TOPIC THREE
QUESTION WORDS IN SWAHILI LANGUAGE
There are several forms of question words in Swahili language.Remember this,
When asking a question the tone should be raised
Kiswahili English
Ngapi? How
Kiasi Gani? How much/many/what/size/level.
Nini? What?
Nani? What/Whom
Wapi? Where
Kwa Nini? Why.
Je? How?
Lini? When
Gani? How
Mbona ? How/why
Kiswahili phrases of question words with Answer.
Question:kiatu ni shilingi ngapi?Shoe( kiatu):is (ni); shilling (shilingi);how much( ngapi)
=direct translation
How much does this shoes cost=communicative translation
Answer:kiatu ni shilingi mia mbili /shoe (kiatu):is ( ni): shilling.(shilingi) hundred (mia)two(mbili)
=Direct translation
The shoes is two hundred shillings=communicative translation
Question:Una pesa kiasi Gani?
You singular (u);tense marker present tense and verbs to have ( na); money (pesa); amount( kiasi)
how( gani)= direct translation
How much money do you have=communicative translation.
Answer; Nina shilingi Moja tu first person subject prefix (ni);tense Maker present,tense and verbs to have
(na): shilling (shilling);one (Moja)only(tu)=direct translation.I have only one shilling= communicative translations.
