ZVISAZITASINGWI (PRONOUNS)

Chii chinonzi Chisazitasingwi? (What is a Pronoun?)

Chisazitasingwi izwi rinomirira kana kutsiva zita. Rinobatsira kuti mutauro usazonetse nekungodzokorora zita rimwe chete. MuChiShona, zvisazitasingwi zvinowanzoshanduka zvichienderana nemupanda wezita rarinomirira, uye dzimwe nguva zvichienderana nebasa razvo mumutsara (subject, object, etc.).

(English Translation: A pronoun is a word that stands in for or replaces a noun. It helps to make language less cumbersome by avoiding the repetition of the same noun. In Shona, pronouns often change according to the noun class of the noun they are representing, and sometimes according to their function in the sentence (subject, object, etc.).)

Mhando dzeZvisazitasingwi (Types of Pronouns):

Kune mhando dzakawanda dzezvisazitasingwi. Ngatitarisei dzimwe dzacho dzakakosha:

(English Translation: There are many types of pronouns. Let's look at some important ones):

1. Zvisazitasingwi ZveMunhu (Personal Pronouns)

   Izvi zvinomirira vanhu kana zvinhu zviri kutaurwa nezvazvo. Zvinoshanduka zvichienderana nekuti ndiani ari kutaura (first person), ari kutaurwa naye (second person), kana ari kutaurwa nezvake (third person), pamwe nehuwandu (singular/plural).

   (English Translation: These represent the people or things being spoken about. They change according to who is speaking (first person), being spoken to (second person), or being spoken about (third person), as well as number (singular/plural).)

   Zvinoshanda seMutemo weChiito (Subject Pronouns - zvinonziwo zvibvumirano zvemutemo kana zviri zvikamu zvezviito):

   • Ini (I): Ndinoenda. (I go.) - Chibvumirano: Ndi-
   • Iwe (You - singular): Unoenda. (You go.) - Chibvumirano: U-
   • Iye (He/She): Anoenda. (He/She goes.) - Chibvumirano: A- (Mupanda 1)
   • Isu (We): Tinoenda. (We go.) - Chibvumirano: Ti-
   • Imi (You - plural): Munoenda. (You go.) - Chibvumirano: Mu-
   • Ivo (They): Vanoenda. (They go.) - Chibvumirano: Va- (Mupanda 2)

   (English Notes: These also function as subject concords when they are part of verbs)

   Zvinoshanda seMuitirwi weChiito (Object Pronouns - zvinonziwo zvibvumirano zvemuitirwi kana zviri zvikamu zvezviito):

   • Ini (Me): Akandiona. (He/She saw me.) - Chibvumirano: -ndi-
   • Iwe (You - singular): Akakuona. (He/She saw you.) - Chibvumirano: -ku-
   • Iye (Him/Her): Akamuona. (He/She saw him/her.) - Chibvumirano: -mu- (Mupanda 1)
   • Isu (Us): Akationa. (He/She saw us.) - Chibvumirano: -ti-
   • Imi (You - plural): Akamiona. (He/She saw you.) - Chibvumirano: -mi- (kana -ku-...-i nechiwedzerwa)
   • Ivo (Them): Akavaona. (He/She saw them.) - Chibvumirano: -va- (Mupanda 2)

   (English Notes: These also function as object concords when they are part of verbs)

   Zvisazitasingwi ZveMunhu Zvakasununguka (Absolute/Independent Personal Pronouns): Zvinomira zvega.

   • Ini ndiri kuuya. (I am coming.)
   • Iwe unofanira kuteerera. (You must listen.)
   • Iye ndiye akahwina. (He/She is the one who won.)
   • Isu tichapedza basa. (We will finish the work.)
   • Imi garai pasi. (You (plural) sit down.)
   • Ivo vakaenda kumusha. (They went home.)

2. Zvisazitasingwi ZveChiratidzo (Demonstrative Pronouns)

   Izvi zvinoshandiswa kuratidza kana kunongedza chinhu kana munhu maererano nekuti chiri pedyo here, chiri kure zvishoma, kana kuti chiri kure kwazvo. Zvinoenderana nemipanda yemazita.

   (English Translation: These are used to point out or indicate a thing or person in relation to its proximity – near, a bit further, or very far. They agree with noun classes.)

