Nikiwa darasani, ninapenda kuuliza maswali.

I

Breakdown of Nikiwa darasani, ninapenda kuuliza maswali.

• kupenda: to like
• katika: in
• darasa: the classroom

Questions & Answers about Nikiwa darasani, ninapenda kuuliza maswali.

What does nikiwa mean, and how is it built?

Nikiwa means when I am or while I am.

It is built from:

• ni- = I
• -ki- = a marker often meaning when, if, or while
• -wa = be

So nikiwa literally works like when/while I am.

In this sentence, Nikiwa darasani means when I am in the classroom or while I am in class.

Why is there no separate word for in before darasani?

Swahili often shows location by adding -ni to a noun.

So:

• darasa = classroom / class
• darasani = in the classroom / in class

This -ni ending is a locative ending. Because of that, you do not need a separate word like in.

What is the difference between darasa and darasani?