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Questions & Answers about Yeye hana kalamu darasani.
Do I need the pronoun yeye at all, or can I just say Hana kalamu darasani?
You can omit it. Hana kalamu darasani is a complete sentence. Adding yeye puts contrast or emphasis on “he/she,” e.g., “As for him/her, (he/she) doesn’t have a pen in class.”
Does yeye mean “he” or “she”? How do I make the gender explicit?
Yeye covers both “he” and “she.” To make gender explicit, use a noun or name: mwanamume (man), mwanamke (woman), mvulana (boy), msichana (girl), or a person’s name. For example: Mvulana hana kalamu darasani.
Why is it hana and not something like “ha ana” or “ha na”?
Present “to have” is irregular. Memorize the pairs:
- I: nina → sina
- you (sg): una → huna
- he/she: ana → hana
- we: tuna → hatuna
- you (pl): mna → hamna
- they: wana → hawana So for “he/she doesn’t have,” you must use hana.
So the positive would be Yeye ana kalamu darasani, right?
Yes. Affirmative present is ana: (Yeye) ana kalamu darasani.
Why don’t we use si to negate here, like “si ana”?
Si negates the copula ni (“to be”), e.g., Si mwalimu (“He/She is not a teacher”). Possession uses the special negative forms like sina/huna/hana…, not si.
What does the -ni at the end of darasani do?
-ni is a locative suffix meaning “in/at/on.” Darasa = class; darasani = in class. Other examples: nyumbani (at home), shuleni (at school), kanisani (at church).
Can I say katika darasa instead of darasani?
Yes. Darasani is the most idiomatic. Katika darasa (or ndani ya darasa) is also correct and can sound a bit more formal or emphasize the physical interior of the classroom.
Can I move darasani to the front?
Yes. Word order is flexible for emphasis: Darasani, hana kalamu or Hana kalamu darasani. Fronting darasani highlights the location.
Where is “a/an/the” in this sentence?
Swahili has no articles. Kalamu can mean “a pen” or “the pen” depending on context. To force “one pen,” say kalamu moja. To specify a particular pen, use a demonstrative like kalamu hii/hiyo/ile.
Is kalamu singular or plural? What’s its plural form?
Kalamu (noun class 9/10) is the same in singular and plural. Context or numbers show plurality: kalamu mbili (two pens).
How would I say “They don’t have a pen in class”?
Use the 3rd person plural form: (Wao) hawana kalamu darasani.
How do I say it in the past: “He/She didn’t have a pen in class (yesterday)”?
Use the past of “to be with”: (Yeye) hakuwa na kalamu darasani (jana). Affirmative past is alikuwa na.
How can I emphasize “not even one pen”?
Add hata and moja (or kabisa): Hana hata kalamu moja darasani or Hana kalamu kabisa darasani.
How do I turn it into a yes–no question: “Does he/she have a pen in class?”
Use the affirmative and rising intonation or Je: Ana kalamu darasani? or Je, ana kalamu darasani? A negative check-question is Hana kalamu darasani?
Could kalamu also mean “pencil,” or is it strictly “pen”?
In modern usage kalamu usually means “pen,” though it can be a generic “writing instrument” in some contexts. If you specifically mean “pencil,” say penseli (or kalamu ya risasi in more descriptive/older style).
Is it okay to answer with just Hana if someone asks whether he/she has a pen?
Yes. A short answer like Hana (“He/She doesn’t have [it]”) is natural. Affirmative short answer: Ana.