Mimi napiga picha shambani.

I take pictures at the farm.

Breakdown of Mimi napiga picha shambani.

• mimi: I
• shambani: at the farm
• kupiga picha: to take pictures

Questions & Answers about Mimi napiga picha shambani.

What is the function of Mimi in Mimi napiga picha shambani? Is it necessary?

Mimi is the independent pronoun “I.” It isn’t strictly necessary—napiga already contains a subject marker for “I”—but it’s used to emphasize or clarify that I (and not someone else) am taking the pictures.

What are the parts of the verb napiga and what does each part mean?

napiga breaks down into three pieces:

• ni-: 1st person singular subject marker (“I”)
• -na-: present tense/aspect marker
• piga: verb root “to hit/shoot,” extended to “take (a photograph)”

So ni-na-piga contracts to napiga, meaning “I (am) take-ing.”

Why don’t we write ninapiga with two n’s?

Underlyingly it’s ni-na-piga, but when ni- (subject) and -na- (present) come together, the overlapping n is dropped for ease of pronunciation. The result is na-piga (written napiga), not ninapiga.

What’s the difference between napiga and hupiga?

• napiga (ni + na + piga): present/progressive—“I am taking,” or “I take” (right now or in this context).
• hupiga (hu + piga): habitual—“I usually take.”

Use napiga for actions happening now or in the current situation; use hupiga for regular/habitual actions.

Why does shamba become shambani in this sentence?

Swahili marks location by adding the -ni suffix to a noun:

• shamba = “farm/field”
• shambani = “at/in/on the farm”

This suffix replaces English prepositions like “in” or “on.”

Can I say katika shamba instead of shambani? What’s the difference?

Yes.

• katika shamba = “inside the farm,” using the preposition katika
  • noun.
• shambani = “at/in/on the farm,” using the locative suffix -ni.

Both are understood, but shambani is generally more idiomatic for “on/in the farm.”

Is picha singular or plural? Why is there no “the” or “a” in front of it?

picha is in noun class 9/10, which means the singular and plural forms look identical:

• picha = “picture” or “pictures”

Swahili has no articles (“the” or “a”). Definiteness or number is inferred from context or added with demonstratives (e.g. picha hizi = “these pictures”).

How do I make the negative of this sentence (“I am not taking pictures on the farm”)?

Use the present negative pattern:

• si-: 1st person negative subject marker
• verb root piga with final -a changed to -i

Result: Sipigi picha shambani.
Optionally add Mimi for emphasis: Mimi sipigi picha shambani.

How do I ask “Are you taking pictures on the farm?” and how do I switch the tense to past or future?

To ask “Are you taking pictures on the farm?”:
Je, unapiga picha shambani?
(You can drop Je, in casual speech: Unapiga picha shambani?)

To say “I took pictures on the farm” (past):
Nilipiga picha shambani.
(breakdown: ni- + -li- past marker + piga)

To say “I will take pictures on the farm” (future):
Nitapiga picha shambani.
(breakdown: ni- + -ta- future marker + piga)