Ni muhimu kufunga mlango kabla ya kuondoka, ili vitu vyetu viwe salama.

to be

Breakdown of Ni muhimu kufunga mlango kabla ya kuondoka, ili vitu vyetu viwe salama.

• kuwa: to be
• kabla ya: before
• ili: so that
• muhimu: important
• kuondoka: to leave
• kufunga: to lock
• mlango: the door
• kitu: the thing
• salama: safe

Questions & Answers about Ni muhimu kufunga mlango kabla ya kuondoka, ili vitu vyetu viwe salama.

What does Ni muhimu mean, and how is it structured in this sentence?

Ni muhimu translates to "It is important." Here, Ni functions as the copula (equivalent to “is”), and muhimu is an adjective meaning "important." This simple construction is commonly used in Swahili to state the importance of an action.

How does the infinitive phrase kufunga mlango function in this sentence?

Kufunga is the infinitive form of the verb meaning "to close," and mlango means "door." Together, they form the phrase "to close the door," which specifies the action deemed important. This structure—using Ni muhimu followed by an infinitive—is a typical way to express recommendations or necessities in Swahili.

What does the phrase kabla ya kuondoka mean, and how is it used?

Kabala ya kuondoka translates to "before leaving." The segment kabla ya is a prepositional phrase meaning "before," while kuondoka is the infinitive meaning "to leave." This portion of the sentence indicates that the action of closing the door should occur prior to departing.

Why is the subjunctive form viwe used in vitu vyetu viwe salama?

In the clause vitu vyetu viwe salama, viwe is the subjunctive form of kuwa (to be). The subjunctive mood is employed here to express a desired outcome—namely, "that our things are safe." This form is typically triggered by ili (meaning "in order that" or "so that"), which introduces a purpose clause.

Can you explain the roles of vitu vyetu and the adjective salama in the sentence?

Vitu means "things" (often referring to belongings), and vyetu is the possessive adjective meaning "our," matching the noun class of vitu. The adjective salama means "safe" and follows the noun, which is the standard word order in Swahili. Combined, they express that "our things are safe."