Grade 10 indigenous languages – Extensive Reading Quiz
1. In many Kenyan Bantu languages (for example Swahili and Kikuyu), how is the noun class usually marked on a noun?
Bantu languages typically mark noun classes with prefixes attached to the noun stem (e.g., ki-, m-, wa- in Swahili/Kikuyu). These prefixes signal class and agreement patterns.
2. In Swahili verbs, which prefix marks the subject 'we' (first person plural)?
In Swahili the subject prefix for 'we' is 'tu-'. For example, 'tunasoma' means 'we read'.
3. Which Swahili verb marker expresses the perfect (have/has done) aspect as in 'I have read' (nime-soma)?
The perfect aspect in Swahili uses the prefix 'me-' (attached after the subject prefix), as in 'nime-soma' ('I have read'). 'Li-' is past, 'ta-' future, 'na-' present continuous/habitual.
4. Where is an object marker placed in a Swahili verb such as 'ninamwona' (I see him)?
In Swahili the object marker appears between the subject prefix and the verb stem (ni-na-m-wona: ni- subject, -m- object, -wona verb stem).
5. How is negation commonly formed in many Kenyan Bantu languages (for example Swahili)?
Negation in many Bantu languages uses negative prefixes attached to verbs (and in some tenses also a final negative suffix), e.g., Swahili present negative 'si-' for first person: 'soma' → 'somi' or 'sisi' forms depending on tense.
6. In Bantu adjective agreement, how do adjectives typically match the noun they describe?
Adjectives in Bantu languages agree with the noun by taking prefixes that reflect the noun class (e.g., Swahili 'kitabu kikubwa' – 'kikubwa' agrees with 'kitabu').
7. What is the main grammatical effect of adding an applicative suffix (for example -ia/-isha in Swahili) to a verb?
The applicative suffix makes the verb take an additional object or indicate a beneficiary/instrument/location (e.g., 'andika' → 'andikia' meaning write to/for someone).
8. Which word commonly introduces relative clauses in Swahili texts read in extensive reading activities?
Relative clauses in Swahili are often introduced by relative pronouns like 'ambaye', 'ambayo', 'amba-' which link and agree with the noun they modify.
9. How are possessive relationships typically shown in Swahili and many Bantu languages when reading a text?
Possessives in Swahili are expressed by a word after the noun that agrees with the noun class (e.g., 'kitabu changu' – 'changu' matches class of 'kitabu').
10. What is the typical basic word order in many Kenyan indigenous languages such as Swahili and Luo in simple sentences?
Many Kenyan languages like Swahili and Luo use SVO word order (e.g., 'Mwanafunzi anasoma kitabu' – 'The student reads a book'), so learners can expect SVO in extensive reading.
11. Which particle is often used in Swahili to form yes/no questions in written texts and oral speech?
The particle 'je' is commonly used to introduce yes/no questions in Swahili (e.g., 'Je, unakuja?'). It signals a question in reading and listening.
12. How is the imperative (command) usually formed for the singular 'you' in Swahili?
The singular imperative in Swahili uses the verb stem directly (e.g., 'soma!' = 'Read!'), dropping subject prefixes.
13. How is the passive usually formed in Swahili when reading sentences like 'the letter was written'?
Swahili forms the passive by adding -wa/-iwa to the verb stem (e.g., 'andika' → 'andikwa' or 'iliandikwa'), marking the action as passive.
14. Which demonstrative would you expect in Swahili to point to a nearby singular person or thing when reading a story?
'Huyu' is the demonstrative used for a nearby singular person/thing in Swahili. 'Hizi' and 'zile' are plural or distant forms.
15. What is the usual future tense marker in Swahili verb forms that learners meet in extensive reading texts?
The future in Swahili uses the marker 'ta' (e.g., 'nita-soma' = 'I will read'). 'li' marks simple past, 'me' perfect, 'na' present/habitual.
16. When reading an unfamiliar sentence in a Bantu language, why is it useful to recognise the subject prefix on the verb?
Subject prefixes on Bantu verbs encode person and number, so recognising them helps readers identify the subject and understand sentence structure.
17. Which grammatical clue most often helps you find the antecedent of a pronoun when doing extensive reading in Bantu languages?
Pronouns and agreeing words show noun class/number agreement, so matching this agreement helps identify which noun the pronoun refers to.
