KISWAHILI FOR BEGINNERS-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 shoe 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.