Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tunapaswa kuondoka nyumbani mapema, ili tufike sokoni kabla ya mvua kuanza. - We should leave home early, so that we arrive at the market before it starts raining.

Tunapaswa combines the subject prefix tu- (meaning "we") with -paswa, which expresses obligation. Therefore, it translates as "we should" or "we ought to."

How does the infinitive kuondoka function in this sentence?

Kuondoka is the infinitive form of the verb meaning "to leave." In Swahili, when a modal like tunapaswa (we should) is used, it is followed by the infinitive to express the intended action. Here, it indicates the action "to leave."

What role does nyumbani play, and why doesn’t it need an extra preposition like “from” or “at” in English?

Nyumbani means "home" and is already in a locative form. Swahili incorporates location into the noun with the suffix -ni, meaning that "nyumbani" inherently conveys "at home" or "from home" without needing an additional preposition.

What is the function of the adverb mapema in the sentence?

Mapema translates to "early." It acts as an adverb modifying the verb kuondoka, indicating that the action of leaving home should happen early.

What is the role of ili in this sentence, and what is its English equivalent?

Ili is a purpose conjunction. It connects the main clause to the subordinate clause that explains the purpose of the action. In English, it translates to "so that" or "in order to."

Why is tufike used in its subjunctive form, and what does it mean here?

Tufike is the subjunctive form of kufika, which means "to arrive." In this construction, following ili, the subjunctive mood expresses intention or desired outcome—here, "so that we may arrive" at the market in time.

What does sokoni mean, and how does its form indicate location?

Sokoni means "at the market" (or "to the market"). It is formed by taking soko (market) and adding the locative suffix -ni, which inherently specifies the location without needing an extra preposition.

How is the clause kabla ya mvua kuanza structured, and what does it indicate about the timing of events?

The phrase kabla ya mvua kuanza can be broken down as follows: kabla ya means "before," mvua means "rain," and kuanza is the infinitive "to start." This construction sets a temporal condition, indicating that the arrival at the market should happen before the rain starts.

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