18. What does a serial verb construction (two verbs in sequence) commonly show in many Kenyan languages when reading narratives?
Serial verb constructions link verbs that share subject/object to express a sequence or manner of action (e.g., 'go take eat') and are common in several Kenyan languages.
19. Which of the following is a typical grammatical effect of negation on verbs in Bantu languages when reading texts?
Negation often replaces or modifies subject/tense markers with specific negative forms (e.g., negative subject prefixes), so readers must notice these to interpret tense or person correctly.
20. How is subject–verb agreement typically shown in many Kenyan languages like Swahili?
Subject–verb agreement is encoded with prefixes on the verb (e.g., 'a-na-soma' – 'a-' marks third person singular), a key grammatical cue when reading.
21. In Swahili, what does the particle 'na' most commonly express in sentences you read?
'Na' functions as a coordinator meaning 'and' or as a preposition meaning 'with' in Swahili (e.g., 'mwalimu na mwanafunzi' = 'teacher and student').
22. What grammatical function does reduplication often serve in Kenyan languages like Swahili when you see words like 'polepole' or 'kumbukumbuka' in texts?
Reduplication doubles all or part of a word to show repetition, intensity, habitual action, or distributive meaning (e.g., 'polepole' = very slowly).
23. Why do possessive pronouns change form after different nouns in Bantu languages encountered during extensive reading?
Possessive forms carry agreement prefixes that match the noun class of the noun they modify, so their shape changes depending on the possessed noun's class.
24. Recognising relative pronouns like 'amba-' or 'yeye' in reading helps you do what grammatically?
Relative pronouns link clauses and agree with the noun class of their antecedent, helping readers combine information about the same noun in extended texts.
25. When you encounter an unfamiliar Bantu noun beginning with the prefix 'ki-' (or 'chi-'), what can you often infer about that noun in reading Kenyan texts?
Prefixes like 'ki-/chi-' in many Bantu languages commonly mark class 7/8, which often includes tools, diminutives, or inanimate things; this helps infer meaning of unknown words.
26. In the Kiswahili sentence 'Wanafunzi walisoma kitabu', which part shows both subject agreement and past tense?
In Kiswahili the past tense is marked by the tense marker 'li' combined with the subject concord. For the plural subject 'wanafunzi' the combined form is 'wali-' (wa- subject concord + -li- past marker) as in 'walisoma'.
27. In the verb 'Nimekuona' (I have seen you), which element is the object marker referring to 'you'?
'Nimekuona' decomposes as ni- (subject I) + -me- (perfect aspect) + -ku- (object marker 'you') + -ona (verb root 'see'). The object marker 'ku-' stands for 'you'.
28. Which word is the correct plural form of the noun 'mtu' (person) in Bantu noun class agreement?
'Mtu' (singular, class 1) forms its plural in class 2 as 'watu' (wa- prefix), so 'watu' is the correct plural meaning 'people'.
29. Which prefix indicates negative for third person singular in Kiswahili present tense?
In Kiswahili the negative prefix for third person singular is 'ha-'. For example, 'anacheza' (he/she plays) becomes 'hachezi' (he/she does not play) or with tense markers 'hakufika' etc.
30. Choose the correct possessive form that agrees with the plural noun 'vitabu' (books): 'their books'.
Possessives in Kiswahili agree with the noun class. For class 8 'vitabu' the concord for 'his/her' is 'vyake', so 'vitabu vyake' means 'his/her books'.
31. Which relative pronoun is used in Kiswahili to refer to a single person (who/that) as in 'the student who came'?
'Ambaye' is the relative pronoun used for singular animate beings (people). For example, 'mwanafunzi ambaye alikuja' = 'the student who came.'
32. Which verb form is passive in Kiswahili: 'Mwalimu alimfundisha mwanafunzi' (the teacher taught the student) vs which passive form?
The passive in Kiswahili is formed with verb extensions like '-ishwa/-wika' or '-wa'. 'Alifundishwa' is passive ('he/she was taught'), while 'alimfundisha' is active ('he/she taught').
33. Which verb form is causative for the root 'soma' (to read) to mean 'to make/teach to read'?
The causative extension in Kiswahili is '-isha'/'-esha'. 'Soma' (read) becomes 'somesha' meaning 'to make someone read' or 'to teach reading'.
