Compound Adjectives in Swahili Grammar
In Swahili, Compound Adjectives act in conjunction of two or more words to modify or qualify a noun. Although Swahili doesn’t possess a rich inventory of adjectives, it derived adjectives from verbs and used compound adjectives by linking two terms that together describe a quality or characteristics that a single term could not fully express. These adjectives can significantly enrich a sentence by adding descriptive detail.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank with the Suitable Compound Adjective
1. Mimi nina *mfuko mweusi* (black) wa shule.
2. Siri hiyo ni *siri nzito* (heavy).
3. Hii ni *kazi ngumu* (hard).
4. Hiki ni *kitabu kizuri* (good).
5. Ana *saa nzuri* (beautiful).
6. Mbwa huyo ni *mbwa mwitu* (wild).
7. Msaada huu ni *msaada mkubwa* (big).
8. Mwako wa moto ni *mwako mkali* (strong).
9. Yeye hana *tabia nzuri* (nice).
10. Nina *njaa kali* (great).
11. Anapenda *chakula kitamu* (tasty).
12. Hii ni *maisha magumu* (difficult).
13. Mimi nina *ndoto kubwa* (big).
14. Yeye ni *mwanamke mzuri* (beautiful).
15. Mimi nina *sahani kubwa* (big) ya wali.
2. Siri hiyo ni *siri nzito* (heavy).
3. Hii ni *kazi ngumu* (hard).
4. Hiki ni *kitabu kizuri* (good).
5. Ana *saa nzuri* (beautiful).
6. Mbwa huyo ni *mbwa mwitu* (wild).
7. Msaada huu ni *msaada mkubwa* (big).
8. Mwako wa moto ni *mwako mkali* (strong).
9. Yeye hana *tabia nzuri* (nice).
10. Nina *njaa kali* (great).
11. Anapenda *chakula kitamu* (tasty).
12. Hii ni *maisha magumu* (difficult).
13. Mimi nina *ndoto kubwa* (big).
14. Yeye ni *mwanamke mzuri* (beautiful).
15. Mimi nina *sahani kubwa* (big) ya wali.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blank with the correct compound adjective
1. Mtu huyu ni *mtu mwema* (good).
2. Huu ni *ujenzi mpya* (new).
3. Mimi nina *toti kubwa* (big) za vitunguu.
4. Anatembea *mtaa mrefu* (long).
5. Nyumba yako ni *nyumba nzuri* (nice).
6. Kalamu yake ni *kalamu nzuri* (nice).
7. Chakula chake ni *chakula kizuri* (good).
8. Hiki ni *kifaru kikubwa* (big).
9. Hii ni *shamba kubwa* (big).
10. Amevaa *nguo nzuri* (nice).
11. Ana *nywele nzuri* (nice).
12. Mtu yule ni *mtu mkubwa* (adult).
13. Yeye anapanda *mlima mkubwa* (big).
14. Gari yake ni *gari kubwa* (big).
15. Simu yake ni *simu mpya* (new).
2. Huu ni *ujenzi mpya* (new).
3. Mimi nina *toti kubwa* (big) za vitunguu.
4. Anatembea *mtaa mrefu* (long).
5. Nyumba yako ni *nyumba nzuri* (nice).
6. Kalamu yake ni *kalamu nzuri* (nice).
7. Chakula chake ni *chakula kizuri* (good).
8. Hiki ni *kifaru kikubwa* (big).
9. Hii ni *shamba kubwa* (big).
10. Amevaa *nguo nzuri* (nice).
11. Ana *nywele nzuri* (nice).
12. Mtu yule ni *mtu mkubwa* (adult).
13. Yeye anapanda *mlima mkubwa* (big).
14. Gari yake ni *gari kubwa* (big).
15. Simu yake ni *simu mpya* (new).
