Breakdown of Tuzo hiyo imetengenezwa na fundi kwa kutumia sarafu za shaba.
kwa
by
kutumia
to use
za
of
na
by
hiyo
that
kutengenezwa
to be made
tuzo
the award
fundi
the craftsman
sarafu
the coin
shaba
the copper
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Questions & Answers about Tuzo hiyo imetengenezwa na fundi kwa kutumia sarafu za shaba.
What does imetengenezwa mean, how do its parts break down, and what tense/aspect and voice does it express?
imetengenezwa =
- i-: subject marker for noun class 9 (matching tuzo)
- -me-: perfect aspect marker (“has…”)
- tengeneza: verb root “make”
- -wa: passive suffix
Altogether it’s the present perfect passive – “it has been made.”
How do we indicate who performed the action in this passive sentence, and why is na used before fundi?
In Swahili passives, the agent (doer) is introduced by na. Here na fundi means “by a craftsman.” Although na also means “and,” in passive constructions its role is to mark the agent.
What function does kwa have in kwa kutumia sarafu za shaba, and why can’t we just use the infinitive kutumia for “by using”?
kwa + noun or infinitive forms an instrumental phrase meaning “by/through.”
- kwa kutumia = “by using.”
Without kwa, kutumia only serves as an infinitive (“to use”) and doesn’t express the means.
Why is za used between sarafu and shaba, instead of ya or no connector at all?
za is the genitive (possessive/material) agreement for the plural of sarafu (“coins”). It links the head noun to its material:
- sarafu za shaba = “coins of copper” (copper coins).
If you had a single coin, you’d say sarafu moja ya shaba, using ya for singular.
What does fundi mean in this context, and how specific is that term?
fundi refers to a skilled worker or craftsman—someone trained in making or repairing items. It implies expertise, not just general labour.
Why is tuzo hiyo used here instead of tuzo hii or tuzo ile, and how do Swahili demonstratives work?
Swahili demonstratives agree with noun class and indicate distance from speaker/listener:
- tuzo hii = “this award” (very close to speaker)
- tuzo hiyo = “that award” (near listener or neutral)
- tuzo ile = “that award over there” (far from both)
The sentence uses tuzo hiyo to point to “that award” at a neutral or listener‐adjacent distance.