   Mienzaniso yeMipanda Mishoma (Examples for a Few Classes):

   • Mupanda 1:
     • uyu (this one - near) - Munhu uyu. (This person.)
     • uyo (that one - further) - Munhu uyo. (That person.)
     • uya (that one - far) - Munhu uya. (That person over there.)
   • Mupanda 2:
     • ava (these ones - near) - Vanhu ava. (These people.)
     • avo (those ones - further) - Vanhu avo. (Those people.)
     • avaya (those ones - far) - Vanhu avaya. (Those people over there.)
   • Mupanda 7:
     • ichi (this one - near) - Chigaro ichi. (This chair.)
     • icho (that one - further) - Chigaro icho. (That chair.)
     • chiya (that one - far) - Chigaro chiya. (That chair over there.)
   • Mupanda 8:
     • izvi (these ones - near) - Zvigaro izvi. (These chairs.)
     • izvo (those ones - further) - Zvigaro izvo. (Those chairs.)
     • zviya (those ones - far) - Zvigaro zviya. (Those chairs over there.)

   Cherechedza: Mupanda wega wega une zvisazitasingwi zvechiratidzo zvinoenderana nawo.
   (Note: Each noun class has its corresponding demonstrative pronouns.)

3. Zvisazitasingwi ZveUhwene (Possessive Pronouns)

   Izvi zvinoratidza kuti chinhu chiri cheni. Zvinoshandisa chivakashure chinoenderana nemupanda wechinhu chiri cheni, uye mudzi unoratidza muridzi wacho.

   (English Translation: These indicate ownership. They use a prefix that agrees with the noun class of the possessed item, and a stem that indicates the owner.)

   Midzi yeUhwene (Possessive Stems):

   • -angu (my)
   • -ako (your - singular)
   • -ake (his/her/its)
   • -edu (our)
   • -enyu (your - plural)
   • -avo (their)

   Mienzaniso yeMipanda Mishoma (Examples for a Few Classes):

   • Mupanda 1 (Chinhu chiri cheni chiri muMupanda 1 - zita remunhu):
     • Mwana wangu. (My child.)
     • Mwana wako. (Your child.)
     • Mwana wake. (His/Her child.)
   • Mupanda 7 (Chinhu chiri cheni chiri muMupanda 7):
     • Chigaro changu. (My chair.)
     • Chigaro chako. (Your chair.)
     • Chigaro chake. (His/Her chair.)
   • Mupanda 6 (Chinhu chiri cheni chiri muMupanda 6 - should be Mupanda 2 for Mabhuku to fit 'avo' better, but assuming 'Mabhuku angu/ako/ake'):
     • Mabhuku angu. (My books.)
     • Mabhuku ako. (Your books.)
     • Mabhuku ake. (His/Her books.)

   Cherechedza: Chivakashure chinoshanduka zvichienderana nemupanda wechinhu chiri cheni.
   (Note: The prefix changes according to the noun class of the possessed item.)

4. Zvisazitasingwi ZveKubvunza (Interrogative Pronouns)

   Izvi zvinoshandiswa pakubvunza mibvunzo.

   (English Translation: These are used for asking questions.)

   • Ani? (Who? - singular): Ndiani auya? (Who has come?)
   • Vanaani? (Who? - plural): Ndivanaani vari kuchema? (Who are the ones crying?)
   • Chii? (What?): Uri kuda chii? (What do you want?)
   • -pi? (Which? - inoshandiswa nechivakashure chemupanda):
     • Munhu upi? (Which person?)
     • Chigaro chipi? (Which chair?)
     • Mabhuku api? (Which books?)
   • Rini? (When?): Uchauya rini? (When will you come?)
   • Sei? (How? Why?): Wakazviita sei? (How did you do it?) Sei wasvika late? (Why did you arrive late?)
   • Kupi? (Where?): Uri kuenda kupi? (Where are you going?)
   • Ngani? (How many? - inoshandiswa nechivakashure chemupanda):
     • Vanhu vangani? (How many people?)
     • Mabhuku mangani? (How many books?) (Inoshandisa chibvumirano cheMupanda 6)

5. Zvisazitasingwi Zvisina Chokwadi (Indefinite Pronouns)

   Izvi zvinoreva vanhu kana zvinhu nenzira isina kujeka kana kuti isina kunanga munhu kana chinhu chimwe chete.

