← Ulendo wa Ziyankhulo: Kuyenda-yenda mu Chingerezi
"That" is one of the most frequent words in English. It does three jobs, and Chichewa uses a different tool for each:
- It points: "that man", "that book". This is the demonstrative. Chichewa points with a word that agrees with the noun's class and comes after the noun: munthu uyo, buku ilo, nyumba iyo. - It joins a noun to a clause that describes it: "the man that came". This is the relative. Chichewa uses amene and its class forms: munthu amene anabwera, buku limene ndikufuna. - It joins two sentences after verbs like know, say and think: "I know that she is a teacher". This is the conjunction. Chichewa uses kuti: Ndikudziwa kuti iye ndi mphunzitsi.
Chichewa has more than one word for "that". Uyo, icho, ilo, iyo point to something near the listener or just mentioned; uja, ija point to something further away, or to the one we both know about. English has only two pointing words: "this" (near: uyu, ichi, ili, iyi) and "that" (everything else). So English "that" covers both uyo and uja.
English "that" never changes its form: that man, that book, that house, that bread. There is no class agreement in English.
What does "that" mean in Chichewa? Pointing, uyo, icho, ilo, iyo (the form of the noun's class), or uja, ija for the far one; in a relative clause, amene, limene, imene; after "know" or "say", kuti.
Key Takeaways:
- "That" + noun points, and comes BEFORE the noun: that man = munthu uyo; that book = buku ilo. The English word is the same for every noun. - "That" alone can stand for a thing: "That is good" = Icho ndi chabwino. - "The man that came" — "that" joins a describing clause to the noun, like Chichewa amene. - "I know that…", "She said that…" = Ndikudziwa kuti…, Ananena kuti… - "So that" shows purpose, like Chichewa kuti with the verb in -e: kuti apite.
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that — strong form /ðæt/ (pointing: that man /ðæt ˈmæn/); weak form /ðət/ (relative and conjunction: I know that she… /aɪ ˈnəʊ ðət ʃiː/)
The first sound, /ð/, is not a Chichewa sound. Put the tip of the tongue lightly between the teeth and let the voice buzz: /ð/ is the voiced partner of the /θ/ in "thing". Do not say "dat" or "zat".
The vowel /æ/ of the strong form is the vowel of "have" and "cat": the mouth open as for Chichewa a, the tongue pushed forward towards e.
Close the word on the /t/. Chichewa words end in a vowel, so learners often say "thati": the English word ends with the tongue stopped, /ðæt/.
When "that" points, it is stressed and strong: "I want THAT book." When it joins clauses, it is unstressed and weak: "I know that /ðət/ she is a teacher."
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13.1 That icho is ndi good chabwino
13.2 Take tenga that icho
13.3 Who ndani is (ndi) that uyo
13.4 Look at yang'ana that uyo man munthu
13.5 I want ndikufuna that ilo book buku
13.6 That iyo house nyumba is ndi my father's ya bambo anga
13.7 I know ndikudziwa that kuti she iye is ndi a - teacher mphunzitsi
13.8 She said ananena that kuti she wants akufuna to eat kudya
13.9 The - man munthu that amene came anabwera yesterday dzulo is ndi my friend mnzanga
13.10 This ili is ndi the - book buku that limene I want ndikufuna
13.11 I think ndikuganiza that kuti it will rain mvula idzagwa
13.12 I do not know sindikudziwa that uyo man munthu
13.13 Do kodi you see ukuona that ija house nyumba over there (ija)
13.14 The - child mwana that amene you saw unamuona is ndi my wanga child mwana
13.15 He worked anagwira ntchito hard mwakhama so that kuti his ake children ana could go apite to ku school sukulu
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13.1 That is good. Icho ndi chabwino.
