Leo, mimi nitamsaidia mama kusafisha nyumba.

Today, I will help mother clean the house.

Breakdown of Leo, mimi nitamsaidia mama kusafisha nyumba.

• mimi: I
• leo: today
• mama: the mother
• kusafisha: to clean
• nyumba: the house
• kusaidia: to help

Questions & Answers about Leo, mimi nitamsaidia mama kusafisha nyumba.

Why is the word mimi included when the verb already shows the subject ni-?

Using mimi adds emphasis or clarity, even though the subject prefix ni- (meaning "I") is enough grammatically. It highlights the speaker's involvement or makes the sentence more personal.

What does the -ta- in nitamsaidia represent?

The infix -ta- signifies the future tense in Swahili. So, nitamsaidia indicates an action that will be done.

Why is there an m- in nitamsaidia?

The m- in nitamsaidia is the object marker referring to a third-person singular object (in this case, "him" or "her"). It tells us who is being helped.

How does kusafisha function after nitamsaidia mama?

The infinitive verb kusafisha (meaning "to clean") is used as a complement of nitamsaidia, indicating the specific action you are helping with. It's essentially like saying "help (mom) to clean."

Why is mama used on its own instead of something like mamangu?

In Swahili, it is common to address parents or close relatives simply as mama or baba without needing a possessive form. It's understood from context that it refers to one's own mother.