Lesson 9

Adjectives (continued)

Vocabulary

Learn the last half of the list of adjectives in Lesson 8.

16. Vowel Changes.

1. Though in Par. 4 we stated that a before another vowel drops out, there are exceptions to this rule. In the adjectives -iza and -inshi, when an a precedes the i, the two contract into e, thus: ba-iza becomes beza, ba-inshi becomes benshi.

2. Remember that as stated in Par. 4, u before another vowel becomes w, thus: mu-iza becomes mwiza.

3. Also remember that i often (not always) becomes y before another vowel, thus: mi-iza becomes myiza, and mi-inshi becomes myinshi.

Note I. In par. 14 we said that n before a vowel becomes nzm thus n -iza becomes nziza; however, the adjective -inshi is an exception, for n-inshi becomes nyinshi. In pronouncing this adjective -inshi, the n is nasal, and is not made with the tongue.

Note II. The adjective -nini in agreeing with the 3rd class does not get an extra n. It is simply like the stem: inka nini - a big cow.

Note III. The adjectives -nini and -to occaisonally are reduplicated in the plural forms: abahungu banini-banini - big boys; abana bato-bato - little children.

Exercises:

I. Translate into English:

1. Inka ze nyinshi. 2. Afite umwana mwiza. 3. Umukobwa we n’umuhungu we ni batoya. 4. Inzu yabo nini ni nziza cyane. 5. Abana bato si babi. 6. Umugabo muremure akora mu murima w’umwigisha. 7. Mfite intebe nziza nshya. 8. Umuhungu muto afite umunyu mwinshi. 9. Mbese abigishwa bafite imyenda myiza? 10. Mbese inka z’umusaza ni nini?

II. Translate into Kinyarwanda:

1. My good dog is very short. 2. Your (pl.) large cows are very nice. 3. Our small chairs are new. 4. Our great God is good. 5. Your (pl.) many people work hard. 6. A tall man is working in the garden. 7. The good children are not few. 8. The teacher has many gardens. 9. His long string is nice. 10. Our God is living.