13.2 Take that. Tenga icho.
13.3 Who is that? Uyo ndani?
13.4 Look at that man. Yang'ana munthu uyo.
13.5 I want that book. Ndikufuna buku ilo.
13.6 That house is my father's. Nyumba iyo ndi ya bambo anga.
13.7 I know that she is a teacher. Ndikudziwa kuti iye ndi mphunzitsi.
13.8 She said that she wants to eat. Ananena kuti akufuna kudya.
13.9 The man that came yesterday is my friend. Munthu amene anabwera dzulo ndi mnzanga.
13.10 This is the book that I want. Ili ndi buku limene ndikufuna.
13.11 I think that it will rain. Ndikuganiza kuti mvula idzagwa.
13.12 I do not know that man. Sindikudziwa munthu uyo.
13.13 Do you see that house over there? Kodi ukuona nyumba ija?
13.14 The child that you saw is my child. Mwana amene unamuona ndi mwana wanga.
13.15 He worked hard so that his children could go to school. Anagwira ntchito mwakhama kuti ana ake apite ku sukulu.
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13.1 That is good.
13.2 Take that.
13.3 Who is that?
13.4 Look at that man.
13.5 I want that book.
13.6 That house is my father's.
13.7 I know that she is a teacher.
13.8 She said that she wants to eat.
13.9 The man that came yesterday is my friend.
13.10 This is the book that I want.
13.11 I think that it will rain.
13.12 I do not know that man.
13.13 Do you see that house over there?
13.14 The child that you saw is my child.
13.15 He worked hard so that his children could go to school.
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These are the grammar rules for "that" in English:
1. "That" points (the demonstrative). "That" goes BEFORE the noun, and it is the same for every noun. Chichewa changes the pointing word for every class and puts it AFTER the noun:
- that man — munthu uyo (13.4, 13.12) - that book — buku ilo (13.5) - that house — nyumba iyo (13.6); that house over there — nyumba ija (13.13) - that thing — icho (13.2)
So do not say "man that" or "book that" for munthu uyo, buku ilo: the English order is "that man", "that book".
The plural of "that" is "those": that man, those men (anthu awo). "This" (plural "these") is for what is near, like Chichewa uyu, ichi, ili, iyi (13.10).
2. "That" alone (the pronoun). "That" can stand without a noun: "That is good" (13.1), "Who is that?" (13.3), "Take that" (13.2). Chichewa does the same: Icho ndi chabwino, Uyo ndani?, Tenga icho.
3. "That" joins a describing clause (the relative). "The man that came yesterday" (13.9), "the book that I want" (13.10), "the child that you saw" (13.14). Chichewa uses amene, which changes with the class of the noun: munthu amene, buku limene, nyumba imene. English "that" never changes:
- the man that came — munthu amene anabwera - the book that I want — buku limene ndikufuna - the child that you saw — mwana amene unamuona
For people English may also use "who", and for things "which": "the man who came", "the book which I want". When "that" is the object of the clause, English often leaves it out: "the book I want", "the child you saw".
4. "That" after know, say, think (the conjunction). "I know that she is a teacher" (13.7), "She said that she wants to eat" (13.8), "I think that it will rain" (13.11). Here "that" = kuti. In speech English often drops it: "I know she is a teacher." Chichewa keeps kuti.
5. "So that" (purpose). "He worked hard so that his children could go to school" (13.15). Chichewa uses the same kuti, with the verb ending in -e: kuti ana ake apite. English needs two words, "so that", and after them usually can, could or will.
6. How to tell the jobs apart. Look at what comes after "that": a noun (that man) — pointing; a verb or a clause with a missing person or thing (that came, that I want) — relative; a full sentence (that she is a teacher) — conjunction.
Common Mistakes:
- "Man that is my friend." Correct: That man is my friend. "That" comes before the noun, not after it as uyo does. - "That books are mine." Correct: Those books are mine. The plural of "that" is "those". - "This man over there." Correct: That man over there. "This" is only for what is near. - "The man that he came yesterday." Correct: The man that came yesterday. Do not add "he": "that" already stands for the man. - "The child that you saw him." Correct: The child that you saw. Chichewa puts -mu- in unamuona, but English does not add "him". - "Dat" or "zat" for "that". Say /ðæt/, with the tongue between the teeth.
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"That" is among the twenty most frequent words of English, because it does three common jobs: pointing, joining a describing clause and joining two sentences.
