Kitabu kipo kando ya dirisha.

to be

Breakdown of Kitabu kipo kando ya dirisha.

• kitabu: the book
• dirisha: the window
• kando ya: beside

Questions & Answers about Kitabu kipo kando ya dirisha.

What does kipo mean in this sentence?

kipo is a form of the verb kuwa (to be) that expresses location. It’s made up of:

• the class 7 subject prefix ki- (agreeing with kitabu)
• plus the locative suffix -po
  So kitabu kipo literally means “the book is located…”.

Why do we use kipo and not kuna?

kuna means “there is/are” in a general sense and doesn’t change to agree with noun classes. kipo, however, agrees with the class 7 noun kitabu via the prefix ki-. Use kuna for statements like “there is something” without specifying which noun class.

What is the difference between the locative suffixes -po, -ko, and -mo?

They’re all used with subject prefixes to show “to be at/in a place,” but with different nuances:

• -po: a specific, known location right now (e.g. kipo, “it’s right here”).
• -ko: a general or habitual location (e.g. kiko, “it’s usually there”).
• -mo: inside or within boundaries (e.g. kimo, “it’s inside it”).

What does kando ya mean and how is it formed?