ni + Adjective
Adjective Predicates with Ni
In Swahili, to say that something 'is' a certain way (like 'the food is good'), you use the word ni followed by an adjective.
How It Works
When you want to describe a present state or quality, you use the pattern: Subject + ni + Adjective.
1. The Present Copula 'ni'
Unlike verbs in Swahili, ni does not take subject prefixes or tense markers. In the affirmative present tense, it is always just ni, whether you are saying 'I am', 'they are', or 'the book is'. To make it negative ('am not', 'is not', 'are not'), you use the negative copula si. Note that in everyday spoken Swahili, ni is frequently dropped entirely without changing the meaning.
2. Adjective Agreement
While ni stays the same, the adjective following it must agree with the subject's noun class. For example, with a class 7 noun like chakula (food), the adjective takes the ki- prefix: Chakula ni kizuri (The food is good). For all singular human pronouns (I, you, he, she), the adjective takes the Class 1 prefix m-. For example, Mimi ni mzuri (I am good) or Wewe ni mrefu (You are tall). For plural human pronouns (we, you all, they), the adjective takes the Class 2 prefix wa-, as in Sisi ni wazuri (We are good) or Wao ni warefu (They are tall). Also, be aware of vowel-commencing adjectives, where prefixes may change shape (e.g., m- + -eusi = mweusi).
3. Invariable Adjectives
Some adjectives, often borrowed from Arabic (like safi 'clean' or muhimu 'important'), do not take any prefixes. With these, the whole sentence is very simple: Jiko ni safi (The stove is clean).
4. Past and Future Tenses
Because ni only works for the present tense, you must use the verb -wa (to be) with standard tense prefixes to express the past or future (for example, kilikuwa for 'it was' or atakuwa for 'he/she will be').
Important Note: ni is only used for descriptions and identity. It is never used to say where something is. For location, you must use locative markers instead.
Examples (4)
- Chakula ni kizuri.
The food is good.
Word by Word: Food is good.
The adjective takes the ki- prefix to agree with chakula.
- Watu ni wazuri.
The people are good.
Word by Word: People are good.
The adjective takes the wa- prefix to agree with watu.
- Maji ni safi.
The water is clean.
Word by Word: Water is clean.
Safi is an invariable adjective, so it takes no prefix.
- Kazi ni muhimu.
The work is important.
Word by Word: Work is important.
Muhimu is another invariable adjective.
Common Mistakes
Forgetting to apply the correct noun class agreement prefix to the adjective.
Chakula ni mzuri.Chakula ni kizuri.The adjective must agree with the noun class of the subject. Since chakula is a Class 7 noun, the adjective takes the ki- prefix, not the Class 1 m- prefix.
Using 'ni' to express location.
Mimi ni nyumbani.Mimi niko nyumbani.ni is only for descriptions and identity. To say where someone or something is, you must use a locative copula like -ko, -po, or -mo.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use adjective predicates with 'ni', you first need to understand how 'ni' acts as a linking verb (copula) in the present tense. Additionally, because Swahili adjectives change their prefixes to match the noun they describe, a solid grasp of noun class agreement is necessary to ensure the adjective correctly matches the subject.
- niPresent Copula Ni
The word 'ni' functions as the present copula (is/are) in Swahili, which is the core structural element of this predicate pattern.
Level 1 - Agreement Across the Sentence
Adjectives in Swahili must agree with the noun they describe using specific class prefixes; understanding this agreement is essential for forming correct adjective predicates.
Foundations
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice ni + Adjective in Bubblegum
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