Demonstrative Adjectives
Vocabulary for this lesson is to learn the forms in the first two columns of the following table.
172. Demonstratives. Do not be frightened by the many forms listed in the table. Once you observe how each different kind of demonstrative is formed; it is not difficult. It is very important to know when each kind of demonstrative is to be used.
112. Uyu. This is formed by the initial vowel of the class prefix and the verb prefix for that class. When two vowels come together it is inserted between them. (The first class singular is an exception to this, u being used instead of a). e.g. aha - a is the initial vowel of the first class plural prefix, and -ba is the verb prefix. iyi (3rd cl. sing.) -i is the initial vowel of the noun prefix, and i is the verb prefix. Since the two vowels come together they are joined by y, thus making iyi.
Uyu (and the other forms in the first column) means “this”- referring to that which is near: uyu mugabo - this man.
174. Uwo - that. This is simply the initial vowel of the class plus the possessive particle with a changed to o. It means “that” which is quite near.
175. Uwo can also mean “that” in the sense of that which has already been mentioned, while uyu may mean “that which I am about to mention,” or at least which has not yet been mentioned. e.g. ayo magambo - those words (which I have already spoken) aya magambo - these words (whiCh I am about to speak)
176. An important rule: Demonstratives precede their nouns (there are a few rare exceptions to this), and remove their initial vowels. e.g. abo bagabo - those men.
Remember the rule about mu and ku with demonstratives (par. 102). e.g. muri abo bantu - among those people.
DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES
| Class | this | that | that yonder | that |
| 1st sing. | uyu | uwo | uriya | wa |
| pl. | aba | abo | bariya | ba |
| 2nd sing. | uyu | uwo | uriya | wa |
| pl. | iyi | iyo | iriya | ya |
| 3rd sing. | iyi | iyo | iriya | ya |
| pl. | izi | izo | ziriya | za |
| 4th sing. | iki | icyo | kiriya | cya |
| pl. | ibi | ibyo | biriya | bya |
| 5th sing. | iri | iryo | ririya | rya |
| p. | aya | ayo | ariya | ya |
| 6th sing. | uru | urwo | uriya | rwa |
| pl. | izi | izo | ziriya | za |
| 7th sing. | aka | ako | kariya | ka |
| pl. | utu | utwo | turiya | twa |
| 8th sing. | ubu | ubwo | buriya | bwa |
| pl. | aya | ayo | ariya | ya |
| 9th sing. | uku | ukwo ( uko) | kuriya | kwa |
| pl. | aya | ayo | ariya | ya |
| 10th s. & pl. | aha | aho | hariya | ha |
Exercises:
I. Translate into English:
1. Zana ibyo bitabo; biri ku meza. 2. Uyu mugabo azajya i Kigali. 3. Iri buye rinini ni ryiza; urijyane kuko nzaryubakisha. 4. Muri iki gihugu hari abantu benshi cyane. 5. Muri iyo minsi twahawe umunezero mwinshi muri Yesu. 6. Iyi njangwe ni nziza kuko ikunda gufata imbeba iminsi yose. 7. Urwo rugo rwubatswe na mukuru wanjye. 8. Muri uku k~ezi abantu benshi bafashwe n’indwara mbi cyane. 9. Izi nanasi zibwe n’aba bana. Bazahanwa n’ ababyeyi babo. 10. Mbese urandikisha iyo karamu cyangwa urashaka indi?
II. Translate into Kinyarwanda:
1. That child is very sick; give him (some) medicine. 2. Those words of Jesus help us to follow Him. 3. Take these books to those teachers. 4. Let us sing that song again. 5. Take those cows from the path. 6. The teacher is going to read (do not translate “going”) the Word of God. These are good words. 7. I can’t make (= cause to) the child drink this medicine. 8. Put away this milk but pour out that milk. 9. All these people can’t go in that boat; it is very small. 10. In these days there are thieves everywhere.