object. The purpose clause kutengeneza kiti is then added to explain the reason behind the action, illustrating how Swahili can extend a basic SVO order with additional descriptive elements.

What overall structure does the sentence demonstrate in expressing purpose?

The sentence is divided into two parts. The main clause, Juma anatumia mbao, establishes who is doing what—Juma is using wood. The following infinitive phrase, kutengeneza kiti, indicates the purpose of that action (to make a chair). This structure succinctly links an action with its intended outcome, a common way to construct purpose-driven sentences in Swahili.