Questions & Answers about Mimi nina data kidogo leo.
Do I need to include Mimi, or can I just say Nina data kidogo leo?
You can drop Mimi. Nina data kidogo leo is a complete, natural sentence. Adding Mimi adds emphasis or contrast, like “As for me, I have a little data today.”
What exactly is nina? Where does it come from?
It’s the present-tense form of the verb “to have” (kuwa na), built from the 1st person subject prefix ni- + present marker -na. The irregular present forms are:
- nina (I have)
- una (you sg. have)
- ana (he/she has)
- tuna (we have)
- mna (you pl. have)
- wana (they have)
Is the ni in nina the same as the copula ni (as in “Mimi ni …”)?
No. In nina, ni- is a subject prefix meaning “I.” The copula ni (“is/are”) is a different word and not used here.
How do I negate this?