34. Which is the correct plural agreement for the adjective 'mrefu' (tall) referring to 'people' (from 'mtu mrefu')?
Adjectives in Kiswahili agree with the noun class. For class 2 'watu' the adjective 'mrefu' changes to the class 2 form 'warefu', giving 'watu warefu' for 'tall people'.
35. Which demonstrative would you use in Kiswahili to point to a nearby person 'this person'?
'Huyu' is the demonstrative for a nearby singular person meaning 'this (person)'. 'Yule' is distant singular, 'hawa' is nearby plural, and 'yale' is distant plural.
36. In the Kiswahili sentence 'Mwalimu alisoma somo', which word is the direct object?
Typical Kiswahili word order is Subject–Verb–Object (SVO). 'Mwalimu' is the subject, 'alisoma' the verb, and 'somo' (lesson/book) is the direct object.
37. In the sentence 'Ninampa kijana chakula' (I give the boy food), which word is the indirect object (the recipient)?
In that sentence 'kijana' (the boy) is the indirect object or recipient of the action; 'chakula' is the direct object (the thing given).
38. Which Kiswahili question word asks 'who'?
'Nani' is the interrogative word for 'who' in Kiswahili. 'Nini' = what, 'wapi' = where, 'lini' = when.
39. Which possessive word means 'my' when referring to an animate singular noun like 'mwalimu' (teacher)?
For class 1 (animate singular) possessive 'my' is 'wangu' as in 'mwalimu wangu' = 'my teacher'.
40. Which demonstrative in Kiswahili refers to a distant singular person (that person over there)?
'Yule' is the demonstrative for a distant singular person ('that person'). 'Huyu' = this person (near), 'hawa' = these people (near), 'yale' = those (far plural).
41. What is the correct plural of the noun 'kiti' (chair) in Kiswahili?
'Kiti' (class 7) forms plural in class 8 with the prefix 'vi-', giving 'viti'.
42. Which prefix in Kiswahili marks the present perfect (has/have) as in 'has slept'?
The particle '-me-' is used to form the present perfect in Kiswahili: 'amelewa' = he/she has drunk/slept etc. 'li-' marks past, 'na-' present progressive, 'ta-' future.
43. Which reflexive marker is used in Kiswahili to show an action done to oneself, as in 'he washes himself'?
The reflexive in Kiswahili uses 'ji-' or 'ji-' forms attached to the verb (e.g., 'anajisafisha' = he/she cleans himself/herself). The 'ji-' element indicates the action is reflexive.
44. Which form is the past negative for third person singular in Kiswahili ('he/she was not')?
'Alikuwa' is past affirmative ('he/she was'), while 'hakuwa' is past negative ('he/she was not'). 'Atakuwa' is future, 'amekuwa' is present perfect.
45. Which suffix in Kiswahili often marks locative meaning 'at/in' as in 'shuleni' (at school)?
The locative suffix '-ni' attaches to nouns to indicate location: 'shuleni' = at school, 'nyumbani' = at home.
46. In Kiswahili, reduplication like 'pole-pole' most commonly indicates which function?
Reduplication in Kiswahili and other Bantu languages often indicates emphasis, intensity, or iterative/continuous action (e.g., 'pole-pole' = slowly/gently).
47. Which is the correct Kiswahili form for 'two books' showing numeral agreement: 'vitabu ____'?
Numerals 2–5 in Kiswahili agree with the noun class by taking the appropriate prefix; for class 8 'vitabu' the form is 'v iwili' giving 'vitabu viwili' = two books.
48. Which relative pronoun in Kiswahili refers to things (inanimate objects) as in 'the book that I read'?
'Ambacho' is commonly used for inanimate singular nouns or things (e.g., 'kitabu ambacho nimesoma' = 'the book that I have read'). 'Ambaye' is for people.
49. When doing extensive reading in an indigenous (Bantu) language text, recognizing noun class prefixes helps you to do what grammatical task?
Recognizing noun class prefixes is essential for matching adjectives, possessives, and concords to their nouns, since agreement is signaled by noun class in Bantu languages.
50. In reported speech in Kiswahili, which particle often begins a reported clause showing 'that' (e.g., he said that...)?
The verb 'kuwa' (to be) is often used to introduce reported clauses in Kiswahili (e.g., 'alisema kuwa atakuja' = 'he said that he will come').