Tunahitaji kujipanga kabla ya kuvuka barabara kuu, ili tusiumie.

We need to get ready before crossing the main road, so that we do not get hurt.

Breakdown of Tunahitaji kujipanga kabla ya kuvuka barabara kuu, ili tusiumie.

• kabla ya: before
• ili: so that
• barabara: the road
• kuhitaji: to need
• kuvuka: to cross
• kujipanga: to get ready
• kuu: main

Questions & Answers about Tunahitaji kujipanga kabla ya kuvuka barabara kuu, ili tusiumie.

What does Tunahitaji mean and how is it formed?

Tunahitaji translates to "we need." It is formed by combining the subject marker tu- (meaning "we") with the verb nahitaji (meaning "need"). In Swahili, subject markers are attached directly to verbs to indicate who is performing the action.

What is the meaning of kujipanga in this sentence?

Kujipanga means "to prepare oneself" or "to get organized." The reflexive prefix ji- indicates that the action is performed on the subject itself—so it conveys the idea of preparing or organizing oneself.

How does the phrase kabla ya function here?

Kabla ya translates to "before." It is a prepositional phrase that sets the timing for the action, showing that the preparation (kujipanga) should occur prior to the action that follows—in this case, kuvuka the road.

What does kuvuka mean in this context?

Kuvuka means "to cross." In the sentence, it specifically refers to crossing the road, namely the main road mentioned later.

What is the translation of barabara kuu?

Barabara kuu translates to "main road." Here, barabara means "road" and kuu means "big" or "primary," together indicating that it is the major or main road.

How is the clause ili tusiumie structured and what does it express?

The word ili means "so that" or "in order to," and it introduces a purpose clause. Tusiumie is the negative subjunctive form of the verb (derived from a verb that means "to get hit" or "to be injured"), so the whole clause ili tusiumie expresses "so that we do not get hit" or "so that we don't get injured."

Can you explain the formation of the negative subjunctive in tusiumie?

Certainly. In Swahili, to form a negative subjunctive in a purpose clause, you combine the subject marker with a negative marker and then the verb’s root. In tusiumie, tu- stands for we, followed by the negative marker si-. The resulting form implies "let us not be hit." This construction is used to state a desired outcome—to avoid the negative result of being hit when crossing the road.