Breakdown of Mimi ninaandika sentensi hii sasa.
mimi
I
kuandika
to write
sasa
now
hii
this
sentensi
the sentence
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Questions & Answers about Mimi ninaandika sentensi hii sasa.
What does each part of ninaandika represent, and how does it form “I am writing”?
Breakdown: ni- is the 1st-person-singular subject prefix (“I”), -na- is the present-tense (or continuous) marker, and -andika is the verb root “write.” Together (ni + na + andika) give “I write” or “I am writing.”
Why is Mimi included at the start when ni- in ninaandika already marks “I”?
The independent pronoun Mimi is optional and used for emphasis or clarity. The grammar requirement is the subject prefix ni-, but you can add Mimi if you want to stress “I.” Both Mimi ninaandika sentensi hii sasa and Ninaandika sentensi hii sasa are correct.
In English, “I am writing” feels continuous; does ninaandika specifically express the continuous aspect?
Swahili uses -na- for both simple present and continuous senses. Context or time adverbs like sasa (“now”) indicate continuity. Without sasa, ninaandika could mean “I write” (habitual) or “I am writing” depending on context.
Why does sentensi stay unchanged, lacking the usual noun-class prefix?
Sentensi is a loanword (from English/French) assimilated into noun class 9/10, which typically has no overt prefix change between singular and plural. Its number is shown by the demonstrative hii (singular).
Why is the demonstrative hii placed after sentensi, and how does agreement work?
Swahili demonstratives follow the noun they modify and agree in noun class. Sentensi is class 9, whose singular proximal demonstrative is hii. Hence sentensi hii = “this sentence.”
What is sasa, and why is it at the end instead of the beginning?
Sasa means “now.” Adverbs in Swahili are flexible: they can appear at the start (Sasa ninaandika…), in the middle, or at the end (…sentensi hii sasa). Placing it at the end emphasizes the immediacy of the action.
Can you use andika by itself to say “I write”?
No. Andika is the verb root and also the imperative form (“Write!”). In the indicative, you must include a subject prefix and tense marker: ni- + -na- + andika = ninaandika.
Is naandika sentensi hii sasa without ni- valid to mean “I am writing this sentence now”?
No. naandika contains just the present marker -na- and the root -andika, but lacks the subject prefix ni- (“I”). A complete indicative needs both subject and tense: Ninaandika sentensi hii sasa.