Mpokezi anafungulia wageni mlango wa ofisi.

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Breakdown of Mpokezi anafungulia wageni mlango wa ofisi.

• mgeni: the guest
• mlango: the door
• ofisi: the office

Questions & Answers about Mpokezi anafungulia wageni mlango wa ofisi.

What does each word in the sentence do, literally?

• Mpokezi: receptionist; agent noun from -pokea (to receive), noun class 1.
• a-: subject marker for class 1 (he/she).
• -na-: present/imperfective marker (is/does).
• -fungulia: verb stem meaning open for/to someone; from -fungua (open) + applicative suffix -lia (for/at/to).
• wageni: guests/visitors; plural of mgeni (class 2).
• mlango: door (class 3).
• wa: of; possessive/associative linker agreeing with class 3 singular.
• ofisi: office (class 9).

Why is it anafungulia and not anafungua?

Because -fungulia includes the applicative suffix -lia, which adds a beneficiary/goal: open something for/to someone.

• anafungua mlango = opens a door (no beneficiary implied).
• anafungulia wageni mlango = opens a door for the guests.

Do I need kwa to say “for the guests,” like anafungua mlango kwa wageni?