Chapter 45 - The Locative Classes

There are three distinct locative classes in Swahili : Classes 16, 17 and 18, according to the nomenclature of Bantu languages.

• Class 16 is characterized by the class prefix P-, PA- or PO-. It indicates a definite position. It contains only one noun : MAHALI (or MAHALA or PAHALI), a word which means : a place. This class is especially present in the class agreements which it involves, often even in the absence of the noun "MAHALI". It is also attested by the demonstratives HAPA, PALE, HAPO and the connective PA.

• Class 17 is characterized by the class prefix KU-. It indicates a movement from one place to another or an indefinite position. This class does not comprise any noun, but it is attested by the demonstratives HUKU, KULE, HUKO and the connective KWA.

• Class 18 is characterized by the class prefix M- or MW-. It indicates a position inside a place. It is attested by the demonstratives HUMU, MLE, HUMO and the connective MWA.

 1. ADJECTIVES : 

The adjective agrees by taking the locative prefix PA-.

 2. VERBS : 

   (See : Chapter 17 and Chapter 18.)

There are three locative subject prefixes : PA-, KU- and MU- corresponding respectively to classes 16, 17 et 18. Those exist only in the 3rd person singular. A point worth noting is that the locative, which is usually in the position of complement in the English sentence, can easily be the subject of a sentence in Swahili :

EXAMPLES :

Mahali hapa pamejaa watu.	This place is full of people.
Mezani hapakuwa na kitambaa	There was no table cloth on the table.
Nyumbani mwetu mmewekwa vyombo vipya.	New equipment was put in our house.
Hakuna kitu nyuma ya kabati.	There is nothing behind the cupboard.
Hapa palikufa simba.	A lion died here.
Mwituni mmelala wanyama.	Animals are sleeping in the forest.

They are frequently used with the verb KUWA NA (= to have) to translate "there is" or "there isn't":

EXAMPLES :

Pana mtoto mlangoni.	There is a child at the door.
Kuna wageni shambani.	There are foreigners in the field.
Mna kitu sandukuni.	There is something in the box.
Hapana miti hapa.	There are no trees here.
Hakuna mahindi mengi shambani.	There is not much corn in the field.
Hamna maji kisimani.	There is no water in the well.

 3. THE CONNECTIVES "PA", "MWA" and "KWA" : 

(See : Chapter 26 and Chapter 29.)

1. PA is used after the noun MAHALI and also after nouns suffixed in -NI. It is also used to form compound adjectives (See : Chapter 44.) :

   EXAMPLES :

   Mahali pa utulivu.	A quiet place.
   Mahali pa hatari.	A dangerous place.
   Aliacha jembe mlangoni pa mzee.	He left the hoe at the old man's door.

   
   

2. MWA is used after nouns suffixed in -NI :

   EXAMPLES :

   Watoto wanasoma nyumbani mwa mwalimu.	The children learn at the teacher's house.
   Miongoni mwa watoto, mmoja anasimama.	Among the children, one of them is standing.

   
   

3. The connective KWA is certainly one of the most frequently employed and it possesses many different meanings : at, to, by, for, with, and, etc. :

   EXAMPLES :

   Anakaa kwa Ali.	He stays at Ali's.
   Nitakwenda kwa jumbe.	I will go to the chief's.
   Alifika kwa gari la moshi.	He arrived by train.
   Chakula hiki hakifai kwa wageni.	This meal is not appropriate for the guests.
   Nitakula wali kwa mchuzi.	I will eat rice with / and sauce.

 4. POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES : 

Possessive adjectives take the prefixes PA-, KW- or MW- to agree with nouns suffixed in -NI (See : Chapter 29.) :

EXAMPLES :

Majirani pake.	In his neighbourhood.
Nyumbani kwako.	At your house.
Moyoni mwangu.	In my heart.

 5. LOCATIVE ADVERBS : 

(See : Chapter 26.)

 6. THE INTERROGATIVE WORD "WAPI ?" : 

(See : Chapter 21.)

 7. DEMONSTRATIVES  

These demonstratives can be used by themselves, or with a noun of place suffixed in -NI (= at, in, on).

EXAMPLES :

Mahali pale.	This place over there.
Itie hapa mezani.	Put it here on the table.
Anakaa huku.	He lives here.
Miongoni mwa watu wale kule.	Among these people over there.
Tia sahani hizi kabatini humo !	Put these plates inside this cupboard.

VOCABULARY

EXERCISES

EXERCISE 1 : Translate into Swahili :

A nice place, a dark place, a quiet place, another place, inside the house, outside, behind the door, on top of the mountain, in front of the shop, in the box, in the middle of the city, on the table, in the cupboard, in the teacher's house, in the Arab's shop, at the old man's door, at Ali's, at my father's, in your house, at that place over there.

EXERCISE 2 : Translate into English :

1. Je, yako maji kwako ? - Hakuna.
2. Simama ! Ninatelemka hapa.
3. Kuna watu wengi huko Dar es Salaam.
4. Pashia mizigo katika gari !
5. Watu wa makabila mengi wanakaa Mombasa.
6. Mbwa analala nje. Usimwache kuingia ndani !
7. Ninakaa kwa rafiki yangu Abdallah.
8. Hakuna chungu wala vyombo vingine vyote kabatini.
9. Ninasikia kiu. Coca-Cola iko ? - Hamna.
10. Na nini kule, si ndiyo Pepsi ? - Haa ! - Basi, nipe bwana !