Swahili
Selected Noun Classes and Their Demonstrative Pronoun
olanipekun
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
- identify the pluralization patterns of 4 noun classes discussed.
- identify and the appropriate demonstrative pronouns to make your own sentences.
- answer the quiz that follow.
Instruction: Study this noun classes and:
- Discuss the rationale behind the classifications.
- Identify the markers.
- Study the demonstrative pronouns associated with each class.
M/WA
| Singular | Plural | |
| Mtu -person | Watu -people | |
| Mwanafunzi- student | Wanafunzi- students | |
| MNigeria- Nigerian | WaNigeria – Nigerians | |
| Dada – sister | Dada- sisters | |
| Mkulima- farmer | Wakulima- farmers | |
| Mwalimu- teacher | Walimu- teachers |
- Mtu huyu ni dada yangu/Watu hawa ni dada zangu
This person is my sister/These people are my sisters.
2. Mwalimu yule ni MNigeria/Walimu wale ni WaNigeria
That teacher is Nigerian/Those teachers are Nigerians.
3. Mwanafunzi huyu ni mkulima/wanafunzi wale ni wakulima
This student is a farmer/Those students are farmers.
M/MI
| Singular | Plural | |
| Mji- town | Miji- towns | |
| Mti- tree | Miti- tree | |
| Mto | Mito | |
| Mwembe | Miembe |
- Mji huu ni mkubwa/ Miji hii ni mikubwa
This town is big/ These towns are big.
2. Ule ni mto/Ile ni mito
That is a river/Those are river
3. Mti ule ni mrefu/Miti ile ni mifupi
That tree is short!/Those trees are short!
KI/VI
| Singular | Plural | |
| kitu -thing | Vitu- things | |
| kitabu- book | Vitabu- books | |
| kisu- knife | Visu- knives | |
| chakula- food | Vyakula- foods | |
| chuo- college | Vyoo-colleges |
- Hiki ni kitabu changu/Hivi ni vitabu vyangu
This is my book/ Those are my books.
2. Kile ni kisu/Vile ni visu
That is a knife/Those are knives.
3. Ninapenda chakula kile/Ninapenda vyakula vile
I like that food/ I like those foods.
JI/MA
| Singular | Plural | |
| Jibu- answer | Majibu- answers | |
| Embe- mango | Maembe- mangoes | |
| Ombi- prayer | Maombi- prayers | |
| Gari- car | Magari- cars |
- Ninajua jibu hili/Nilijua majibu haya
I know this answer/I knew these answers.
2. Hili ni embe/haya ni maembe
This is a mango/These are mangoes.
3. Lile ni jibu!
That is the answer!
4. Yale ni magari madogo!
Those are small cars!
