Wao wana vitabu zaidi ya kumi darasani.

They have more than ten books in the classroom.

Breakdown of Wao wana vitabu zaidi ya kumi darasani.

• wao: they
• kuwa na: to have
• kitabu: the book
• kumi: ten
• darasani: in the classroom
• zaidi ya: more than

Questions & Answers about Wao wana vitabu zaidi ya kumi darasani.

Do I need to say Wao, or can I drop it?

You can drop it. The subject prefix on the verb already encodes “they.” Both are correct:

• Wao wana vitabu...
• Wana vitabu...

Use Wao when you want emphasis or contrast, e.g., “They (as opposed to others) have...”

What exactly is wana? Is “have” a separate verb?

Wana is the present form of the verb phrase kuwa na (to have), with the subject prefix wa- (they). In the present:

• I have: nina
• You (sg) have: una
• He/She has: ana
• We have: tuna
• You (pl) have: mna
• They have: wana

Negatives:

• I don’t have: sina
• You (sg) don’t have: huna
• He/She doesn’t have: hana
• We don’t have: hatuna
• You (pl) don’t have: hamna
• They don’t have: hawana

Why is it vitabu? What’s the singular, and which noun class is this?

Vitabu is the plural of kitabu (book). It’s the ki-/vi- pair (classes 7/8):

• Singular (class 7): kitabu
• Plural (class 8): vitabu

Do numbers agree with the noun class? Should kumi change to match vitabu?

No. Numbers 6–10 (and higher) do not take agreement. Kumi stays the same with any noun.

• With small numbers (1–5), you see agreement: kitabu kimoja, vitabu viwili, vitabu vitatu, vitabu vinne, vitabu vitano.
• With 10: vitabu kumi (not “vikumi”).

Can I say kuliko instead of zaidi ya? What about kumi na zaidi?

• The most natural for numbers is zaidi ya: vitabu zaidi ya kumi (“more than ten books”).
• Kuliko is typically used for comparisons with another noun/adjective/verb: vitabu vingi kuliko kalamu (“more books than pens”). With numbers, kuliko can occur but is less common; stick with zaidi ya kumi.
• Kumi na zaidi (“ten and above”) appears in notices/headlines; it’s understandable but sounds less conversational than zaidi ya kumi.

What does the ya in zaidi ya kumi agree with?

Here ya is the fixed genitive “of” after zaidi (“more of X”). In the pattern zaidi ya + number, ya doesn’t change to match the noun:

• watu zaidi ya ishirini
• magari zaidi ya mia moja
• vitabu zaidi ya kumi

Where does the “more than ten” part go—before or after vitabu?

The safest, most common pattern after a noun is:

• vitabu zaidi ya kumi

You will also see a preposed pattern, especially when the quantified phrase is the subject/object:

• Zaidi ya vitabu kumi vipo darasani. Both are acceptable; for your sentence after the verb, keep ... vitabu zaidi ya kumi ... as the default. Avoid zaidi ya kumi vitabu.

What exactly does darasani mean?

Darasani is darasa (class/classroom) plus the locative suffix -ni, meaning “in (the) class/classroom.” It can mean physically “in the classroom” or contextually “during class/in class.”

Can I use a preposition instead, like katika darasa?

Yes:

• katika darasa or kwenye darasa = “in the classroom”
• Don’t double up the location: avoid katika darasani (the -ni already marks location).
• For “inside the classroom,” you can say ndani ya darasa.

How would I change the subject, e.g., I have or she has?

Swap the subject prefix:

• Nina vitabu zaidi ya kumi darasani. (I have…)
• Ana vitabu zaidi ya kumi darasani. (She/He has…)
• Tuna/Mna/Wana vitabu zaidi ya kumi darasani. (We/You pl/They have…)

How do I say it in the past or future?

Use -likuwa na (had) and -takakuwa na (will have):

• Past: Walikuwa na vitabu zaidi ya kumi darasani. (They had…)
• Future: Watakuwa na vitabu zaidi ya kumi darasani. (They will have…)

How do I make it negative, “They don’t have more than ten books in class”?

Hawana vitabu zaidi ya kumi darasani. This means they have no more than ten (ten or fewer). For “at least ten,” you’d use angalau:

• Wana angalau vitabu kumi darasani.

How do I say “more than ten of their books”?

Add the possessive that agrees with class 8 (vyao):

• Wana vitabu vyao zaidi ya kumi darasani.

Does zaidi ya kumi modify vitabu or darasani?

It modifies vitabu. If you worry about ambiguity, front the location:

• Darasani, wana vitabu zaidi ya kumi.