Originally posted by: machieng https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/32745349
Noun class | Noun example | -a prefix | -zuri prefix | -eusi prefix | amba- suffix | '-o' rejeshi affixes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M-Wa | Mpishi-Wapishi | wa-wa | mzuri-wazuri | mweusi-weusi | ambaye-ambao | aliye-walio |
Ji-Ma | Dirisha-Madirisha | la-ya | zuri-mazuri | jeusi-meusi | ambalo-ambayo | lililo-yaliyo |
Ki-Vi | Kikombe-Vikombe | cha-vya | kizuri-vizuri | cheusi-vyeusi | ambacho-ambavyo | kilicho-vilivyo |
M-Mi | Mwiko-Miiko | wa-ya | mzuri-mizuri | mweusi-meusi | ambao-ambayo | ulio-iliyo |
U-N | Uzi-Nyuzi | wa-za | mzuri-nzuri | mweusi-nyeusi | ambao-ambazo | ulio-zilizo |
N-N | Kalamu-Kalamu | ya-za | nzuri-nzuri | nyeusi-nyeusi | ambayo-ambazo | iliyo-zilizo |
U-Ma | Ugonjwa-Magonjwa | wa-ya | mzuri-mazuri | mweusi-meusi | ambao-ambayo | ulio-yaliyo |
Things to Note
- I included the adjectives '-zuri' (good/nice) and '-eusi' (black), which are representative of the differences in adjective prefix when the stem begins with a consonant versus a vowel. Note that some adjectives don't have prefixes for some classes e.g. 'safi' (clean) i.e. 'Mtu msafi, Dirisha safi, Nyumba safi, Kiatu kisafi'. Adjectives like this are in the minority, however.
- The noun class M/Wa applies to all people, animals, insects, fish and birds. This is the only group of nouns with a specific noun class, the rest will become easier with practice. Often the naming of the nouns themselves do not follow the M/Wa prefix trend, but all other affixes mentioned for the M/Wa noun class apply to the verbs, adjectives, etc related to the nouns e.g.
Daktari wa upasuaji aliye na vazi jekundu - Madaktari wa upasuaji walio na mavazi mekundu ((The) surgeon with a red garment - Surgeons with red garments)\n\n> Kifaranga mdogo - Vifaranga wadogo (Small chick - small chicks)
- The nouns in the Ki/Vi noun class are the only nouns with a regular pattern of prefixes in their singular and plural form. The singular prefixes will either be Ki- or Ch-, and their corresponding plural prefixes are Vi- and Vy-\n\n> Choo kimechafuliwa na kioo kimevunjika - Vyoo vimechafuliwa na vioo vimevunjika (The toilet has been soiled and the mirror is broken - The toilets have been soiled and the mirrors are broken)\n\n* Refer to the Tips and Notes section of the lesson 'People' for the exceptions regarding kinship nouns
- Nouns in the N/N noun class are countable nouns that are the same in singular and in plural\n* Uncountable nouns don't all use the same affixes e.g. Maji, mafuta, maziwa
ya
versus ungawa
- It's difficult to capture all the noun class nuances, so sometimes you will come across exceptions to the rule
It's a good idea to familiarize yourselves with different nouns and identify their noun classes. As I said, practice makes it easier to identify the correct affixes; that's pretty much the only way to learn them, there's no set formula\n\nI already did the pronoun affixes [here]
Leave your questions down below! Challenge yourself to form sentences from the table above (with different nouns) in the comments, even if you're unsure, and we can keep the conversation going
Happy learning!