GRADE 8 indigenous languages – Extensive Reading Quiz
1. In Swahili, which infix is used to show the present tense in a verb (for example 'I am going' = ninaenda)?
The infix -na- between the subject prefix and verb stem marks the present/habitual tense in Swahili (e.g., ni- + -na- + enda = ninaenda). -li- is past, -ta- is future, and -me- is perfect.
2. Which subject prefix means 'they' in Swahili (used with verbs)?
wa- is the third person plural subject prefix in Swahili (wa- + -na- + -enda = wanaenda meaning 'they are going'). ni- = I, tu- = we, m- = you (plural).
3. What is the correct plural form of the Swahili word 'mtu' (person)?
In Swahili the noun class for people uses m- (singular) and wa- (plural). Mtu (person) becomes watu (people).
4. How do you say 'my book' in Swahili?
For ki-/vi- class nouns like kitabu (book), the correct possessive is 'changu' so 'kitabu changu' = my book. 'Kitabu yako' would be your book, and 'kitu' is a different noun.
5. Which infix marks the future tense in Swahili verbs?
The future tense in Swahili is formed with -ta- placed after the subject prefix (e.g., ni- + -ta- + kula = nitakula 'I will eat').
6. In a Swahili verb, where does the object marker appear?
Object markers are inserted after the subject prefix and tense/aspect marker but before the verb stem (e.g., ni- + ta- + m- + ona = nitamwona 'I will see him/her').
7. Which Swahili question word means 'who'?
Nani means 'who' in Swahili. Nini = what, wapi = where, lini = when.
8. Which infix is used for the perfect (have/has) aspect in Swahili verbs?
-me- marks the perfect aspect (e.g., ni- + -me- + fika = nimefika 'I have arrived'). -li- past, -ta- future, -na- present.
9. Which Swahili negative prefix marks first person singular (I) in the present tense (I do not ...)?
si- is the negative subject prefix for first person singular (e.g., si- + enda = siendi 'I do not go'). ha- is third person singular negative, hu- is second person habitual negative, and saku- is not a standard prefix.
10. Which plural prefix corresponds to the m-/mi- noun class as in 'mti' (tree) → ?
The m-/mi- class forms plural with mi- (mti → miti). ki-/vi- is a different class, wa- is for people.
11. Which question word in Swahili asks 'where'?
Wapi means 'where'. Nani = who, nini = what, lini = when.
12. Which possessive suffix means 'our' in Swahili?
-etu is the possessive suffix for 'our' (e.g., nyumba yetu = our house). -angu = my, -ako = your (singular), -ao = their.
13. Which subject prefix means 'we' in Swahili?
tu- is the first person plural subject prefix (tu- + -na- + enda = tunaenda 'we are going').
14. Which particle can be added at the start of a Swahili sentence to form a yes/no question (common in Kenyan usage)?
Je placed at the beginning turns a statement into a yes/no question (Je, unaenda? = Are you going?).
15. Which sentence correctly means 'They have eaten' (perfect) in Swahili?
Wamekula uses the perfect marker -me- with wa- (they) and the verb kula (to eat) meaning 'they have eaten'. Wali kula = they ate (past), wata kula = they will eat (future), wanakula = they eat/are eating (present).
16. Which object marker is used for 'you' (singular) when it appears inside a Swahili verb?
ku- is the object marker for second person singular (e.g., ni- + ku- + ona = nikuone 'let me see you' / 'I see you' with object marker).
17. Which negative subject prefix marks first person singular overall (not tense-specific) in Swahili?
si- is the general negative prefix for 'I' (e.g., siendi 'I do not go', sikuja 'I did not come' uses si- in negative past forms too). ha- is third person singular negative.
18. Which Swahili phrase means 'why'?
Kwa nini means 'why' in Swahili. Wapi = where, lini = when, nani = who.
19. What is the correct plural of the Swahili noun 'kisu' (knife)?
Kisu belongs to the ki-/vi- class; its plural is visu (ki- → vi-).
20. Which possessive suffix indicates 'their' for many Swahili nouns?
-ao is the third person plural possessive suffix meaning 'their' (e.g., nyumba zao/nyumba zao depending on class, often realized as -ao).
21. Which sentence shows present progressive 'he/she is cooking' in Swahili?
Anapika uses a- (he/she) + -na- (present/progressive) + pika (cook) = 'he/she is cooking'. Alipika = he/she cooked (past), atapika = will cook, akipika = when/if he/she cooks.
22. Which relative pronoun is commonly used in Swahili to mean 'who' or 'which person' in a clause (e.g., 'the man who came')?
Ambaye is a relative pronoun used for people (e.g., mtu ambaye alikuja = the person who came). Ambau/ambao can be used for other classes; gani = which/what kind.
23. What is the plural imperative (command to a group) of the verb 'fanya' (do/make)?
Fanyeni is the plural (or respectful) imperative form addressed to more than one person. Fanya is the singular imperative.
24. Where do subject prefixes appear in Swahili sentences?
Subject prefixes (ni-, u-, a-, tu-, m-, wa-) come directly before the verb stem (often with tense/aspect markers between) to show who performs the action.
25. Which Swahili question word asks 'when'?
Lini means 'when' in Swahili. Wapi = where, nani = who, nini = what.