SURA YA VI: NYUMBANI
24 Lesson 1: Noun Classes and Number Agreements
Performance Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the learner will be able to;
- classifying household items into their noun class
- identify the noun class each noun belongs to
- write short sentences showing the noun and class agreement
Msamiati
Ji-Ma Noun Class (Class 5/6)
Referred to as Ji-Ma, Class 5/6 uses the ji- prefix for singular nouns and ma- for plural nouns. However, the ji-prefix isn’t always visible in singular forms; it can be assimilated or disappear entirely. This means the most reliable way to identify a Ji-Ma noun is by its ma-plural. This class incorporates loanwords and includes diverse items like fruits (embe–maembe, mango/mangoes), liquids (maji, water), and large objects (dirisha–madirisha, window/windows). Our focus in this chapter will be on housing and household items, with other categories discussed in later chapters.
Mifano:
| Ji- | Ma |
| Jiko (stove) | Meko (stoves) |
| Dirisha (window) | Madirisha (windows) |
| Blanketi (blanket) | Mablanketi (Blankets) |
| Godoro (Mattress) | Magodoro(Mattresses) |
| Yai (egg) | Mayai (eggs) |
| Gari (car) | Magari (cars) |
M-MI Noun Class (Class 3/4)
Class 3/4 is referred to as M-Mi. It is easily identifiable because all nouns in this class use the M-prefix for singular forms and the Mi-prefix for plural forms. This noun class generally refers to trees, plants, and sometimes abstract concepts and body parts.
Mifano:
| M | Mi |
| Mlango (door) | Milango(doors) |
| Mmea(Plant) | Mimea(plants) |
| Mto (Pillow) | Mito(Pillows) |
| Mkeka (Mat) | Mikeka(Mats) |
| Mswaki(toothbrush) | Miswaki(toothbrushes) |
N-N Noun Class (Class 9/10)
Class 9/10, also known as N-N, is the largest and most diverse noun class. Unlike other classes, most nouns in N-N don’t have a distinct prefix in either singular or plural form. For the majority of these nouns, the singular and plural forms are identical, meaning they don’t take a plural marker. This class frequently incorporates loanwords from English and Arabic, and includes a wide range of common objects, animals (e.g., simba – lion, twiga – giraffe), fruits (e.g., ndizi – banana), and household items (e.g., taa – lights, meza – table, televisheni – TV, sebule – living room). Plurality is indicated by the context and the number of items being discussed.
Mifano:
|
KI-VI Noun Class (Class 7/8)
The Ki-Vi class, or Class 7/8, is uniquely easy to identify due to its consistent prefix system. Singular nouns are marked with Ki-, and plural nouns with Vi-. Even the exceptions, where certain nouns take Ch- in the singular and Vy- in the plural, are straightforward to recognize. This class predominantly categorizes things, objects, tools, and languages. Interestingly, ki- also serves a diminutive purpose, as illustrated by mtu (person) becoming kitu.
Mifano:
| KI | VI |
| Kiti (chair) | Viti (chairs) |
| Kisu (knife) | Visu (knives) |
| Kitabu (book) | Vitabu (books) |
| Kioo (mirror) | Vioo (mirrors |
| Kitanda (bed) | Vitanda (beds) |
| Kijiko (spoon) | Vijiko (spoons) |
| Kikombe (cup) | Vikombe(cups) |
| Kiatu (shoe) | Viatu(shoes) |
| CH | VY |
| Chakula (food) | Vyakula(foods) |
| Choo (toilet) | Vyoo(toilets) |
| Chumba (room) | Vyumba(rooms) |
| Chombo (utensil) | Vyombo(utensils) |
