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Mimi ninasoma sayansi darasani.

Mimi ninasoma sayansi darasani.
I study science in class.
FromLesson 24inHardcore Swahili
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Breakdown of Mimi ninasoma sayansi darasani.

mimi
I
kwenye
at
darasa
the class
kusoma
to study
sayansi
the science

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninasoma sayansi darasani.

Why is Mimi used when the verb ninasoma already indicates I?
Swahili verbs carry a subject prefix (here ni- = “I”), so you can omit Mimi if context is clear. Including Mimi ninasoma… adds emphasis or contrast (“As for me, I study…”), whereas Ninasoma… simply states “(I) study…”
What are the parts of ninasoma, and what do they mean?

Breakdown of ninasoma:
• ni- = 1st person singular subject marker (“I”)
• -na- = present tense marker (simple present / present continuous)
• -soma = verb root “study/read”
Together ninasoma = I study or I am studying.

Why is there no preposition before sayansi (“science”)?
In Swahili, direct objects follow the verb without a preposition. Sayansi is the object of ninasoma, so you just say ninasoma sayansi (“I study science”).
What does darasani mean, and why the -ni ending?
Darasa = “class” or “classroom.” Adding the locative suffix -ni (for class 5/6 nouns) yields darasani, meaning in/at the classroom.
How would you say “I studied science in class” (past tense)?

Replace the present marker -na- with the past marker -li-:
Mimi nilisoma sayansi darasani.
Here ni- (I) + -li- (past) + -soma = I studied.

How do you ask “Do you study science in class?” in Swahili?

Change the subject prefix ni- (I) to u- (you) and add the question particle je (optional) or use rising intonation:
Je, unasoma sayansi darasani?
or simply
Unasoma sayansi darasani?

How do you say “I will study science in the classroom” (future tense)?

Use the future marker -ta- instead of -na-:
Mimi nitasoma sayansi darasani.
Here ni- + -ta- + -soma = I will study.

More from this lesson

kuonjaMimi ninataka kuonja supu hii.siagiasalisafiKama ungekuja mapema, ungeonja siagi hiyo tamu na asali safi.haragweMama alipika maharagwe na wali kwa chakula cha mchana.
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