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:

  1. Discuss the rationale behind the classifications.
  2. Identify the markers.
  3. 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
  1. 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
  1. 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
  1. 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
  1. 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!