Language/Shona/Grammar/Personal-Pronouns
Introduction
In this lesson, you will learn about Shona personal pronouns and how to use them in sentences. Pronouns are an essential part of any language, and Shona is no exception. By using pronouns, you can avoid repeating the same noun multiple times in a sentence, making your speech more concise and efficient. Pronouns are also a critical aspect of grammar and must be learned to speak Shona fluently.
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Present Tense & Past Tense.
Personal Pronouns in Shona
In Shona, personal pronouns are used to replace a noun or a noun phrase. There are nine personal pronouns in Shona, and they are divided into three categories based on the class of the noun they represent:
| Category | Person | Subject Pronoun | Object Pronoun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 1st person singular | ndiri | ndini |
| 2nd person singular | wakho | wakatanga | |
| 3rd person singular | ake | ake | |
| Class 2 | 1st person plural | tiri | tine |
| 2nd person plural | muri | muri | |
| 3rd person plural | vavo | avavo | |
| Class 3 | 1st person singular | ndini | ndini |
| 2nd person singular | kwako | kwakatanga | |
| 3rd person singular | ake | ake |
Let's take a closer look at the personal pronouns and their usage in sentences.
Class 1 Personal Pronouns
Class 1 personal pronouns refer to nouns of class 1, which include people, animates, and abstract concepts. There are three singular pronouns and three plural pronouns in class 1.
| Subject Pronoun | Object Pronoun | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| ndiri | ndini | Refers to the first person singular (I, me) |
| wakho | wakatanga | Refers to the second person singular (you) |
| ake | ake | Refers to the third person singular (he, she, it) |
| tiri | tine | Refers to the first person plural (we, us) |
| muri | muri | Refers to the second person plural (you all) |
| avavo | avavo | Refers to the third person plural (they) |
Examples:
- Hanzvadzi yangu iri vakadzi. Ndiri achikunda. (My sister is a woman. I love her.)
- Wakambokufunga kuti ndiri nani? (Who did you think I was?)
- Munhu ake anobva kupi? (Where does he come from?)
- Tiri pamushana. (We are at the market.)
- Muri vana bako here? (Are you all his children?)
- Avavo vanoda kudya maputi. (They like eating popcorn.)
Class 2 Personal Pronouns
Class 2 personal pronouns refer to nouns of class 2, which include animals, plants, and objects. There are three singular pronouns and three plural pronouns in class 2.
| Subject Pronoun | Object Pronoun | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| ndini | ndini | Refers to the first person singular (I, me) |
| kwako | kwakatanga | Refers to the second person singular (you) |
| ake | ake | Refers to the third person singular (it) |
| tine | tine | Refers to the first person plural (we, us) |
| muri | muri | Refers to the second person plural (you all) |
| avavo | avavo | Refers to the third person plural (they) |
Examples:
- Ndimi ndinokanda inyoka. Ndini ndini. (I catch snakes. I am brave.)
- Wakanzi ndikangobvuma kwazvo, tinemi? (Did you say I should agree, us all?)
- Ake ane gamuchirai. (It has long hair.)
- Tinogara hedu tine zvikuru zvakaitika. (We live together, we have been through a lot.)
- Muri vana vakuru kwamuri? (Are you all grown-up at your place?)
- Avavo vanodhura. (They are sharp.)
Usage of Personal Pronouns in Sentences
Personal pronouns can be used as subjects or objects in sentences, as in the examples above. In Shona, the verb form changes depending on the pronoun used. The subject pronouns listed above are used to indicate who or what is performing the action in a sentence, while the object pronouns are used to show who or what is receiving the action.
Examples:
- Ndiri nduti kunyarara. (I am trying to sleep.)
- Tine mabhazi masiyanisa pamusoro pese, kwete? (We have buses that connect us everywhere, right?)
- Wakangwara here kuhondo? Wakanzi ndini. (Were you brave during the war? You said I was.)
- Ndiwe wotakura kwakaita mapeteshere. Ndini ndakarwa nekukoshesa. (You are growing the best watermelons. I was amazed and surprised.)
- Ndakudzidzisai muri vamwe varikutodawo kuzochena. (I taught you, others would also like to learn.)
- Ake akatabva kwaari wembwa. Akatanga kusapota makorokoto enyika. (It came from a poor family. It started supporting country achievements.)
Conclusion
Personal pronouns are an essential part of Shona grammar and are used to replace nouns in sentences. By learning the categories and forms of personal pronouns, you can communicate more efficiently and effectively in Shona. In the next lesson, we will learn about Shona numbers and how to use them in sentences. Keep up the good work!
Upon wrapping up this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Indirect Questions & Noun Classes.
Other Lessons
- Pronouns
- Past Tense
- How to Use Be
- Give your Opinion
- Conditional Mood
- Negation
- The Shona Alphabet
- Comparatives and Superlatives
- Questions