Maneno "constant" na "continuous" katika lugha ya Kiingereza yanafanana sana, na mara nyingi wanafunzi huyapotosha. Hata hivyo, yana maana tofauti kidogo. "Constant" ina maana ya kitu kinachoendelea bila mabadiliko, kitu kimoja kila wakati. "Continuous," kwa upande mwingine, ina maana ya kitu kinachoendelea bila kukatizwa, lakini kinaweza kubadilika. Fikiria kama "constant" ni kama mstari ulio sawa kabisa, wakati "continuous" ni kama mto unaoendelea kutiririka, hata kama kasi yake inabadilika.

Hebu tuangalie mifano michache:

• Constant: "The sun provides constant energy to the earth." (Jua hutoa nishati thabiti kwa dunia.) Katika sentensi hii, nishati ya jua haibadiliki; ni thabiti.

• Continuous: "The rain fell continuously for three hours." (Mvua ilinyesha bila kukoma kwa saa tatu.) Mvua iliendelea, lakini pengine mvua ilikuwa nyepesi wakati mwingine na kali wakati mwingine. Kiasi cha mvua kiliweza kubadilika.

• Constant: "He showed constant support to his friends." (Alionyesha msaada thabiti kwa marafiki zake.) Msaada ulikuwapo daima kwa kiwango sawa.

• Continuous: "The machine produced a continuous stream of goods." (Mashine hiyo ilitoa mtiririko unaoendelea wa bidhaa.) Uzalishaji uliendelea bila kukatizwa.

• Constant: "She maintained a constant speed while driving." (Aliweka kasi thabiti wakati wa kuendesha gari.) Kasi ilikuwa sawa kila wakati.

• Continuous: "The baby cried continuously throughout the night." (Mtoto alilia bila kukoma usiku kucha.) Kilio kiliendelea bila kukoma, lakini kinaweza kuwa kimekuwa na nguvu au dhaifu.

Kumbuka tofauti hii muhimu: "constant" inaelezea uthabiti na kutobadilika, wakati "continuous" inaelezea kutokukatizwa.

Happy learning!