"Mti ulikuwa umekatwa"

Translation: The tree had been cut down

[BirgitBerk1]

What is the difference in Swahili between "a" and "the", and should both be accepted as the correct answer?

[AGreatUserName]

There isn't one, and yes.

[BirgitBerk1]

Thank you :-)

[Janey757889]

Does this really mean the tree had been cut down?

[GunthardHa]

i am afraid yes, they really should have spared it

[Janey757889]

Haha I can't remember why I phrased the question like that!...maybe the original translation was just 'the tree had been cut' and I was questioning that. But yes, poor tree :-/

[BrunoGrgurevic]

I noticed in conversations this being used:mfano:Nilikuwa ninasoma. Like I was studying but for a longer time. Is it correct?

[KelseyMercurio]

Why is "u" used as the pronoun here? Does it imply that you cut down the tree, or is u a pronoun for m/mi nouns?

[Joanne325766]

u is the singular pronoun for m/mi nouns