Two English words, more Chichewa words. Chichewa can say uyo (the one near you, or the one just mentioned) and uja (the one further away, or the one we both know about). English has only "this" and "that". To show great distance, English adds words: "that house over there" (13.13) = nyumba ija.
One word, two jobs. Chichewa kuti and English "that" are close friends: both follow know, say and think (Ndikudziwa kuti… = I know that…). But for purpose English says "so that" or "to", while Chichewa uses kuti alone.
"That" for a whole matter. Chichewa often says zimenezo for "that" when it means "what was just said": Zimenezo ndi zabwino. English uses plain "that": "That is good", "That's right".
Pointing politely. In Britain and America, pointing at a person with the finger can seem rude; "that man" with a small nod is more polite. In a shop, "Can I have that one, please?" is the usual way to ask for a thing you can see.
Common expressions with "that":
- that's right — yes, it is correct - that's all — there is nothing more - like that — in that way: "Do it like that." - that one — the thing over there: "Not this one, that one."
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John 11:24, the words of Martha to Jesus after the death of her brother Lazarus. English: King James Version (1611). Chichewa: Buku Lopatulika, Yohane 11:24.
"Martha Marita saith ananena unto ndi him Iye, I know ndidziwa that kuti he shall rise again adzauka in the resurrection m'kuuka at the last day tsiku lomaliza" - John 11:24 (KJV)
"Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." "Marita ananena ndi Iye, Ndidziwa kuti adzauka m'kuuka tsiku lomaliza." (Yohane 11:24, Buku Lopatulika)
Jesus has just told Martha, "Thy brother shall rise again." She answers with what she already believes, and both languages build her answer the same way: a verb of knowing, then "that" / kuti, then the whole sentence of what she knows. "I know that he shall rise again" = Ndidziwa kuti adzauka. This is the third job of "that" (13.7, 13.11), and it is the job where English and Chichewa match most closely.
- "I know that…" — here "that" is the conjunction, = Chichewa kuti. - "Saith" is old English for "says" or "said". Today: "Martha said to him…" - "He shall rise again" is old English for "he will rise again" = adzauka. - Ndidziwa is the older written form found in Buku Lopatulika; in speech today people usually say ndikudziwa (13.7). - In modern English we could drop "that": "I know he will rise again." The meaning is the same.
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13.16 Temwani Temwani who ndani is (ndi) that uyo woman mayi
13.17 That uyo is ndi my wanga teacher mphunzitsi
13.18 Is kodi she (ndi) the - teacher mphunzitsi that amene came anabwera to ku our kwathu village mudzi
13.19 Yes inde I know ndikudziwa that kuti she teaches amaphunzitsa English Chingelezi
13.20 Look at yang'ana that iyo bicycle njinga
13.21 That iyo bicycle njinga is ndi hers yake
13.22 Do kodi you know ukudziwa that uyo man munthu
13.23 Yes inde that uyo is ndi the - man munthu that amene sells amagulitsa bread buledi
13.24 I want ndikufuna to buy kugula that uyo bread buledi
13.25 The - bread buledi that amene you want ukufuna is ndi good wabwino
13.26 I know ndikudziwa that kuti my anga mother mayi likes amakonda bread buledi
13.27 Then ndiye let us tiyeni buy tigule that uyo bread buledi
13.28 Yes inde so that kuti we can eat tidye at home kunyumba
13.29 That zimenezo is ndi good zabwino
13.30 Who ndani is (ndi) that uyo It is ndi my anga mother mayi
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13.16 Chikondi: "Temwani, who is that woman?" Chikondi: "Temwani, mayi uyo ndani?"
13.17 Temwani: "That is my teacher." Temwani: "Uyo ndi mphunzitsi wanga."
13.18 Chikondi: "Is she the teacher that came to our village?" Chikondi: "Kodi ndi mphunzitsi amene anabwera ku mudzi kwathu?"
