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Questions & Answers about Mimi nina akaunti mpya.
Why is Mimi included here when the verb already shows the subject?
Subject pronouns in Swahili (like mimi “I”) are usually optional because the verb prefix already indicates the person. You include mimi only for emphasis, contrast or clarity. Otherwise Nina akaunti mpya still means “I have a new account.”
What does nina mean, and how is it formed?
nina is the first-person singular present-tense form of -kuwa na (“to have/to be with”). It breaks down into:
• ni- = subject prefix for “I”
• -na- = present-tense marker
Put together, ni- + -na- gives nina, i.e. “I have…” in the present tense.
Why does Swahili use -kuwa na for “have” instead of a single word like English?
Swahili expresses possession as “to be with” something. The infinitive -kuwa means “to be,” and na means “with.” When you conjugate in the present tense, the ku- of -kuwa drops, leaving you with the verb form nina (“I have”).
Why is the adjective mpya placed after the noun akaunti?
Adjectives in Swahili follow the nouns they describe. The pattern is always NOUN + ADJECTIVE, so you say akaunti mpya (“account new”), which corresponds to “new account.”
How does the adjective mpya agree with the noun akaunti?
The noun akaunti falls into class 9 (common for loanwords). Adjectives for classes 9 and 10 take an n- prefix. The root pya (“new”) combines with that prefix to form mpya.
Can I say just Nina mpya instead of Nina akaunti mpya?
No. mpya is an adjective (“new”) and must modify a noun. Without akaunti (or another noun), the sentence is incomplete. Always supply the noun: Nina akaunti mpya.
How would I ask “Do you have a new account?” in Swahili?
You can say Je, una akaunti mpya?
- Je is an optional question marker.
- una = u- (you) + -na- (present).
You can also drop je and rely on intonation: Una akaunti mpya?
How do I make this sentence negative?
Replace nina with sina (“I do not have”). For example: Mimi sina akaunti mpya. Or simply Sina akaunti mpya.
How do I change the subject to “he/she” or “we”?
Use the appropriate subject prefix + -na-:
• He/She has → Ana akaunti mpya (a- + -na-)
• We have → Tuna akaunti mpya (tu- + -na-)
Is akaunti singular or plural? How do I say “accounts”?
akaunti is treated as noun class 9, which is often unmarked for number, so the singular and plural look the same. In everyday speech akaunti can mean “account” or “accounts.” Occasionally you might hear maakaunti (class 6) for emphasis or formal registers, but it’s less common.