The connective and the possessives
Lesson 9 of 12≈ 15 min
Bazari ya Domoni
Bazari ya Domoni, « the Domoni market ». But Djahazi la ɓakoko, « grandfather's boat ». The word for « of » changes: it follows the noun before it.
The word for « of »
Module 4 explains these families of nouns, called classes.
| Form | After | Example |
|---|---|---|
| wa | mwana, mlongo, mme | Mlongo wa pani — The kitchen door. |
| ya | bazari, nyama, likoli | Nyama ya mbuzi — Goat meat. |
| la | djahazi, gari, kungu | Kungu la ntrovi — A bunch of bananas. |
| sha | shomɓo, shkombe | Shombo sha hisaɓu — A calculator. |
| za | zinguo | Mmangu asifua zinguo za wana — My mother washes the children's clothes. |
The word for « of » in a sentence
- Bazari ya Domoni — The Domoni market.
- Likoli ya Mutsamudu — The Mutsamudu school.
- Nyama ya nyombe — Beef.
- Djahazi la ɓakoko — Grandpa's dhow.
- Gwenzi la ɓakoko — Grandpa's sheep.
- Mwana mntru-mama wa mwananyangu — My brother's (or sister's) daughter.
- Mahaba ya mama — A mother's love.
My, your, his…
| With | Forms | Example |
|---|---|---|
| wa | wangu, waho, wahe, wawo | Mme waho na wana waho — Your husband and your children. |
| ya | yangu, yaho, yahe, yatru | Hazi yaho ntrini ? — What's your job? |
| la | langu, laho, lahe | Dzina laho ntrini ? — What is your name? |
| sha | shangu, shahe | Shio shangu sha havi ? — Where is my book? |
| za | zangu, zahe, zanyu | Mpesa zangu za havi ? — Where is my money? |
The possessive in a sentence
- Dzina langu Amina — My name is Amina.
- Dzina lahe Amina — Her name is Amina.
- Nisivendza udjama wangu — I love my family.
- Nyumba yatru ina malili mararu — Our house has three beds.
- Fahamu umkoɓa waho ! — Watch your bag!
- Ngiha dzina laho ! — Write your name!
- Ɓakoko na koko wasilea wajuhu wawo — Grandfather and grandmother are raising their grandchildren.
- Wana, namurengeledze zintru zanyu ! — Children, tidy up your things!
Mother and father
For parents, the possessive is fused to the noun, as you saw in 2.2: mmangu, mmaho, mmahe, mmawo; ɓɓangu, ɓɓaho, ɓɓahe.
When an action is done to oneself, the possessive stays: Mdrumume asimea ndrevu zahe, literally « the man shaves his beard ».
Fused, or on oneself
- Mmangu na ɓɓangu — My mother and my father.
- Mmaho ha havi ? — Where is your mother?
- Mmahe alawa — His (or her) mother has gone out.
- Wana wasimsaidia mmawo — The children are helping their mother.
- Mdrumume asimea ndrevu zahe — The man shaves his beard.
- Koko asipenye nyole zahe — Grandma is combing her hair.
Practice
« The Domoni market. »
Bazari ___ Domoni
« My name is Amina. »
Dzina ___ Amina
Mini-quiz
« The kitchen door. »
Mlongo ___ pani
You can say « of » and « my »
You can link two nouns and say whose something is. Next: saying « I see you » in one word.