Hili ndilo begi nililopoteza jana, si rula yangu.

This is the bag that I lost yesterday, not my ruler.

Breakdown of Hili ndilo begi nililopoteza jana, si rula yangu.

• ni: to be
• yangu: my
• hili: this
• jana: yesterday
• si: not
• begi: the bag
• nililopoteza: which I lost
• rula: the ruler

Questions & Answers about Hili ndilo begi nililopoteza jana, si rula yangu.

What does the form ndilo do here? Why not just use ni?

• ndilo is the identificational/contrastive copula that agrees with a class 5 noun (begi). It strongly identifies and contrasts: “This is the bag (the very one), not the ruler.”
• Using plain ni would be more neutral (equational): Hili ni begi... is “This is a bag/the bag...”. With a relative clause it can still be specific, but ndilo adds focus/contrast and sounds sharper in this context.

Why is it hili and not hiki or hii?

• Demonstratives must match the noun class. Begi belongs to noun class 5 (often ji-/∅ in singular, ma- in plural).
• Class 5 proximal demonstrative is hili (“this”), not hiki (class 7) or hii (class 9).
• Plural would be class 6: mabegi → proximal demonstrative haya.

How is the verb form nililopoteza built?

It’s the “short” relative construction inserted into the verb:

• ni- = I (1st person singular subject marker)
• -li- = past tense
• -lo- = class 5 relative marker (agrees with begi)
• poteza = “lose” So ni-li-lo-poteza = “I-PST-REL(CL5)-lose” → “(which) I lost.”

Could I just say nilipoteza instead of nililopoteza?

No. nilipoteza means “I lost.” To say “the bag that I lost,” you need the relative marker agreeing with the head noun: nililopoteza (class 5 -lo-). Without the relative marker, you don’t form the relative clause.

Can I use ambalo instead of the in-verb relative marker?

Yes. Two equivalent options:

• Short (in-verb) relative: Hili ndilo begi nililopoteza jana.
• Long relative with a separate pronoun: Hili ndilo begi ambalo nilipoteza jana. The long form can feel slightly more formal or explicit; both are correct.

Where can jana go? Must it be at the end?

It often appears at the end of the clause, but other placements are fine:

• Hili ndilo begi nililopoteza jana. (as given)
• Hili ndilo begi nili-l-o-poteza jana. (same, segmented)
• Jana nilipoteza begi hili. (time first, no relative clause)
• Hili ndilo begi ambalo nilipoteza jana. (with long relative) Just keep it inside the clause it modifies.

Why is it si rula yangu and not siyo or sio?

• si is the standard negative copula for “is not”: si rula yangu = “(it) is not my ruler.”
• siyo/sio are very common in speech and informal writing; they’re acceptable in many contexts. In careful/standard writing, si is safest here.

Why is it rula yangu and not rula langu/wangu/changu?

• rula (ruler) is class 9 in Swahili. Class 9 takes the possessive concord y-: yangu (“my”).
• Examples:
  • Class 9 singular: rula yangu (my ruler)
  • Class 10 plural: rula zangu (my rulers)
• If you said “my bag,” class 5 uses l-: begi langu.

What’s the difference between kupoteza and kupotea?

• kupoteza = to lose (TRANSITIVE: someone loses something). Example: Nilipoteza begi = I lost a bag.
• kupotea = to get lost/be lost (INTRANSITIVE: something loses itself). Example: Begi lilipotea = The bag got lost.

How does the relative marker change in the plural?

Plural of begi is mabegi (class 6), whose short relative marker is -yo-.

• Singular: Hili ndilo begi nililopoteza jana.
• Plural: Haya ndiyo mabegi niliyopoteza jana. Also note the copula agreement: ndilo (cl.5) vs ndiyo (cl.6).

Can I say Hili ni begi nililopoteza jana instead of using ndilo?

Yes, it’s grammatical. ni gives a neutral identification; ndilo adds a strong “this very one (and not another)” nuance, which pairs nicely with the contrasting si rula yangu.

Is the comma before si rula yangu necessary?

It’s optional but helpful for readability. The second part is a separate (elliptical) clause: “..., not my ruler.” With or without the comma, the meaning is clear.

Why is the relative marker -lo- (class 5) even though the bag is the object of “lose,” not the subject?

In Swahili short relatives, the relative marker always agrees with the head noun of the relative clause, regardless of its grammatical role in the clause. Here, the head noun is begi (class 5), so the verb takes -lo-: ni-li-lo-poteza.

What’s the difference between hili and hilo with begi?

Both agree with class 5, but indicate distance:

• hili = this (near the speaker)
• hilo = that (a bit farther/known in context) Example with “that”: Hilo ndilo begi nililopoteza jana, si rula yangu.

Is the spelling begi standard? I’ve seen bagi too.

The standard Swahili spelling is begi (bag). You’ll encounter bagi informally or regionally, but dictionaries and formal writing prefer begi.