Breakdown of Njia rahisi ya kuepuka kusahauliwa darasani ni kuuliza swali.
ni
to be
kwenye
at
ya
of
kuepuka
to avoid
swali
the question
darasa
the class
rahisi
easy
kuuliza
to ask
njia
the way
kusahauliwa
to be forgotten
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Questions & Answers about Njia rahisi ya kuepuka kusahauliwa darasani ni kuuliza swali.
Why is ya used after rahisi?
In Swahili, ya is the genitive marker for noun classes 9/10. It links the adjective rahisi (“easy”) to the verb phrase kuepuka…, so njia rahisi ya kuepuka… literally means “the easy way of avoiding…”.
What form is kuepuka, and why is it used here?
Kuepuka is the verbal noun (infinitive) of epuka (“to avoid”). Swahili forms infinitives by adding the prefix ku- to the verb root: ku-epuka → kuepuka. Here it expresses “to avoid”.
Why is kusahauliwa in the sentence, and what does it mean?
Sahaul- is the root for “forget.” By inserting the passive marker -wa- and then the infinitive prefix ku-, you get ku-sahaul-wa → kusahauliwa, meaning “to be forgotten/overlooked.” So kuepuka kusahauliwa means “to avoid being forgotten.”
What does darasani mean, and why the suffix -ni?
Darasa means “class” or “lesson.” Adding the locative suffix -ni (class 5/6) gives darasani, which means “in the class” or “in the classroom.”
What is the role of ni before kuuliza?
Ni is the copula in nominal sentences, linking the subject to its predicate. Here the entire phrase Njia rahisi ya kuepuka kusahauliwa darasani is the subject, and ni kuuliza swali is the predicate: “is to ask a question.”
Why is kuuliza in the infinitive form?
After the copula ni, if you want to express “is to do something,” you use the infinitive (verbal noun) again: ku- + uliza (“ask”) → kuuliza (“to ask”).
Why isn’t there an article (“a” or “the”) before swali?
Swahili doesn’t have separate definite or indefinite articles. You simply use the noun itself. Swali can mean “question,” “a question,” or “the question” based on context.
How do adjectives like rahisi agree with nouns?
Njia is in noun class 9/10. Some adjectives (like rahisi) are invariable for those classes, so they don’t take additional prefixes. In other noun classes you’d see adjective prefixes matching the noun.
How would you make both “ways” and “questions” plural in this sentence?
Njia stays the same form in singular and plural (classes 9/10). To mark the genitive in plural, change ya to za. Also swali (class 5) becomes maswali (class 6). So:
Njia rahisi za kuepuka kusahauliwa darasani ni kuuliza maswali.
Can you include kwa before kuuliza, and what changes?
Yes. You can say ni kwa kuuliza swali, using kwa + infinitive to mean “by asking a question.” It shifts the nuance to “the easy way… is by asking a question,” but the core meaning stays the same.