Kabla ya kuingia darasani, hakikisha umebeba kitabu na kalamu.

the book

Breakdown of Kabla ya kuingia darasani, hakikisha umebeba kitabu na kalamu.

• na: and
• kabla ya: before
• kuingia: to enter
• darasa: the classroom
• kuhakikisha: to make sure
• kubeba: to carry
• kalamu: the pen

Questions & Answers about Kabla ya kuingia darasani, hakikisha umebeba kitabu na kalamu.

What does kabla ya mean, and how is it used in this sentence?

Kabla ya translates to "before". It is used to indicate that one action should occur prior to another—in this case, it tells the listener to do something before entering the classroom.

Why is kuingia written with the ku- prefix, and what role does it play here?

Kuingia is the infinitive form of the verb "to enter". In Swahili, the ku- prefix marks the infinitive form, and in this sentence it functions similarly to the English gerund, effectively meaning "entering". It follows kabla ya to specify what should be done before the classroom entry.

How is location expressed in darasani, and what does the suffix -ni indicate?

Darasani is formed by adding the locative suffix -ni to darasa (which means "classroom"). The suffix -ni indicates location, so darasani translates literally to "in the classroom."

What is the function of the command form hakikisha in this sentence?

Hakikisha is an imperative verb meaning "make sure" or "ensure." It directly instructs the listener to verify that they have completed the following action. In this context, it directs the person to check that they have brought the necessary items before entering the classroom.

How is the perfect aspect expressed in umebeba, and what does that convey about the timing of the action?

Umebeba is constructed with the subject prefix u- (referring to "you"), the perfect tense marker me-, and the root beba (meaning "carry" or "bring"). This structure indicates that the action of carrying the items has been completed. It conveys that by the time you approach the classroom, you should already have the book and pen with you.

What do kitabu and kalamu mean, and how does the conjunction na function in this context?

Kitabu means "book" and kalamu means "pen." The conjunction na translates to "and," linking the two nouns together. Unlike English, Swahili typically does not use articles (like "a" or "the"), so the nouns are used directly to deliver a clear and concise instruction.