"There are books in the classroom"

Translation: Mna vitabu darasani

[yola25018]

Why "mna" and not "kuna"?

[AGreatUserName]

Mna indicates "there is/are ... inside ..."

Pana = there is/are (at a specific location)
Kuna = there is/are (generic or non-specified location)
Mna = there is/are (internal location)

Pana vitabu juu ya meza. = There are books on the table.
Kuna vitabu. = There are books.
Mna vitabu katika sanduku. = There are books in the box.

[Ebuwa1]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[Deddy56150]

This is an excellent explanation for me. Asante sana.

[DavidScott493272]

why not 'vimo vitabu darasani'?

[Holger677209]

Same question, but vice versa: would 'vitabu vimo darasani' be correct as well, if we are talking about some specific books like 'vitabu vya wanafunzi vimo darasani' ('The books of the students are in the classroom')?

[deactivated user]

I agree, I believe 'mna' more so refers to 'you have' rather than ' there are'

[juryrigging]

Wrong mna. This one is more like "[internal location] has", so functionally means "there is/are… in…"

Check the Places/Mahali Nouns tips and notes.

[IndianaJBird]

Doesn't Mna mean You all have?

[MorwennaGr1]

Isn't mna more for inside somewhere like a cupboard or box?