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Questions & Answers about Shati langu limelowa mvua.
What does the verb form limelowa consist of?
It’s built from three parts: li- + -me- + -lowa.
- li- = subject agreement for noun class 5 (matches shati).
- -me- = perfect aspect (has/have done), stressing a present result.
- -lowa = verb stem ‘to get wet/be soaked’. Note: The initial li- here is not the past tense. The past marker is also -li-, but it comes after the subject. With a class 5 subject in the simple past you’d see both: e.g., lililowa (li- subject + -li- past + -lowa), though the perfect (-me-) is more natural for a present-result sense.
Why is it langu and not yangu or wangu?
Possessives agree with the noun class:
- Class 5 singular (like shati) uses la-, so you get langu.
- Class 9/10 uses ya- → yangu (e.g., nguo yangu).
- Class 1 (people) uses wa- → wangu (e.g., mtoto wangu). Because shati is class 5, the correct form is langu.
What noun class is shati, and how does that affect the verb?
Shati is a class 5 noun (paired with class 6 in the plural). Class 5 uses the subject prefix li- on the verb, which is why you see li-me- in limelowa. In the plural (class 6), the subject prefix changes to ya-.
How would I say this in the plural (my shirts got wet in the rain)?
Mashati yangu yamelowa mvua.
- mashati = class 6 plural of shati
- Possessive changes to class 6: yangu
- Verb subject prefix changes to class 6: ya- → yamelowa
Do I need a preposition before mvua, or is na mvua required?
No preposition is required. The bare noun mvua can express the cause: … limelowa mvua. You can also say … limelowa na mvua (“…got wet by the rain”). Both are fine; na can make the cause a bit more explicit. Avoid kwa mvua here.
Can I leave mvua out?
Yes. Shati langu limelowa simply means it got wet (cause unspecified). Adding mvua tells you what caused it.
How do I say it’s happening right now (is getting wet)?
Use the progressive -na-:
- Shati langu linalowa (mvua). = it is getting wet (in/by the rain). Perfect -me- (limelowa) emphasizes the present result; progressive -na- (linalowa) emphasizes the ongoing process.
What’s the negative form in the same aspect?
Negative perfect uses -ja- (not -me-):
- Shati langu halijalowa (mvua). Breakdown: ha- (negative) + li- (class 5 subject) + -ja- (neg. perfect) + -lowa.
Can I drop the subject and say only Limelowa mvua?
Yes, if the context already makes the referent clear. The verb’s li- tells listeners the subject is a class 5 singular noun (like shati, gari, tunda), so the noun phrase can be omitted when recoverable from context.
How can I emphasize that the rain did the soaking?
Use a causative or applicative idea:
- Shati langu limeloweshwa na mvua. (It has been soaked by the rain; passive of -lowesha, “to soak.”)
- Shati langu limenyeshewa na mvua. (It has been rained on; passive of -nyeshea, “to rain on.”) These put more focus on the agent/cause than plain -lowa.
Is there an adjective for “wet” I could use instead of the verb?
Commonly, clothes that are wet are described with mbichi:
- Nguo zangu ni mbichi. / Shati langu ni bichi. This describes a state (wet/damp). The verb -lowa highlights the change-of-state/result (“has gotten wet”).
I’ve seen ameolewa; how is that different from amelowa?
They’re completely different verbs:
- amelowa = from -lowa (“has gotten wet/soaked”).
- ameolewa = from -olewa (“has been married,” usually of a woman; passive of -oa, “to marry (a wife)”). So a single vowel change (l vs lo/ole) flips the meaning.