   (English Translation: These refer to people or things in a general or non-specific way.)

   • Mumwe (Someone, another one): Mumwe munhu akasvika. (Someone arrived.) Ndipe mumwe mukombe. (Give me another cup.)
   • Vamwe (Some people, other people): Vamwe vakaenda, vamwe vakasara. (Some went, others remained.)
   • Chimwe (Something, another thing - Mupanda 7): Ndine chimwe chinhu chekukuudza. (I have something to tell you.)
   • Zvimwe (Some things, other things - Mupanda 8): Akaunza zvimwe zvipo. (He brought some gifts.)
   • Hapana (Nothing, no one - negative): Hapana auya. (No one came.) Hapana chandakaona. (I saw nothing.)
   • Chose (All, every - inoshandiswa nechivakashure chemupanda):
     • Munhu wose. (Every person.)
     • Vanhu vose. (All people.)
     • Chinhu chose. (Everything.)
     • Zvinhu zvose. (All things.)
   • Pose (Everywhere): Ndakamutsvaga pose pose. (I looked for him everywhere.)
   • Chese (Anything - Mupanda 7): Unogona kutora chese chaunoda. (You can take anything you want.)
   • Kwese (Everywhere): Kwakanga kune vanhu kwese kwese. (There were people everywhere.)

6. Zvisazitasingwi Zvekuzviitira (Reflexive Pronouns)

   Izvi zvinoratidza kuti muiti wechiito ndiyewo muitirwi wacho. MuChiShona, izvi zvinowanzoratidzwa nechivakashure -zvi- chinoiswa muchiito.

   (English Translation: These indicate that the doer of the action is also the receiver of the action. In Shona, this is usually shown by the infix -zvi- placed within the verb.)

   Mienzaniso:

   • Akazvicheka. (He/She cut himself/herself.)
   • Ndinazvida. (I love myself.)
   • Musazvinetse. (Don't worry yourselves.)
   • Vakazviona mugirazi. (They saw themselves in the mirror.)

7. Zvisazitasingwi ZveKubatanidza (Relative Pronouns)

   Izvi zvinobatanidza chikamu chemutsara kune zita kana chisazitasingwi charinotsanangura. MuChiShona, izvi zvinowanzoumbwa kubva kuzvisazitasingwi zvechiratidzo kana kushandisa zvibvumirano zvakasiyana.

   (English Translation: These connect a clause or phrase to a noun or pronoun it describes. In Shona, these are often formed from demonstratives or use specific concords.)

   • Izvi zvinoenderana nemipanda zvakare. Zvinoshandisa midzi inoti: -no- (ari), -yo- (ari ikoko), -ya- (ari kure), -re- (ari kure chaizvo).
     • Munhu anotaura. (The person who is speaking.)
     • Chigaro chiri pano. (The chair which is here.) (Kubva pa ichi + ri)
     • Mabhuku akaverengwa. (The books which were read.)
     • Muti wakareba. (The tree which is tall.)
   • Zvinogonawo kushandisa zvisazitasingwi zvechiratidzo:
     • Murume uyo anogona kubatsira. (That man, who can help.)
     • Imbwa iyi inoruma. (This dog, which bites.)

Cherechedzo (Important Notes):

• Basa Mumutsara (Function in Sentence): Zvisazitasingwi zvinogona kushanda semutemo (subject), muitirwi (object), kana chikamu chechirevamwene (possessive).
• Zvibvumirano (Agreement): Chinhu chakakosha kunzwisisa kuti zvisazitasingwi zvizhinji zveChiShona zvinoenderana nemipanda yemazita.
• Kusiyana Kwemitauro Midiki (Dialectal Variation): Panogona kuva nekusiyana kudiki kwekushandiswa kwezvimwe zvisazitasingwi mumitauro midiki yeChiShona.

Kudzidza zvisazitasingwi kuchakubatsira zvikuru kuti unyore nekutaura ChiShona chakanatswa uye chinonzwisisika. Zvakakosha kudzidzira mashandisirwo azvo mumitsara yakasiyana-siyana.