13.19 Temwani: "Yes. I know that she teaches English." Temwani: "Inde. Ndikudziwa kuti amaphunzitsa Chingelezi."
13.20 Chikondi: "Look at that bicycle." Chikondi: "Yang'ana njinga iyo."
13.21 Temwani: "That bicycle is hers." Temwani: "Njinga iyo ndi yake."
13.22 Chikondi: "Do you know that man?" Chikondi: "Kodi ukudziwa munthu uyo?"
13.23 Temwani: "Yes. That is the man that sells bread." Temwani: "Inde. Uyo ndi munthu amene amagulitsa buledi."
13.24 Chikondi: "I want to buy that bread." Chikondi: "Ndikufuna kugula buledi uyo."
13.25 Temwani: "The bread that you want is good." Temwani: "Buledi amene ukufuna ndi wabwino."
13.26 Chikondi: "I know that my mother likes bread." Chikondi: "Ndikudziwa kuti mayi anga amakonda buledi."
13.27 Temwani: "Then let us buy that bread." Temwani: "Ndiye tiyeni tigule buledi uyo."
13.28 Chikondi: "Yes, so that we can eat at home." Chikondi: "Inde, kuti tidye kunyumba."
13.29 Temwani: "That is good." Temwani: "Zimenezo ndi zabwino."
13.30 Chikondi: "Who is that? It is my mother!" Chikondi: "Uyo ndani? Ndi mayi anga!"
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13.16 Chikondi: "Temwani, who is that woman?"
13.17 Temwani: "That is my teacher."
13.18 Chikondi: "Is she the teacher that came to our village?"
13.19 Temwani: "Yes. I know that she teaches English."
13.20 Chikondi: "Look at that bicycle."
13.21 Temwani: "That bicycle is hers."
13.22 Chikondi: "Do you know that man?"
13.23 Temwani: "Yes. That is the man that sells bread."
13.24 Chikondi: "I want to buy that bread."
13.25 Temwani: "The bread that you want is good."
13.26 Chikondi: "I know that my mother likes bread."
13.27 Temwani: "Then let us buy that bread."
13.28 Chikondi: "Yes, so that we can eat at home."
13.29 Temwani: "That is good."
13.30 Chikondi: "Who is that? It is my mother!"
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The dialogue uses all the jobs of "that":
- Pointing, before a noun: "that woman" (13.16), "that bicycle" (13.20, 13.21), "that man" (13.22), "that bread" (13.24, 13.27). Notice how Chichewa changes the word with the class and puts it after the noun: mayi uyo, njinga iyo, munthu uyo, buledi uyo. English always says "that", before the noun. - Pointing, alone: "That is my teacher" (13.17), "That is good" (13.29), "Who is that?" (13.30). - Relative: "the teacher that came" (13.18), "the man that sells bread" (13.23), "the bread that you want" (13.25). - Conjunction: "I know that she teaches English" (13.19), "I know that my mother likes bread" (13.26). - Purpose: "so that we can eat at home" (13.28).
Two kinds of "that" in one line. In 13.23, "That is the man that sells bread", the first "that" points (uyo), the second joins the describing clause (amene). The first is strong /ðæt/, the second weak /ðət/.
"That" for a whole idea. In 13.29 Chichewa says zimenezo, "that matter", and English still says simply "That is good."
"That" for people. Pointing at a person, English says "that man" or "that woman", and "Who is that?" (13.16, 13.30) is natural. But "That is my teacher" (13.17) is used only when you are pointing or answering such a question; otherwise say "She is my teacher."
Writing a dialogue. Each speaker's words go inside quotation marks, after the speaker's name and a colon.
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- Strong and weak: "Look at that bicycle" /ˈlʊk ət ðæt ˈbaɪsɪkl/; "I know that she teaches" /aɪ ˈnəʊ ðət ʃiː ˈtiːtʃɪz/. - "That is" is often shortened to "that's" /ðæts/ in speech and informal writing: "That's good", "That's my teacher". - The /ð/ of "that" is the same sound as in this, these, those, the, they, there. Practise them together: this and that, these and those. - Spelling: that is always written with th- and one t at the end; never "dat" or "thatt". - No comma before a joining "that": "I know that she teaches English", "the bread that you want".
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