In the Swahili language, the Indefinite Article functions differently than in English. Swahili does not have a straight equivalent to the English ‘a’ or ‘an’. But concepts related to it are expressed through noun class and number. However, to indicate ‘some’ or ‘any’, Swahili uses ‘-chache’ for ‘few’ and ‘-ngapi’ for ‘how many’. These exercises are designed to help you practice those concepts in a sentence context.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with the correct form of ‘-chache’ or ‘-ngapi’
1. Nina *mfuko* mmoja. (bag)
2. Ana *dawati* moja. (desk)
3. Kuna *kitabu* kimoja kwenye meza. (book)
4. Wana *gari* moja. (car)
5. Alienda sokoni kununua *ndizi*. (bananas)
6. Mfuko wangu una *maji* tu. (water)
7. Alinunua *nyanya* mbili sokoni. (tomatoes)
8. Tulikula *chakula* kizuri. (food)
9. Nina *marafiki* kadhaa. (friends)
10. Alinipea *pesa* nzuri. (money)
11. Nina *nguo* moja. (clothes)
12. Utafanya *masomo* mangapi? (studies)
13. Siwezi kupika *chakula* kadhaa. (food)
14. Atataka *chai* ngapi? (tea)
15. Utafanya *matembezi* mangapi? (walk)
2. Ana *dawati* moja. (desk)
3. Kuna *kitabu* kimoja kwenye meza. (book)
4. Wana *gari* moja. (car)
5. Alienda sokoni kununua *ndizi*. (bananas)
6. Mfuko wangu una *maji* tu. (water)
7. Alinunua *nyanya* mbili sokoni. (tomatoes)
8. Tulikula *chakula* kizuri. (food)
9. Nina *marafiki* kadhaa. (friends)
10. Alinipea *pesa* nzuri. (money)
11. Nina *nguo* moja. (clothes)
12. Utafanya *masomo* mangapi? (studies)
13. Siwezi kupika *chakula* kadhaa. (food)
14. Atataka *chai* ngapi? (tea)
15. Utafanya *matembezi* mangapi? (walk)
Exercise 2: Fill in the blank with the correct form of ‘-chache’ or ‘-ngapi’
1. Atakuja na *ndugu* chache. (relatives)
2. Atakuwa na *mahitaji* mangapi? (needs)
3. Nitakuwa na *masaa* machache. (hours)
4. Anahitaji *mafunzo* machache. (trainings)
5. Nilinunua *mboga* chache. (vegetables)
6. Alisoma *mada* mangapi? (topics)
7. Utakuwa na *miaka* mingapi? (years)
8. Alihitaji *mikopo* mingapi? (loans)
9. Unahitaji *nyuzi* ngapi? (threads)
10. Tunahitaji *wakati* kadhaa. (time)
11. Alinunua *soksi* chache. (socks)
12. Atakuja na *zawadi* chache. (gifts)
13. Alitumia *raslimali* chache. (resources)
14. Nitafanya *kazi* mangapi? (jobs)
15. Alipata *jibu* moja. (answer)
2. Atakuwa na *mahitaji* mangapi? (needs)
3. Nitakuwa na *masaa* machache. (hours)
4. Anahitaji *mafunzo* machache. (trainings)
5. Nilinunua *mboga* chache. (vegetables)
6. Alisoma *mada* mangapi? (topics)
7. Utakuwa na *miaka* mingapi? (years)
8. Alihitaji *mikopo* mingapi? (loans)
9. Unahitaji *nyuzi* ngapi? (threads)
10. Tunahitaji *wakati* kadhaa. (time)
11. Alinunua *soksi* chache. (socks)
12. Atakuja na *zawadi* chache. (gifts)
13. Alitumia *raslimali* chache. (resources)
14. Nitafanya *kazi* mangapi? (jobs)
15. Alipata *jibu* moja. (answer)
