Mtendaji alisoma ripoti.

The official read the report.

Breakdown of Mtendaji alisoma ripoti.

• kusoma: to read
• ripoti: the report
• mtendaji: the executive; official

Questions & Answers about Mtendaji alisoma ripoti.

Why is the verb alisoma written as one word?

In Swahili, verbs usually combine several pieces into a single word.
Here, alisoma can be broken down like this:

• a- = he/she (subject marker for a singular person)
• -li- = past tense
• -soma = read / study

So alisoma literally works like he/she + past + read.

What does a- in alisoma mean?

a- is the subject prefix for he or she when the subject is a singular person in the relevant noun class.

Since mtendaji refers to one person, the verb uses a-.

Examples:

• Mtoto alikuja. = The child came.
• Mwalimu alisema. = The teacher spoke.
• Mtendaji alisoma ripoti. = The executive/official read the report.

What does -li- mean in alisoma?

-li- is the past tense marker in Swahili.

So:

• anasoma = he/she is reading
• alisoma = he/she read
• atasoma = he/she will read

This is one of the most important tense markers to recognize in Swahili.