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Questions & Answers about Fundi picha atawapiga picha maharusi kabla ya sherehe kuanza.
What does the verb chunk atawapiga break down to?
It’s built from prefixes + the verb root:
- a- = he/she (3rd person singular subject, for a human subject)
- -ta- = future tense marker “will”
- -wa- = object marker “them” (human plural)
- piga = verb root “hit/strike”; in the idiom piga picha, it means “photograph”
So atawapiga means “he/she will [do something to] them,” and with picha it becomes “will photograph them.”
Why is both the object marker -wa- and the noun maharusi used? Isn’t that “them the newlyweds”?
In Swahili this is normal and often called “object marking” or “clitic doubling.” The -wa- marks a definite, specific object that is already known or particularly salient, and the full noun clarifies who “them” is.
- With both (as in the sentence): natural when the referent is specific/known.
- Without the object marker: Fundi picha atapiga picha maharusi… is also correct, just a bit less emphatic/definite.
- With only the object marker: Fundi picha atawapiga picha… works only if “they” are already clear from context.
What does the expression piga picha literally mean, and can I say atapiga maharusi?
- Literally, piga picha is “hit/strike picture(s),” but it’s the idiomatic way to say “take a photo/photograph.”
- Don’t drop picha here: atapiga maharusi would mean “he/she will beat the newlyweds.” You need picha to get the “photograph” meaning.
Is fundi picha the usual word for “photographer”? How does it compare to mpiga picha?
Both are used:
- mpiga picha (literally “picture-taker”) is the most common everyday term for “photographer,” especially for press/event photographers.
- fundi picha can mean a photographer too, and may suggest a studio/photo technician or someone skilled in photo work. For “wedding photographer,” you’ll often hear mpiga picha wa harusi.
What’s the difference between harusi and maharusi?
- harusi = the wedding (the event/ceremony).
- maharusi = the bride and groom (the couple), i.e., “newlyweds.” You might also hear bwana harusi (groom) and bi harusi (bride), or wanandoa (married couple).
Why does the object marker use -wa- (human plural) for maharusi?
Because maharusi refers to people, it takes human plural agreement in practice. So you get human plural markers like wa- (object) and wa- (subject): e.g., Maharusi wamewasili (“The newlyweds have arrived”). Using a non-human agreement marker here would sound wrong.
What does kabla ya do here, and why is ya needed?
kabla behaves like a noun meaning “before,” and it links to its complement with ya (“of”): kabla ya… = “before (the) …”. So kabla ya sherehe kuanza is “before the ceremony starts/starting.” The ya is required in this construction.
Why is kuanza used after sherehe? Could I say something like “before the ceremony starts” with a finite verb?
Here kuanza is the infinitive/gerund “to start/starting,” which functions like a verbal noun after kabla ya. Alternatives:
- kabla ya sherehe kuanza (current sentence; very common)
- kabla ya kuanza kwa sherehe (more formal/literary)
- kabla sherehe haijaanza (conjunction-like use; literally “before the ceremony has not-yet-begun”)
Can I move the time clause to the front?
Yes: Kabla ya sherehe kuanza, fundi picha atawapiga picha maharusi. Fronting it is common and natural; a comma helps readability.
Does picha here mean “a photo” or “photos”? It looks the same in singular and plural.
picha doesn’t change form for number, so it can mean “photo” or “photos.” Unspecified, it just means “photograph (the act).” To make plurality explicit, add a quantifier: picha nyingi (many photos), picha kadhaa (several photos), etc.
How would I say this in the present or past instead of the future?
- Present (progressive/habitual): Fundi picha anawapiga picha maharusi kabla ya sherehe kuanza.
- Past: Fundi picha aliwapiga picha maharusi kabla ya sherehe kuanza. You can also use the “before … has started” option for past: kabla sherehe haijaanza.
How do I make it negative in the future (“will not”)?
Use the negative prefix ha- with future -ta-:
- Fundi picha hatawapiga picha maharusi kabla ya sherehe kuanza. Morphology: ha-ta-wa-piga (he/she-will-not-them-photograph).
Could I say harusi instead of sherehe to be more specific?
Yes. harusi is the wedding, while sherehe is a general “ceremony/celebration.” So: … kabla ya harusi kuanza means “before the wedding starts.”
Is there another way to say “photograph the newlyweds,” like “take pictures of the newlyweds” with za?
Yes, you can say:
- kupiga picha za maharusi = “to take photos of the newlyweds.” The original structure (kuwapiga picha maharusi) treats the couple as the direct target of the photographing; using picha za … focuses on the photos themselves.
What’s the difference between kuanza and kwanza? I see both in Swahili.
- kuanza = “to start/starting” (the verb infinitive/gerund used in the sentence).
- kwanza = “first/firstly” (an adverb or adjective meaning order/priority). They are different words.